There are about two weeks left of spring games with today being the only day off for the KC Royals. The team has made a few cuts, but still have a ton of pitchers still in camp that are competing for the seven expected spots in the Opening Day bullpen.

Greg Holland

The locks in the bullpen are expected to be closer Joakim Soria, new setup man Jonathan Broxton, Greg Holland, and lefty Jose Mijares. Three of the four have been very good, but Soria has been shaky and now is dealing with elbow discomfort. Soria’s health could play into who makes the Opening Day roster.

Broxton was held back a bit, but his first appearance came live on MLB Network and he was popping 96 mph fastballs. He really looked good. In his two appearances so far (totaling two innings), he has not allowed a hit and just one walk. Broxton has struck out three and thrown 18 of his 24 pitches for strikes.

Holland has been equally as impressive, but over more outings. He has pitched five times so far, totaling 5.1 innings. His last outing was the only time he has allowed a hit (two of them to be exact) or a run. Overall, Holland has not walked a batter while striking out seven.

Mijares has not allowed a run over five appearances (totaling 5.2 innings). He has allowed just four hits and no walks, while striking out three.

Those are the four locks (though it may be just three if Soria has to miss any time). What about the rest of the competition?

» Continue reading “How is Spring Going for the Royals Relievers?”

After tying the game up at 5-5 in the top of the 8th inning, the KC Royals bullpen immediately gave it back, as they lost to the San Diego Padres, 8-5.

Bruce Chen got the start for the Royals and was lit up for five runs on five hits and a hit batter in the first inning. He did settle down after that to pitch another two innings.

The Royals got good relief pitching from lefty Francisley Bueno (1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K), Jonathan Broxton (1IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 1K), and Vin Mazzaro (2IP, 1H, 0R, 2BB, 1K ).

The Royals offense went to work in the 8th inning, as Chris Getz led off the inning with a double and went to third base on a wild pitch. With one out, Irving Falu walked and stole second base. Johnny Giavotella delivered an RBI ground out and Max Ramirez drove in Falu with a single to tie the game (he went 2-for-2).

Then things got ugly. Blake Wood started the 8th inning by getting the first batter out. Then he walked Andy Parrino, who stole second base. Then he walked Kyle Blanks. Then he walked James Darnell to load the bases. That was all for Wood, who left due to an injury (more on that later).

In came Zach Miner, who wasn’t any better. The Royals couldn’t turn the double play on a Jedd Gyorko ground ball, so a run scored. After a wild pitch, he walked Jeudy Valdez and then Jaff Decker to force in a run. Brad Davis delivered an infield single to drive in another run before Miner finally got out of the inning.

In that 8th inning, Wood and Miner combined to walk five batters and throw 43 pitches, just 16 for strikes.

*Back to Wood. He will be checked out today to see if there is any damage to his right elbow. Apparently, he has been dealing with tightness in his elbow for some time, but it is getting worse.

KC Royals manager Ned Yost has announced that he plans on carrying 12 pitchers on the big league roster when camp breaks. Is it set in stone? No. Can things change? Absolutely.

Joakim Soria

With a five-man rotation, that means the Royals will carry seven relievers to Anaheim for Opening Day. The only guarantees are closer Joakim Soria, Jonathan Broxton, and I hate to say this, lefty Jose Mijares (even though he has yet to show up to camp). I would guess that Greg Holland is just about a lock after bursting onto the scene in 2011, especially since he has already impressed in camp.

The bullpen competition also depends on the rotation competition. It’s like a trickle down effect. Yost could decide that the team is better suited with both righty Aaron Crow and lefty Everett Teaford in the bullpen. That would leave just one bullpen spot open.

Or those two could win big league rotation spots. Or they both could get sent to the minors. Or one could win a rotation spot with the other moving back to the bullpen. Or the one that doesn’t win the rotation spot could get sent back to the minors to start there.

There are quite a few scenarios and about a month to see it all play out.

There are anywhere from one to four (or maybe five) bullpen spots open (depending on the health of Broxton and when Mijares shows up). Let’s take a look at the right-handers today:

Soria spent the majority of the offseason in Arizona, not happy with his 2011 performance. He is expected to continue as the team’s closer. Broxton missed most of 2011 and will be held back in the beginning of camp. He is expected to setup Soria (despite his struggles over the last few seasons in LA).

» Continue reading “Royals Bullpen Candidates: the Right-Handers”

While the KC Royals will have plenty of left-handed pitching to take a look at in spring training, the right-handers may be a little more in demand.

2011 All-Star selection Aaron Crow will be given the opportunity to start and will be competing with other right-handers Luis Mendoza, Sean O’Sullivan, and Vin Mazzaro fir the final rotation spot (not to mention all those lefties).

Joakim Soria, Jonathan Broxton, and Greg Holland figure to fill the top righty spots in the bullpen (and most likely Crow). If the Royals carry two left-handed relievers, that leaves one to two bullpen spots open.

Jake Odorizzi with the Blue Rocks

Veteran Zach Miner, who rehabbed from Tommy John surgery in 2011 in the Royals minor league system, has a chance of serving as the long man. He hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2009 (due to the surgery), but did a serviceable job over four years with the Detroit Tigers. He also pitched alot better with Triple-A Omaha while pitching out of the bullpen (1.59 ERA in 22.2 innings, as opponents hit just .193 against him).

It will be prospect Jake Odorizzi‘s first big league camp. He is a definite long shot to crack the Royals rotation after his struggles once he was promoted to Double-A (4.72 ERA in 12 starts. He allowed 13 homeruns and 22 walks over 68.2 innings.). The invitation to big league camp gives Odorizzi the opportunity to learn from the big league coaches and the Major Leaguers. Plus he’ll know what he needs to do to get to the big leagues. The experience can only help him.

The KC Royals have signed a few players to minor league contracts over the last week or so. Here is the lowdown on four of them:

Zach Miner (RHP): Miner signed with the Royals last January and spent the 2011 season in the minors as he returned from Tommy John surgery. He struggled with Double-A NW Arkansas after his debut on May 16th, but pitched well upon his promotion to Triple-A Omaha (2-1 with a 1.59 ERA in 12 relief outings). Miner’s Major League career includes 157 appearances (35 starts) from 2006-2009 with the Detroit Tigers. Miner originally was drafted by the Atlanta Braves (where I first saw him pitch in the minors) and made his big league debut with the Braves before being traded in 2005 to the Tigers. He even pitched in the World Series with the Tigers in 2006.

Schoop in 2009 with the Connecticut Defenders

Sharlon Schoop (infielder): If you watched any of the World Baseball Classic in 2009, you saw Schoop play on the upstart Netherlands team. The Curacao native has been a member of the SF Giants organization since signing in 2004. He spent 2011 in Double-A with the Richmond Flying Squirrels (I saw him play in Double-A in 2009). He is a career .255 hitter with 232 RBIs in 578 games. Schoop has played every infield position so far in his career and owns a .969 career fielding percentage. His brother Jonathan was named the Baltimore Orioles Minor League Player of the Year and both teamed up on the Netherlands gold medal winning World Cup team.

Marlon Arias (LHP): Arias has not pitched professionally in the US since becoming a free agent following the 2009 season. Previously he pitched in the LA Dodgers organization but never pitched above Double-A. He did however throw a no-hitter in 2007 in High-A. He is currently pitching in the Dominican Winter League for Estrellas.

Tommy Hottovy (LHP): Anybody who follows the Boston Red Sox knows Hottovy was biding his time in the system. The super-nice guy made an impression on then-manager Terry Francona in spring training and low-and-behold, he made his big league debut on June 3rd. Hottovy received an invite to Royals spring training in 2012 and is from the KC area (he also attended Wichita State). With Double-A Portland last year, he had a 1.93 ERA in eight games and a 2.75 ERA in 24 games after his promotion to Triple-A Pawtucket. He was pitching in the DWL with Aguilas. You can here what he had to say following his big league debut HERE. You can check out Over the Monster‘s Lowdown on Hottovy HERE.

Hottovy could push both Tim Collins and Everett Teaford for one of the lefty reliever spots in the Royals bullpen in 2012.

Tough news for one of the Royals top prospects. Lefty John Lamb, who left his last start on May 19th due to elbow pain, will undergo Tommy John surgery on Friday. He’s just 20 years old, so he should bounce back quickly and be pack pitching sometime next summer. Best wishes on a speedy recovery John!

Other minor league roster news include Robinson Tejeda being outrighted to Omaha and Henry Barrera being activated from the 60-day DL and being sent to Wilmington.

The Omaha Storm Chasers game against the New Orleans Zephyrs got UGLY late. The Zephyrs held a 5-3 lead before blowing the game wide open. The Zephyrs scored four runs in the 7th, six runs in the 8th, and seven more in the 9th. Every Storm Chasers pitcher allowed at least one homerun, as the Zephyrs hit seven (Florida Marlins prospect Matt Dominguez hit two). The three Omaha relievers all saw their ERA’s skyrocket. Three homeruns came in the 9th inning off Omaha reliever Blaine Hardy. The Storm Chasers lost 22-6 as the Zephyrs collected 20 hits (with 12 going for extra bases). Johnny Giavotella went 3-for-5 with a three-run homerun for Omaha and Mike Moustakas went 2-for-6 while hitting his 10th homerun.

Zach Miner allowed three runs (one earned) over four innings while striking out five. Brandon Sisk pitched three perfect innings of relief before the Frisco RoughRiders went to work on the rest of the NW Arkansas Naturals bullpen. Tommy Mendonca hit a two-run homerun off Patrick Keating in the top of the 9th (Keating was in his second inning of work) to tie the game at 5-5. This came after the Naturals took the 5-4 lead in the bottom of the 8th. In the top of the 10th against Eduardo Paulino, Renny Osuna hit a two-run homerun to give the RoughRiders a 7-5 lead. The Naturals went down in order in the bottom of the 10th.

Michael Mariot made his first start with the Wilmington Blue Rocks as he has been piggy-backing Noel Arguelles all season long. Mariot was shaky, as he allowed five runs on nine hits over just 3.2 innings. The Blue Rocks scored two in the top of the 7th on Rey Navarro’s two-run homerun to tie the game at 5-5. However in the bottom of the 8th, the host Kinston Indians scored two runs to retake the lead (on a ground out and a single, with the aid of an error). Juan Graterol of the Blue Rocks homered leading off the 9th against Indians closer Preston Guilmet, but Guilmet retired the next three hitters to save the 7-6 win. It was Graterol’s first homerun in his six year career.

With the game tied at 2-2, the Kane County Cougars scored two runs in the top of the 9th on Travis Jones’ two-out, two-run homerun to take a 4-2 lead. It was their only hit in two innings against Lake County Captains reliever Nickolas Sarianides. Cougars reliever Chas Byrne allowed a two-out solo homerun to Dwight Childs, but Byrne picked up the final out for his third save. Jason Adam allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits over six innings for the Cougars, while Mitch Hodge picked up the win with two shutout innings of relief.

The Omaha Storm Chasers scored four runs early on the Memphis Redbirds, capped by a three run third inning. The Storm Chasers collected five hits in that inning, capped by a Kila Ka’aihue two-run single. They collected 15 hits total as every starter but Manny Pina collected a hit. Vin Mazzaro started for the Omaha and allowed just one run on four hits over six innings. Mario Santiago allowed a run in the 7th inning, but pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to earn the three inning save.

Zach Miner pitched well in the start for the NW Arkansas Naturals as he allowed just one run on five hits over five innings of work. The Naturals held a 7-1 lead before the Frisco Rough Riders scored three runs in the bottom of the 8th. The inning was capped by four hits and an error. The Naturals held on for the 7-4 win. Kurt Mertins went 4-for-4 with three RBIs.

The Wilmington Blue Rocks led 2-1 heading into the bottom of the 8th when the Myrtle Beach Pelicans came to life. It didn’t help that Blue Rocks reliever Kevin Chapman was wild. With one out and a runner on third, Chapman allowed an RBI double to tie the game at 2-2. He struck out the next two batters, but the last K was on a wild pitch, so the batter reached base. Then Chapman allowed an RBI single to give the Pelicans the 3-2 lead. The Blue Rocks went down in order in the 9th. Blue Rocks starter Jake Odorizzi struck out seven, but lasted just 3.1 innings as he walked three.

After scoring a run in the bottom of the 7th on a Travis Jones RBI single to take a 1-0 lead, Kane County Cougars Greg Billo allowed a run in the top of the 9th to tie the game. Billo allowed the lone run on two hits over four innings of relief. In the bottom of the 9th, the Cougars scored the winning run on a bases loaded error (the Cougars had two hits in the inning). Cheslor Cuthbert and Geulin Beltre each had two hits for the Cougars.

It was a busy day of roster moves for the KC Royals minor league affiliates and it should be just as busy the rest of the week. The team is awaiting the MRI results on starter Kyle Davies’ shoulder and it looks like reliever Robinson Tejeda could return from his rehab assignment to take his place. After Vin Mazzaro’s disastrous 2+ innings of relief last night, he was optioned to Triple-A Omaha. His spot was filled by lefty Everett Teaford, a former starter who moved to the bullpen three starts into this season (he is also a rookie). Teaford could fill the long man duty or help out fellow lefty Tim Collins (and limit Collins’ appearances). Right now, the Royals need a starter for Friday night against the St. Louis Cardinals and possibly another for Saturday if Davies is unavailable. Will this mean that some of the prized arms will arrive for the struggling Royals, or will veterans like Jeff Suppan and Kevin Pucetas fill those spots? UPDATE: Prized lefty Danny Duffy is going to start tomorrow (Wednesday) for the Royals against the visiting Texas Rangers. He will be activated Wednesday (he’s not on the 40-man roster so another move will have to be made). Not sure yet how the rest of the rotation will fill out behind him.

At the minor league level, Willy Lebron was added to the NW Arkansas roster, as was Major League veteran Zach Miner. Lebron is a 32-year old veteran who was in extended spring training (and just signed a contract with the Royals in October of 2010). This will be Lebron’s third professional season in the US (he took the spot of Harold Mozingo, who went to the DL). Miner is recovering from Tommy John surgery that he had last May. Miner took the roster spot and rotation spot vacated by the promotion of Mario Santiago to Omaha last week.

It was another slugfest in Colorado Springs, as the Storm Chasers won 12-9. All of the Omaha scoring came after being down 5-0 after two innings. The Storm Chasers collected 19 hits (to Colorado Springs’ 16), with every starter but Lorenzo Cain collecting at least one hit. Irving Falu went 5-for-6 with two triples, two RBIs, and three runs scored. Greg Holland picked up the save for Omaha, as he pitched three scoreless innings. He allowed just one hit while striking out four.

Miner made his first appearance of any kind since 2009 on Monday night. He started and allowed two runs on four hits over four innings. The Naturals trailed 4-3 heading into the top of the 9th against Tulsa closer Adam Jorgenon (who is second in the Texas League in saves). He got two quick outs, but Jeff Bianchi and Salvador Perez collected back-to-back singles, bringing up Double-A newcomer Nick Francis. Francis delivered a two-run double, his first Double-A hit, to give the Naturals a 5-4 lead. Heath Rollins, who was filling in for normal closer Patrick Keating, pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the 9th inning for the save.

The bottom portion of the Wilmington Blue Rocks lineup finally came through, as they won 7-3 in Salem. The 5-9 hitters (Tim Ferguson, Alex McClure, Jose Bonilla, Juan Graterol, and Deivy Batista) collected seven of the team’s 11 hits, drove in four runs, and scored four runs. Michael Mariot earned the win in relief of his piggy-back partner Noel Arguelles. Mariot allowed just one run over five innings. He allowed three hits while striking out four. Mariot earned his fourth victory, which is tops among Royals minor leaguers (impressive considering he hasn’t started a game this year).

5-16-11 Michael Mariot Raw Postgame Comments via John Sadak