Tagged: Trey Hillman
Ponson is officially a free agent
This isn’t exactly breaking news but, officially, Sir Sidney Ponson became a free agent on Wednesday.
We reported last Sunday that he had been released by the Royals. Now the paper work is done. General manager Dayton Moore told us that Ponson decided against considering a stint with Triple-A Omaha and will take his chances elsewhere
Ponson was just 1-7 and his ERA was 7.36 when the Royals designated him for assignment. Manager Trey Hillman liked his stuff and his work ethic was reported to be good but he just wasn’t getting the job done.
The Royals, by the way, will have to make a roster move on Thursday morning to clear the way for Gil Meche’s return off the disabled list. He’ll start Thursday afternoon at Minnesota.
–Dick Kaegel
Ponson designated, Davies recalled from Omaha
Pitcher Sidney Ponson was designated for assignment by the Royals on Sunday and Kyle Davies was being recalled to take his spot in the rotation.
Ponson had a 1-7 record and a 7.36 ERA in 14 games including nine starts for the Royals. In his last start on Friday night, he was tagged for seven runs in 4 1/3 innings by the Tampa Bay Rays.
Davies, since being optioned to Triple-A Omaha on June 20, had a 4-2 record and a 2.14 ERA in eight starts. In 46 1/3 innings, he gave up 47 hits and 14 walks with 44 strikeouts. For the Royals this season, Davies was 3-7 with a 5.76 ERA in 14 starts.
The change means that Davies will start on Wednesday night against the Seattle Mariners in Kansas City.
The Royals have 10 days in which to put Ponson on waivers, trade or release him. Manager Trey Hillman indicated that, if he clears waivers, the Royals would offer Ponson a spot at Omaha.
–Dick Kaegel
Aviles to have elbow surgery, out for the year
Royals shortstop Mike Aviles will undergo reconstructive surgery on his right elbow and will be out for the rest of the season, manager Trey Hillman announced on Wednesday.
“Mike Aviles is going to have Tommy John surgery a week from today,” Hillman said. “Dr. (Lewis) Yocum will be doing it in LA. We came to this conclusion after further testing. Obviously, there is ligament damage.”
Aviles has been on the disabled list since May 23 with what was described as a right forearm strain. Hillman said the strain was a result of the elbow damage.
After giving the elbow a period of rest, the problem did not calm down and surgery was deemed necessary.
“Typical with position players, there’s a nine-to-12 month recovery period,” Hillman said.
That means Aviles would, at a minimum, be out until next April.
Aviles has been in Arizona going through an injury rehabilitation program. He played 36 games this season and batted just .183 with one home run and eight RBIs.
–Dick Kaegel
Crisp to have surgery, out for rest of season
Royals center fielder Coco Crisp will undergo right shoulder surgery on Wednesday and will miss the rest of the season, manager Trey Hillman said on Tuesday.
Dr. James Andrews will perform the surgery to repair a labrum tear at Birmingham, Ala.
“So he’s out for the season and, obviously, that’s not what we were looking for but it’s something that needs to be done,” Hillman said. “They don’t know exactly what they’re going to have to do until they get in there but they’ve got a pretty good idea.”
Crisp was hampered swinging, particularly from the left side, and was hitting just .228 in 49 games. As the leadoff batter, though, he drew 29 walks and had a healthy on-base percentage of .336 along with 13 stolen bases.
He’s been replaced in center field recently by Mitch Maier although Willie Bloomquist could see action there as well.
Crisp is expected to spend at least two or three days in Birmingham after the surgery and then his program will depend on the exact nature of the procedure, Hillman said.
–Dick Kaegel
Some Royals thoughts on top power hitters
For the MLB.com feature called “Around the Cage,” we asked some of the Royals about power hitting. Here’s what they had to say:
Who’s the best power hitter in the game today?
Trey Hillman: “I’d have to say Pujols. He has the ability to use all fields, hit ’em on all counts, certainly one of the most feared hitters. I would say Albert.”
Willie Bloomquist: “Pujols. I haven’t seen him play a lot but he doesn’t miss. You either walk him or he’s going to hit something hard somewhere. He’s an absolute pure hitter with a ton of pop behind it. So everything I’ve heard is pretty much on a par for what I see. He’s legit.”
Who could hit the most and the longest home runs?
Mark Teahen: “I’m gonna go with Carlos Pena, because I’ve seen him hit a couple of balls (at Kauffman Stadium) that were ridiculous.”
Hillman: “I’d say Pujols fits into both of those. Distance, I’d put Jake (Mike Jacobs) in there. We’ve seen him hit a couple that have knocked our socks off but I think we’re going to see more that have more distance than most home runs have.”
Bloomquist: “(For longest) probably Josh Hamilton. His swing is kind of made for it, especially playing in Texas which is kind of a launching pad. (For most) They don’t pitch to Pujols enough; if they’d pitch to him, no problem. I would say probably Alex Rodriguez because of the protection he has in the lineup, he’s going to get pitched to. And that stadium is kind of a band box from what I understand. So I would go with him.”
–Dick Kaegel
First replay review at Kauffman results in no change
The first replay review at Kauffman Stadium resulted in no change to the umpire’s decision on Saturday night.
The incident came as the Royals’ half of the fourth inning began against Cincinnati Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo.
Billy Butler’s line drive down the left-field line into the seats was ruled a foul ball by third-base umpire Tony Randazzo. Royals manager Trey Hillman, watching from the first-base dugout, came out to question the call.
After a brief huddle, crew chief Jerry Layne and two of the other three umpires went to the tunnel next to the umpires’ room near third-base to view a replay from Major League Baseball offices in New York.
After a brief delay, Layne emerged and indicated the call was correct and play resumed.
Umpires supervisor Steve Palermo, observing from the press box, said the umpires executed the review by the book.
The replay rule was put into effect last year to aid umpires ruling on boundary calls such as fair-foul balls and fan interference.
–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
Soria situation will be worth watching
It’ll be interesting to see how this Joakim Soria scenario plays out. Is he just rusty or is he just a little stiff or is there something really wrong?
That was the question left hanging after his ragged and rugged but successful save on Thursday against the Mariners.
Looking like the Soria of old, he got two quick outs but then got mired in a 29-pitch process that didn’t end until a run was in and Ichiro Suzuki rapped into a force-out with the bases loaded.
Just 13 of those pitches were strikes and the Kansas City Star’s Sam Mellinger did some statistical mining and found that was just the second time in two seasons Soria has thrown more balls than strikes. Also: only the third time that he’s allowed four baserunners and the fourth time he’s walked two while pitching an inning or less.
Soria, of course, is saying that he’s just fine. Manager Trey Hillman is saying he was just rusty. But he had stayed away from Soria for a couple of days because of that stiffness. Anyway, all the wariness goes back to that April week in Texas and Cleveland when he pitched only once and the Royals didn’t reveal his right shoulder was giving him trouble.
So stay tuned on this one.
— Dick Kaegel
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