DeepSouth
03-27-2006, 03:01 PM
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/14198980.htm
Hernandez moved back in Royals rotationBy BOB DUTTON
The Kansas City StarSURPRISE, Ariz. — It didn’t take long for the Royals to shake up their rotation.
Revised plans call for Runelvys Hernandez to shift to the back of the group after an ineffective spring that continues to raise questions regarding his stamina and conditioning.
The Royals will now open the season with a four-man rotation of Scott Elarton, Joe Mays, Jeremy Affeldt and Denny Bautista. Hernandez was previously positioned as the No. 2 starter but now isn’t expected to make his first big-league appearance until April 14.
“We’ve just got to make sure that when he pitches,” manager Buddy Bell said, “he’s ready to give us some innings. Right now, we just want to give him two more weeks to get ready for the season. That’s all.”
Hernandez opposed the move when informed Monday morning in an extended meeting with Bell, general manager Allard Baird, pitching coach Bob McClure and other club officials.
“I’m just paranoid about starting him,” Bell said, “and him not being in the best possible condition to pitch a full season. That’s my biggest concern. I don’t know if he understands that or not.
“We’re doing what’s best for the team, and we’re doing what’s best for him. I don’t want him to get two or three starts into the season and then find out that he just wasn’t ready.”
Hernandez was not available for comment.
Bautista is the biggest beneficiary in the switch. The previous plan called for him to start the season in the minors, as the No. 5 starter, before joining the rotation April 14. He is now in line to start April 8 in the season’s fourth game.
“We wouldn’t do this,” Bell said, “if we didn’t think Denny was stretched out and ready to start.”
Hernandez, 27, created concern when he reported to camp at 280 pounds — at least 30 over his desired playing weight. He is now about 15 pounds lighter because of a diet-and-workout regimen but has yet to make it through four innings in any of his four outings against big-league opponents.
“He hasn’t looked like the Runelvys we’ve seen at times in the past,” Bell said. “I think it’s probably a combination of things, and I’ve always been concerned about it.
“We were hoping, obviously, that his stamina would be OK by the end of spring training. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. We just want to be sure.”
Hernandez started 29 games last season after missing the entire 2004 season while recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery. He was 8-14 with a 5.52 ERA but faded badly down the stretch, going 0-5 with a 9.45 ERA in his final eight starts.
■ The Royals also cut six players before departing for Monday’s game against the San Francisco Giants in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Catcher Paul Phillips was optioned to Class AAA Omaha, while infielders Alex Gordon, Chris Clapinski, Wilson Valdez, Benji Gil and Mike Coolbaugh were reassigned to minor-league camp.
Coolbaugh will be placed on Omaha’s disabled list because of a broken bone in his left forearm. The injury occurred Feb. 28 when hit by a pitch from Bautista in an intrasquad game.
The Royals now have 34 players on their big-league camp roster, including four pitchers likely to start the season on the disabled list: Zack Greinke, Mark Redman, Mike MacDougal and Bobby Madritsch.
Hernandez moved back in Royals rotationBy BOB DUTTON
The Kansas City StarSURPRISE, Ariz. — It didn’t take long for the Royals to shake up their rotation.
Revised plans call for Runelvys Hernandez to shift to the back of the group after an ineffective spring that continues to raise questions regarding his stamina and conditioning.
The Royals will now open the season with a four-man rotation of Scott Elarton, Joe Mays, Jeremy Affeldt and Denny Bautista. Hernandez was previously positioned as the No. 2 starter but now isn’t expected to make his first big-league appearance until April 14.
“We’ve just got to make sure that when he pitches,” manager Buddy Bell said, “he’s ready to give us some innings. Right now, we just want to give him two more weeks to get ready for the season. That’s all.”
Hernandez opposed the move when informed Monday morning in an extended meeting with Bell, general manager Allard Baird, pitching coach Bob McClure and other club officials.
“I’m just paranoid about starting him,” Bell said, “and him not being in the best possible condition to pitch a full season. That’s my biggest concern. I don’t know if he understands that or not.
“We’re doing what’s best for the team, and we’re doing what’s best for him. I don’t want him to get two or three starts into the season and then find out that he just wasn’t ready.”
Hernandez was not available for comment.
Bautista is the biggest beneficiary in the switch. The previous plan called for him to start the season in the minors, as the No. 5 starter, before joining the rotation April 14. He is now in line to start April 8 in the season’s fourth game.
“We wouldn’t do this,” Bell said, “if we didn’t think Denny was stretched out and ready to start.”
Hernandez, 27, created concern when he reported to camp at 280 pounds — at least 30 over his desired playing weight. He is now about 15 pounds lighter because of a diet-and-workout regimen but has yet to make it through four innings in any of his four outings against big-league opponents.
“He hasn’t looked like the Runelvys we’ve seen at times in the past,” Bell said. “I think it’s probably a combination of things, and I’ve always been concerned about it.
“We were hoping, obviously, that his stamina would be OK by the end of spring training. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. We just want to be sure.”
Hernandez started 29 games last season after missing the entire 2004 season while recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery. He was 8-14 with a 5.52 ERA but faded badly down the stretch, going 0-5 with a 9.45 ERA in his final eight starts.
■ The Royals also cut six players before departing for Monday’s game against the San Francisco Giants in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Catcher Paul Phillips was optioned to Class AAA Omaha, while infielders Alex Gordon, Chris Clapinski, Wilson Valdez, Benji Gil and Mike Coolbaugh were reassigned to minor-league camp.
Coolbaugh will be placed on Omaha’s disabled list because of a broken bone in his left forearm. The injury occurred Feb. 28 when hit by a pitch from Bautista in an intrasquad game.
The Royals now have 34 players on their big-league camp roster, including four pitchers likely to start the season on the disabled list: Zack Greinke, Mark Redman, Mike MacDougal and Bobby Madritsch.