Matthews draws closer to Hall call

02/21/2006
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Denny Matthews is in the Royals Hall of Fame but he'll have to wait for Cooperstown.
Matthews missed out on the Hall when former Houston Astros announcer Gene Elston was selected for the broadcasters' wing of the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday.
Matthews, who has called Royals games since the franchise began play in 1969, was among 10 finalists for the award.
"This was the first year I was a little bit excited," Matthews said. "I think it'll probably happen eventually."
Royals owner David Glass has been championing Matthews' election for several years. When a different selection format was utilized, Glass told Matthews he was in the final five at one point.
"From a personal standpoint, I'm disappointed," said Royals general manager Allard Baird. "Not only for Denny but for Royals fans. You look at the long line of listeners. Grandmothers and grandfathers have heard him and now their grandchildren hear him.
Matthews has broadcast Royals games for 37 years and in five decades, becoming just one of six announcers to spend their entire careers with one team and logging at least 35 years at it. The other five are Vin Scully (Dodgers), Bob Prince (Pirates), Jack Buck (Cardinals), Jaime Jarrin (Dodgers) and Joe Nuxhall (Reds).
On March 1, Matthews will check into Spring Training to begin his 38th season.

Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/

Bernero competing for spot in bullpen

02/21/2006
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- What team did Adam Bernero help get to the World Series?
The Yankees perhaps? No, we're talking college ball here. Hmm, Texas or Cal State Fullerton?
Nope and nope. It was little Culver-Stockton from Canton, Mo., in the NAIA World Series. His coach recruited a bunch of California kids, including Bernero, and unleashed them.
"We pretty much dominated the Midwest," Bernero said.
Bernero, a right-handed pitcher, also played at Sacramento City Junior College in California and Armstrong Athletic State in Savannah, Ga. Small colleges, but they led to a big-league career.
Now, at 29, Bernero has 146 Major League games behind him and stands at the shadowy entrance of the Royals bullpen. He's in a group of other lesser-known pitchers including Joel Peralta, Juan Cedeno, David Elder, Joe Nelson et al.
"I think we're all kind of in the same boat, so to speak," Bernero said. "We all have things to offer."
Bernero can offer an effective changeup.
"His changeup is outstanding," said pitching coach Bob McClure, "but everything comes off the location of the fastball. You stay with the changeup and eventually it's going to get hit."
Bernero also throws a slider and a forkball. Yep, he calls it a forkball, not a split-finger.
"The forkball has a wider grip and tumbles," he explained. "The split is more like a fastball and doesn't have such a big break."
Bernero has pitched for the Detroit Tigers and the Colorado Rockies -- where he met up with McClure -- and has 34 starts among his 146 games. His career record is 10-26 with a 5.87 ERA.
He began last season with the Atlanta Braves and worked 36 times in relief, going 4-3 with a 6.51 ERA before being optioned to Triple-A Richmond.
In the Minors, Bernero was primarily a starter with a 30-30 record in seven years.
"Adam gives us some depth," manager Buddy Bell said. "Whether he breaks with the team or goes to Omaha, I don't know."

Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/

Notes: Few seats open on KC bench

02/21/2006
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The squeeze for seats on the Royals bench will be tight this spring.
Manager Buddy Bell said he plans to go with 12 pitchers, leaving just four spots for reserves.
Matt Stairs is a lock because he'll be a frequently used designated hitter, first baseman and outfielder. One spot will be filled by a catcher, Paul Bako.
An infielder will be needed and Esteban German is considered the favorite, but Joe McEwing also covets the role.
A fourth outfield spot apparently will be a battle between Chip Ambres and Aaron Guiel.
"We had 12 pitchers last year," Bell said. "That's pretty typical. The Angels were the only team that didn't have 12 last year, at least the only one I can think of."
Gotay goes high: Ruben Gotay, the surprise winner of the second-base job last spring, checked in from Puerto Rico.
Gotay had a busy winter, batting .269 in 40 games for Carolina in the Puerto Rican League. He had 39 hits and drew 32 walks for an on-base percentage of .407.
Moving into the Caribbean Series, Gotay hit .368 (7-for-19) in five games. The team was 2-4 and finished third behind champion Venezuela.
Gotay believes he improved his range at second base.
"I think I'm getting pretty good at it," he said.
He's booked to play second base this season at Triple-A Omaha.
Huber checks in: First baseman Justin Huber, who has the longest commute to camp, arrived from Australia.
"I have four months off for the first time so I'm keen to get going," he said.
Huber will play with the Aussie team in the World Baseball Classic in a bracket against Italy, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic.
Although the first full-squad workout isn't until Friday, almost everyone has reported. Two regulars were among the missing: Mike Sweeney and Reggie Sanders.
Extra innings: Before the Cactus League season gets started, the Royals will play some intrasquad innings to give their pitchers some work.
They'll have a full-blown game on Feb. 28 at Surprise Stadium. Then, on March 1, they'll play about half a game at the complex.

Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/

Notes: Trimmer Sweeney feels good

02/22/2006
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Camp Royal is officially open. The captain has arrived.
Mike Sweeney cruised into the clubhouse on Wednesday morning, dispensing smiles and hugs all around.
There was less of him to spread around, however, since Sweeney has lost some weight.
"I'm at 220 or 222 [pounds]," he said. "Last spring, I checked in at 238, so I'm down about 15 pounds."
Sweeney employed a personal trainer in California and went on a special diet.
He believes that a lighter weight will lessen the possibility of the back sprains that have dogged him in recent seasons.
Joining the other position players in batting practice, Sweeney cracked a succession of line drives and cleared the fence a few times.
"A triple," he announced as a line drive headed toward right-center field. A triple? Sweeney hasn't hit one of those since 2003.
Well, maybe with that lighter weight, he'll get one this season.
"I'm back to being my own self," he said with a smile.
Back -- get it?
Four to start: Even though the Royals will be picking out five starters for their rotation, the season will begin with just four.
That's because there are three open dates scheduled in the first two weeks of the schedule.
"We don't need the fifth until the 14th of April," manager Buddy Bell said.
That could temporarily alter his plans to open the season with a 12-pitcher staff. The Royals could go with 11 pitchers and an extra bench player for two weeks.
"I don't know how we'll handle that," Bell said. "I don't know if we'll take an extra position player or keep it at 12."
Left-hander Mark Redman is the probable starter for the Cactus League opener on March 2 against the Texas Rangers.
Stairs steps: Even though Matt Stairs played 15 games in the outfield last season (with 12 starts in right field), that's an unlikely scenario this year.
This time, he's really supposed to be the backup player he was signed to be before the 2004 season. In other words, he should be filling in as the designated hitter with a few turns at first base.
"I see him playing the outfield very little, if any," Bell said. "Of course, Matty comes to camp a lot of the time like this, but he ends up playing a lot."
Stairs played 127 games last year and 126 in 2004.
"He's a guy that'll help us win some games," Bell said.
Not sighted: With Sweeney's arrival, the only 40-man roster absentees were outfielder Reggie Sanders and infielder Esteban German. They're not required to be in camp until Friday for the first full-squad workout.
Also missing was third baseman Alex Gordon, a non-roster invitee who was the Royals' first-round draft choice last year.
The reporting date is Thursday.
Elvis is a-building: Catcher John Buck is encouraged by right-hander Runelvys Hernandez.
"I caught his first bullpen [session]," Buck said. "The last time I caught him was his last outing of the season. His ball was heavier in the bullpen than in the season. Whatever was hurting him last season was definitely gone."
Quotable: "Did you ever see a weak gorilla?" -- Sweeney, picking up a banana for a post-workout snack

Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/

Carter goes deep for the RBI program

02/23/2006
KANSAS CITY -- Joe Carter watched the video with the other 200 people in attendance at the eighth annual RBI First Pitch Luncheon. In it, Carter was launching the final pitch in the 1993 World Series into the left-field seats for a game- and World Series-winning home run.
At the conclusion of the video, Carter, who said it was the nine millionth time he's watched it, jumped into the arms of his jubilant teammates. When it was over, he turned to the crowd and said, "You have to have hope to have success. The RBI program provides hope to kids in the inner city."
Carter was the guest speaker at the luncheon at Kauffman Stadium on Thursday, to raise support for the RBI (Reviving Baseball in the Inner City) program.
RBI is a national program of Major League Baseball provided locally by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City in partnership with the Royals, Kansas City Parks and Recreation and KPRS-FM. The program enables young players, who otherwise could not afford these activities, to enjoy a high-quality sports program and premiere youth development Boys & Girls Clubs programs.
"No matter how much success you have, there is always someone who helps you achieve that success," Carter said. "As I was running around the bases, I was thinking about my first coach, Mr. Galemore. I thought about Frank Moore Sr. I thought about all the people who were instrumental in building me into a baseball player.
"I lived my life for those people, and I never forget them. That's what we're doing here today."
Carter noted that it was appropriate that he would be a speaker for the RBI program. He was known for driving in runs in his career. He finished his career with 1,445 RBIs and drove in more than 100 runs in a season 10 times.
"I was known for RBIs," he said. "When they came out with the Hank Aaron Award for the leading RBI guy in each league, I won the first one. My license plate says 'RBI.' I should be here for the RBI program."
Anthony Dickson, the director of the RBI program in Kansas City, has set lofty goals for this summer. After reaching 1,000 kids for the first time in the history of the program last summer, Dickson and his board have set a goal of 1,300 for 2006.
"I partner with schools, with churches, with all the mom-and-pop organizations to get them excited about the program," Dickson said. "When you have a product, the dollars start coming. We just keep doing things to educate the people about the program."
Dickson has done amazing things since coming on board in 1999, when he had a list with 50 kids' names on it. This year, the goal is to field 86 teams on which those 1,300 kids will play.
"When I started, my goal was 500 kids," Dickson said. "We were successful and we just kept growing the program."
Carter also encouraged the youth in attendance to dream, and not worry about failure. He related a story from when he was 7 years old at the conclusion of his Little League summer season.
"I was confident that I would be a Major League Baseball player," he said. "We had our summer banquet with 700 kids. The speaker said, 'If one of you makes it out of here to Major League Baseball, you are the lucky one.' I stood up and looked around the room at all those kids. Then I said, 'All you guys can go home now, because it's going to be me.' I believed it. It took a lot of hard work."
Which made that magical moment in 1993 worth it.
"The biggest moment I got out of hitting that home run was not running the bases," he said. "The biggest thrill was watching a tape of every angle that CBS had of that home run. To see my teammates' and the fans' reaction, that's what I remember most.
"Dreams do come true. I know, because at 7 years old, I was sitting outside my father's gas station and it was the bottom of the ninth. There were two strikes with the bases loaded in the seventh game of the World Series. I hit a home run to win the World Series. You know, [in 1993] there were two guys on and it was Game 6. But it still counts."
And dreams still do come true, thanks to programs like RBI.

Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/

Notes: Dessens is Royals' middle man

02/23/2006
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The back of the bullpen is packed with Ambiorix Burgos, Andrew Sisco and Mike MacDougal.
The rotation is stacked with eight or nine guys.
In between is -- Elmer Dessens.
It's somewhat fitting that Dessens sits alone most mornings in the Royals clubhouse. He's really the only guy with a job as a middle reliever in hand.
Dessens was signed as a free agent, after pitching last season for the Los Angeles Dodgers, strictly to provide a long man in the bullpen.
"It's OK. I like to start more, but I can be a starter or a reliever. It depends what my role is," he said.
Last year, Dessens made 28 appearances, including seven starts, for the Dodgers. He was a rotation regular for the Cincinnati Reds and the Arizona Diamondbacks for four years before morphing into a middle man who occasionally started.
"That was key for him -- his versatility, being able to start and being able to give you quality innings in relief," assistant general manager Muzzy Jackson said. "It saves these other guys -- you don't have to use them too early in the game too often."
As camp goes along, Dessens will be joined by those who don't make the rotation or up-and-coming relievers. The list is long.
Dessens, 35, from Hermosillo, Mexico, has demonstrated what has carried him through nine Major League seasons and two in Japan.
"He's kept his sinker low and located his slider on both sides," catcher John Buck said. "Whatever I read about him, he's fit to a tee."
Full house: Outfielder Reggie Sanders and infielder Esteban German checked in Thursday. That made it 40-for-40 on the winter roster.
Also moving in was non-roster third baseman Alex Gordon.
No, he wasn't back in his hometown of Lincoln, Neb., collecting on that big Powerball payoff.
"I bought gas there once, though," he said.
Gordon won his personal lottery last September, signing for $4 million after being the No. 2 overall pick in June's First-Year Player Draft.
The first full-squad workout will be held at 9:30 a.m. MT on Friday at the Surprise complex.
Mound bound: Left-hander Bobby Madritsch is still throwing long toss from about 150 feet as he recovers from offseason arm surgery. He's scheduled to throw from the mound next week.
Legends game: The 20th annual Legends Charity Baseball Game is scheduled for Sunday at Surprise Stadium.
Hall of Famer Bob Feller is to appear. Ex-Royals include Bob Boone, Russ McGinnis, Ken Phelps and Steve Scarsone.
An Arizona Diamondbacks home run-hitting contest is scheduled for 1 p.m. MT, followed by a celebrity game at 2 p.m.

Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/

Shoulder sound, Bautista back on track

02/23/2006
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- There's no doubt where right-hander Denny Bautista ranks in the mind of catcher John Buck.
"He's got the most exciting arm in camp," Buck said.
That's scintillating stuff for the Royals as they search for five starting pitchers.
Bautista, 25, leaped into the rotation last spring. His first start was a dazzler; he held the Angels to one run in eight innings. He struck out eight and retired 14 straight batters.
"They didn't have no idea," then-manager Tony Pena said accurately.
But Bautista would make just six more starts, leaving the mound in the third inning May 11 at Toronto with shoulder tendinitis. He didn't pitch for the Royals again the rest of the season.
"It never happened. You know, when I was ready to throw and they talked to me and they said, 'OK, we know you're ready but we have to send you to the instructional league,' " he said.
"And I worked hard down there."
Mixed in with his Arizona stay were six injury rehabilitation appearances for Triple-A Omaha. By September, he was ready to pitch for the Royals. But the club decided to be cautious.
"They said, 'We're not going anywhere, so we're not going to use you. We want you for next year,' " Bautista said.
Over the winter, Bautista pitched for Estrellas in the Dominican League. Enduring a slow getaway, he finished 2-4 with a 4.26 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 38 innings.
"I just felt great," he said. "My last outing I was throwing a no-hitter until the eighth inning. And they got one hit."
So far in Surprise, Bautista has kept his well-advertised sinkerball low.
"There's late movement and the ball just gets a second wind -- vooooosh! " Buck said.
Bautista, 6-foot-5, 190 pounds, was plucked from the Baltimore Orioles on June 21, 2004, in exchange for reliever Jason Grimsley. That came just three days before the influx of other young players -- Buck, Mark Teahen, Mike Wood -- in the Carlos Beltran deal.
After Bautista posted a 2.53 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 81 2/3 innings for Double-A Wichita, the Royals thought they had a steal. When he broke camp last year as a starter, they were sure of it.
Then came the shoulder tendinitis.
"It's like something is going on and you don't know what happened," Bautista said.
Manager Buddy Bell remembered the lingering problem.
"There were certain pitches that he threw that kept tweaking it," Bell said. "We changed his arm slot, too, which I don't think helped. His arm was dragging and his arm speed wasn't there."
That's all behind him, Bautista insisted.
"I'd have to say I'm ready right now because I'm feeling so strong in my shoulder. My arm speed is good so everything is fine," he said.
Bell indicated that if Bautista did not make the Royals rotation, he'd probably be sent off to Omaha so he could be a starter instead of working out of the Kansas City bullpen.
It's early but, to hear Bautista, he's ready for April.
"I've got my curveball back and I'm throwing my slider and I've got everything in the zone right now," he said.
"I could go out there for a game right now. My shoulder doesn't hurt anymore."

Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/

Royals searching for talent down under

02/24/2006
MELBOURNE, Australia -- The Royals front office is searching all corners of the globe in an effort to make sure no stone is left unturned in Kansas City's quest to return as American League Central contenders.
Royals president and part-owner Dan Glass, general manager Allard Baird, and Baird's special assistant Louie Medina appointed Kansas City's first Australian scout during a ground-breaking excursion to Melbourne, Australia -- the home of first baseman Justin Huber, who made his Major League debut with the Royals in 2005.
The Royals power brokers hope that the installation of 1996 Atlanta Olympics Australian second baseman Matthew Sheldon-Collins as their newest scout will unearth more Australian talent down under -- and all things going to plan, have them playing in royal blue.
"We hope so, that's our goal," Baird said.
Baird was the prime mover in acquiring Huber in a trade from the New York Mets for infielder Jose Bautista in July, 2004.
With first basemen Mike Sweeney and Ken Harvey sidelined by injury in 2005, Huber got his Major League callup and hit .218 in 78 at-bats to close the season. He was also instrumental in showing his employers around his hometown during their January excursion.
"It was more than worth it just to see the country and hang out with Justin," Glass said.
However, Glass did a whole lot more than hang out. Huber introduced Glass, Baird and Medina to eight prospective candidates before they settled on Sheldon-Collins.
"It was very productive," Glass said hours before the 17-hour flight home from the whirlwind six-day tour of Melbourne.
During the southern project, Glass and Baird appeared on Melbourne radio and at the junior national championships being held outside Melbourne.
"It's not only the acquisition of players, it's promoting the game," Baird said.
Glass said the club will invest in junior baseball and promotion of the game in Australia.
"Putting back into the sport like the Royals organization is doing can only help our sport," Huber said.
Glass echoed Huber's wish for the growth of the game Down Under.
"We have a responsibility to not just take players away from the country. We have the responsibility to give back so that people learn about the sport and respect it," Glass said.
With the appointment of Sheldon-Collins, the Royals now have access to more than 50,000 Australian players -- a baseball hotbed that had gone unnoticed in Kansas City until its acquisition of Huber.
Australia won the silver medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, and will compete in Pool D of the World Baseball Classic against the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Italy.
Huber will be Australia's biggest name at the Classic. Sheldon-Collins, who had overlooked previous approaches from Major League clubs, said the relationship with the Royals will be a win-win situation for Australian baseball and the Royals.
"These guys really have Australian baseball at heart," Sheldon-Collins said. "It's an easy fit that way. I have values on Australian players and the way they should be approached and treated."
While operating as the Royals' Australian scout, Sheldon-Collins will continue in his role as his Australian state's baseball institute head coach.
Sheldon-Collins's coaching position will give the Royals a head-start in identifying future stars. He said an average of five of his students had signed with Major League clubs in each of his 10 years as head coach.
Chances are, a few future signings will belong with the Royals.

Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/

Notes: Royals set tone in full workout

02/24/2006
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Blue skies, a new cast of characters, good health and happiness.
That was the scene as the Royals held their first full-squad workout of Spring Training on Friday.
"It was the best first day of 2006," captain Mike Sweeney said.
Oh, did we mention dry humor?
"No, but it was a good day, a good overall day," Sweeney said. "Guys got their feet wet. And we're seeing our pitchers get their arms healthy. They're going to be the key to our success this year."
This is Sweeney's 11th season of Major League camp with the Royals.
For left-hander Mark Redman it was his sixth spring club in the last six years. He liked the atmosphere.
"Very upbeat, real exciting," Redman said. "I think a lot of guys are happy with the organizational moves, the direction it's taken. Not only the good athletes they brought in, but the camaraderie is good, too. We all fit the same type -- all easy going, no big heads and that's real key."
Manager Buddy Bell presided over an uncharacteristically long one-hour team meeting, then trailed 59 campers onto the Surprise Recreation Campus Field.
"Our goal is to be a playoff team," Bell said. "Everyone has to have a goal and that's what it is. In Spring Training, you're all pretty much in the same position. Some of it is reality, some of it is not."
When you're coming off a 106-loss season, the playoffs are big order.
"I think it can be a realistic goal," Bell insisted.
After the workout, Bell touched on some 2005 spots that were cause for optimism.
"Other than the 19-game losing streak, we actually played pretty well and after we got there, they kind of grew up a little bit," he said.
Bell sees more run scoring and a better defense to go along with a strong bullpen. So finding a rotation that can grind out innings -- and victories -- is essential.
"The bullpen is looking pretty good. That's why we need to get some pretty good innings out of the rotation and use the bullpen right," he said.
Extra games: The need to give the starters enough work has prompted the Royals to schedule three "B" games against the Texas Rangers.
The games will be March 6, 12 and 15 at 10 a.m. MT at the Surprise complex. Also scheduled are simulated games on March 9 and 10.
Harvey on hand: First baseman Ken Harvey, who recently underwent surgery on his left Achilles tendon, checked in and watched part of the workout.
"I just got out of the boot," he said. "It's good to just move around."
Harvey, who has a Minor League contract, won't be ready to play until June.
Quotable: "It's easy to see already the impact our new acquisitions are going to make. The way [Mark] Grudzielanek turns a double play is amazing." -- Sweeney, after Friday's first full-squad workout

Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/

Grud, Mientkiewicz spell defense in KC

02/24/2006
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Buddy Bell's memory was transported back to St. Ignatius School in Cincinnati.
"Sister Mary Ann, she'd be happy with me. She's the teacher I had in the third grade," Bell said.
"She'd be proud of me because I can spell."
Bell, who grew up to be manager of the Kansas City Royals, never expected this kind of spelling test, though.
Grudzielanek. Mientkiewicz.
You don't even have to be spelling-challenged to stumble over those 12-letter names that will appear on the Royals lineup card this season. Mark Grudzielanek is the second baseman, Doug Mientkiewicz is the first baseman.
What nationality is reflected in this alphabetic soup?
"Polish," Mientkiewicz said. "And I'm a little upset that this World Baseball Classic doesn't have a Polish team."
By any name, these new Royals are counted upon to seal up the right side of the infield.
"For at least six months," Mientkiewicz said.
Grudzielanek, 35, and Mientkiewicz, 31, are well aware they are stand-ins until younger players at second (Andres Blanco, Ruben Gotay or Donnie Murphy) and first (Justin Huber) are ready.
Mientkiewicz allows slugger Mike Sweeney to be stashed in the designated hitter role and Matt Stairs to be a backup first baseman and designated hitter. Grudzielanek replaces the six-pack used last year at second base.
The new guys can hit, but it's defense that attracted the Royals.
Mientkiewicz was a Gold Glove winner for the Minnesota Twins.
"I have to do things to separate me from the big boppers of the world," he said. "I've hit .300 twice in this league and I've always been known for my glove. It's something you can't shake, but it's also a compliment because I take pride in catching the ball."
Grudzielanek, in his only season with the St. Louis Cardinals, last year led Major League second basemen with 108 double plays.
"There's nothing better than a double play. It's a rally-killer, an inning-ending play that can really catapult, give you a positive motivation to go into that next inning," he said.
A strong arm -- he played shortstop for the Montreal Expos and Los Angeles Dodgers -- enables him to get the ball to first base quickly and to go deep for outfield relays. He's also known for hanging tough on the pivot, willing to take a hit to complete the double play.
"There's not enough guys like him in the big leagues anymore," Mientkiewicz said. "The guys that play the game the right way, that grind it out day-in and day-out. They don't make excuses, they just want to win."
For his part, Grudzielanek anticipates Mientkiewicz digging out throws for him and the younger flingers, third baseman Mark Teahen and shortstop Angel Berroa.
"That's huge because you don't think about it. I know that through the years I've had somebody who could catch the ball like Derrek Lee and there were other guys who had a little trouble," Grudzielanek said.
Despite his raw talent, he needed some expert help early in his career.
"A few years into Montreal I hooked up with Bucky Dent. He taught me an awful lot and locked me in defensively with your footwork, my angles on the field that you never even hear about," Grudzielanek said.
"I worked with him in the offseason and he cut my errors 70 percent."
Mientkiewicz is known for his side-to-side footwork and his ability to dive and jump back up. Get it over to first base and he'll usually catch it.
For the New York Mets last season, Mientkiewicz was limited to just 87 games because of somewhat odd injuries.
"I popped my hamstring in the on-deck circle of all places. I just bent over in my little stretch routine and felt something snap. ... Then breaking up a double play, I got a knee in my back that cost me a lot of time," he said.
As workouts begin, the prospects are for Grudzielanek, who's right-handed, to bat in the order's second slot behind David DeJesus. Mientkiewicz, who throws right but bats left, figures to be in the lower half.
"I'm a good gap-to-gap hitter," Grudzielanek said. "They play me to the right side because the majority of my balls go over there. I don't get aggressive. I try to wait on the ball a little bit to recognize the pitch a little better. I can hit my hole pretty well."
However, Mientkiewicz also could fit in the No. 2 hole. He's a good contact hitter who also draws a lot of walks.
"I enjoyed hitting in the 2-hole ... I'm not scared to bunt guys over. I love hittin'-and-runnin'. With a guy on first base, I use the hole," he said. "When I get in the middle of the lineup, I get too power conscious."
Wherever Mientkiewicz and Grudzielanek bat, they'll be on that lineup card somewhere.
Now Bell must spell the 12-letter names.
"He can go short, too," Grudzielanek said. "He can just go Grud. Or just G with a straight line all the way across."
That's sort of the approach that Mientkiewicz's wife Jodi takes when she writes a check. Like M---squiggle---squiggle.
"I don't fault her for it. It's not a very fun name to spell all the time," Mientkiewicz said.

Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/

Greinke leaves Royals training camp

02/26/2006
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Pitcher Zack Greinke has left Royals camp for undisclosed reasons.
Greinke was not at Sunday morning's workout and the Royals said he had returned to his Orlando, Fla., home.
There was no indication when Greinke might return.
"I talked to him [Saturday]," manager Buddy Bell said. "He's gone home for personal matters. That's all I can say about it."
Bell declined to say if the matters were related to baseball or family or something else.
"It's none of my business, really," Bell said. "He's just got permission to go home and take care of a few things."
Sources said the Greinke departure was not the result of club discipline.
Greinke was scheduled to pitch a batting-practice session on Saturday, but did not, and the club said only that he wasn't feeling well.
He had met with Bell late last week, including a long session behind closed doors on Thursday.
"He's no different than he has been since I've been here," Bell said.
The other players were told about Greinke's departure during a preworkout meeting on Sunday.
Greinke, 22, is coming off a 5-17 season in which he made 33 starts. He led the American League in losses in his first full Major League season.
If Greinke is gone for an extended period, he could lose his expected spot in the rotation. He and Runelvys Hernandez were figured as starters along with newcomers Mark Redman and Scott Elarton.
"There's no question about the kind of talent he has," Bell said.
But the question remained about why Greinke had left.
"I hate to be so vague," Bell said, "but, hopefully, this will be taken care of, sooner if not later."
General manager Allard Baird shed no additional light on the matter.
"There's no timetable for his return," Baird said. "We'll support him, and we go from there."
Greinke's teammates seemed surprised.
"I didn't hear about it until this morning," said outfielder Emil Brown, a close friend. "I'm going to call him this afternoon. I hope he's OK."
"I don't know much about it," said fellow pitcher Jeremy Affeldt. "Maybe he just needs to take some time away, like some guys have done."
Greinke did not respond to phone messages.
Home run derby: The Royals lost a home run hitting contest to the Texas Rangers on Sunday, 14-8.
Alex Gordon cleared the fences four times for the Royals. That's four more than the Royals contingent hit in last year's contest, when they were shut out.
Lined up: Even before the first Cactus League game, Bell has his basic lineup in mind.
That would be David DeJesus leading off, followed by Mark Grudzielanek, Mike Sweeney and Reggie Sanders. The fifth-through-eighth holes will be filled by Doug Mientkiewicz, Emil Brown, Angel Berroa and Mark Teahen, the order determined in many cases by the opposing pitcher. Batting ninth: John Buck.
The set lineup gives Bell some measure of confidence.
"That's why I'm telling everybody we have a chance to turn things around," he said.
Intrasquad pitching: Denny Bautista and J.P. Howell will be the starting pitchers in Tuesday morning's intrasquad game at the Surprise complex.
Also scheduled to pitch: Mike MacDougal, Ambiorix Burgos, Adam Bernero, Jimmy Gobble, Bobby Keppel, Steve Stemle, Ryan Baerlocher, Juan Cedeno and Brian Bass.
There will be a short intrasquad game on March 1 with Scott Elarton, Mike Wood, Runelvys Hernandez and Joe Mays due to throw.

Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/

Notes: Gordon remains hot topic

02/25/2006
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The e-mails keep arriving at MLB.com.
Where will Alex Gordon open the season? At what position? How's he doing in Spring Training?
"It's nuts," Gordon said Saturday. "There are so many Nebraska-crazed fans. That's all they think about. I guess there's nothing else to do."
Gordon, who collected $4 million as the No. 2 choice overall in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, is one of the University of Nebraska's prized products. He was the third baseman on the Cornhuskers' College World Series team and batted .372.
The questions keep pouring in.
"They should be asking Buddy Bell that," Gordon said.
So far Gordon has played strictly at third base -- there have been just two workouts since his arrival. He's likely to open the season with Double-A Wichita.
"I kind of get the feeling that might happen, but I'm not 100 percent sure," he said.
Gordon has a special assignment Sunday, representing the Royals in a home run-hitting contest against the Texas Rangers. It'll take place about 1 p.m. MT before a celebrity game at Surprise Stadium.
He'll be joined by outfielder Chad Allen and first baseman Chris Richard, also non-roster players. Allen, who last played in the Majors for the Rangers, has 14 career homers (all for the Minnesota Twins).
Richard has 34 Major League homers, including 13 in 2001 and 15 in 2002 for the Baltimore Orioles.
"I'm just there as motivation for him," Allen said, nodding at Gordon. "They brought in an old guy to steady him."
Gordon, in his first pro exposure, had two home runs in the Arizona Fall League.
Catcher Paul Phillips promised to wear a Nebraska Huskers shirt and smuggle the school fight song onto the field.
"I'll have it on my ringtone in my cellphone and when he comes up, I'll turn it on," Phillips said. "I told him I'd bring something to make him smile."
The Rangers will send Kevin Mench, Ian Gac and Adam Hyzdu into the contest.
Dozen sign: Pitcher Zack Greinke and third basemen Mark Teahen were among 12 players who have signed 2006 contracts, the Royals announced Saturday.
The others are infielders Esteban German, Alex Sanchez, Donnie Murphy, Ruben Gotay and Andres Blanco; outfielder Chip Ambres, and pitchers Brian Bass, Juan Cedeno, Leo Nunez and Joel Peralta.
Terms were not disclosed.
Lights, camera ... Teahen, one of the players featured in the team's current advertising campaign, has been making more commercials this week.
What's ahead -- a film career?
"A few directors have called me but I want to make sure it's the right role," Teahen joked.
Falling from cycle: During batting practice at Saturday's FanFest in Surprise, Mike Sweeney recalled his near-miss with hitting for the cycle several years ago.
He needed a triple in his last at-bat, plugged the gap in right-center and then was stopped halfway to third by coach Rich Dauer. Sweeney retreated to second base.
"We were ahead by about five runs so I asked Richie, 'What's the matter?' I told him I needed a triple for the cycle. He said, 'Oh, gosh, my bad.' "
That leaves George Brett as the Royals' last cyclist. He had a single, double, triple and homer on July 25, 1990, at Toronto.
It's been accomplished just six times in team history, twice each by Brett and Frank White and once each by John Mayberry and Fred Patek.

Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/

Donachie gets a taste of Majors

02/26/2006
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Catcher Adam Donachie, who'll turn 22 next Friday, is having his first experience as a non-roster invitee to the Major League Spring Training camp.
A right-handed hitter from Orlando, Fla., Donachie and Matt Tupman are considered top prospects. Donachie, rated the best defensive catcher in the Royals system by Baseball America, can swing the bat, too. Last season for Class A High Desert, he banged 12 homers and 24 doubles in 95 games.
Donachie is acquainted with Royals pitcher Zack Greinke. He hit a home run against Greinke when they were in high school.
On the move: Pitchers Juan Abreu and Erik Cordier showed impressive stuff during Minor League minicamp. Both are 20 years old.
Cordier, who missed last season with a knee injury, comes from Brussels, Wisc., where the weather is too cold for a long high school season. That means it'll take time for him to catch up with other pitchers.
Abreu, from the Dominican Republic, doesn't have that problem. In rookie ball last year, he recorded 52 strikeouts in 52 1/3 innings.
On the pine: Pitcher Matt Campbell, a 2004 pick from the University of South Carolina, is recovering from a strained left shoulder. Infielder Darren Fenster, injured in a spring game a year ago, is coming back from a torn ACL.
Retired at 23: Outfielder Alan Moye has taken voluntary retirement. He hit .309 last year for Class A High Desert with 20 home runs. Moye, 23, was obtained in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds in 2003.
Class of '05: Top pick Alex Gordon is in the Major League camp as a non-roster third baseman. Shortstop Jeffrey Bianchi, the club's second pick, has recovered from a back strain that limited him to 28 games in the rookie Arizona League.
What they're saying: "I wouldn't mind playing there. It's just a half-hour from my house." -- Gordon, on the possibility he could play at Omaha

Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/

Mailbag: Will Royals honor Sweeney?

02/27/2006
Without a doubt. Among other things, Sweeney has led the club in hitting five times, been a five-time All-Star and ranks third in team history with 182 home runs and a .304 batting average. He's second in slugging percentage (.500). He's had a 25-game hitting streak and tied an American League record with RBIs in 13 straight games. Sweeney has spent his entire career in the Royals organization and is the team captain. And he's not finished yet.
Where do you see Alex Gordon starting the season? Is there a chance for him to go to Omaha, which would ignite Royals fever in Nebraska? -- Jeff Z., Omaha, Neb.
He'll probably start the season at Double-A Wichita. If he does well, he could advance to Triple-A Omaha, but don't count on it. The Royals, in recent years, have had a tendency to bring up their hot prospects directly from Wichita while skipping Triple-A. Because of his Nebraska ties, of course, an Omaha move would make sense.
Billy Butler has crushed pitching at every step in the Minors. Will we see him in The Show this year? -- Levi P., Neosho, Mo.
If he does well at Double-A, he might get a callup in September. Before that? Not likely. He needs to learn to play defense somewhere.
Why do the Royals keep drafting positions they already have solidified at the Major League level? -- Andrew E., St. Joseph, Mo.
If a guy can hit, like Gordon or Butler, they'll find a position for him. Both were drafted as third basemen, where Mark Teahen fit in quite well last season, but Gordon has already tried first base and Butler the outfield. Gordon might also wind up in the outfield.
Why do managers wear uniforms while coaches in other sports do not? -- Shannan M., Lee's Summit, Mo.
That dates back to the game's early years, when almost every manager also was in the lineup for every game. It just continued to be a custom. Connie Mack of the Philadelphia A's and Burt Shotton of the Brooklyn Dodgers were two exceptions.
Will Colt Griffin ever develop into the pitcher the Royals expected or will he be a bust? -- Phil G., Springfield, Mo.
Griffin, the first-round pick of 2001, never has prospered. Last year, he had 37 relief outings for Wichita with more walks (43) than strikeouts (36). His days in the organization are probably numbered.
Who will be the Opening Day first baseman -- Sweeney, Matt Stairs or Doug Mientkiewicz? -- Shawn S., Ames, Iowa.
Mientkiewicz, because of his defense.
Has anyone hit that truck out in left field? What Royal do you think has the best shot at hitting it? -- Michael L., Lee's Summit, Mo.
That's a 475-foot shot which only one batter, Bo Jackson, has accomplished at Kauffman Stadium. No one has hit the truck during a game, although Emil Brown got it during batting practice. I'd say Sweeney, though, might have the best shot.
Although there is work to be done, I was impressed with hard-throwing Leo Nunez last year. Where does he fit this year? -- Jordan H., Dodge City, Kan.
Nunez, 22, picked up some weight over the winter and no longer looks like a batboy. He was in 41 games but his 7.55 ERA indicates he needs some polishing at Wichita or Omaha.
Last season I heard of a knuckleball pitcher the Royals had in their farm system. Who was he? -- Lynn L., Lindsborg, Kan.
You're probably thinking of Ryan Jensen, who was 2-11 for Omaha. The Royals didn't have any plans for him so he became a free agent and signed a Minor League deal with the Baltimore Orioles. He's not a true knuckleballer, though, just using it on occasion.
Why do we keep debating the powder blue uniforms when we are the Royals, not the Powder Blues? -- Amy D., Wayne, Neb.
Thank you, Amy.

Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/

Notes: Royals stand in support of O'Neil

02/27/2006
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- All geared up for Buck O'Neil to be elected to the Hall of Fame, there was disappointment in the Royals' clubhouse on Monday. O'Neil didn't make it while 17 others did.
"You've got to be kidding me," said Royals captain Mike Sweeney. "I guess Buck will have to live to be 100 to get elected."
Although O'Neil, 94, was not elected by a committee of 12 historians, the Royals expressed admiration for their former scout and Kansas City icon.
"I don't know if there is enough ink in your pen. He put the Negro League Baseball Museum on the map. He's had a tremendous amount of influence on the impact of that league on baseball and America," Royals general manager Allard Baird said before the vote was announced.
"Just with his presence, he makes you feel good and makes everyone around him feel special. He's one of the few people who's a Hall of Famer before he's elected, just from the way he's treated nationally."
Election, however, will have to wait for him.
"No one has promoted baseball like he's done his whole entire life. He's just been a great ambassador for the game. ... And he's passionate about the game," said Hall of Fame player George Brett.
"I think he has a right to be a little bit bitter, but there's no bitterness in him. That's what makes him such a great ambassador, because he realizes he didn't have the opportunities that some of us white people had, but there's no bitterness in him at all. You know what? He's met the President, he's danced with [Hillary Clinton] and there's no place he'd rather be than right here."
Sweeney, who figured O'Neil was a lock, said: "Buck O'Neil is an ambassador for the game and he's probably the greatest living encyclopedia in the game today. To hear this man tell stories, it's fascinating, like nothing I've ever experienced before. ... He's like listening to a good priest at church. You can listen to him forever."
Greinke report: Pitcher Zack Greinke, who left camp on Saturday, was reported to be at his Orlando, Fla., home but club officials still weren't revealing the reasons for his departure.
"I'm not going to go through a checklist of things, out of respect for Zack and his family, right now. It's not drugs, he wasn't kicked out of camp or anything like that, but I'm not going to keep going through a checklist of things," Baird said.
"It's a personal matter and so, to me, it's personal."
Manager Buddy Bell, who intended to talk to Greinke later Monday, had nothing to add.
Meantime, the Royals are preparing to fill Greinke's spot in the rotation.
Showcase in stadium: Although intrasquad games usually are played on the back lots, the Royals will take over Surprise Stadium for a 1 p.m. MT game on Tuesday.
There will be some front-line pitching candidates going, with Denny Bautista and J.P. Howell leading things off, but there will be little skirmishing by the regular position players.
"I don't like to use those guys in things like this," Bell said.
Short list: Reliever Elmer Dessens would be only the fifth Mexican-born player to appear in a game for the Royals.
Others, according to the club, have been outfielder Jorge Orta (1984-87), infielder German Barranca (1979-80), and pitchers Dennys Reyes (2004) and Aurelio Lopez (1974).

Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/

Baerlocher looks to take next step

02/27/2006
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- About a year before undergoing Tommy John surgery, Royals pitcher Ryan Baerlocher found himself shaking hands with ... Tommy John.
John, who had elbow reconstruction that saved his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, happened to be a Triple-A pitching coach when they met.
"It was kind of odd that a year later I had the surgery that he kind of pioneered," Baerlocher said.
"I didn't really ask him anything, but maybe if I'd have had the surgery done then, I'd have talked to him about it a little bit. But then you just knew the name because other guys had had it done."
Baerlocher, 28, is in his eighth season with the Royals' organization. His career was prolonged by the 2004 surgery and he might be part of the Triple-A Omaha rotation this year.
"It's amazing that they came up with that," he said. "Now it's just a blip on your career where once it used to end your career."
Last season, Baerlocher had a 7-5 record and 3.44 ERA for Wichita, making him the Wranglers' Pitcher of the Year.
"He was our most consistent pitcher," Wichita manager Frank White said. "He did a good job of getting the fastball over with the changeup. He's a great athlete who fields well and does a good job of holding runners on. He never seems to get rattled."
Baerlocher, for Wichita, had 63 strikeouts and 27 walks in 89 innings.
"My arm feels 100 percent," he said. "I can't really complain about it at all."
He has an outstanding changeup.
"Probably the best in this camp," White said.
"It's kind of my equalizer," Baerlocher said. "I'm not a 95-mph guy, high 80s, low 90s. I've got to rely on making the right pitches at the right time. I've got a good enough changeup that I can keep hitters off-balance."
Shaun McGinn, the Royals' senior director of Minor League operations, said that Baerlocher did more than rebuild his elbow during his injury rehabilitation.
"Just from a sideline point of view, during rehab, he learned what was successful for him and what was not. And he added to the quality of his breaking pitches," McGinn said.
Drafted in the eighth round in 1999, Baerlocher left the Royals briefly after the 2001 season. The San Diego Padres made him a Rule 5 Draft pick.
"I got to spend the entire Major League camp with them, then got sent back the last week. I wasn't ready at the time, unfortunately," he said.
"It was just one of those things -- a fun time, a good experience. I just didn't capitalize on it, I guess. I had moments when it felt like I belonged, when it felt like I knew what I was doing. But there were other times when I felt I wasn't ready."
The Padres, rather than keep Baerlocher on their Major League roster for the entire season, returned him to the Royals.
To this day, Baerlocher sometimes has that on-and-off switch twitching.
"There are days when I have a good feel for it, there are some when I feel like I've never played catch before," he said.
He maintains one steady pursuit.
"Still chasin' the dream," he said.

Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/

Brown out to top breakthrough year

02/28/2006
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Emil Brown looked very relaxed in the Royals' clubhouse on Tuesday. He's in a veterans' corner, just a couple of stalls from Reggie Sanders.
Brown was leafing through a magazine.
"I like it, just how everybody gets along," said Brown. "I like that a lot."
A year ago, there was no sense of relaxation for Brown. He was across the room, sitting next to Adrian Brown and some other outfield wannabes. He was wearing No. 73, about as anonymous as he could be.
As he did most every year, Brown was just waiting for the ax to fall and to be shipped off to Triple-A. Abraham Nunez was supposed to play right field.
Then something odd happened. Nunez couldn't hit his weight.
"If he'd have had a decent spring, there would have been no story, because they had him in," said Brown. "So he wasn't doing too well. I was doing my thing, and it just all started working out for me. I started getting more and more at-bats. I guess they wanted to see if I could really hit or not."
Brown started getting some good hacks. General manager Allard Baird noticed how well Brown stayed within the strike zone and refused to chase poor pitches.
Brown's batting average climbed. The right-field job came within his grasp.
"I never once got that confident," said Brown. "With kind of like 10 days left, something like that, I kind of had the feeling it was leaning toward that. But I tried to be real conservative."
He'd been there before, as he was in 2004, with the Cardinals.
"The same thing happened with St. Louis," he said. "Right before we went to St. Louis, I got shipped out. So I kind of had a feeling, but I wasn't 100 percent sure."
Before long, he was. Nunez was put on waivers, and was claimed by the Seattle Mariners. Brown became the Royals' right fielder and had a feast -- 17 home runs, 86 RBIs, a .286 average and a full-time Major League job for the first time in his career.
"One thing about him," said hitting coach Andre David, "is that on every pitch, the pitcher knew he was in for a battle. [Brown] focused on making contact with the baseball. He was locked in."
Yet the question is: Was Brown's breakthrough season, coming at age 30, just a fluke?
"You just wait, you just wait," said Brown. "I can't wait for the season to start. There won't be any more question after this.
"I don't think anybody thought it was a fluke. It's not like I hit 50 or 40 home runs. I mean, I did OK, but I didn't hit 40."
Manager Buddy Bell is keeping a close watch on Brown -- not for glitches in his swing but for glitches in his play around left field, where he's moving to as Sanders takes over in right field.
"The thing about Brownie is he had such a good year offensively," said Bell. "What happens in the Minor Leagues -- and I was talking to him about that this morning -- is you concentrate so much [on offense] because that's how you're going to get to the big leagues.
"And sometimes what happens is you get away from your defensive work because you do so much work offensively. The problem is, when you get to the big leagues, defense becomes such an important issue. And you can get sent back down just as easily because you can't play defense as you can offense. That becomes a big factor."
It was a factor last season, when Brown made 12 errors, the most among Major League outfielders. The suspicion is that he was too often musing about a failure at bat in the previous inning than he was about playing his position.
"I think Brownie just has to re-program himself defensively, because he's very qualified and very athletic, with a good arm," said Bell. "He wants to do it, he just has to concentrate on it."
Brown did contribute nine assists, the seventh-highest total in the American League.
Bell counts himself as a Brown fan. After all, Brown provided the run-parched Royals with team highs in runs scored (75), as well as his 86 RBIs.
"He's great," said Bell, grinning. "I like talking to him. He's a smart kid. He's a real joy to be around -- if he shows up on time. We're working on that part, too."
Brown, wearing No. 35, looks right at home in the clubhouse.
"I'm actually sitting next to Royals players now," he said.

Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/

Notes: Bautista back on the mound

02/28/2006
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Right-hander Denny Bautista finally was back pitching in a game for the Royals on Tuesday.
Sure, it was just an intrasquad game, and he gave up a two-run homer to Ruben Gotay, but at least Bautista was back. Last year he made just seven starts for the Royals before shoulder tendinitis stopped him. After that came six outings for Triple-A Omaha, then nothing more.
"The thing I look at most is the individual pitchers," said manager Buddy Bell. "And I thought Bautista's arm slot was in a great position. It's something we've talked about earlier. Last year his arm slot dropped a little bit, but his arm is in great position right now, and if he keeps it that way, it's going to be tough to keep him out of the rotation."
Bautista gave up the two-run shot to right by Gotay, whose team won, 3-1, in a 5 1/2-inning game. Gotay went 3-for-3, adding a double and a single.
A year ago, Gotay slammed six home runs in Spring Training and won the second-base job with a .360 average. This year his path is blocked by newcomer Mark Grudzielanek.
"I can do better," said Gotay. "The only thing I might change is [that] I'm trying to hit more line drives rather than lift the ball.
"I know they've got Grudzielanek, but if I'd start with the team, I'd love that. But if you go somewhere else, you've just got to keep working hard."
Left-hander J.P. Howell, suddenly thrust into the middle of the rotation picture because of Zack Greinke's absence, was the other starter. John Buck led off with a home run to left-center field against him.
Howell also gave up a single to Justin Huber, one of Huber's two hits.
Bell left a phone message but had not yet talked to Greinke, who went home to Orlando on Saturday for unspecified reasons.
"We have to move on," said Bell. "Unfortunately, we are all replaceable. In his case right now, we move on. We expect him to be back at some point, but we have some thoughts and we can cover that right now.
"I just hope he can come back and be ready to go."
Eight pitchers worked a scoreless inning each -- Mike MacDougal, Ambiorix Burgos, Adam Bernero, Jimmy Gobble, Bobby Keppel, Steve Stemle, Ryan Baerlocher and Juan Cedeno. The other run came against Brian Bass on back-to-back doubles by Shane Costa and Aaron Guiel.
"It doesn't really matter what kind of game it is," said Bell. "They're all just trying to impress all of us at this point."
Coolbaugh out: Mike Coolbaugh, a non-roster third baseman, suffered a broken left wrist after being hit by a Bautista pitch in the first inning. He is expected to miss six to eight weeks.
"Perfect timing, right?" said Coolbaugh. "I'm wearing a hand guard and an elbow guard, and it just hit right between them."
Coolbaugh's is the first major injury of camp.
Hall of Famer George Brett also took a hit when a foul ball banged into his thigh while he was in the dugout. He's bruised but OK.
Simulated game: The Royals will play a simulated game at 11:15 p.m. MT on Wednesday. Scott Elarton, Mike Wood, Runelvys Hernandez and Joe Mays are scheduled to pitch.
The Cactus League season will begin at 1 p.m. MT on Thursday, against the Texas Rangers.

Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/

Notes: Royals ready for Arizona slate

03/01/2006
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Only 194 games to go. That includes 32 in the Cactus League and 162 in regular season. And it doesn't even allow for those playoffs that Royals manager Buddy Bell optimistically sees as a possibility.
The Arizona games will begin at 1:05 p.m. MT on Thursday against the fellow tenant Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium. The two clubs also will play Friday and Saturday afternoon.
Ready to go?
"I am," Bell said. "I can't say enough about the Minor League staff and the Major League staff. They've just been terrific, they've made it so easy for the players. We had had situational stuff today and it was upbeat with a lot of energy. That shows we were able to get a lot done."
Bell will use what might be his Opening Day lineup, led by center fielder David DeJesus, second baseman Mark Grudzielanek, designated hitter Mike Sweeney and right fielder Reggie Sanders.
They'll be followed by first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, left fielder Emil Brown, third baseman Mark Teahen, shortstop Angel Berroa and catcher John Buck.
Two of the pitchers will be Mark Redman and Jeremy Affeldt, both left-handers bidding for rotation spots. Each is scheduled for two innings.
The Rangers' pitchers will include Josh Rupe, Rick Bauer and Thomas Diamond.
Greinke report: General manager Allard Baird said he talked to departed pitcher Zack Greinke by phone on Wednesday.
"He's still tending to his business," Baird said.
Greinke left camp on Saturday because of "personal matters" and returned to his Orlando, Fla., home. The Royals have not specified the nature of those matters.
Hernandez humming: In a simulated game, right-hander Runelvys Hernandez gave up an RBI double to Donnie Murphy but otherwise got through a 20-pitch outing in good shape.
"He had a good changeup and showed a good sinker also," pitching coach Bob McClure said.
Bell saw another improvement in Hernandez.
"He's dropped a few pounds," Bell said.
Scott Elarton and Mike Wood each pitched two scoreless innings; Joe Mays and Luis Cota each had one.
Chris Clapinski singled and Esteban German doubled against Mays but he worked out of the jam.
Off to Classic: The Royals will lose five players from camp Thursday to the World Baseball Classic.
Second baseman Ruben Gotay has been added to the Puerto Rican team. Others are first basemen Justin Huber to Australia, pitcher Elmer Dessens to Mexico and first baseman Matt Stairs and outfielder Aaron Guiel to Canada. Minor League pitcher Barry Armitage already is with the South Africa team.
Japan visitor: Former Japan League infield star Kenny Nomura is with the Royals' coaching staff.
"He wanted to get an idea about American Spring Training and techniques," Baird said.

Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/

Re-location key to Redman's repertoire

03/01/2006
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Ah, those memories of the 2003 season. Mark Redman won 14 games for Florida. He started a World Series game for the Marlins. And those off-day workouts ...
Redman would show up at the ballpark and, sure enough, septuagenarian manager Jack McKeon would be working out the kinks, too.
"Jack would just be walking around that infield with a cigar in his mouth and exercising in these tight, boxer shorts with no shirt on. With a cigar. Talk about a contradiction," Redman said.
"There was a hot tub out in center field for a promotion. He'd jump in the hot tub after his 'workout' and it was real distracting. But I'll tell you what, to this day, I love Jack McKeon."
Redman has seen a lot in his seven-year Major League career. His horizons, in fact, expand to six teams in six years with his arrival in Kansas City.
He's been traded five times and has played for Minnesota, Detroit, Florida, Oakland and Pittsburgh. He grew up around San Diego, he was an All-American at the University of Oklahoma and he threw a no-hitter in the Alaska League.
He's faced every Major League club and pitched in 32 big league ballparks. Yeah, he's been around.
"After your first trade, you kind of get used to that. You understand it's a business and you're a commodity and you're needed here and needed there. Would I like to stay in one spot? Yeah, I'd like to stick with one team and ride it out," he said.
It fits right into his profile when you ask him what's his best pitch?
"Location," he said. "I have to be dominant and go out there and pitch six or seven or eight innings to give a team a chance to win. You have to have two of your three pitches working that night and, if you have three, it just makes it that much easier."
Location, location, location. It goes with pitching as well as real estate.
"He's not going to overpower you," general manager Allard Baird said. "He's got to have command of the fastball. His ability to create ground balls last year was a real plus for us."
So you had to wonder why, in his first bullpen workout this spring, pitches were dropping into the turf several feet shy of catcher John Buck.
"It was the first time he threw a breaking ball since his broken finger," Buck said.
Redman was bunting in St. Louis last Sept. 12 when a pitch broke the index finger on his left hand. Redman's a lefty and so his season was over.
The infusion of Redman, Scott Elarton and Joe Mays gives the Royals' prospective rotation a collective background of 557 Major League games. That's a lot of think power.
"It'll be good. I won't have to think for two of us to try to figure out what works," Buck said.
Redman's charge is to parlay his experience into a lot of innings, seances with younger pitchers and, of course, victories. No Royals pitcher has won more than 10 games since Paul Byrd's 17 in 2002.
"I see him as a legitimate American League pitcher," said right fielder Reggie Sanders, who faced Redman often last season in the National League.
"You can easily take him lightly because he's not a hard thrower, but don't take him lightly. He's smart."
Redman, for a California guy, feels a certain kinship with Royals history. His wife, Brandi, has him settled not far away from Kansas City in Tulsa, Okla.
"I grew up in San Diego but my wife's family grew up in Oklahoma and, boy, did they watch the Royals. The Royals were the team to watch. When you think Royals, you expect to win," he said.
Redman got a special kick when Royals heroes Frank White and George Brett joined the spring workouts.
"I'm excited to see these guys. You see a lot of history on ESPN Classic on them and what they've done for the game. And with what they've done for this organization, it's a real privilege to have them around," Redman said.
"Even though I'm a pitcher, I like to listen to George talk about pitches and what he did and didn't like. It helps me."
He sees the influx of veteran players on a young team as a plus.
"It's definitely going to bring a better atmosphere. I'm not going to tell you it's going to bring a World Series title to the team, but it's definitely a step in the right direction," Redman said.
"I can't really tell you what a World Series team is. You look at a team like the Yankees that can pay for anything they want, but they haven't won in a few years. It's not what talent you can pay for but what the talent can do for 162 games, day in and day out, grinding dirt."
Redman will be pitching Thursday as the Royals open their Cactus League schedule against the Texas Rangers.
Light up a cigar in honor of Jack McKeon.

Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/