tk13
06-11-2003, 02:14 AM
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/6059041.htm
Royals call up Field for bullpen
By DICK KAEGEL
The Kansas City Star
There's been another reworking of the Royals' bullpen.
Right-handed reliever Nate Field, after a successful stay at Class AAA Omaha, Neb., was called up Tuesday.
Field didn't allow a run in his first seven outings for Omaha and then gave up a home run in his eighth appearance. He had two saves and a 0.96 ERA. He also had one win, three saves and a 3.60 ERA in 15 games for Class AA Wichita.
"He's been throwing the ball real well, and right now we need help in our bullpen," manager Tony Pena said.
Left-hander Rick DeHart was designated for assignment. He was 0-2 and had a 13.50 ERA in four games for the Royals.
In 2002, Field was in five games for the Royals (0-0, 9.00 ERA) and then was claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees. He pitched for Class AAA Columbus, was waived by the Yankees and re-signed with the Royals as a free agent.
"At Wichita I got back to what got me here in the first place, things I got away from with the Yankees," he said.
Flap over signing
University of Nevada baseball coach Gary Powers is firing away at the Royals for signing one of his pitchers.
J.T. Sherman, although not taken in the June 3-4 draft, signed with the Royals afterward. Sherman had an 8-5 record and 5.11 ERA in 17 starts for Nevada this year.
"That's the first time I've ever had a major-league organization go into a junior's house after not drafting that player, offer him relatively nothing and then sign him like that," Powers told the Reno Gazette-Journal.
"I don't think they acted in the best interest of the kid."
Deric Ladnier, the Royals' director of scouting, said the decision to sign was Sherman's.
"Under no circumstances are we trying to circumvent the coach or anything," Ladnier said. "The kid wanted to go out and play. We gave him the opportunity to sign.
"The last I heard he's 22 and capable of making his own decisions. The coach is bashing us and basically needs to talk to the player and ask him why he made the decision."
More draftees sign
The Royals announced the signing of six more draft selections: second basemen Brandon Powell (eighth round) and Walter Sevilla (34th), pitchers John Gragg (ninth) and Jacob Mullis (15th), and outfielders Bryan Graham (16th) and Jeffery Barry (18th).
Their top pick, center fielder Chris Lubanski, is scheduled to work out with the Royals today before reporting to a minor-league assignment. Their other first-round choice, catcher Mich Maier, will work out here Friday.
The Royals have signed 11 of their 51 selections.
Delayed by rain
The start of Tuesday night's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks was delayed 1 hour, 45 minutes by rain. The first pitch came at 8:50 p.m.
Food drive
The 21st annual Royals Wives Food Drive will be held this weekend at Kauffman Stadium. Non-perishable food items will be collected near Gate A and Gate B between 5 and 7:30 p.m. Friday and 4 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
The food will go to needy children in the Kansas City area. Fans who contribute five or more items or donate $5 or more will receive an autographed photo of a Royals player.
Suggested items include peanut butter, canned soups and pastas, fruit drinks, puddings, canned meats, powdered or canned milk, rice, dried beans, canned vegetables and cereal. Do not bring glass containers.
`House Party'
Want to have Royals president Dan Glass and Royals Hall of Famer Frank White at your house?
The Royals are having a contest to do just that. The winner can invite 12 friends to a catered dinner with Glass and White on June 26 to watch the Royals' TV game at Cleveland.
Fans should detail their reasons for wanting to have the house party and e-mail marketing@royals.mlb.com or send a postcard to Royals House Party, One Royal Way, Kansas City, Mo. 64129. Contestants must be 18 and receive the Royals Sports Television Network at their house.
Include a daytime and evening phone number. The deadline for entries is June 19.
Etc.
• First baseman Mike Sweeney is the only Royals' player among the leaders in the American League All-Star balloting. Sweeney ranks fourth, with 142,387 votes, behind leading Carlos Delgado of Toronto (299,219). (Voting leaders on D-6.)
• Reliever Albie Lopez pitched one inning for Omaha on Sunday and reported no problem with his groin strain.
• Outfielder Dee Brown (left wrist sprain) and second baseman Carlos Febles (right and left ring finger injuries) are improving and are expected to take injury rehabilitation assignments in the minors soon.
• Shortstop Tony Pena Jr., son of the Royals' manager, was selected to the Carolina League All-Star team. Pena, who plays for Atlanta's Class A Myrtle Beach club, has a .275 average with three homers, 18 RBIs. The Carolina League stars will meet the California League stars.
• The Royals have four players on the Carolina All-Stars from Wilmington, Del.: pitchers Zack Greinke, 9-0, 1.17 ERA, and Kyle Middleton, 6-2, 2.07; catcher Scott Walter, .276, and shortstop Andres Blanco, .274.
• Wichita has six players on the Texas League All-Star team: pitchers Jimmy Gobble, 8-4, 2.97, and Danny Tamayo, 6-5, 2.96; third baseman Justin Gemoll, .270; infielder Corey Hart, .328; outfielder Byron Gettis, .318, and designated hitter Tydus Meadows, .288.
• Arizona third baseman Shea Hillenbrand is out because of a pulled muscle in his left side. He's batting .286 in eight games since being acquired from Boston.
On deck
The Royals meet Arizona in the second of three games at 7:05 tonight at Kauffman Stadium. Left-hander Darrell May, 0-2, 4.08 ERA, is matched against Diamondbacks right-hander Andrew Good, 2-1, 4.75 ERA.
Royals call up Field for bullpen
By DICK KAEGEL
The Kansas City Star
There's been another reworking of the Royals' bullpen.
Right-handed reliever Nate Field, after a successful stay at Class AAA Omaha, Neb., was called up Tuesday.
Field didn't allow a run in his first seven outings for Omaha and then gave up a home run in his eighth appearance. He had two saves and a 0.96 ERA. He also had one win, three saves and a 3.60 ERA in 15 games for Class AA Wichita.
"He's been throwing the ball real well, and right now we need help in our bullpen," manager Tony Pena said.
Left-hander Rick DeHart was designated for assignment. He was 0-2 and had a 13.50 ERA in four games for the Royals.
In 2002, Field was in five games for the Royals (0-0, 9.00 ERA) and then was claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees. He pitched for Class AAA Columbus, was waived by the Yankees and re-signed with the Royals as a free agent.
"At Wichita I got back to what got me here in the first place, things I got away from with the Yankees," he said.
Flap over signing
University of Nevada baseball coach Gary Powers is firing away at the Royals for signing one of his pitchers.
J.T. Sherman, although not taken in the June 3-4 draft, signed with the Royals afterward. Sherman had an 8-5 record and 5.11 ERA in 17 starts for Nevada this year.
"That's the first time I've ever had a major-league organization go into a junior's house after not drafting that player, offer him relatively nothing and then sign him like that," Powers told the Reno Gazette-Journal.
"I don't think they acted in the best interest of the kid."
Deric Ladnier, the Royals' director of scouting, said the decision to sign was Sherman's.
"Under no circumstances are we trying to circumvent the coach or anything," Ladnier said. "The kid wanted to go out and play. We gave him the opportunity to sign.
"The last I heard he's 22 and capable of making his own decisions. The coach is bashing us and basically needs to talk to the player and ask him why he made the decision."
More draftees sign
The Royals announced the signing of six more draft selections: second basemen Brandon Powell (eighth round) and Walter Sevilla (34th), pitchers John Gragg (ninth) and Jacob Mullis (15th), and outfielders Bryan Graham (16th) and Jeffery Barry (18th).
Their top pick, center fielder Chris Lubanski, is scheduled to work out with the Royals today before reporting to a minor-league assignment. Their other first-round choice, catcher Mich Maier, will work out here Friday.
The Royals have signed 11 of their 51 selections.
Delayed by rain
The start of Tuesday night's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks was delayed 1 hour, 45 minutes by rain. The first pitch came at 8:50 p.m.
Food drive
The 21st annual Royals Wives Food Drive will be held this weekend at Kauffman Stadium. Non-perishable food items will be collected near Gate A and Gate B between 5 and 7:30 p.m. Friday and 4 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
The food will go to needy children in the Kansas City area. Fans who contribute five or more items or donate $5 or more will receive an autographed photo of a Royals player.
Suggested items include peanut butter, canned soups and pastas, fruit drinks, puddings, canned meats, powdered or canned milk, rice, dried beans, canned vegetables and cereal. Do not bring glass containers.
`House Party'
Want to have Royals president Dan Glass and Royals Hall of Famer Frank White at your house?
The Royals are having a contest to do just that. The winner can invite 12 friends to a catered dinner with Glass and White on June 26 to watch the Royals' TV game at Cleveland.
Fans should detail their reasons for wanting to have the house party and e-mail marketing@royals.mlb.com or send a postcard to Royals House Party, One Royal Way, Kansas City, Mo. 64129. Contestants must be 18 and receive the Royals Sports Television Network at their house.
Include a daytime and evening phone number. The deadline for entries is June 19.
Etc.
• First baseman Mike Sweeney is the only Royals' player among the leaders in the American League All-Star balloting. Sweeney ranks fourth, with 142,387 votes, behind leading Carlos Delgado of Toronto (299,219). (Voting leaders on D-6.)
• Reliever Albie Lopez pitched one inning for Omaha on Sunday and reported no problem with his groin strain.
• Outfielder Dee Brown (left wrist sprain) and second baseman Carlos Febles (right and left ring finger injuries) are improving and are expected to take injury rehabilitation assignments in the minors soon.
• Shortstop Tony Pena Jr., son of the Royals' manager, was selected to the Carolina League All-Star team. Pena, who plays for Atlanta's Class A Myrtle Beach club, has a .275 average with three homers, 18 RBIs. The Carolina League stars will meet the California League stars.
• The Royals have four players on the Carolina All-Stars from Wilmington, Del.: pitchers Zack Greinke, 9-0, 1.17 ERA, and Kyle Middleton, 6-2, 2.07; catcher Scott Walter, .276, and shortstop Andres Blanco, .274.
• Wichita has six players on the Texas League All-Star team: pitchers Jimmy Gobble, 8-4, 2.97, and Danny Tamayo, 6-5, 2.96; third baseman Justin Gemoll, .270; infielder Corey Hart, .328; outfielder Byron Gettis, .318, and designated hitter Tydus Meadows, .288.
• Arizona third baseman Shea Hillenbrand is out because of a pulled muscle in his left side. He's batting .286 in eight games since being acquired from Boston.
On deck
The Royals meet Arizona in the second of three games at 7:05 tonight at Kauffman Stadium. Left-hander Darrell May, 0-2, 4.08 ERA, is matched against Diamondbacks right-hander Andrew Good, 2-1, 4.75 ERA.