Category: Dailies
Good guy Gobble will be missed
We reporters will miss Jimmy Gobble around the Royals’ clubhouse. He is, quite simply, just one great guy.
Anytime you had a question about pitching or darn near anything, you could approach Gobble and get a thoughtful, sincere, complete answer.
“Heck, I talked to you guys as much as I did my teammates,” he said just after being released the other day.
That might be an exaggeration but Gobble was one of those ballplayers who’s a good friend as well as a subject to be covered. I remember years ago when I talked long distance to his mother out there in Bristol, Va., about “little Jimmy” in his childhood and she was the most lovely, sincere person you could ever talk to – plus, she was a real hoot. And his father was a real friendly and gracious gentleman whenever I chatted with him.
Jimmy’s a devoted family man with wife Julie and sons Porter and Palmer. He loves to talk about his kids.
The release caught him completely by surprise. He thought he’d be on the club. Sure, he had a bad year in 2008 but he worked very hard over the winter and was pitching pretty well this spring.
“I thought so, too,” Jimmy said. “Other than that first outing which, I mean heck, wasn’t too terrible or anything. I hadn’t walked anybody. I told Julie, ‘I feel like this is the best I’ve been throwing any time in Spring Training.’ But that’s part of it.”
Looking back on his six years with the Royals, I asked for a special memory.
“Probably July Fourth (2006),” he said. “I pitched against the Twins and I think they’d won like 12 straight games. I’d just been put into the starting rotation and the next day Porter was born. Those two days were probably the most special because I got to pitch against a team that was really hot. I beat ’em and handled ’em pretty good. That was kind of the peak of really feeling good.”
Those Twins had won 11 straight actually and 19 of 20 before Jimmy and the Royals stopped ’em, 7-2. And then his first child arrived the next day.
Typically, he left the Royals without rancor.
“I wish everyone the best,” he said. “It’s just one of those things. You’ve just go to roll with the punches and let bygones be bygones.”
Jimmy had been in the Royals’ organization since 1999 and was coming up on his seventh year in the Majors. He was really at home with the Royals.
“You get comfortable, you adapt to the situation, you just know what to expect,” he said.
Almost.
–Dick Kaegel
Royals drop long-time reliever Jimmy Gobble
Jimmy Gobble won’t be the Royals’ left-handed specialist out of the bullpen this year after all.
The Royals requested unconditional release waivers on Gobble on Wednesday morning.
The club also announced that right-handed pitcher Anthony Lerew was signed to a Minor League contract with an invitation to the Major League camp.
Lerew pitched in parts of three seasons, 2005-07, for the Atlanta Braves with a 0-2 record and 8.31 ERA in 11 appearances (three starts). Last season he pitched in 14 Minor League games.
Gobble, 27, has spent his entire career in the Royals organization since he was a supplemental first-round selection (43rd overall) in the 1999 draft.
After having his best season in 2007, when he pitched in 74 games and had a 3.02 ERA and 4-1 record, Gobble slipped badly last year.
His ERA soared to 8.81, he appeared in just 39 games and lost both of his decisions. He also was bothered by lower back tightness which put him on the disabled list from July 22 to Sept. 2.
But he held left-handed batters to a .200 (13-for-65) average and indications were that he’d retain his role as a weapon against lefties this season.
Gobble began his career with the Royals as a starter and had a 9-8 record in 2004. But he was switched to the bullpen in 2005.
In 236 games including 43 starts for the Royals, he had a 22-23 record and 5.23 ERA with four saves.
–Dick Kaegel
Sidney Ponson signed to Minor League deal
Sidney Ponson, who pitched for the amazing Netherlands team in the World Baseball Classic, was signed Tuesday by the Royals to a Minor League contract.
Ponson was invited to the Major League camp and will report on Wednesday.
“He’s going to get an opportunity,” Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. “Our depth is not what we wish it was.”
Presumably Ponson could make a bid for the Royals’ starting rotation, pitch in relief or go to the Triple-A club at Omaha. Moore said Ponson indicated he’d be willing to play at the Triple-A level.
Ponson, 32, made two starts in the Classic for the Netherlands, which twice stunned the Dominican Republic. He was the winner in the first victory over the Dominicans, 3-2, when he started and went four innings, giving up two runs in four innings. In his other start, he lost 3-1 to Venezuela, giving up two runs in five innings.
“We scouted him in the WBC and our scouts were very, very persistent in their recommendations,” Moore said.
“They just liked the way he pitched and the way he competed. The results, obviously, were very good. He pitched and performed very well and our scouts were strongly recommending that we bring him in as somebody that gives us needed depth.”
The Royals seem set with Gil Meche, Zack Greinke and Kyle Davies in the rotation with Luke Hochevar, Brian Bannister and Horacio Ramirez competing for the other two spots.
Now Ponson might enter that picture.
Although terms were not disclosed, Moore said there’s no big contract or guaranteed money involved.
“It’s a Minor League contract, it’s very low risk,” Moore said
–Dick Kaegel.
Hustling Coco pulls a great escape
Give Coco Crisp credit. When he was picked off first base in the first inning Thursday by White Sox lefty Clayton Richard, he didn’t just quit. It was just a Spring Training game and he’s not a rookie trying to impress people.
Yet Crisp dodged and twisted and avoided the first baseman’s tag, getting back safely to first base. That kind of effort is just what any team needs.
Crisp got on base with a single and also walked twice, giving him nine strolls in just 33 plate appearances. That’s also a very good sign. His on-base percentage is well above .500.
John Gibbons, the Royals’ bench coach, had a lot of chances to see Crisp the last three seasons over in the AL East. He was the Blue Jays’ manager while Coco stirred things for the Red Sox.
“He’s one of those guys. He makes things happen, he sets the table,” Gibbons said. “That’s one of the reasons they were so good in Boston. He and a few other guys on the team — that’s what they did and that’s why they scored so many runs.”
–Dick Kaegel
Uniform numbers through 40 years of Royals baseball
The Royals 2009 Media Guide includes an interesting feature – the team’s all-time numerical roster for its first 40 seasons.
Where else would you find out that David Cone wore No. 13 in 1986, No. 17 in 1993 and No. 22 in 1994, his only three years with the Royals?
Want to know who wore 5 before George Brett? Well, coaches Owen Friend in 1969, Dan Carnevale in 1970 and George Strickland in 1970-72 and players Ted Savage in 1971, Richie Scheinblum in 1972 and ’74, and Tom Poquette in 1973. The number was retired in 1994 after Brett hung ’em up.
We should mention, of course, that Brett wore 25 in 1973-74 after he came up.
The list for Frank White’s retired 20 is shorter. Only three players – Jim Campanis in 1969-70, Monty Montgomery in 1971-72 and Barry Raziano in 1973 preceded White.
Manager Dick Howser’s 10, which he took when hired in 1981 and was retired after his death, had been worn by six players – including current pitching coach Bob McClure in 1975. The others were Paul Schaal, Tommy Davis, Joe Lahoud, Jamie Quirk and Clint Hurdle.
The highest number was Hideo Nomo’s 91 last year and the lowest George Scott’s 0 in 1979.
If you’ve seen the World Series-clinching photos and tape from 1985, you know that Bret Saberhagen was wearing 31 then but he switched to 18 two years later. Incidentally, 31 has been worn by the most folks – 27 players and one manager, Jack McKeon. The current 31 is Brandon Duckworth.
The info was provided by Baseball Almanac.
–Dick Kaegel
Royals, Yankees downplay Teahen rumor
There seems to be no credence at this point to a rumor that the New York Yankees might be interested in obtaining Mark Teahen from the Royals.
With third baseman Alex Rodriguez opting to undergo hip surgery that will keep him out of action for six to nine weeks, the Yankees have a gaping hole on their infield.
Apparently the rumor started with speculation by ESPN’s Jayson Stark. The rumor was passed along by the Kansas City Star on Sunday.
However, the report came as news to the Royals.
“They’re saying it on ESPN but there’s nothing on our end,” said a Royals official.
Royals manager Trey Hillman, asked about it after Sunday’s game, looked very surprised.
“That’s a head-turner for me,” he said.
Asked on Sunday if the Yankees are looking for other options to fill Rodriguez’s void, general manager Brian Cashman downplayed any rumors.
“I’ll be honest with you; we have not had any discussions internally about that – not myself daydreaming or my pro scouting director [Billy Eppler], though I know he’s proactive, so I’m sure he’s got his lists lined up,” Cashman said. “I guess that’s a gray area. Thankfully, we’re getting [Rodriguez] back, so if something makes sense that you run into, I think we’d gravitate to it. But it’s hard to run into things that make sense, so we’d probably wind up going with what we’ve got.”
What the Yankees have right now is Cody Ransom, a 33-year-old journeyman who batted .302 with four home runs and eight RBIs in 33 games for New York in 2008. Throughout his six-year career, the right-handed hitter has played seven games at third base.
ESPN’s Stark wrote last Thursday that trade options for the Yankees could include Teahen and the Oakland A’s Bobby Crosby. He also speculated that the Yankees might look at free agent Mark Grudzielanek, the ex-Royals second baseman who played many years on the left side at shortstop. In not third base, Grudzielanek presumably could play second base with Robinson Cano moving to third.
At any rate, Teahen or any other player apparently would be a temporary replacement until Rodriguez’s return.
Teahen, who hit .255 with 15 homers and 59 RBIs last season for the Royals, is away from the Royals’ camp to play for Canada in the World Baseball Classic. Moved out of the outfield when the Royals obtained Coco Crisp, he is a candidate for second base this spring.
However, the Royals also view him as a valuable and versatile player who can fill the corner positions in both the infield and outfield.
Teahen’s salary is $3.575 million so dealing him would enable the Royals to cut a payroll which has expanded beyond the budgeted $70 million.
There’s one certain link to the Royals if Rodriguez has his surgery. He won’t be in the Yankees’ lineup when they play in the Royals’ home opener on April 10.
But is there anything in the works regarding Teahen?
“Not to my knowledge at all,” said the Royals official.
— Dick Kaegel
Screen test shows Hillman something
How does a manager tell if his pitcher is losing something?
How about if he gives up a home run and then throws the next pitch about 10 feet over the plate and to the screen? That tipped off Royals manager Trey Hillman to Kyle Davies’ plight on Saturday at Goodyear Ballpark.
Davies gave up a fourth-inning homer to Beau Mills and his next pitch sailed high over Tony Graffanino. Oh-oh. Hillman went out for a mound visit.
“Man, my legs are gone,” Davies told the skipper.
And when a pitcher’s legs go, so does he. Hillman let Davies finish off Graffanino with a strikeout but then waved in Tim Hamulack from the bullpen.
“I was going to let him get out of that inning but he just flat lost his legs,” Hillman said. “He was right at 59 or 60 pitches – but the fastball sailed all the way the screen.”
Hillman was pleased with Davies’ effort. He finally gave up his first two runs of the spring but one was unearned. Also, Davies didn’t walk anyone, always big for a guy who has battled for command during his career.
“Third outing in spring is usually when you get that little dead-arm stage so your body has to catch up with how many innings you’re throwing but I feel fine, just like I’m supposed to at this time,” Davies said.
His legs should be stronger next time, too.
— Dick Kaegel
Bullpen shapes up as magnificent seven
When you think about it, the addition of Juan Cruz not only gives the Royals a stronger bullpen but it pretty much sews up who will be in it.
You start from the back end with closer Joakim Soria. Plug in Cruz and Kyle Farnsworth and Ron Mahay as the set-up types. You’ve got Doug Waechter and Robinson Tejeda as the middle men and Jimmy Gobble as the lefty specialist.
As manager Trey Hillman was saying the other day, Farnsworth, Mahay, Waechter, Tejeda and Gobble are the type of guys that can go two innings and maybe even Cruz. So you’ve got plenty of depth in case a starter goes bad in the fourth inning and needs a lot of help. Then you hope the starter the next day can get through six or seven to help stretch things out.
Of course, Hillman also mentioned such guys as Brandon Duckworth and Joel Peralta and Jamey Wright and Carlos Rosa et al because the skipper doesn’t want to throw cold water on anybody’s hopes. And he shouldn’t because, hey, anything can happen in the next month. Somebody could get hot, somebody could get stinky, somebody could get hurt.
In fact, John Bale already has been diverted to an uncertain status because of his thyroid surgery. There’s no telling if he might be ready by Opening Day but that’s probably a long shot. Which is why you can pretty much make a logical forecast on the bullpen seven even at this early juncture. Shapes up as pretty magnificent seven, too, doesn’t it?
— Dick Kaegel
Only three Royals remain unsigned
The only three Royals players unsigned are shortstop Mike Aviles, first baseman Billy Butler and outfielder Mitch Maier.
The club announced Saturday that six players had signed contracts: pitchers Julio Pimentel and Robinson Tejeda; catcher Brayan Pena; first baseman Ryan Shealy; second baseman Alberto Callaspo, and outfielder Shane Costa.
— Dick Kaegel
Royals sign reliever Juan Cruz to two-year deal
Right-hander Juan Cruz, a free-agent reliever, was signed by the Royals on Saturday.
Cruz signed a two-year contract with an option for 2011. The deal was believed to be worth $2.25 million for this year, $3.25 million for 2010 and a club option for $4 million for 2011 with a $500,000 buyout.
To make room for Cruz on the 40-man roster, the Royals designated infielder Esteban German for assignment.
Cruz, 30, last season had a 4-0 record with a 2.61 ERA in 57 games for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He led all National League relievers with 12.37 strikeouts per nine innings, based on his 71 strikeouts in 52 2/3 innings.
“He’s a power pitcher, he’s a great competitor,” said Royals general manager Dayton Moore. “I think only Brad Lidge had more swings-and-misses last year. He was very effective against left-handers and very effective against right-handers and is someone who gives us a lot of power and aggressiveness. He’s been very successful the last two years.”
Cruz was under consideration by the Royals during the Winter Meetings when they signed relievers Kyle Farnsworth and Doug Waechter. Cruz was among several free agents left unsigned as Spring Training games got under way.
Cruz will help fill the bullpen gap created by John Bale’s absence because of thyroid surgery which is scheduled for Tuesday in Kansas City.
In eight Major League seasons, Cruz had a 29-31 record with a 4.00 ERA in 297 games.
German batted .245 in 89 games for the Royals last season, his third with the club.
— Dick Kaegel
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