Royals Smash Four Home Runs Against A's

Daily Clips

March 28, 2017 March 28, 2017 By Lee Judge/KC Star LOCAL http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns- blogs/judging-the-royals/article141183338.html Royals smash four home runs against Kauffman Stadium is home to two of A's the craziest ballpark foods, says USA March 27, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan & Jane Today Lee/MLB.com March 27, 2017 By Joyce Smith/KC Star http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/221141230/four-royals- http://www.kansascity.com/news/business/biz-columns- homer-against-athletics/ blogs/cityscape/article141118228.html Royals going with Mondesi at second base MINORS March 27, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/221088558/raul- mondesi-wins-royals-second-base-job/ O'Brien & Alexander Optioned to Royals' moves open door for Moylan Omaha in 'pen Three players optioned to Omaha, six reassigned March 27, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com by Royals http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/221123536/royals- March 27, 2017 By Andrew Green/Omaha Storm moves-make-room-for-peter-moylan/ Chasers Soler might open season on disabled http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp? ymd=20170327&content_id=221117082&fext=.jsp&vkey=n list ews_t541&sid=t541 Royals' offseason acquisition has oblique strain March 27, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/221088776/jorge-soler- NATIONAL may-start-season-on-disabled-list/ Time running out for core as free Cleveland Indians aim to follow agency nears Kansas City Royals' blueprint March 27, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com March 27, 2017 By Matthew Florjancic/WKYC.com http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/221046372/royals-core- http://www.wkyc.com/sports/mlb/indians/cleveland-indians- could-move-at-trade-deadline/ aim-to-follow-kansas-city-royals-blueprint/425859340 Royals hit four homers, hammer A’s MLB TRANSACTIONS 10-3 March 28, 2017 •.CBSSports.com March 27, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city- royals/article141127803.html Royals’ Jorge Soler strains oblique, LOCAL could begin season on disabled list March 27, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star Royals smash four home runs against http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city- A's royals/article141092728.html March 27, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan & Jane Raul Mondesi wins starting second Lee/MLB.com base job for the Royals http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/221141230/four-royals- homer-against-athletics/ March 27, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city- Mike Moustakas, Paulo Orlando, Brandon Moss and Alcides royals/article141000463.html Escobar homered for the Royals, who tagged A's No. 4 Reliever Peter Moylan poised to fill starter Andrew Triggs for eight runs in a 10-3 victory at the final opening in the Royals’ Hohokam Stadium on Monday afternoon. bullpen Triggs allowed three of the homers, and eight hits overall, in March 27, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star just 3 2/3 innings in his second-to-last tuneup before his http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city- scheduled April 6 season debut against the Angels. The right- royals/article141034383.html hander also walked a pair of batters and unleashed a wild If you’re bored, do what baseball pitch. coaches do: play a little fungo golf Royals No. 4 starter Jason Vargas, meanwhile, enjoyed a March 27, 2017 By Lee Judge/KC Star seven-inning outing. The left-hander allowed two runs on http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns- seven hits -- including A's prospect Matt Chapman's third blogs/judging-the-royals/article140987333.html homer of the spring -- while striking out five. The story behind the most memorable Kansas City posted five runs in a third inning that included a play of the 2014 World Series solo shot from Moustakas and a two-run homer off the bat of Orlando. Raul Mondesi, awarded the starting second base job mean, that day. Trout is Trout. I'm not saying Mondi is Trout. Monday, capped the frame with a two-run double. But the best player on the field that day -- Mondi was right there with him." Moustakas, Escobar and Lorenzo Cain turned in multi-hit games for the Royals. Mondesi received congratulations from Merrifield and Colon in the clubhouse Monday morning. Royals up next:The Royals return to Surprise Stadium on Tuesday as right-hander Nathan Karns, the No. 5 starter, will "First of all, thank God for the opportunity," Mondesi said. take the mound against the White Sox in a 3:05 p.m. CT start "They are great guys. They came to me and congratulated in a game shown live on MLB.TV. Closer Kelvin Herrera me. I wish the best for them, too." and left-hander Travis Wood also are expected to pitch. Mondesi admits he came to camp determined. Athletics up next: A's fifth starter Raul Alcantara will make his final start in the desert Tuesday in a road matchup with "I worked hard all offseason on the little things," he said. the Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium, with first pitch "Nothing is impossible. I wanted to come here and play small scheduled for 1:05 p.m. PT. Right-hander Liam Hendriks is ball. I wanted to forget those big swings I usually have. also scheduled to pitch in the game, which will be shown live That's not my game. I need to get on base and steal bases." on MLB.TV. Royals' moves open door for Moylan Royals going with Mondesi at second in 'pen base March 27, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com March 27, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/221123536/royals- http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/221088558/raul- moves-make-room-for-peter-moylan/ mondesi-wins-royals-second-base-job/ The Royals made several roster moves Monday morning that The intense and complicated battle for the Royals' second- appear to pave the way for veteran reliever Peter Moylan to base job is over. Manager Ned Yost named 21-year-old Raul emerge with the final bullpen spot. Mondesi his starter Monday morning. The Royals optioned left-hander Scott Alexander, and Mondesi, the surprise of camp who is hitting .378, beat out outfielders Billy Burns and Peter O'Brien to Triple-A Omaha. Christian Colon, Cheslor Cuthbert and Whit Merrifield. Cuthbert likely has the team made as the primary backup to The Royals also assigned pitchers Al Alburquerque, Yender third baseman Mike Moustakas, who is coming off right Caramo, Malcom Culver and Eric Stout to Minor League ACL surgery this past May and could be brought along camp, along with catcher Zane Evans and infielder Humberto slowly in April. Arteaga.

Kansas City, though, still has another decision to make: Who With Alburquerque, Caramo and Alexander out of camp, will win the roster battle between Colon and Merrifield? Moylan, 38, appears to be the last man standing for the seventh and final bullpen spot. Moylan, who had a 3.43 ERA "That will probably go right down to the end," Yost said. in 50 appearances in 2016, is on a Minor League deal and the Royals would have to make a corresponding roster move. Merrifield has options, Colon does not. Moylan's opt-out date is Tuesday. "It makes the decision tough," Yost said. Soler might open season on disabled Mondesi was barely in the conversation for the second-base list job when camp opened in mid February. Royals' offseason acquisition has oblique strain March 27, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com "But the more we saw him play this spring," Yost said, "we http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/221088776/jorge-soler- knew we had to keep an open mind. Mondi came in and did a may-start-season-on-disabled-list/ great job and just won the job outright." Royals outfielder Jorge Soler sustained an oblique strain in The Royals already knew of Mondesi's elite speed and his final at-bat in a Minor League game on Sunday and could defensive skills. But they saw a different player this spring start the regular season on the disabled list, manager Ned than the one who was overmatched at the plate in a two- Yost said. month callup in late 2016. An MRI on Monday showed Soler, who was acquired in the "He can impact a game in so many ways," Yost said. "He can offseason in a trade with the Cubs for closer Wade Davis, impact it with his defense, his legs, his power, his ability to had suffered a grade one strain. As a result, he will be shut bunt." down for five to seven days. The Royals were not certain whether Soler would remain in extended Spring Training. Mondesi showed that ability over the weekend. He hit a walk-off home run Saturday, his third homer this spring, then The injury is to Soler's left side. he stole three bases in the Royals' 9-8 win over the Angels on Sunday. "We don't know the extent of it," Yost said. "But in all probability, it looks like a DL stint." Yost gushed about Mondesi's skill set Monday morning. Soler, expected to be the starting right fielder, had been "I'm not so sure who was the best player on the field having a rough spring offensively, hitting .143 with two [Sunday]," Yost said. "Was it [Mike] Trout or Mondi? I home runs in 49 at-bats. way to sign Gordon to a long-term deal. That could happen If Soler goes on the disabled list, it could open up a roster with any of the four pending free agents, all four of whom spot for speedy outfielder Terrance Gore. have expressed a desire to stay long-term with the Royals.

"We haven't made any decisions and we won't likely make The question becomes which of the four makes the most any until right up to the end," Yost said. "But Gore is more sense to keep. than just a baserunning weapon. He can defend and his offense is getting better." Hosmer: The sabermetrics community has long been down Time running out for core as free on his value, suggesting his defense (three American League Gold Glove Awards) and offense (career-high 25 homers, agency nears 104 RBIs in 2016) are overrated. The Royals' coaching staff March 27, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com and front office openly laugh at those suggestions and point http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/221046372/royals-core- to Hosmer's leadership qualities and clutch performances in could-move-at-trade-deadline/ the postseason, including in the recent World Baseball Classic. A long-term deal is still very much a possibility. It has been well-documented that, to some degree, the Royals' window of opportunity could close after 2017. Moustakas: Even though the Royals have a suitable backup in Cheslor Cuthbert, Moustakas was a key element to the At one point this past offseason, the Royals had six major 2014 and '15 World Series trips. A more vocal leader than members of their core set to become free agents after 2017. Hosmer, Moustakas, as one Royals coach said recently, One of those, closer Wade Davis, was traded for Cubs "simply wants to win more than your guy. You can't put a outfielder Jorge Soler. Another, left-hander and staff ace sabermetric value on that." Solid chance the Royals find a Danny Duffy, signed a five-year, $65 million extension. way to keep him.

Still, four players from the 2015 World Series championship Cain: This one is a little more difficult to analyze. He is the club -- shortstop Alcides Escobar, center fielder Lorenzo engine that often makes the Royals go, and his value was Cain, first baseman Eric Hosmer and third baseman Mike obvious last season when he had to miss the final five weeks Moustakas -- will become free agents after this season unless because of a hand/wrist injury and the Royals subsequently they sign extensions. faded from contention. But he'll be 31 in April with a long history of injuries, thus a tough sell to commit long-term. So, will the Royals and general manager Dayton Moore be big sellers when the non-waiver Trade Deadline looms in late Escobar: Royals fans have long been frustrated with his July? It's possible. Even Moore conceded in Spring Training impatience at the plate (.297 career on-base percentage), but that the Royals at the very least will have to consider moving Escobar has been regarded as a solid defender (one Gold one or more of those players if the team suddenly falls out of Glove Award) who is durable (averaging close to 156 games contention in July. per season since 2010). But the Royals have Raul Mondesi waiting in the wings. But here's the big question: Would the Royals consider a fire Royals hit four homers, hammer A’s sale? For one thing, Moore is a fighter, and while he has acknowledged that he can't keep all of his pending free 10-3 agents, he will battle to keep one or two. March 27, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city- Second, Moore and his staff will not just punt the season if royals/article141127803.html they are even remotely in range of a postseason spot. Remember 2014, when the Royals were seven games out of The warm temperatures, dry air and pristine conditions here first in late July and many national scribes and bloggers were can turn any afternoon in the Cactus League into a hitter’s adamant that the Royals should sell at the Trade Deadline? paradise. On Monday at Hohokam Stadium, the Royals tested Moore held ground, didn't trade any of his core, and the the theory, hitting the Oakland A’s with an onslaught of Royals made the postseason and ultimately got to Game 7 of power. the World Series. The blitzkrieg included four homers, three doubles and 12 Conversely, Moore and his staff could very well become hits. The Royals rode the offensive production to a 10-3 buyers at the Trade Deadline if they are in the hunt for a victory over the Oakland A’s. postseason spot. Mike Moustakas finished 2 for 4 and hammered his fifth "We know this team and what it is capable of," Moore said homer of the spring. Paulo Orlando, Brandon Moss and early in spring. "The core group knows what it takes to win a Alcides Escobar also supplied long balls. championship, and we will do whatever we can in our power to win another championship." “Big day offensively,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.

That does not sound like a man thinking a whole lot about In all, the club has piled up 44 homers in Cactus League play, selling in late July. surpassing the 41 long balls hit last spring. The number includes three from Brandon Moss, an offseason acquisition The other factor that would dissuade Moore and his staff who started slowly this spring before homering in back-to- from selling is that just because his four pending free agents back days. On early Monday morning, he cited a minor will file this fall, it doesn't mean they won't end up being mechanical adjustment involving his head placement. For Royals anyway. two days, he appeared settled in at the plate.

Two years ago, Alex Gordon filed for free agency, and while “He’s getting locked in right now, pretty good,” Yost said. many observers assumed he was long gone, Moore found a The Royals (16-13-1) will finish their Cactus League designated hitter Brandon Moss as a depth option in the schedule with consecutive home games against the Chicago outfield. White Sox and Texas Rangers on Tuesday and Wednesday. Acquired from the Chicago Cubs in an offseason trade for The arms closer Wade Davis, Soler had started slowly in his first spring with the Royals. He has batted just .143 (7 for 49) Starting pitcher Jason Vargas gave up just two runs while with two homers in 17 Cactus League games. scattering seven hits across seven innings. In the last two weeks, he had begun playing in minor-league Vargas will make one final tune-up appearance this weekend games in an effort to rack up additional at-bats. On Sunday, in Texas before his first start of the regular season on April 7 he suffered the injury while reaching for a pitch out of the in Houston. On Monday, he threw 95 pitches, finishing with strike zone in his last at-bat, Yost said. five strikeouts and zero walks. “He went for a down-and-away pitch,” Yost said. “He felt it.” In six starts this spring, Vargas has allowed 10 earned runs in 20 1/3 innings. But in his last two outings, he’s yielded just Soler was expected to begin the season as the Royals’ starter four runs in 10 1/3 innings. in right field, but the injury could cause him to miss significant time. The most serious oblique strains can require For now, he appears ready to begin his first full season since up to six weeks of recovery. Last year, outfielder Jarrod undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2015. Dyson suffered a grade 2 oblique strain in a Cactus League game on March 2. He did not make his season debut until “We really don’t got any choice now,” Vargas said. “But at April 19. Soler’s grade 1 strain is a milder version of the this point, I think we’ve put in the work to go out there and injury. compete in our division for sure. I think we got a real good opportunity this year to get back to where we want to go.” For Soler, the strain is the latest setback in a career that has been hampered by an assortment of nagging muscle injuries. Reliever Kelvin Herrera surrendered two hits and a walk in the eighth inning before getting out of a bases-loaded jam Before making his major-league debut in 2014, he sustained with no damage done. strains to his left and right hamstrings, which caused him to miss more than two months of action. He also suffered an Chris Young allowed a run in the ninth, though he was a hurt oblique strain in 2015 that sidelined him for more than three by a soft single down the left-field line that could have been weeks in late August and early September. caught. It fell in between shortstop Humberto Arteaga and third baseman Christian Colon. The same season, Soler also missed close to five weeks because of a left ankle sprain. He injured the ankle while The regular guys awkwardly stepping on first base during a close play.

On the day he officially won the starting job at second base, Last season, the hamstring issues resurfaced. Soler strained Raul Mondesi lashed an opposite-field double off the wall in his left hamstring on June 6 in Philadelphia and did not play left-center. He finished 1 for 3 with two RBIs. again until Aug. 5. He finished the season healthy, helping the Cubs defeat the Cleveland Indians in the World Series. Lorenzo Cain did not hit a homer Monday, but he had a Raul Mondesi wins starting second stellar day at the plate nonetheless. He finished 2 for 3 with a double and a walk and raised his spring average to .286. base job for the Royals Royals’ Jorge Soler strains oblique, March 27, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city- could begin season on disabled list royals/article141000463.html March 27, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city- In the end, the Royals could not ignore the precocious talent royals/article141092728.html of Raul Mondesi.

Just eight days before opening day, Royals outfielder Jorge On Monday morning, seven days before Opening Day, Soler’s spring hit a familiar and painful snag. Royals manager Ned Yost announced that Mondesi would be the club’s starting second baseman when the season begins Soler, 25, strained an oblique muscle while competing in a next week in Minnesota. Once viewed as an afterthought in a minor-league game Sunday afternoon, Royals manager Ned four-man competition and likely headed for Class AAA Yost said. He underwent an MRI on Monday and was Omaha, Mondesi, 21, delivered a sterling performance all diagnosed with a grade 1 strain. spring, beating out Whit Merrifield, Christian Colon and Cheslor Cuthbert. Soler was expected to be shut down for five to seven days before beginning a rehab program. He will likely begin the “He went from, in our mind, day one of spring training, season on the 10-day disabled list, though Yost said the club going back to Class AAA, to outright winning the job,” Yost was still discussing the decision as of Monday afternoon. said.

“Is it a DL thing?” Yost said Monday morning. “It very well The news shook up a Royals camp that has been largely free could be.” of significant intrigue or surprises. Yet it was not the only development with roster implications on Monday. Yost also The injury could allow Paulo Orlando to assume the starting revealed that outfielder Jorge Soler sustained a strained job in right field as the season begins. The club also has oblique during a minor-league game on Sunday. Soler was diagnosed with a grade 1 strain — the mildest version — after an MRI on Monday. Club officials anticipated that he speed and base running. They believe in his defense. They would likely begin the season on the 10-day disabled list. believe in his ability to bunt and create havoc.

Mondesi’s ascension and Soler’s injury added some mystery “As long as he realizes,” Yost said, “that all he has to do is — and some clarity — to the Opening Day roster picture. do something every day to help us win a game. It’s not about Yost said that Merrifield and Colon were informed they were the batting average. It’s about the defense. It’s about the base still competing for a final bench spot, while Cuthbert appears running. Maybe putting down a bunt. Maybe it’s getting a hit safely on the roster. and stealing second.”

In theory, the injury to Soler could allow the Royals to keep As spring training began, Mondesi said he bought into the Merrifield and Colon. But outfielder Terrance Gore has role. He sought to cut down on the “big swings” that caused emerged as a frontrunner to occupy a bench role when the him problems in the past. He focused on playing “small ball.” season begins. The Royals covet Gore’s late-game speed and For now, he said, he will continue doing just that. club officials have been impressed with his defensive improvement. Paulo Orlando will be in position to open the “I work a lot in the offseason, so I never put my head down,” season as the starting right fielder, while designated hitter Mondesi said. “I just came here and kept working hard and Brandon Moss could also offer outfield depth. But Gore doing my little things. Nothing is impossible. Just put God in could offer value as a pinch runner and possible defensive front and play hard every day.” replacement. Reliever Peter Moylan poised to fill As he sat inside his office on Monday, Yost conceded that the final opening in the Royals’ the decision on Merrifield or Colon features some simple bullpen calculus. Merrifield has options remaining, meaning he can March 27, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star be sent to Omaha without being placed on waivers. Colon http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city- does not have options. royals/article141034383.html “I’ve told them both this,” Yost said. “ ‘You’ve got options. Reliever Peter Moylan is positioned to take the final You don’t.’ ” unoccupied spot in the Royals’ bullpen. The decision could come down to the final days. There is less The club announced Monday that left-hander Scott debate on who will command the majority of the playing Alexander was optioned to Class AAA Omaha, while time at second base. relievers Yender Caramo, Eric Stout and Al Alburquerque were re-assigned to minor-league camp. After making his major-league debut in the 2015 World Series, Mondesi, a former top prospect, made his regular The moves left Moylan, right-handed reliever Seth Maness season debut last July, batting .185 with 48 strikeouts and six and catcher Brayan Peña as the only non-roster invitees walks in 149 plate appearances. He often looked remaining in camp. Maness, a former reliever with the St. overmatched at the plate. His pitch recognition and selection Louis Cardinals, is recovering from elbow surgery and will appeared raw. He appeared headed for Omaha in 2017, make his first spring appearance this week. He’s close to another assignment to refine his approach at the plate. three weeks behind the rest of the staff, Royals manager Ned Yost said. But then spring training began, and Mondesi began to turn heads and change minds. His elite speed remained a weapon. Moylan, 38, posted a 3.43 ERA in 44 2/3 innings while His defensive potential was apparent. He produced at the making 50 appearances for the Royals in 2016. A submarine- plate, entering Monday hitting .372 (16 for 43) with two style right-hander, he waited most of the offseason for a homers and three doubles. major-league contract. When that contract did not materialize, he returned to the Royals on a minor-league deal. To ascribe too much meaning to Cactus League numbers is He now appears poised to begin the season in the bullpen. often a foolish endeavor. But the Royals believe the choice was clear. If Moylan is added to the roster, the club would have to make a corresponding move to create room on the 40-man roster. “I don’t even look at the numbers,” Yost said. “For me, I Moylan’s minor-league deal has an opt-out clause that takes knew this kid was talented. But he had to mature and grow up effect on Tuesday. The Royals can block the move by placing and believe in his abilities.” him on the 40-man roster. On Monday morning, as he turned a corner inside the Royals In eight appearances this spring, he has allowed just one clubhouse, Mondesi stopped in front of his locker. Yost had earned run and eight hits. He’s struck out six and walked one. just delivered the news, and a collection of reporters awaited He also missed part of camp while competing for his native him. Catcher Brayan Peña emerged from across the room and Australia in the World Baseball Classic. delivered a violent fist bump. Mondesi smiled. Moylan would join Chris Young, Travis Wood, Mike Minor, “First of all,” Mondesi said, “thank God for the opportunity Joakim Soria, Matt Strahm and Kelvin Herrera in the Royals’ and the Royals.” bullpen. Mondesi is expected to play close to every day and bat In other expected moves, the Royals optioned outfielders somewhere near the bottom of the lineup. On Monday, Yost Billy Burns and Peter O’Brien to Class AAA Omaha and said he was “90 percent” on having left fielder Alex Gordon reassigned catcher Zane Evans and infielder Humberto return to the leadoff spot. But for now, the Royals are less Arteaga to minor-league camp. concerned with Mondesi’s bat and more focused on his ability to impact a game on a daily basis. They believe in his O’Brien had a strong camp, hitting seven homers in 27 the fungo golf equivalent of chipping onto a green and games. But he had little opportunity to make the club because ending up close to the pin. of a looming roster crunch. The Royals plan to use Brandon Moss at designated hitter and Paulo Orlando and Jorge Soler Tag in right field. Even after a oblique injury to Soler, there is little room for O’Brien. The club rarely pinch hits and would The first contestant hits a ball — a.k.a. the “rabbit” — and prefer to carry outfielder Terrance Gore as a specialist off the the next contestant tries to hit the rabbit. If he misses the bench. rabbit, the next guy can win by hitting a fungo between the If you’re bored, do what baseball two previous fungos. coaches do: play a little fungo golf I was better at hitting fungos than Rusty expected me to be, March 27, 2017 By Lee Judge/KC Star mainly because Rusty’s expectations were so low. But that http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns- didn’t prevent me from swinging and missing completely on blogs/judging-the-royals/article140987333.html one fungo (and I’d really like to thank Star videographer John Sleezer for making sure that shot was included). Today is Monday and the Royals clubhouse will open at 9 a.m. At 10 a.m. the players will be on the field to stretch and But I have an excuse; I was wearing a GoPro camera after that they’ll play catch, work on a fundamental — like strapped to my chest and I’m pretty sure that threw my swing cutoffs and relays — and then take batting practice. At 1:05 off. I didn’t have to wear it — we didn’t use any shots from p.m. the Royals will play a baseball game. the GoPro — but wearing it provided me with an excuse if things went bad. This is what the Kansas City Royals have been doing pretty much every day since spring training began in February. Winners prepare to win; losers prepare excuses.

The players and coaches spend most of their waking hours at So if you’re coaching a kid’s baseball team this summer and the ballpark and because they do the same thing every day, you and the other coaches get bored, try a little fungo golf. every day seems like Groundhog Day. They lose track of time; ask a player what day of the week it is and there’s a But make sure you strap a camera to your chest so you have good chance he won’t know. an excuse for losing.

Big-league baseball is pretty glamorous, but if you’re lucky How accurate is scorekeeping? enough to be allowed backstage, you’ll see how bored people can get. A while back the Royals were playing the Brewers when Christian Colon hit what could have been scored a single or So when a reporter comes up with something goofy and an error. During spring training, they don’t use official different, players and coaches usually welcome the break in scorers, so the scorekeeping is usually done by front-office monotony. guys.

A while back I wanted to see how accurate outfield coach What I assume was a Brewers front office-guy turned to the Rusty Kuntz was when he hit fly balls to outfielders, so I rest of us in the press box and asked what we thought. stuck a frying pan down my pants to see if he could hit it from halfway across the field — and he did. One fellow said it was an error, and then the front-office guy turned and looked at us (and by “us,” I mean me and 610 But after that, Rusty wasn’t done playing. sports radio’s Brad Fanning). Brad said: “Give him a hit,” and that’s what happened. He had some more fungo games to show me and that’s what you’ll see in this video. These are games the coaches play The next morning, we told Colon how he got his hit and he when they’re on the field early, waiting for the players to fist-bumped us and said: “I love you guys!” arrive. I’ve also seen official scorers make sketchy decisions during Catcher Fungo the regular season. I’ve seen unsuccessful bunts for hits scored as sacrifices, doubles scored as triples and stolen I’m not sure that’s the right name for this game, because bases scored as defensive indifference. Rusty didn’t tell me. If I were a better reporter I would have asked, but I was too busy worrying about getting hit in the If the scorekeeping decision is questionable enough, someone frying pan. is likely to have a talk with the scorekeeper ... and rulings get changed on a fairly regular basis. Rusty had me get down in a catcher’s stance and then tried to hit me a fungo that I could catch without coming out of my So keep that in mind: If you like to view baseball through stance. If he short-hopped me, my only protection would be numbers, remember that a lot of those numbers start with a quick hands, which means I had no protection at all. scorekeeper who may or may not know what he’s doing.

Not to worry; Rusty hit a ball right into my glove on his It’s comforting to think things are well-thought out — second try. reporters know what they’re talking about, Wins Above Replacement accurately reflects a player’s worth and God Fungo Golf has a plan for us — but from what I’ve seen, things are a lot more random than we think. Pick an object — a base, a dugout opening, a ball bag — and The story behind the most memorable whoever hits a fungo closest to it wins the hole. You can also pick an object close to you and test your “touch and feel.” It’s play of the 2014 World Series March 28, 2017 By Lee Judge/KC Star http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns- The guy playing third for the Angels was only checking the blogs/judging-the-royals/article141183338.html runner once and the Royals took advantage of that.

I might be a little late with this story — about two and a half The infielder checked Merrifield before the pitch was years late — but I just heard it this spring and I figure better delivered and saw Merrifield just shuffling along, expanding late than never. his secondary lead. But once the infielder looked back at home plate, Merrifield broke for third base. If you’re a Royals fan you already know how Game 7 of the 2014 World Series ended: Alex Gordon hit what should have The infielder failed to take a second look after the pitch was been a single and the San Francisco Giants misplayed the ball delivered, so by the time he realized Merrifield was going, so badly Gordon wound up on third base. Merrifield was gone.

Thousands of Royals fans wished third base coach Mike And since the Angels were playing a shift and the infielder Jirschele had waved Gordon home … and so did one San was so far from the bag, it was no contest; Merrifield blew Francisco Giant. past the flat-footed infielder and stole third without a throw.

After the Giants outfield kicked the ball around a while, it And the Royals changed the scouting report wound up in the hands of shortstop Brandon Crawford. I went back and looked at the play again and Crawford was Even if the Royals never use a delayed steal of third base ready to throw home just as Gordon was arriving at third during the regular season, scouts saw them do it in spring base. But after Jirschele stopped Gordon at third, Crawford training. just tossed the ball back into the infield. Those scouts will now warn their teams that a delayed steal After that, Salvador Perez popped out to end the game and of third while in a left-handed shift is a possibility. And just start the second-guessing of Jirschele’s decision. maybe those teams will quit playing a shift — or at least modify their shift — against a left-handed hitter with a Jirschele later asked Crawford why he didn’t fire the ball runner on second base. home; if Crawford had made that throw, fans would have seen that Gordon would have been out easily and Jirschele Even a failed attempt at a bunt can buy you a lot of at-bats wouldn’t have been on the hot seat. with the third baseman in on the grass. That cuts down on his range and makes it easier to slap the ball past him. But Crawford said he was just waiting for Jirschele to send Gordon. Show everybody that you’re willing to try something and everybody has to take that into account. If Jirschele had waved Gordon home, Crawford thought he could throw Gordon out. How the Royals middle infield helps prevent injury to the Royals outfield So the guy who would have had to make the play thought he could make it and wanted the opportunity. On Monday the Royals made it official and named Raul Mondesi their starting second baseman. With Alcides Most of the questioning of Jirschele’s decision to hold Escobar at short and Mondesi at second, Royals outfielders Gordon seemed to come from non-baseball players. I haven’t can play deeper because Esky and Mondy have such good met anyone in the game who thought Jirschele should have range going back on the ball. sent Gordon home. Playing deep allows the outfielders to cutoff more doubles, If Jirschele had waved Gordon home, Gordon would have but it also means there’s less chance an outfielder will run been out and it wouldn’t have been close. into a wall going full speed; because they’re playing deep the outfielders will have more time to get under the ball and And if you don’t believe me, just ask Brandon Crawford. arrive at the wall under control.

How a runner on second base can take advantage of a left- I wouldn’t have thought of that additional benefit if Rusty handed shift Kuntz hadn’t mentioned it to me … and come to think of it, information like that is why I come to spring training. On Sunday, in a game against the Angels, Eric Hosmer came to the plate with Whit Merrifield on second base. That and the beer. Kauffman Stadium is home to two of The Angels put on a left-handed shift; three infielders swung around to the right side of the field, the guy playing third all the craziest ballpark foods, says USA by himself on the left side of the infield, well off the left-field Today foul line. March 27, 2017 By Joyce Smith/KC Star http://www.kansascity.com/news/business/biz-columns- Now here’s how you know you can use a delayed steal: blogs/cityscape/article141118228.html As the pitcher delivers the ball home, infielders take a quick Two weeks before the Kansas City Royals’ home opener on peek at the runner to see if he’s attempting a steal; if the April 10, Kauffman Stadium has already nabbed a bragging runner is just taking shuffle steps, the infielders can focus on right: two of its new menu items have been named to USA home plate and quit worrying about covering the base. But Today’s 10 craziest ballpark foods for the 2017 MLB. after the pitch is delivered, the infielders better take a second look or they can be victimized by a delayed steal. The Sunrise Dog, a jumbo hot dog topped with fried egg, for the PCL squad in the First National Bank 2015 Triple-A bacon, cheddar cheese and white sausage gravy, was No. 6 All-Star Game played at Werner Park. In that contest on his on the list. The Pulled Pork Patty Melt — a skewered dish 25th birthday he smashed a two-run homer one night after with funnel cake, barbecue pulled pork, fried onion, shredded finishing runner-up in the 2015 Triple-A All-Star Home Run cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses and bacon and jalapeno Derby Powered by OPPD. This pepper — took second place on USA Today’s list. The Florida native has played in the PCL in each of the past Aramark oversees the food, beverage and retail operations of two seasons, combining for a .270 average (424-896) with eight Major League Baseball teams. This year, it is 141 runs, 55 doubles, 14 triples, 50 homers and 182 RBI in introducing new fare under the headings: Shareable Topped 236 contests with the Reno Aces. Last year he ranked fifth in Taters & Fries, Topped Dogs, Artisan Sandwiches and Melts, the PCL in home runs (24), in addition to holding the fourth- Savory Snacks & Small Bites and Better-for-You Options. best homers per at-bat ratio in the circuit, crushing a longball once every 16.92 at-bats. He was acquired by the Royals Under Sharable Topped Taters & Fries, Kauffman Stadium from the Arizona Diamondbacks in a January 3, 2017 trade in will have a Chicken Bacon Smoke Stak (waffle fries topped exchange for right-hander Sam Lewis. He led all Cactus with smoked chicken, bacon creme sauce, red pepper relish, League players with seven longballs during 2017 Spring scallions and sour cream). Training play coming into Monday play.

Under Savory Snacks & Small Bites it will have Short Rib Alexander, 27, has pitched for the Storm Chasers in parts of Cheese Curds (braised short rib cheese curds with chipotle each of the last three seasons, accumulating a 5-5 record and ranch dip). 3.28 ERA (41 ER/112.1 IP) with 15 saves in 74 combined appearances in that span. In the Werner Park Era (since The craziest new ballpark fare? USA Today gave the No. 1 2011), the southpaw ranks third in games finished (42), spot to the Chicken Funnel Cake Sandwich at Chase Field, fourth in saves (15) and seventh in appearances. He recorded home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The sandwich includes a 2-0 mark and 3.00 ERA (10 ER/30.0 IP) in 22 outings for garlic pepper cheddar, strawberry jam and maple syrup. the Storm Chasers in 2016, while also making five appearances with the Royals. Topps Company Inc., the New York-based exclusive trading card partner of the MLB, also is immortalizing some of the Over each of the last two years, the lefty has accrued no most unique ballpark fare on trading cards, including the record and 3.60 ERA (10 ER/25.0 IP) in 21 Major League Cheesy Corn Brisket-Acho at Kauffman and the Buffalo appearances with the Royals. He led the Storm Chasers with Cauliflower Poutine at Rogers Centre, home of the Toronto 14 saves during the 2015 campaign en route to being named Blue Jays. 2015 Omaha Player of the Year by the Royals following the regular season. He was selected by Kansas City in the sixth In 2016, Kauffman offered such new items as the Champions round of the 2010 MLB Draft out of Sonoma State College Alley Dog (a bacon-wrapped, tempura-battered footlong hot (Calif.). dog) and the Champions Alley Burger (a cheese-stuffed, tempura-battered cheddar bacon burger), but also some Burns, 27, split time between four different clubs in 2016, healthier selections like black bean dip. including a pair of Major League teams. The speedster hit . 234 (64-274) with 32 runs, 11 doubles, four triples and 12 RBI, along with 14 steals in 73 games with Oakland. He MINORS joined the Storm Chasers after being acquired by the Royals in a July 30 deal from the Athletics in exchange for 2014-16 Omaha outfielder Brett Eibner. Over 24 contests with Kansas O'Brien & Alexander Optioned to City he posted a .293 average (12-41) with seven runs, one Omaha double and four RBI. Three players optioned to Omaha, six reassigned In his three Major League seasons played he has compiled a . by Royals 271 clip (227-837), adding 113 runs, 29 doubles, 13 triples, March 27, 2017 By Andrew Green/Omaha Storm five homers and 55 RBI, along with 46 steals between the Chasers Athletics and Royals. He has also participated in 62 Pacific http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp? Coast League contests, batting .252 (62-246) with 42 runs, ymd=20170327&content_id=221117082&fext=.jsp&vkey=n five doubles, three triples and 12 RBI. He was originally ews_t541&sid=t541 selected by the Washington Nationals in the 32nd round of the 2011 MLB Draft out of Mercer University. The Kansas City Royals announced several roster moves on Monday as they continued to trim down their roster for Of the four pitchers reassigned by Kansas City on Monday, Opening Day 2017, with these moves also shaping the Storm two have pitched for the Storm Chasers in their careers. Chasers' initial roster. Included in the latest moves are former Malcom Culver, 27, paced all Omaha hurlers with 44 outings Storm Chasers pitcher Scott Alexander (2014-16) and in 2016, posting a 4-5 record and 3.86 ERA (29 ER/67.2 IP) outfielder Billy Burns (2016), along with 2015 Triple-A All- along with a team-best six saves. Yender Caramo, 25, made Star Peter O'Brien. The club also announced they have one appearance with Omaha last year, earning the win in his reassigned six players to minor league camp, including Triple-A debut on July 7 at Oklahoma City. pitchers Al Alburquerque, Yender Caramo, Malcom Culver and Eric Stout, as well as catcher Zane Evans and infielder Al Alburquerque, 30, boasts six years of Major League Humberto Arteaga. service, most recently with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2016. He spent the majority of last year with the While he has previously never worn an Omaha uniform, Salt Lake Bees, recording a 1-0 tally and 3.80 ERA (10 O'Brien, 26, is certainly familiar with Werner Park. In 2015 ER/23.2 IP) in 24 outings. In his five seasons with the Detroit he was named a Triple All-Star, and was named the Top Star Tigers (2011-15), he combined for a 17-6 clip and 3.20 ERA (80 ER/225.0 IP) in 241 appearances, adding 276 strikeouts. desperately want to get back there,’ which I’m betting on No. Eric Stout, 24, pitched the entire 2016 campaign with 2 with our guys.” Double-A Northwest Arkansas, compiling a 6-4 record and 3.86 ERA (31 ER/72.1 IP) in 42 appearances, adding 69 Although Francona believes his players are full of desire after strikeouts. last year’s postseason run, which happened without two of their starting pitchers (Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar), a Zane Evans, 25, played in four games with the Storm Chasers third, Trevor Bauer, suffering an off-the-field injury that last season, though he spent the large part of the year with derailed him in the American League Championship Series, Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He hit .226 (53-234) with 17 as well as All-Star outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder runs, eight doubles, one triple, five homers and 25 RBI in 63 surgery), he understands and emphasizes the importance of contests with the Naturals. Humberto Arteaga, 23, posted a . the process as spring training winds to a close this week. 252 average (119-473) with 54 runs, 14 doubles, four triples, two homers and 35 RBI in 125 games between High-A “You go through periods of the season where your team’s Wilmington and Double-A Northwest Arkansas. beat up and you’ve just got to kind of keep your head above water,” Francona said. “You’re not the team you’re going to Following the Royals' roster moves today, Kansas City now see later, but you’ve got to survive. There’s a lot that goes has 29 active players remaining in Major League camp, into beating that team down the road, and there’s a process. including three non-roster invitees. Of that group, 15 have That’s why we just ask them, ‘Hey, show up today, try to do worn an Omaha uniform at some point during their the best you can to get better for yourself and the team,’ and professional career. if they do that, we’re going to be okay.” MLB TRANSACTIONS March 28, 2017 •.CBSSports.com NATIONAL http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions

Cleveland Indians aim to follow TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION Kansas City Royals' blueprint March 27, 2017 By Matthew Florjancic/WKYC.com http://www.wkyc.com/sports/mlb/indians/cleveland-indians- aim-to-follow-kansas-city-royals-blueprint/425859340 Arizona Gregor Blanco Released Diamondbacks If the Cleveland Indians need a reminder of how to handle the disappointment of losing Game 7 of the World Series heading into the following season, they need not look too far.

Going into the 2015 season, the Kansas City Royals, a chief Baltimore Orioles Chris Johnson Released rival of the Indians in the American League Central Division, were the defending AL Champions but were stinging from the loss of the World Series to the San Francisco Giants. Baltimore Orioles Michael Bourn Released However, the Royals were not to be denied, as they pushed through the season and playoffs, culminating with a dominant four-games-to-one showing against the New York Mets in the 2015 World Series. And with the Indians losing Boston Red Sox Deven MarreroSent to Minors in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series to the Chicago Cubs, they are looking at following Kansas City’s blueprint.

“Very much so,” Indians manager Terry Francona said of reminding the players of Kansas City’s response in 2015. “I Boston Red Sox Steve Selsky Sent to Minors think there’s a lot of similarities.

“I felt that way before, and you watch them come back with a vengeance. Now, every season’s different for everybody, and Boston Red Sox Blake Swihart Sent to Minors you have different players, but they really seemed to handle it like you’d like to see somebody. Man, they came back hungry, and unless you were playing them, it was fun to see.” Chicago Cubs Eddie Butler Sent to Minors Up three-games-to-one after taking a pair of games at Wrigley Field on the north side of Chicago, the Indians dropped three straight and watched as the Cubs organization celebrated their first World Series title since 1908 at Progressive Field. Chicago Cubs Rob Zastryzny Sent to Minors

“Every day a national guy comes in, they ask the same thing, which I get,” Francona said. “You know what, we talked about it in our first meeting a little bit because I think it’s the Cincinnati Reds Ryan Raburn Released elephant in the room. Being completely honest, you can come back two ways: one is with a sense of entitlement or you can feel like, ‘Boy, we were there and we loved it. We Colorado Rockies Raimel Tapia Sent to Minors

Kansas City Washington Billy Burns Sent to Minors Matt Albers Released Royals Nationals

Kansas City Scott Washington Sent to Minors Joe Nathan Released Royals Alexander Nationals

Kansas City Peter O'Brien Sent to Minors Royals

Los Angeles Justin Signed to a Minor League Dodgers Masterson Contract

Alejandro De Oakland Athletics Released Aza

Philadelphia Bryan Holaday Released Phillies

Philadelphia Roman Quinn Sent to Minors Phillies

Philadelphia Ryan Hanigan Released Phillies

St. Louis Carson Kelly Sent to Minors Cardinals

St. Louis Mike Mayers Sent to Minors Cardinals

Texas Rangers James Loney Released

Texas Rangers Eddie Gamboa Sent to Minors