June 14, 2017 local royals romp behind Vargas' strong start
Searching for rotation help, Royals turn to reliever Matt Strahm
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- Royals take four left-handed pitchers on second day of draft, including a K-State product
- Royals’ Perez still leads AL catchers in All-Star voting, Hosmer closes gap
- Why rallies are more likely when the Royals don’t swing for the fences
- After latest injury setback, Kyle Zimmer returns to pitching at Class AAA Omaha
- MINORS 3-Homer 5th Pushes Dodgers Past Omaha, 7-2
- Travelers win series with victory over Naturals
- Donnie Dewees Jr. named Texas League Player of the Week
- Rocks Eliminated From First Half Contention
Searching for rotation help, Royals turn to reliever Matt Strahm June 14, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article156033124.html Their starting rotation beset by injuries, their minor-league options limited, the Royals will turn to an intriguing pitcher to fill out their rotation: Reliever Matt Strahm. Strahm, 25, will make his first career start on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Angels, replacing rookie Eric Skoglund, who struggled in consecutive outings after a terrific debut. Royals manager Ned Yost revealed the decision on Tuesday afternoon, before a series opener here at AT&T Park, outlining a decision that could have long-term ramifications for the club’s rotation. Strahm spent much of his minor-league career as a starting pitcher. The Royals believe he has potential in the role. The injuries to Danny Duffy and Nathan Karns — in addition to prospect Miguel Almonte battling shoulder tightness at Class AA Northwest Arkansas — offered the team an opportunity to stretch Strahm out and take a look, Yost said. “He was going to be a starter eventually,” Yost said. “We just kept looking at the options. When Almonte got hurt, we just don’t have any other rostered options that are ready. You can always put him back in the bullpen. Let’s look at it and see: Maybe we can have a Duffy-type situation.” The case of Duffy offers the most appealing scenario. A fellow left-hander, Duffy began the 2016 season in the bullpen before injuries forced him to the rotation. He stretched out during the season and experienced a career breakthrough, using a slider and a simplified approach to reach his potential. The situations, of course, are not perfect analogs. Duffy had already experienced great success as a starting pitcher in 2014. Strahm’s major-league experience is limited to 44 innings in 41 relief appearances across the last two seasons. “A little surprised but obviously really excited,” said Strahm, who received the news Tuesday. “I like starting. I like relieving. But whatever they ask me to do, I’m going to do. And Thursday is the day to go start, I guess.” Strahm, a 21st-round pick out of Neosho County Community College in 2012, posted a 1.23 ERA in 22 innings in 2016, delivering an electric debut out of the bullpen. He entered the offseason as a possibility in the 2017 starting rotation. But the acquisitions of Karns and Jason Hammel filled holes and the club had a greater need for help in the back end of its bullpen. Strahm battled command issues during the opening week of the season, leading to a demotion to Class AAA Omaha. But after a short stint back in the minors, he returned to the Kansas City bullpen and logged a 2.08 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 13 innings in May. But then Duffy went down with a strained oblique and Karns’ arm soreness lingered, and the Royals used rookies Skoglund and Jake Junis to patch together the rotation. In the ensuing weeks, Yost and general manager Dayton Moore discussed how to proceed with Strahm. After undergoing Tommy John surgery early in his career, he returned as a reliever in 2015 before transitioning to a starting role at Class A Wilmington. In 2016, he recorded a 3.43 ERA while mostly starting at Class AA Northwest Arkansas. The performance earned him a callup in late July. Strahm has not started a professional game since. Yost said the emergence of Mike Minor and Scott Alexander as reliable left-handed arms in the bullpen made the decision easier. Minor, a former starter in the Braves system, moved to the bullpen after shoulder issues nearly sabotaged his career in 2015 and 2016. He could return to starting at some point, but for now, club officials do not want to risk his good health. A free agent after the season, he is also positioned as an intriguing trade asset if the Royals remain out of contention in July. Strahm, meanwhile, is young asset under club control who has the potential to be a cheap rotation fixture moving forward. On Thursday, Strahm will be on a pitch count of 65 to 70 pitches, Yost said. Barring some unforeseen development, the club will likely commit to a handful of starts as he stretches out to 100 pitches. Royals take four left-handed pitchers on second day of draft, including a K-State product June 14, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article156041034.html
June 14, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article155887199.html
June 14, 2017 By Lee Judge/KC Star http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/judging-the-royals/article156077029.html On Tuesday night, Royals left-hander Jason Vargas threw seven innings, while allowing five hits and a single run. That performance was good enough to beat the San Francisco Giants and, according to Rustin Dodd’s game story, pitching coach Dave Eiland summed it up with a simple phrase: “Vintage Vargy.” No word on what hitting coach Dale Sveum thought of the offense, but if he’d called it “Vintage Keep The Line Moving” he wouldn’t have been far off. The Royals scored eight runs in two innings — the third and sixth — and, if you were a fan back in 2014 and 2015, those rallies looked familiar. Four singles in the third inning accounted for two runs; only one of the singles was pulled. Four singles, a walk, a double and a triple in the sixth inning accounted for six runs and none of the hits were pulled. When the Royals swing for the fences and try to pull the ball, they become much more vulnerable to the strikeout or rollover grounder. When the Royals hit the ball up the middle and to the opposite field, they see the ball longer and have a better chance of laying off bad pitches and getting a good one to hit. Going to the opposite field might cost you in the home-run category — this season the Royals have hit 74 home runs and only five were hit to the opposite field — but setting your sights up the middle and the other way can help a team put multi-hit rallies together. When one guy tries to do it all, the offense scuffles; when the Royals try to do it together, good things tend to happen. The draft is a crapshoot It’s that time of year, so let’s take a look at the MLB draft — of 2012. Here are the top 20 picks in the order they were selected: Carlos Correa, Byron Buxton, Mike Zunino, Kevin Gausman, Kyle Zimmer, Albert Almora, Max Fried, Mark Appel, Andrew Heaney, David Dahl, Addison Russell, Gavin Cecchini, Courtney Hawks, Nick Travieso, Tyler Naquin, Lucas Giolito, D.J. Davis, Corey Seager, Michael Wacha and Chris Stratton. Some of these names will be familiar to baseball fans, others won’t. But all those players had one thing in common: someone — and someone with a lot of baseball experience — thought they were one of the best 20 players available. It seems some people get more excited about prospects than players who already have proven they can play in the big leagues, but go back and look at any draft and it’s a good reminder that it’s hard to predict the future; can’t-miss prospects miss. A player might wilt when he finally has to compete against players just as good as he is. Give a kid a boatload of money and he might not be the same kid. No matter how exciting a prospect appears to be, it’s good to remember — as one Royals front office guy said — the draft is still a crapshoot. Wednesday’s game If you want to understand Wednesday’s game, it’s usually helpful to look at Tuesday’s. On Tuesday, Jason Vargas went seven innings, the offense exploded for eight runs and with a seven-run lead, Ned Yost could hand the ball to Travis Wood, who came into the game with an ERA of 8.31. Wood pitched the final two innings and that meant the rest of the bullpen got another day off. And that means the rest of the bullpen should be available for today’s game. Wednesday’s starters are Jason Hammel and Johnny Cueto; first pitch is at 2:45 p.m., so figure out some reason to be near a TV this afternoon. Enjoy the game. After latest injury setback, Kyle Zimmer returns to pitching at Class AAA Omaha June 14, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article156064759.html
Chasers drop road trip opener at Bricktown June 14, 2017 Omaha Storm Chasers https://www.milb.com/storm-chasers/news/3-homer-5th-pushes-dodgers-past-omaha-7-2/c-236296246/t-196093384 Home runs by Ryan O'Hearn and Jorge Soler weren't enough for Omaha, as Oklahoma City enjoyed a homer barrage of their own to defeat the Storm Chasers 7-2 on Tuesday night at Bricktown Ballpark. O'Hearn opened the scoring with a solo homer in the top of the 2nd against Dodgers starter Trevor Oaks. It was O'Hearn's 8th longball of the season. The Dodgers tied it in the bottom of the 2nd, on a double by Kyle Farmer and a single by Charlie Culberson. They grabbed the lead in the last of the 3rd, as Alex Verdugo doubled, stole 3rd, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Willie Calhoun. Jorge Soler pulled Omaha level in the top of the 4th with his 6th home run in 8 games since returning from Kansas City. It was 2-2. Oklahoma City pulled away in the last of the 5th, however, blasting 3 home runs against Christian Binford . After the first 2 batters were retired, O'Koyea Dickson homered, Willie Calhoun tripled, and Trayce Thompson and Kyle Farmer hit back-to-back round-trippers for a quick 4 runs and a 6-2 lead. Binford (L, 3-4) went 5 innings, and was charged with 6 earned runs on 9 hits, with 4 strikeouts and 1 walk. Kyle Zimmer made a successful return from the Disabled List with 2 flawless innings of relief, retiring all 6 batters he faced. Oaks (W, 3-1) was strong over 7 innings, allowing 2 runs, 6 hits, and no walks, while striking out 7. The Dodgers added another run in the bottom of the 8th; Trayce Thompson doubled, went to 3rd on a groundout, and scored on a single by Charlie Culberson. Omaha couldn't mount another late-game comeback, and fell to 32-30 on the season. The Chasers continue the series with the Dodgers tomorrow morning. RHP Luke Farrell (5-2, 4.41) will toss for Omaha, while Oklahoma City will counter with RHP Wilmer Font (4-3, 3.74). First pitch will be at 11:05am. Travelers win series with victory over Naturals Arkansas scored five runs in the third and four runs in the fourth in the 11-4 win over Northwest Arkansas June 14, 2017 Northwest Arkansas Naturals https://www.milb.com/naturals/news/travlers-win-series-with-victory-over-naturals/c-236219564/t-196093316 The Arkansas Travelers (30-33) won the series on Tuesday afternoon by using a couple of big innings in the middle portion of the game to take the finale over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (32-31) at Arvest Ballpark by an 11-4 final. Trailing 2-0, the Travelers exploded for five runs in the third inning. With the bases loaded and no one out, Dario Pizzano continued his hitting ways by driving home Nelson Ward on a RBI single through the hole at second base. A batter later, Kyle Waldrop reached on a crucial fielding error by the Naturals, which allowed both Joey Wong and Chuck Taylor to score. Keury De La Cruz followed with a two-run single of his own to complete the scoring and give the visitors an early three-run lead. The Arkansas offense, which has been relentless in this series, would put the game out of reach in the fourth as Ian Miller reached on a bunt single to leadoff the frame and then advanced to second on a walk to Wong. After Taylor flew out, Pizzano singled to load the bases and set the stage for Travelers' catcher Tyler Marlette . The free-swinging Marlette connected on a 0-1 pitch and crushed a Grand Slam off the facing of the Bud Light Home Run Porch beyond the left field wall for a 9-2 lead. The Travs would go up 11-2 in the fifth inning as Wong collected a RBI single and then eventually scored on a wild pitch. Northwest Arkansas was the first to score in the finale as they registered a couple of runs in the second. Logan Moon led off with a single to left before advancing to third base on a single by Humberto Arteaga . Naturals' catcher Nick Dini recorded a hit by pitch to load the bases before Parker Morin plated the first run on a sacrifice fly and Carlos Diaz followed with a RBI single. The Naturals would add two more runs in the ninth as Diaz picked up another RBI single and Dini scored on a fielder's choice. RHP Dylan Unsworth (W, 5-5) earned the win for the Travelers while RHP Corey Ray (L, 4-4) took the loss for the Naturals. Northwest Arkansas will hit the road for 12 games in advance of the Texas League All-Star break, which is from June 26-June 28. The trip will take them to Tulsa for four (4) games (June 14-June 17) then down to North Little Rock for four (4) games against the Travs (June 18-June 21) before finishing the trip with another four (4) game stretch back in Tulsa (June 22-June 25). Following the trip, the league breaks for three (3) days for the Texas League All-Star Game on Tuesday, June 27 that will be played in Frisco, Texas. The official end of the 1st half of the Texas League season is following the games played on June 19. Northwest Arkansas will then return home following the All-Star break with a 6-game homestand against a couple of Texas League South Division foes in the Corpus Christi Hooks (AA Astros) and the San Antonio Missions (AA Padres). The Fourth of July homestand will stretch from Thursday, June 29 through Tuesday, July 4 and will feature giveaways (Americana Jersey & Season 10 Commemorative T-shirt) on July 1 and July 2 before the GREAT AMERICAN BLAST takes center stage on July 3 and July 4. The Fireworks Spectacular on the Fourth of July will be the LARGEST in ALL of Northwest Arkansas. Donnie Dewees Jr. named Texas League Player of the Week The outfielder was recognized for his outstanding performance during the week of June 5 through June 11 June 14, 2017 Northwest Arkansas Naturals https://www.milb.com/naturals/news/donnie-dewees-jr-named-texas-league-player-of-the-week/c-236159850/t-196093316 The Texas League announced the Texas League Player and Pitcher of the Week honors for the week of June 5 through June 11 and Northwest Arkansas Naturals' outfielder Donnie Dewees, Jr. was recognized. Dewees becomes the first Naturals player, position or pitcher, to earn a league award during the 2017 season. In six games during the week of June 5 through June 11, the outfielder hit .391 (9-for-23) with two home runs, two doubles, and six RBI while posting a 1.071 OPS. The stretch was highlighted by a 2-for-4 game against the Springfield Cardinals on June 8 where he homered and drove in two to help the Naturals to an important 5-0 win. For the week, Dewees, Jr. led the league in RBI and was in the top-five in home runs, extra base hits, and OPS. It marks the 28th time that a Naturals position player has earned the Player of the Week honor and he is the first award winner since Frank Schwindel took home the honor for June 20 through June 26 during the 2016 season. Dewees, Jr. has spent all of the 2017 season with Northwest Arkansas serving as the team's main centerfielder. He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 2nd round of the 2015 MLB June Amateur Draft from the University of North Florida and was acquired by the Kansas City Royals in a trade in February for former Natural RHP Alec Mills. RHP Scott Barlow of Tulsa took home the Texas League Pitcher of the Week honors by going 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA. Rocks Eliminated From First Half Contention Wilmington Splits Doubleheader in Lynchburg June 14, 2017 Wilmington Blue Rocks https://www.milb.com/blue-rocks/news/rocks-eliminated-from-first-half-contention/c-236330590/t-196097164 The Wilmington Blue Rocks were eliminated from first-half contention on Tuesday in Lynchburg. The Rocks dropped the opener of their doubleheader with the Hillcats 5-2 before taking the night cap 2-1. Roman Collins was the offensive catalyst throughout the day, knocking in three of the four Wilmington runs with a solo home run in the first game and a two-run double in the second. Lynchburg scored a wire-to-wire win in the opener. Wilmington starter Colin Rodgers (2-3) allowed a pair of runs in the opening frame on RBI doubles by Ka'ai Tom and Willi Castro. The southpaw settled in from there, posting four consecutive goose eggs until he ran out of steam in the sixth. Tom worked a lead-off walk and then came home on Sicnark Loopstock's two-run homer to dead center. One out later Willi Castro got hit by an 0-2 pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly to right from Daniel Salters. The Rocks offense could not muster much in the opener. Collins launched a one-out solo homer to right in the second. Kort Peterson followed with a triple, but the Rocks could not get him home. Wilmington stranded four men in scoring position, scoring its only other run on a wild pitch with two outs in the final frame. Triston McKenzie (5-3) fanned six and worked around five free passes en route to the win. The Rocks wasted no time at the start of the night cap game. With two runners on and two-outs in the first inning, Collins drove a double into left field that cleared the bases to put the Rocks up 2-0. The Hillcats cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the frame off a Sicnarf Loopstok run-scoring double, but that was all the Blue Rocks staff would surrender. The All-Star combination of Yunior Marte and Richard Lovelady (W, 1-0) dominated through seven innings of work, combining to allow five hits while striking out seven batters and not yielding a walk. Wilmington wraps up its final road series of the first half in Lynchburg on Wednesday. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. as right-hander A.J. Puckett (5-5, 4.24) gets the ball for the Blue Rocks against Lynchburg righty Shao-Ching Chiang (7-3, 2.57). Fans can listen to the game as Matt Janus and Cory Nidoh will have the call on 89.7 WGLS-FM. PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE: Over the Blue Rocks' first 26 games of the season the Blue Crew had hit just 11 home runs, the second-fewest in the Carolina League. But over the last 39 games Wilmington has blasted 31 more long balls. Chase Vallot has led the way, hitting six homers during Wilmington's power surge, including the Rocks' only two grand slams of the season. Anderson Miller has clubbed five of the homers over this stretch. Miller has seven on the season after hitting just three during the entire second half with Wilmington last year. Chris DeVito, Roman Collins and Brandon Downes have three homers each while Cody Jones and Nicky Lopez have also clobbered two during the month-plus power surge. Richard Lovelady continues to dominate with another impressive outing on Tuesday night. The southpaw picked up his first win of the season after not allowing a hit or walk while striking out five batters in three and one third innings of flawless work against Lynchburg. In 28.1 innings pitched this season, the Carolina League All-Star has only allowed two walks, 18 hits, and has struck out 35 batters for a ridiculous 17.5:1 strikeout to walk ratio and a 0.71 WHIP. Lovelady has not allowed a run since May 1, raising his scoreless innings streak to 18.2 and dropping his ERA down to 1.27. Tuesday's 2-1 win in the second game of the doubleheader marked another one run victory for the Blue Rocks. Wilmington has played in a Carolina League-high 26 one-run games so far in 2017. No other club in the ten-team loop has played in more than 21 single-score affairs. Unfortunately for Wilmington, the Rocks are just 14-15 in such contests, but have won 11 of the last 12. Wilmington has also played in seven extra innings affairs already in 2017-the second-most in the Carolina League. The Rocks are just 3-4 in those games not completed in regulation. Tuesday's doubleheader was the fourth doubleheader this season for the Blue Rocks. In those four games, the Rocks have swept one series and split the other three. The Blue Rocks have hit .228 in those games and have scored 30 runs in those eight games. The Blue Rocks only scored four runs in Tuesday's twin bill, making it the least amount of runs the Rocks have scored during a doubleheader. THEY SAID IT: Jamie Quirk "I mean, (Yunior Marte and Richard Lovelady) are both All-Stars. I felt good about (the game). I was a little concerned how Marte would try and pace himself but he came out and pitched a normal game which is what we wanted. Lovelady was phenomenal, you can't say enough about what he did. You are concerned going into this game because guys are pitching out of their roles and they are going to have to pitch a little longer than normal. They proved they can do it. "(Lovelady) has got the Carolina League's attention, the organization's attention. When we talked about him making the All-Star team, the only concern that I ever heard was will he throw strikes, and that has never been a concern all year. He has really monitored his game. He is extremely aggressive, doesn't waste pitches, and he gets guys in a defense mode and takes care of them. That's what I like the best, he's not wasting pitches out there. "(On Roman Collins difference between last year and this year) He's more aggressive. (Hitting coach) Abraham Nunez has been talking to him when he gets offensive counts. He is a big, strong kid and we want him to use that when he gets in hitter's counts, be ready to do some damage. This home run just happened to be down the left field line, but still it was a more aggressive swing and that's what he has done pretty much all year. Last year he was a little more passive in his approach, this year he is definitely more aggressive. "(On how to approach rest of the first half after elimination on Tuesday) Compete. Don't worry about whatever the standings say. If we can't win it, we can't win it. We will have a "z" by our name when the time comes. It is about showing up every day and competing and playing. If time runs out on you in the schedule, it runs out. There is no reason not to give your best effort and come out and play every single day. Somebody is always watching you, that's what I tell them. Somebody is watching you play so make sure you're giving your best effort every day." 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