Category: Dailies

Heres how Zacks ERA got all the way up to 1.72

A reader wanted to know how in the how Zack Greinke was charged with two runs in the eighth inning on Thursday night at Cleveland. He thought the second run should have been charged to John Bale.

Here’s what happened: With one out, Mark DeRosa singled and Victor Martinez walked. At that point, Greinke was relieved by Bale. Shin-Soo Choo hit a possible double-play ball to first baseman Billy Butler, who threw to second for the force. But shortstop Tony Pena Jr.’s return throw got past Bale covering for an error, DeRosa scoring. On that play, second baseman Alberto Callaspo, after chasing down the ball, threw poorly to home for another error that let Choo take second. Then Joakim Soria relieved Bale and Jhonny Peralta blasted a double off the top of the left-field wall, Choo scoring.

Greinke is charged with both runs because he put the first two runners on base. And even though Martinez was retired on Choo’s fielder’s choice, the fact that there was a runner on at all still reverts to Zack. It might be a bit unfair but that’s the way it is.

Even though DeRosa scored on Pena’s throwing error, that came on a double play attempt in which you cannot assume the second out which would have ended the inning. So the scorer ruled that DeRosa would have scored along with Choo on Peralta’s double, hence both runs were earned and charged to Zack.       

In the case of the second run charged to Zack, I suppose the scorer could have ruled that Choo would not have reached second base except for Callaspo’s error and therefore would not have scored on Peralta’s double. However, there were two outs when the double was hit so Choo would have been running all the way if he were still at first base and the ball hit high off the wall anyway so he’d probably have scored from first regardless.

–Dick Kaegel

Farnsworth: You cant beat Bombers-Bosox rivalry

There’s a feature on MLB.com called “Around the Cage” that focuses on various topics each day during the week. Here’s what some of our Royals had to say recently.

Kyle Farnsworth on if the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry is the best in baseball: “The ones I’ve been involved in, I think it is.  Definitely the fans get into it a lot. The Cubs-Cardinals, that’s a good one, too, but Boston-New York it’s intense. And the games always seem to last four, four-and-a-half hours, they always seem to be marathon games and exciting. I enjoyed them a lot. I don’t know how to explain it, it’s just one of those things that’s fun to play in. Both of them are, but the Yankees-Red Sox just seems to be more intense and everything for some reason.  It might be (the northeastern mentality), just the hard-nosed stuff like that.”
 
Mitch Maier on his feelings about being drafted in the first round by the Royals: “I was excited and nervous. I was pretty sure I was going to get drafted where I was. . . . I had my college coach with me at home and my family. It’s definitely exciting and kind of nerve-wracking because everything is out of your hands at that time. You’re kind of just sitting there waiting to find out where you’re going to go. . . . (When the call came) I was ecstatic. I was thrilled. It’s hard to explain. It’s what you, as a kid growing up, dream about. Getting an opportunity to have that fulfilled is a huge moment.”

Brian Bannister on whether suspended Manny Ramirez, if voted in by the fans, should be allowed to play in the All-Star Game: “Honestly I think it should be a fan vote. The game is for the fans and if the fans support a player enough to elect him, then it’s almost like a jury in a courtroom, I think. The fans should be allowed to vote on whether he plays or not. I think that’d be a fair way and it’d really show what the fans are leaning toward. That’s the way we decide it in a courtroom and that’s the way we should decide it on a baseball field.”

–Dick Kaegel

 

Buck goes on disabled list; Brayan Pena promoted

Catcher John Buck was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a slight herniation in his lower back, Royals manager Trey Hillman announced before Sunday’s game against the White Sox.

Catcher Brayan Pena’s contract was selected from Triple-A Omaha to take his spot on the roster.

Buck was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital after being suddenly seized with back pain just before his time at bat in the third inning on Saturday night.

“The inning ended with him reaching up and tagging on the strike three and he came down, took his catcher’s gear off and realized his spot in the lineup was due up,” Hillman said.

“He was reaching for something – I think his catching helmet had fallen off – and felt a little tweak. He grabbed his bat and as soon as he went up the stairs (of the dugout), he went down. It just grabbed on him. It’s unfortunate.”

Hillman said Buck was still confined to the hospital on Sunday.

“He was in some pain last night,” Hillman said. “It grabbed him so hard they said he went down to his knees.”

Buck, relegated this year to a secondary role to Miguel Olivo, was batting .226 with three home runs and 19 RBIs in 28 games. He had made a special effort to streamline his body during the winter and was in excellent condition this spring.

Pena was batting .307 with four homers and 18 RBIs for Omaha in 22 games, although he caught in just  five games and had played the outfield in nine. He appeared in four games for the Royals, going 2-for-7, before being designated for assignment on April 24. Pena cleared waivers and was assigned to Omaha on May 5.

–Dick Kaegel

Hillman suspended one game for explosion at umpire

Royals manager Trey Hillman won’t be managing his club in Wednesday afternoon’s game against the Tigers.

Hillman was suspended for one game by Major League Baseball for inappropriate actions during Monday’s game and was to serve the suspension on Wednesday.

The suspension was levied for Hillman’s animated argument with plate umpire Paul Emmel in the eighth inning of the Memorial Day game with the Tigers.

Hillman was ejected for comments from the dugout as Emmel called out Willie Bloomquist on strikes. The face-to-face confrontation went until Hillman inadvertently spit in Emmel’s eye, causing the umpire to back away. Crew chief Bill Hohn finally intervened and Hillman left the field.

Later Hillman said he was only trying to keep Bloomquist from being ejected for his comments, forcing the Royals to use catcher Miguel Olivo on the infield. Olivo was only on the position player left on the Royals’ bench.

The suspension was announced by Bob Watson, MLB’s vice president of on-field operations.

–Dick Kaegel

Luis Hernandez gets a shot at short

Trey Hillman said he’d mix Luis Hernandez into the shortstop picture while Mike Aviles recovers from his aching right forearm. Sure enough, there was Hernandez in the lineup on Tuesday night against the Tigers instead of Willie Bloomquist.

After Bloomquist hustled to a crucial double on Sunday against the Cardinals, Hillman had him back in the lineup against a tough right-hander, Justin Verlander, on Monday.

“I was hoping he could play on that momentum a little bit against a very good right-handed pitcher. It didn’t work out way,” Hillman said.

Bloomquist struck out both times against Verlander and fanned a third time against Zach Miner. Bloomquist is batting .349 against left-handers but just .244 against right-handers. So Hillman went with Hernandez, a switch-hitter, against righty Edwin Jackson.

“I’d like to see Hernandez a little bit more. There’s less than 200 Major League at-bats to get a numbers read on him. We like the way he can manipulate the bat a little bit as far as bat control and we’ll see how he does,” Hillman said.

Hernandez, who started last season as the Orioles’ regular shortstop but then lost the job, is regarded as an excellent fielder.

“Tremendous, he’s got great hands, knows where to be. Good baseball player. Doesn’t panic,” Hillman said.

Since coming up from Omaha, Hernandez had just eight at-bats with one hit before this start.

–Dick Kaegel

Hochevar optioned; Aviles, Tejeda on disabled list

Right-hander Luke Hochevar, who took the loss for the Royals on Saturday against the Cardinals, was optioned to Triple-A Omaha as the club made a total of six roster moves following the game.

Shortstop Mike Aviles and reliever Robinson Tejeda were placed on the 15-day disabled list.

The Royals added pitchers John Bale and Roman Colon and infielder Tug Hulett, all recalled from Omaha. Bale had been on an injury rehabilitation assignment.

Aviles has a strained right forearm and Tejeda has tendinitis of the right rotator cuff.

–Dick Kaegel

Next .400 hitter? Not Teahen (he says)

We’ve been asking questions lately for MLB.com’s feature “Around the Cage.” Some of our Royals have some interesting takes on things.

Mark Teahen on who might be the next .400 hitter: “Can I pick myself? I won’t – .400’s high, I’ve got to conquer .300 first. I know Victor Martinez is doing it now and he stays pretty consistent but with catching, I don’t know. Initially I would think Ichiro but he doesn’t walk ever so he gets too many at-bats to stay at .400. I’ll say Kevin Youkilis just because he pretty much puts together a quality at-bat every time he steps to the plate.”

Ron Mahay on the same subject: “Pujols is a .300-plus hitter every year. That guy is probably on the verge of doing something great like that. Every time I look he’s doing something special so if I’d choose Albert.”

Luke Hochevar on the pitcher he’d pick to go in a Game 7: “Other than myself? Right now, it’d be Zack (Greinke), there’s no doubt in my mind.”

Sidney Ponson on which division is the toughest: “That question will be relevant in September, I can tell you that. Because we need to play Boston still, we need to play Tampa Bay. We played Toronto and they’re good; the Yankees beat us but they’re third in their division. We beat the White Sox and we tied with Cleveland so it’s an incredible question for May 16. You have to play all the teams so you can judge them. That’s a question you have to ask me at the end of the season.”

Billy Butler on what he’d sing on “American Idol”: “I don’t if you’ve heard me sing but I wouldn’t make it to a song. They’d take one look at me and tell me to get off the stage. I’d probably sing some red-neck country song, like “Simple Man” by Charlie Daniels, and they’d kick me off before I’d ever get started.”

–Dick Kaegel

Royals expect Friday nights game to be played

Despite threatening weather, Royals management expects Friday night’s game to be played. A sellout crowd for the game against the Orioles is expected.

Mike Swanson, vice president of communications and broadcasting, said heavy rain is anticipated in the area of Kauffman Stadium but forecasts are for the weather to break around the 7:10 p.m. CT game time.

The Royals also announced that the 400 Dri-Duck Fountain Seats for the game are sold out. The club began selling the seats at 2:50 p.m. CT instead of the usual 4 p.m. because of the threatening weather. All the $7 seats were sold within 25 minutes. A few scattered single reserved seats and $7 standing room remain available.

— Dick Kaegel

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Soria goes on DL; Hochevar recalled to start

The Royals placed closer Joakim Soria on the 15-day disabled list after Sunday’s game at Anaheim because of lingering soreness in his right shoulder.

Pitcher Luke Hochevar was recalled from Triple-A Omaha to take Soria’s place on the roster and Sidney Ponson’s place in the starting rotation. Hochevar will start on Tuesday night at Oakland, moving Ponson into the bullpen.

Hochevar has a 5-0 record in starts for Omaha with a 0.90 ERA.

There was no immediate estimate on how long Soria might be sidelined. He last pitched on Thursday against Seattle in a rocky but successful 29-pitch outing. His DL stay is retroactive to Friday.

Soria has appeared in just eight of the Royals’ 30 games. He had seven saves in seven chances, a 1-0 record, a 2.08 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings.

–Dick Kaegel