Bautista makes case for rotation

[tk13]

http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/NAS...t=.jsp&c_id=kc

Notes: Bautista getting noticed
Pena says youngster could earn spot in the rotation
By Alan Eskew / Special to MLB.com

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Denny Bautista is the early leader to claim a spot in the Royals' rotation.

Bautista, a 24-year-old rookie right-hander, threw three shutout innings and allowed just one single, while striking out four in the Royals' 6-0 victory over the Mariners on Wednesday.

Royals manager Tony Pena said there is "no way" he could omit Bautista from the rotation if he continues to pitch the way he has been.

In two outings, Bautista has allowed one unearned run in five innings, while striking out eight and walking two.

"This kid has thrown real good in back-to-back games," Pena said. "He's real tough. He threw only 32 pitches today in three innings. He threw only two pitches up in the strike zone. Everything else was down. He had a good changeup, good curveball and a good slider."

Not to mention a fastball that tops out at 98 mph and is consistently 96-97.

"Bautista is one of the most intimidating pitchers I've ever seen," Royals pitching coach Guy Hansen said. "He has got four pitches that are all above average. He has the eye of the tiger. He wants the ball. He's just got an exceptional arm.

"He could be an impact guy. The Royals did a tremendous scouting effort to get him in a trade [with the Orioles last June for veteran reliever Jason Grimsley]. I know a couple of guys called me and said, 'You've got the mother lode.' "

The Royals said Bautista, who stands 6-foot-5, added 20 pounds to his frame and is weighing 190 pounds, which helped increase the velocity on his fastball.


Lima escapes: Jose Lima weaved his way into and out of trouble the first three innings on Wednesday.

Lima did not allow a run, but he yielded five hits, all singles, and walked three. The Royals turned double plays behind him in the first and third innings. In the second with the bases loaded and one out, Lima struck out Jamal Strong and retired Ichiro Suzuki on a ground ball.

"I got the bases loaded, but that didn't bother me," Lima said. "I'm a better pitcher when I'm in trouble. I made some good pitches. I don't try to be too fine."
Pena thought Lima got in jams because "he tried to be fine."

"He tried to make perfect pitches," Pena said.

Pena said Lima's outing was "much better" than his first, when he allowed seven runs, six earned, on eight hits against the Rangers.

"If I get the slider going, watch out," Lima said. "Then I'll have my two-seam fastball, my changeup and my slider. I can throw the changeup anytime I want now for strikes."


Forget about it: Chris George's line looked alarming in the box score: two innings, five hits, three runs, in a loss to the Rockies on Monday.

"The stats lied," Hansen said. "It wasn't an indicator. I actually thought he threw the ball as well as I've seen him. He had a firmness to his breaking ball. He had some deception in his delivery. There were a lot of good things I liked."

George gave up two ground-ball singles off infielders' gloves, a broken-bat single to Desi Relaford and a RBI on a squibbler to the first baseman.

"That's the story of my life," George said. "I was throwing all four pitches for strikes. Again, I didn't walk anybody, which is big for me. I was being aggressive, just trying to make them put the ball in play. I'm not afraid of contact."

George paused and then added, "Maybe I should be," and laughed.

"I felt really good about the way I threw the ball," George said. "I just didn't get the breaks. It's going to equal out in the end."


Guiel meeting: Outfielder Aaron Guiel met with general manager Allard Baird and Pena on Wednesday after a published report came out with the headline: "Guiel: If I'm not starting, I'll probably be departing."

Guiel is competing for an outfield job after missing most of last season because of a vision problem that he corrected with two laser eye surgeries.

"I just wanted to clear the air with Allard and Tony," Guiel said. "I was glad I could meet with both. Allard and I had a nice conversation. I was probably not misquoted, but the quotes were taking out of context.

"I never said if I wasn't starting that I wanted out. All I ever asked for was an opportunity to prove to them that my vision is 100 percent. My eye is 100 percent, but they have to see me perform on the field.

"I have a lot of loyalty to this ballclub. The organization signed me out of the Mexican League [in 2000] and gave me my first opportunity to play in the big leagues."


Injury updates: Tony Graffanino, who has been restricted to DH duties after having shoulder surgery last season, said his throwing is coming along well and that he anticipates he will be able to play second base on Friday in a "B" games against the Rangers.

Pena said third baseman Chris Truby, who has not played since the March 3 opener because of a sore left wrist, will be out at least three or four more days.

[beavis]

Originally Posted by tk13

I don't know, I've tried to be even keel all spring, but I'm starting to believe... I thought Bautista was still a little rough around the edges, and he probably is. I didn't think he'd be ready, but maybe he is. Hard to believe he has the potential to force Greinke into being our #2 starter one of these days. Greinke had a lights out performance the other day. Runelvys Hernandez threw 70 pitches and threw pretty well today. Jose Lima might end up being our 4th or 5th best starter. We'll have to see once the lights come on and it means something, but I'm cautiously optimistic our pitching won't be too shabby... and it all starts with good pitching.

I'm the same way man. I just don't think we'll be able to score enough runs, even if the pitching is great. Hopefully, we'll have enough to trade for some bats at some point.

[beavis]

Hey tk, what do you think about Mac. If he returns to form and Affeldt can stay healthy, that'd be a helluva one two punch at the back end of the bullpen. I'm starting to get really excited about this year, for the first time, I see a little light at the end of the pitching tunnel.

I don't see how they're going to keep Gotay out of the lineup if he keeps hitting like he has been. Think about how young our opening day infield could be. Teahan, Berroa, Gotay, and Buck. The only one with more than 2 years experience would be Sweeney. The only thing we are still really lacking is a power hitting corner outfielder.

I don't know about you, but I'm really liking how this team is stacking up. Kinda reminds me of 2003, but more legit in a lot of ways.

Link

Notes: Affeldt near return
If bullpen session goes well, he'll be in game Monday
By Alan Eskew / Special to MLB.com

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Closer Jeremy Affeldt is scheduled to throw another bullpen session Saturday, and if all goes well he will pitch on Monday against the Cubs.
Affeldt has not appeared in a game since straining the adductor muscle in his left groin area March 12 against the Giants.

Affeldt said he threw more than 40 pitches in a 10-minute bullpen "without pain" Thursday, but the club wants him to have another mound session before pitching in a game.

"I worked on some stuff to figure out the final piece of my mechanics," Affeldt said. "I just finalized my mechanics. I made some changes during the 'pen. My back leg has been stiff, and my groin would take the pressure. That's why I've had (groin) problems with it the last three years. I've softened my back leg."

He said he uses more of his hamstrings and quads in his new mechanics and takes pressure off his groin.

"It gives me more power," Affeldt said. "Once I changed that in my last 25 pitches, I probably threw four or five balls. I was hitting the glove. I threw a lot of strikes. Last year I was a little inconsistent with the curveball, but this year I think I'll be more consistent."

Graffanino update: A MRI revealed a Grade 2 sprain of second baseman Tony Graffanino's left ankle, trainer Nick Swartz said. Graffanino will be held out of games for the next seven to 10 days, but the Royals are hopeful he'll be ready for Opening Day.

Graffanino turned his left ankle Wednesday and when the ankle puffed up over night, the Royals ordered X-rays and an MRI.

Graffanino has played only two games in the field after having shoulder surgery last August. The Royals brought him along slowly with his throwing in spring training.

If Graffanino is not ready by the April 4 opener, Ruben Gotay, who is hitting .415 with four home runs and 11 RBIs in 14 games, would likely start in his place. Gotay singled Friday to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. Gotay hit .270 with one home run and 16 RBIs in 44 games last season with the Royals.

In another injury, utility player Chris Clapinski injured his arm in a game Thursday and was examined Friday. The Royals expect the results back from the examination Saturday.

Struggling Nunez: When Spring Training opened, general manager Allard Baird said right field was Abraham Nunez' position to lose.

Nunez certainly has done nothing to win the job this March. He is hitting .185 with eight strikeouts in 27 at-bats.

Manager Tony Pena had Nunez report to the hitting cages at 7 a.m. MT for tutoring. Hitting coach Jeff Pentland also attended Nunez' early morning session. Afterwards, Nunez was sent to a minor league game so he could get several at-bats.

"The stance is a little bit different," Nunez said on Friday. "They've spread out my legs a little more."

Nunez hit 10 home runs in Spring Training last year with the Marlins, but all five of his hits this spring are singles.

"The difference is I'm a little bit lost at home plate right now," Nunez said. "Right now I don't feel comfortable at the plate."

Said Pena, "He's just pressing too much. He's going forward and is too quick with his hands with his stride and has nothing behind it. Now he's loaded up with the new stance."

Nunez, Aaron Guiel and Emil Brown are competing for the final outfield slot. "The war is still on," Pena said of the competition.

Vintage MacDougal: Mike MacDougal, who was an All-Star closer in 2003 but spent most of last season in the minors with nagging shoulder and elbow injuries, pitched a spotless ninth and struck out two in the Royals' 5-3 loss to the Angels on Friday.

MacDougal is 1-0 with a 1.42 earned run average and a save in six relief appearances. He has struck out eight and walked three in 6 1/3 innings, while giving up four hits and one run.

"MacDougal is throwing the ball well," Pens said. "He's more consistent with his fastball. His breaking stuff is better. He's added a pitch, a changeup, to his repertoire. He's in control of everything. His mound presence is there. It's nice to see him bouncing back after the year he had last year."

Anderson back: Brian Anderson, who has not pitched since going two innings March 7 against the Rockies because of back stiffness, is scheduled to throw Saturday in a minor league game.

"Because of the change of my mechanics and I've been throwing so much, I got to the point where I was tired, my body was fatigued from the workload," Anderson said. "So I got pushed back a day or two."

Anderson had a heat pad around his lower back on Friday.

"Bad Spring Training bed," he said.

Bautista blister: Denny Bautista had finger blisters on two fingers on his right hand before he pitched Thursday against the Angels.

"Every year in spring time, I get the blisters from throwing a knuckle curve," Bautista said on Friday.

He eschewed the knuckle curve against the Angels, throwing only his fastball, slider and changeup.

He said the trainers have treated the blister, filing it down, and he should be able to put the knuckle curve back in his arsenal in his next outing. He said he would throw the knuckle curve in bullpen session between games.

"I think it will be good," Bautista said of his finger.

Bautista has been very good this spring: an 0.84 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings.

"It's more like a callous than a blister," Pena said. "It should not be a problem."

Hernandez outing: Runelvys Hernandez was the losing pitcher Friday, giving up three runs on four hits, including a Juan Rivera home run, but is making steady progress after missing all of last season.

"Right now I'm coming along fast, everything's coming together," said Hernandez, who had elbow surgery at the end of the 2003 season. "The most important thing right now is I'm pain-free."

Hernandez threw 70 pitches against the Angels.

"He was still fresh," Pena said. "That's a good sign."

Up next: Right-hander Kevin Appier, who has a 12.71 ERA in his first three outings, will start on Saturday, 1:05 p.m. MT start, against the White Sox in Tucson. Appier needs a strong performance, as time is running out for him to win a spot on the Royals' staff. The White Sox will start left-hander Mark Buehrle.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by tk13

.. and it all starts with good pitching.

Didnt they move the fences back at the K to their original dimesions this year?? That should also help our pitching out alot this year as well.
I guess they want to see us return to the slap hitting style of the 70's?

[VonneMarie]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Didnt they move the fences back at the K to their original dimesions this year?? That should also help our pitching out alot this year as well.
I guess they want to see us return to the slap hitting style of the 70's?

They did that last season. They pushed it back to 410 it's original dimensions. It didn't do our staff any good, as you can tell.

[tk13]

Originally Posted by beavis

Hey tk, what do you think about Mac. If he returns to form and Affeldt can stay healthy, that'd be a helluva one two punch at the back end of the bullpen. I'm starting to get really excited about this year, for the first time, I see a little light at the end of the pitching tunnel.

I don't see how they're going to keep Gotay out of the lineup if he keeps hitting like he has been. Think about how young our opening day infield could be. Teahan, Berroa, Gotay, and Buck. The only one with more than 2 years experience would be Sweeney. The only thing we are still really lacking is a power hitting corner outfielder.

I don't know about you, but I'm really liking how this team is stacking up. Kinda reminds me of 2003, but more legit in a lot of ways.

MacDougal went to work with Guy Hansen before the 2003 season I do believe, and he obviously came back and had a pretty good year, so they've had success before. Hopefully they can repeat that.

Supposedly Baird believes Gotay needs more time to work on his defense, Graffanino can't seem to stay healthy though, Baird may not have a choice. On paper the offense doesn't look all that great really, they'll probably have to manufacture some runs. I like the fact that it looks more like a team that can put rallies together as opposed to waiting for a 3 run homer like last year though. It'll be tough to repeat 2003, but we'll see. We don't have Raul Ibanez or Beltran, and that team led the league in hitting with runners in scoring position. I think our pitching looks better than either of the last two years though.