Sweeney rattled, but no DL
KANSAS CITY -- Mike Sweeney is not headed for the disabled list. Not yet, at least.
Instead, Sweeney is listed as day-to-day while allowing his injured left wrist and left elbow to heal following a Wednesday night collision.
That collision, which came during the fourth inning after Dodgers right fielder Jayson Werth barreled down the line, left Sweeney rocking on his back, clutching his wrist in pain. After the game, Sweeney winced while just taking off his shoes, though his health has improved since then.
"I feel a lot better," he said. "Last night was pretty traumatic."
Sweeney underwent an MRI on his injured arm Wednesday morning, but results had not yet come back. Preliminary X-rays, however, came back negative, which, Sweeney said, was a plus.
Sweeney was instructed to not even swing a bat for the next two days, and he will remain out of the lineup until at least the end of the Royals' current homestand, which will end Sunday.
"We're going to take it day by day, maybe four or five days just to let the swelling go down; maybe even get another MRI," he said. "But to put things into perspective, whether it's three days or two weeks, I'll be back."
Manager Buddy Bell spoke with athletic trainer Nick Swartz and reported similar news.
"It's going to be a few days," Bell said. "Hopefully, it's not going to be more than a few days.
"It's tough for us to not have Mike in the lineup. It's even tougher for us to not have him around. But he'll be in the dugout tonight, a guy who everyone gravitates to and talks to. Losing him is huge."
But the best news for Sweeney and the Royals is that the four-time All-Star isn't relegated to a stint on the disabled list.
"When we saw him go down, I think we all thought it was going to be worse," Bell said. "Thankfully, that's not the case."
Lima croons: Jose Lima, who notched his first win of the season Wednesday against the Dodgers, remained in the spotlight the next night by singing the national anthem.
Lima was born in the Dominican Republic and lives in the Houston area, but is not an American citizen. Still, this latest effort was not his first turn singing the anthem. Last season, while pitching for the Dodgers, he performed the same trick in Los Angeles. His latest performance was planned during Spring Training.
"I'm looking forward to it," Lima said before the game. "I'm excited. I'm excited for today. I won't disappoint you."
In addition to singing one of the nation's most famous songs, Lima has released several merengue albums and frequently totes a guitar to the clubhouse. He is, to say the least, quite the musician.
Because of his past performances, in fact, Lima has flirted with the idea of performing music exclusively after he retires. Well, that or play golf.
"The day that I hang my jersey, I'm done [with performing in stadiums]," he said. "I'll go into the music industry or go play golf a lot. I might go on the [PGA] Tour. I can do both."
Those post-career plans aside, Lima might not even be the only Royal to sing the anthem before a game. Earlier this season, catcher Alberto Castillo said he would sing if the team won 10 straight games. So Jose, can Alberto sing?
"I'll be honest," Lima said, a wide smile on his face. "I'm the godfather of his little daughter, he's my compadre. And nothing against Alberto Castillo, my boy can't sing. Brutal. Can't dance, either."
Royals trivia question: If the Royals can turn in another win over the Dodgers on Thursday, they will extend their winning streak to five games. When did the Royals last win five straight? (See answer below)
Longhorns lock horns: During his first Major League start, J.P. Howell went up against his former college roommate, Diamondbacks left-hander Brad Halsey. In his second, he'll face the best pitcher his college -- the University of Texas -- has ever produced.
Roger Clemens.
A little background: Just last year, while leading Texas to the College World Series, Howell was a finalist for the Roger Clemens Award, which is presented to the best college pitcher. He didn't win the award, but facing the Rocket isn't such a bad consolation prize.
"That's a trip, isn't it?," Howell said. "A year later, things have kind of come to a beautiful point for me. I'm sitting there last year, talking with Roger Clemens and I never thought, a year later, I would be pitching against him in Kauffman Stadium.
"Going against Roger Clemens is [surreal]. I thought he'd be retired by now, but it seems like he's in his prime. He's had about three or four primes, it seems like."
Howell has good reason to think Clemens might have been retired by now. He was, after all, barely 1 year old when Clemens made his Major League debut, way back in May 1984.
Twenty-one years later, Howell is pitching for the Royals and Clemens just keeps going.
"It's a special night for him," Bell said. "It's pretty cool."
Farm report: Chad Santos batted 3-for-5 and drove in four runs Wednesday as Triple-A Omaha outslugged Oklahoma for an 8-7 win. ... Double-A Wichita mustered just one extra-base hit in a 10-2 loss to Tulsa. ... Chris Lubanski extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a 3-for-3 night for Class A High Desert. Lubanski doubled twice and hit a home run, while the Mavericks beat Visalia, 8-5. ... Class A Burlington translated two singles, a triple and three wild pitches into three ninth-inning runs and a 5-3 win over Cedar Rapids.
Trivia answer: Believe it or not, the Royals haven't enjoyed a five-game winning streak since June 22-27, 2003, when they won one game at St. Louis, three at Cleveland and one more against the Cardinals at home.
On deck: The Royals will begin a three-game weekend series with the Astros at 7:10 p.m. CT on Friday. Howell (1-0, 1.80 ERA) will square off with Clemens (4-3, 1.64).
Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/
Instead, Sweeney is listed as day-to-day while allowing his injured left wrist and left elbow to heal following a Wednesday night collision.
That collision, which came during the fourth inning after Dodgers right fielder Jayson Werth barreled down the line, left Sweeney rocking on his back, clutching his wrist in pain. After the game, Sweeney winced while just taking off his shoes, though his health has improved since then.
"I feel a lot better," he said. "Last night was pretty traumatic."
Sweeney underwent an MRI on his injured arm Wednesday morning, but results had not yet come back. Preliminary X-rays, however, came back negative, which, Sweeney said, was a plus.
Sweeney was instructed to not even swing a bat for the next two days, and he will remain out of the lineup until at least the end of the Royals' current homestand, which will end Sunday.
"We're going to take it day by day, maybe four or five days just to let the swelling go down; maybe even get another MRI," he said. "But to put things into perspective, whether it's three days or two weeks, I'll be back."
Manager Buddy Bell spoke with athletic trainer Nick Swartz and reported similar news.
"It's going to be a few days," Bell said. "Hopefully, it's not going to be more than a few days.
"It's tough for us to not have Mike in the lineup. It's even tougher for us to not have him around. But he'll be in the dugout tonight, a guy who everyone gravitates to and talks to. Losing him is huge."
But the best news for Sweeney and the Royals is that the four-time All-Star isn't relegated to a stint on the disabled list.
"When we saw him go down, I think we all thought it was going to be worse," Bell said. "Thankfully, that's not the case."
Lima croons: Jose Lima, who notched his first win of the season Wednesday against the Dodgers, remained in the spotlight the next night by singing the national anthem.
Lima was born in the Dominican Republic and lives in the Houston area, but is not an American citizen. Still, this latest effort was not his first turn singing the anthem. Last season, while pitching for the Dodgers, he performed the same trick in Los Angeles. His latest performance was planned during Spring Training.
"I'm looking forward to it," Lima said before the game. "I'm excited. I'm excited for today. I won't disappoint you."
In addition to singing one of the nation's most famous songs, Lima has released several merengue albums and frequently totes a guitar to the clubhouse. He is, to say the least, quite the musician.
Because of his past performances, in fact, Lima has flirted with the idea of performing music exclusively after he retires. Well, that or play golf.
"The day that I hang my jersey, I'm done [with performing in stadiums]," he said. "I'll go into the music industry or go play golf a lot. I might go on the [PGA] Tour. I can do both."
Those post-career plans aside, Lima might not even be the only Royal to sing the anthem before a game. Earlier this season, catcher Alberto Castillo said he would sing if the team won 10 straight games. So Jose, can Alberto sing?
"I'll be honest," Lima said, a wide smile on his face. "I'm the godfather of his little daughter, he's my compadre. And nothing against Alberto Castillo, my boy can't sing. Brutal. Can't dance, either."
Royals trivia question: If the Royals can turn in another win over the Dodgers on Thursday, they will extend their winning streak to five games. When did the Royals last win five straight? (See answer below)
Longhorns lock horns: During his first Major League start, J.P. Howell went up against his former college roommate, Diamondbacks left-hander Brad Halsey. In his second, he'll face the best pitcher his college -- the University of Texas -- has ever produced.
Roger Clemens.
A little background: Just last year, while leading Texas to the College World Series, Howell was a finalist for the Roger Clemens Award, which is presented to the best college pitcher. He didn't win the award, but facing the Rocket isn't such a bad consolation prize.
"That's a trip, isn't it?," Howell said. "A year later, things have kind of come to a beautiful point for me. I'm sitting there last year, talking with Roger Clemens and I never thought, a year later, I would be pitching against him in Kauffman Stadium.
"Going against Roger Clemens is [surreal]. I thought he'd be retired by now, but it seems like he's in his prime. He's had about three or four primes, it seems like."
Howell has good reason to think Clemens might have been retired by now. He was, after all, barely 1 year old when Clemens made his Major League debut, way back in May 1984.
Twenty-one years later, Howell is pitching for the Royals and Clemens just keeps going.
"It's a special night for him," Bell said. "It's pretty cool."
Farm report: Chad Santos batted 3-for-5 and drove in four runs Wednesday as Triple-A Omaha outslugged Oklahoma for an 8-7 win. ... Double-A Wichita mustered just one extra-base hit in a 10-2 loss to Tulsa. ... Chris Lubanski extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a 3-for-3 night for Class A High Desert. Lubanski doubled twice and hit a home run, while the Mavericks beat Visalia, 8-5. ... Class A Burlington translated two singles, a triple and three wild pitches into three ninth-inning runs and a 5-3 win over Cedar Rapids.
Trivia answer: Believe it or not, the Royals haven't enjoyed a five-game winning streak since June 22-27, 2003, when they won one game at St. Louis, three at Cleveland and one more against the Cardinals at home.
On deck: The Royals will begin a three-game weekend series with the Astros at 7:10 p.m. CT on Friday. Howell (1-0, 1.80 ERA) will square off with Clemens (4-3, 1.64).
Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/
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