Last season, KC Royals rookie pitcher Nate Adcock took the inaugural award because he spent the entire season in the big leagues, but spent more time picking splinters than actually throwing baseballs. I thought about him again this season, but he spent more time on the shuttle back-and-forth to Triple-A Omaha than sitting on the bench.

There wasn’t a sure pick this season, so I decided to split it into halves.

Teaford waiting to catch a ball during BP

In the first half, former outfielder Mitch Maier recorded just 74 at-bats through the month of June. He was then designated for assignment and was never to be seen from again (despite winning Pacific Coast League Player of the Week honors in August).

In his final month in the big leagues, Maier had just nine at-bats, but got into 13 games. He went in as a defensive replacement in four straight games in the first week of June.

In the second half, the splinter picker was lefty Everett Teaford, which makes me wonder if he’ll ever get a chance with the Royals. This may have been due to the fact that the Royals always seemed to be saving him in case they needed a starter.

In the month of August, Teaford pitched in just four games. Overall, he pitched in 18 games, totaling 61.1 innings. Sure, he spent time in Triple-A, but that is why I am giving him the award for the second half. He pitched in 15 games since he was recalled from the minors for good at the end of June.

Yup, that’s right. The Cleveland Indians scored ten runs in an inning. They went on to beat the KC Royals, 15-3.

The ten run inning in the fifth made a relatively well-pitched game UGLY.

The Indians led 1-0 after the 2nd inning on a two out RBI single by Lou Marson. Luke Hochevar pitched well up until the fifth when the wheels completely fell off.

Shin-Soo Choo doubled to lead off the inning, stole second base, and scored on Jason Kipnis‘ RBI double. After a bunt single by Asdrubal Cabrera and a coaching visit, Hochevar struck out Lonnie Chisenhall. But then Jack Hannahan singled in a run and Brent Lillibridge walked to load the bases.

Casey Kotchman grounded into a force out to drive in another run and Marson walked again to load the bases. On the very next pitch, Hochevar hit Jason Donald to drive in a run and Choo followed with a two-run single to chase Hochevar from the game.

In came lefty Everett Teaford, who didn’t fare any better in the inning. He walked he first batter he faced, Kipnis, on four pitches. Cabrera followed with a grand slam to cap the Indians scoring.

Let’s recap the 5th inning:

The Indians sent 13 men to the plate. They scored ten runs. They collected six hits. The Royals two pitchers walked three hitters while hitting another.

The Royals actually got two of those runs back in the top of the 6th inning on Alex Gordon‘s homerun. But it was a little too late.

Jeremy Jeffress had another rough outing on Sunday. In the 7th inning, he allowed two runs on pinch-hitter Matt LaPorta‘s double. In the eighth, he allowed four straight singles with one out that drove in another run. That chased him from the game and brought in Louis Coleman. He wild pitched a run in.

The Royals finish up the 2012 season with the Detroit Tigers heading to Kauffman Stadium. They could play spoiler for the Tigers, but they have a three game lead in the American League Central over Chicago with three games to go.

*The injuries keep piling up as the 2012 season is coming to an end. Third baseman Mike Moustakas left the game with groin tightness. He says he’s okay.

It was a pitcher’s duel early until the two teams’ bullpens got into the action. The KC Royals were then pummeled by the Cleveland Indians, 15-4.

Jake Odorizzi with the Blue Rocks

Jake Odorizzi was making his Major League debut for the Royals and looked good early on. I couldn’t watch the game (as many probably couldn’t because it wasn’t televised), but either he was aggressive in the strike zone or the Indians were aggressive at the plate. He hit the 50 pitch mark after four innings, but 34 of them were for strikes.

Then the 5th inning. He needed 22 pitches to get through the inning, but still did not allow a run.

In the sixth, it was the third time through the Indians order. Odorizzi finally retired Shin-Soo Choo (who had the only two hits off him to that point). Jason Kipnis then tripled on the very first pitch and the wheels seemed to fall off for Odorizzi.

He fell behind 2-0 to Asdrubal Cabrera before allowing an RBI single to give the Indians the lead. Carlos Santana took the first pitch from Odorizzi into the seats for a two-run homerun.

After a coaching visit, he allowed a single to Michael Brantley which ended his day. Francisley Bueno entered and escaped. He was the only Royals reliever to not allow a run.

All-in-all, it was a good first start for Odorizzi. His fastball stayed in the 88-92 mph range. He hit 93 mph once when trying to put away Jack Hannahan (he ended up walking him). He allowed three runs on six hits and a walk over 5.1 innings. He struck out three.

Indians starter David Huff was just as good as Odorizzi, though he was losing 1-0 before the 6th inning. The only run he allowed came via Adam Moore‘s first homerun in the big leagues this season.

Huff retired eight in a row after the homerun before walking Moore to lead off the bottom of the sixth. After Alex Gordon‘s two out single put runners at the corners, Huff was lifted for Esmil Rogers, who threw one pitch to get Billy Butler to fly out to end the inning.

The Royals usually reliable bullpen was BAD on Sunday. It all started in the top of the 7th inning. The Indians sent 11 men to the plate and scored five runs off three Royals relievers.

» Continue reading “Tribe Ruins Odorizzi’s Debut”

Put into an early 3-0 hold in the first inning, the KC Royals couldn’t complete the comeback against the Texas Rangers, as they lost 7-6.

In the “bullpen game”, Everett Teaford got the start and was shaky early. Ian Kinsler singled to lead off the game and Josh Hamilton walked two batters later. Adrian Beltre then hit a three-run homerun to put the Royals in a hole.

The Royals would score a run in the bottom of the inning off Rangers starter Ryan Dempster on a Billy Butler RBI double. The game would stay scoreless until the bottom of the 6th inning. In that inning, the Royals cut the deficit to 3-2 after back-to-back doubles from Butler and Salvador Perez.

However, the Rangers came right back against Vin Mazzaro, who was in his second inning of work. Michael Young homered to lead off the 7th inning. After a one out walk and a Mitch Moreland pinch-hit double, Mazzaro was lifted in favor of Aaron Crow. BIG MISTAKE. Crow allowed a sac fly and an RBI single to give the Rangers a 6-2 lead.

With Dempster gone from the game, the Royals went to work against the Rangers bullpen. First up was Alexi Ogando. Jeff Francoeur walked (yes I typed walked) and Eric Hosmer followed with an infield single. A wild pitch scored Frenchy and Hosmer moved to third base on Johnny Giavotella‘s fly out. A David Lough sac fly cut the deficit to 6-4.

But just like the last inning, the Rangers tacked on another run. Jeremy Jeffress was the new reliever and he immediately gave up a triple to Beltre. Nelson Cruz followed with an RBI single and the Rangers led 7-4. Jeffress escaped the inning by inducing a double play grounder.

The Royals came back with a run off Rangers reliever Mike Adams in the bottom of the 8th inning after Butler doubled (again), moved to third base on a wild pitch, and scored on Mike Moustakas‘ force out.

» Continue reading “Down Early, Royals Cannot Complete Comeback”

I know I’m a day late from my normal weekly awards posting, but with the minor league regular season ending on Labor Day, I figured I’d push it back a day to cover everything. It wasn’t a great ending for any team.

The KC Royals went 4-4 over the last eight days and still comfortably sit in third place in the American League Central (60-74). They continue their four-game series tonight at home against Texas.

Omaha finished the regular season going 3-5. It wasn’t a great final month for the Storm Chasers who had a huge lead in the American Northern Division for most of the year (finished with an 83-61 record). They begin their quest for a second straight Pacific Coast League title on Wednesday night in Omaha against Albuquerque who they just lost three of four to. Jake Odorizzi will start the playoff opener against the Isotopes’ Fernando Nieve (a former big leaguer).

NW Arkansas went just 2-6 over the final eight games to finish the second half at a disappointing 21-48. After missing out on the Texas League’s North Division’s first half title by three games, they completely fell apart in the second half.

Wilmington went 5-2 over their last eight days, including clinching the Northern Division second half title on Thursday. The Blue Rocks ended the Carolina League’s second half at 37-33. They start their quest at their first Mills Cup trophy since 1999 on Wednesday night at home against Lynchburg. Brooks Pounders will face CL Pitcher of the Year Gus Schlosser.

Kane County went just 2-6 in their final eight games and found themselves on the outside looking in in terms of a Midwest League playoff spot. The Cougars finished the second half with a 34-36 record.

Burlington blew away their division in the Appalachian League and reached the Appy League finals (41-27). Each of the three games needed extra innings to name a victor. The Royals lost the title to Elizabethton on a 12th inning walk-off grand slam.

Idaho Falls was eliminated from the Pioneer League playoffs with a 16-19 second half record (33-40 overall record). The Chukars finish their regular season on September 6th (they’ve lost seven of their last nine games).

Hitters of the Week

Majors: Even though David Lough played in just three games last week, it was a memorable three games. He made his Major League debut on Saturday and batted leadoff in all three games. He has a hit in every game and went 5-for-14 (.357) with four runs scored.

Minors: Wil Myers, Omaha. It is fitting that Omaha’s Player of the Year takes this honor in the final award posting of the minor league regular season. He is in the midst of a nine-game hitting streak and has gotten hot right when the Storm Chasers are heading to the postseason.

Myers was 13-for-33 (.394) over his last eight games. He scored five runs and drove in six. He fell a homerun short of the Minor League Baseball title (one behind Double-A Reading’s Darin Ruf).

Honorable Mention: Irving Falu, Omaha. He is also in the midst of a nine-game hitting streak. He was 14-for-32 (.438) with five runs scored and five RBIs. Falu finished the season with the seventh best batting average (.329) in the PCL.

» Continue reading “Royals Blue Aid Weekly Awards”

The KC Royals and Minnesota Twins played two on Saturday and the first game was delayed due to more rain. The Royals were swept in the DH.

Game 1 was a well-pitched game, but the Royals fell 3-1. Twins rookie Cole De Vries has just four wins on the season. He is now 3-0 against the Royals. He allowed a run on seven hits over 6.2 innings. All seven of the hits were singles.

Meanwhile, Will Smith allowed three runs on nine hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out four. Vin Mazzaro followed with three scoreless innings of relief.

Game 2 was ugly from the start for the Royals, as Luke Hochevar lasted 1.2 innings. He gave up eight runs, even after the Royals scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning.

However, the Royals offense battled back, but it was just too much, as they lost 8-7. They out-hit the Twins, 14-9, but collected just two extra-base hits.

The 3-4-5 hitters (Alex Gordon, Billy Butler, and Salvador Perez) went a combined 9-for-14 with four runs scored and three RBIs. David Lough made his first start of the 2012 season (in right field and batting leadoff) and went 2-for-5 with two runs scored.

Everett Teaford came on in relief and threw 5.1 scoreless innings of relief. He threw 56 pitches, 34 for strikes. Kelvin Herrera followed with two hitless innings of relief.

Luis Mendoza will take the hill on Sunday afternoon as the Royals try to salvage at least one game of the series. Esmerling Vasquez will be making his first big league start (and Twins debut).

*What is it about the Twins? The Royals are just 4-9 against them this season and have won just one game in each series.

**As part of the September callups, the Royals brought up catcher Manny Pina from Double-A and outfielder David Lough from Triple-A.

I guess you can’t get great starting pitching every night. Everyone has a clunker once in awhile. Tonight it was Will Smith‘s turn. The KC Royals lost the opening game to their three-game series in Tampa, 5-1.

Smith lasted just 3.2 innings and allowed four runs on eight hits and two walks. He did strike out four, but threw 74 pitches.

Alex Gordon had two outfield assists or it could have been worse for Smith. In the 2nd inning when Elliot Johnson drove in a run with a two out single, Gordon threw Jose Lobaton out at third base just after Sean Rodriguez scored.

The Royals came right back to tie the game at 1-1 on Gordon‘s two out RBI single. But Smith gave it right back.

Desmond Jennings tripled off the right field wall (on a ball I thought could have been caught by Lorenzo Cain). He scored on a wild pitch.

The 4th inning was Smith‘s undoing. With one out and a runner on second base, Lobaton singled in a run. Johnson then singled and after a coaching visit, Jennings doubled in a run. It would have been more if Gordon‘s throw (via the relay by Alcides Escobar) didn’t get Johnson at the plate. It was also a great block of the plate by catcher Salvador Perez. That ended Smith‘s night.

Lefty Everett Teaford entered and escaped the jam. He did however give up a run in his 2.1 innings of work. That came via a Jeff Keppinger homerun.

Jeremy Jeffress was dominant in his one inning of work. He struck out two of the three batters he faced on 17 pitches.

» Continue reading “Royals Can’t Stop the Hot Rays”

The KC Royals swept the Cleveland Indians with a 7-6 victory at Kauffman Stadium in 11 innings. The three-game sweep may have ended the Indians chance at earning a playoff spot (7.5 games out of first place and 6.5 out of the wild card). They also ruined the Major League debut of Indians starter Corey Kluber.

Alcides Escobar

The Royals scored six runs off Kluber in the bottom of the first inning. Alex Gordon greeted him with a solo homerun on the very first pitch he threw. Two straight singles gave the Royals a 2-0 lead. With two outs, Eric Hosmer hit a three-run homerun. Jarrod Dyson followed with a triple and Chris Getz drove him in.

The crazy thing is, Kluber made it through four innings and only really was in trouble again in the 4th inning. He exited in the 5th inning with a man on base and one out (the base runner reached via an error).

Meanwhile Bruce Chen didn’t get out of the 3rd inning. He allowed four runs on seven hits and one walk over just 2.2 innings. Everett Teaford followed with 3.1 innings of relief. He allowed two runs via a Carlos Santana homerun in the 5th inning to tie the game at 6-6.

The Royals only collected one hit off three Indians relievers prior to Esmil Rogers entering in the 10th inning. They had a chance to win it in that 10th inning, but Brayan Pena grounded out to end the inning with the winning run on third base.

Rogers could not escape the 11th inning. Hosmer led off the inning with a single and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt. After a wild pitch moved him to third base, Rogers got Dyson to fly out. Rogers then walked Gordon intentionally to bring up Alcides Escobar.

The Indians went to closer Chris Perez, who got ahead in the count 1-2 on sliders. With the fourth pitch, he decided to throw a fastball and Escobar deposited it into left field for the game winning single. Too bad less than 16,000 fans were in attendance (probably less by the time the game ended).

The Royals bullpen foursome only allowed one hit over the game’s final five innings (with zero walks).

Since I was on a mini-vacation last week, this week’s awards will be a two week addition (from July 16th through July 29th).

The KC Royals had a tough two weeks. They only won three games (3-11) and fell into last place in the American League Central (14 games back at 41-60). The Royals played Seattle twice (both at home and on the road) and went just 2-7. They have Monday off before beginning a three-game series at Kauffman Stadium against the struggling Cleveland Indians.

Omaha wasn’t great over the last two weeks (5-9), but they still have a 16 game lead in the American Northern Division in the Pacific Coast League (64-45 which is still the best record in the PCL). The Storm Chasers have two more games at OKC before heading home for a eight-game homestand.

The last two weeks (well the whole month of July) has been tough for NW Arkansas. They went just 4-10, though they are on a two game winning streak. The Naturals are in last place in the North Division of the Texas League at 9-27 in the second half (14.5 games back). They finish up their home series tonight against Springfield before heading out on the road for seven games.

Wilmington went 6-7 and sit in third place in the Northern Division of the Carolina League (just 1/2 game back at 18-18 in the second half). The Blue Rocks have Monday off as they head out on the road to Winston-Salem and Salem.

Kane County went 5-7 over the last two weeks. The Cougars are in third place at 18-17 in the Midwest League’s Western Division (three games back). The Cougars are finishing up their series with Quad Cities right now before heading out on the road for four games in Beloit.

So which players have been doing well despite their team’s struggles?

Hitter of the Week

Majors: Billy Butler. The offense hasn’t been great of late and Butler was the only hitter that showed up this weekend in Seattle. Over the last seven games, he is 11-for-24 (.458) with three doubles, a homerun, four runs scored, and six RBIs.

Minors: Matt Fields, Wilmington. He signed with the Royals from the independent leagues, leading that league in homeruns. However, he plays at Frawley Stadium and is in a pitcher’s league. Fields has not let those factors slow him down. He has 13 total homeruns and 23 RBIs in just 34 games. He is currently in the midst of an eight-game hitting streak.

Honorable Mention: Alex Llanos, Kane County. In the last ten games, he had at least one hit in every game but one (13-for-34 or .382).

Pitcher of the Week

» Continue reading “Royals Blue Aid Weekly Awards”

Not a whole lot went right for the KC Royals in their afternoon finale against the LA Angels. They lost 11-6, despite chasing Angels starter Jered Weaver from the game after five innings (101 pitches).

It all started with the first inning, when four of the first five Angels hitters collected hits off Royals starter Luke Hochevar. The first run scored on a wild pitch.

In the second inning, the Royals defense was terrible. Alcides Escobar booted a ground ball at shortstop, but it was ruled a hit (Peter Bourjos was the hitter). Eric Hosmer bobbled a sac bunt. Mike Moustakas threw wildly to first base after getting a force out at third base. Hochevar threw another wild pitch.

Then Hochevar forgot how many outs there were on a Mark Trumbo tapper to the mound. He lobbed the ball to first base for the out as Hunter raced home to score another run.

The home plate umpire ended Hochevar’s day in the 4th inning. After allowing a homerun to Bobby Wilson, Hochevar hit Trout with a 3-0 pitch. Hochevar was ejected and in came the good portion of the game: Everett Teaford.

Teaford pitched four scoreless innings of relief before leaving in the 8th inning with a man on base. Unfortunately, that run would score, as Louis Coleman allowed back-to-back homeruns to Trout and Hunter to cap the Angels scoring.

Billy Butler hit a two-run homerun in the 5th inning for the only runs the Royals would get against Weaver.

Jeff Francoeur connected for a three-run homer in the 8th inning, breaking out of an 0-for-15 skid. That cut the Royals deficit to 8-5, but the Angels came back against Coleman.

*Next up, the Royals head to Seattle. The Mariners won three out of four last week in Kansas City by scoring 31 runs on 50 hits. Luis Mendoza will get the start in the opener on Thursday (he did not face the Mariners last week). Jason Vargas will oppose him (he has won three straight starts).