Royals aim to solve rotation questions
02/03/2006
KANSAS CITY -- For all the questions that surround the rebuilding Royals, one will dominate Spring Training:
Who in the world will be in the starting rotation?
OK, it's not exactly a global hunt. But it's enough to cover some wide-open spaces on the Arizona desert.
"We have a lot of decisions, which is good," manager Buddy Bell said.
Just so the good doesn't turn bad or ugly as it did too often last year.
There are 10 or more hombres in the posse who could jump into the rotation:
Young guns: Runelvys Hernandez could be No. 1 based on his powerful stuff and club-best eight victories. Certainly he showed that his Tommy John surgery that kept him out in 2004 was a success.
However, he's very aware that he'll have to report sans excess weight. And prove that the back strain that cost him a month and a wobbly finish is past history.
Zack Greinke, a prize possession who had a fine rookie season in 2004, last year managed to lose 17 times. Yet he was 4-6 after the All-Star break.
Street-smart, he's shown the ability to adjust on the fly and is not reluctant to work hitters inside. Still the darndest things happen to him. Last year at Arizona, he gave up 11 runs but escaped the loss -- and hit a home run to boot.
J.P. Howell, a precocious left-hander, broke in with 15 starts and a 3-5 record. At 22, the Royals would prefer to school him at Triple-A Omaha.
But general manager Allard Baird said: "We won't stand in the way of our young pitchers."
Old hands: Scott Elarton? "A lock," said Baird. Mark Redman? "Also a lock," Baird said.
Is there trouble in the corral? "Nobody is a lock," Bell said. Perhaps that was a political hedge. The Royals aren't going to pay Redman $4.5 million and Elarton $4 million to pitch out of the 'pen.
Redman, a hard/soft-throwing left-hander, was 14-9 with a 3.59 ERA in 2003 for the Marlins. Last year he was 5-15 for the Pirates, his fifth team in five years.
Elarton, a 6-8 right-hander, hasn't approached his best year of 2000 when he was 17-7 for the Astros. But he's viewed a tough guy, one who bounced back from 2002 shoulder surgery and won 11 games last year for the Indians.
Joe Mays is a more recent comebacker, going 6-10 last year for the Twins after missing all of 2004 because of elbow surgery. He was a 17-game winner in 2001.
Wannabes: Jeremy Affeldt, a lefty who has started and relieved in his injury-riddled Royals career, wants to come out of the bullpen. Will his groin allow him to lope?
Mike Wood was in the bullpen until early August when Bell decided to try him in the rotation. He was 2-4 and gave up three runs or fewer in six of his 10 starts.
Denny Bautista began last season in the rotation but his shoulder broke down after seven starts. He's regarded as a high-potential starter, but will have to prove he's sound.
Kyle Snyder was dropped off the roster but was re-signed to a Triple-A Omaha contract. Snyder, out in 2004 because of surgery, got a three-game starting shot last year but lost all three.
Jimmy Gobble, a lefty that the Royals have been waiting to blossom for years, spent most of last season in the KC bullpen. He made 12 starts for Omaha and went 2-7 with a 6.63 ERA.
Brian Bass, especially impressive in the Arizona Fall League, was 12-8 in 27 starts for Double-A Wichita and could be a surprise candidate.
There's a dozen. Let the shootout begin.
Source: http://royals.mlb.com/
KANSAS CITY -- For all the questions that surround the rebuilding Royals, one will dominate Spring Training:
Who in the world will be in the starting rotation?
OK, it's not exactly a global hunt. But it's enough to cover some wide-open spaces on the Arizona desert.
"We have a lot of decisions, which is good," manager Buddy Bell said.
Just so the good doesn't turn bad or ugly as it did too often last year.
There are 10 or more hombres in the posse who could jump into the rotation:
Young guns: Runelvys Hernandez could be No. 1 based on his powerful stuff and club-best eight victories. Certainly he showed that his Tommy John surgery that kept him out in 2004 was a success.
However, he's very aware that he'll have to report sans excess weight. And prove that the back strain that cost him a month and a wobbly finish is past history.
Zack Greinke, a prize possession who had a fine rookie season in 2004, last year managed to lose 17 times. Yet he was 4-6 after the All-Star break.
Street-smart, he's shown the ability to adjust on the fly and is not reluctant to work hitters inside. Still the darndest things happen to him. Last year at Arizona, he gave up 11 runs but escaped the loss -- and hit a home run to boot.
J.P. Howell, a precocious left-hander, broke in with 15 starts and a 3-5 record. At 22, the Royals would prefer to school him at Triple-A Omaha.
But general manager Allard Baird said: "We won't stand in the way of our young pitchers."
Old hands: Scott Elarton? "A lock," said Baird. Mark Redman? "Also a lock," Baird said.
Is there trouble in the corral? "Nobody is a lock," Bell said. Perhaps that was a political hedge. The Royals aren't going to pay Redman $4.5 million and Elarton $4 million to pitch out of the 'pen.
Redman, a hard/soft-throwing left-hander, was 14-9 with a 3.59 ERA in 2003 for the Marlins. Last year he was 5-15 for the Pirates, his fifth team in five years.
Elarton, a 6-8 right-hander, hasn't approached his best year of 2000 when he was 17-7 for the Astros. But he's viewed a tough guy, one who bounced back from 2002 shoulder surgery and won 11 games last year for the Indians.
Joe Mays is a more recent comebacker, going 6-10 last year for the Twins after missing all of 2004 because of elbow surgery. He was a 17-game winner in 2001.
Wannabes: Jeremy Affeldt, a lefty who has started and relieved in his injury-riddled Royals career, wants to come out of the bullpen. Will his groin allow him to lope?
Mike Wood was in the bullpen until early August when Bell decided to try him in the rotation. He was 2-4 and gave up three runs or fewer in six of his 10 starts.
Denny Bautista began last season in the rotation but his shoulder broke down after seven starts. He's regarded as a high-potential starter, but will have to prove he's sound.
Kyle Snyder was dropped off the roster but was re-signed to a Triple-A Omaha contract. Snyder, out in 2004 because of surgery, got a three-game starting shot last year but lost all three.
Jimmy Gobble, a lefty that the Royals have been waiting to blossom for years, spent most of last season in the KC bullpen. He made 12 starts for Omaha and went 2-7 with a 6.63 ERA.
Brian Bass, especially impressive in the Arizona Fall League, was 12-8 in 27 starts for Double-A Wichita and could be a surprise candidate.
There's a dozen. Let the shootout begin.
Source: http://royals.mlb.com/
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