Daily Clips
April 16, 2018
LOCAL
Cold weather postpones Royals' finale vs. Halos
Game will be made up June 25
April 15, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Royals, Angels reflect on Jackie's iconic impact
Frigid weather keeps KC from hosting game on Robinson Day
April 15, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
The Royals are in an early-season slump. These bullpen and offensive numbers are why
April 15, 2018By Maria Torres/KC Star
So cold: Royals game against Angels, Ohtani postponed because of chilly temps
April 15, 2018By Blair Kerkhoff/KC Star
Some Royals fans upset by timing of postponement of Sunday's game
April 15, 2018By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
Jeremy Guthrie excited that he'll make his broadcasting debut at Royals game
April 15, 2018By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
Here's a mesmerizing slow-motion look at Mike Moustakas' home run in the snow
April 15, 2018By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
Watch Royals' Salvador Perez hit a home run in first game of his rehab assignment
April 16, 2018By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
Danny Duffy suspected he was tipping pitches, so he returned to the windup for the first time in two years
April 16, 2018By Rustin Dodd/The Athletic
Royals on Sunday postponement: "Timing was out of our control"
April 15, 2018By Dani Welniak & Nick Sloan/KCTV 5
MINORS
Chasers Drop Two in Nashville, 14-7 & 1-0
Fillmyer pitches well in nightcap
April 15, 2018By Omaha Storm Chasers
Salvy homers, Sparkman shines in Naturals 3-2 win
April 15, 2018By Northwest Arkansas Naturals
Blue Rocks and Hillcats Postponed
Rocks and Hillcats to Play Doubleheader on June 6
April 15, 2018By Wilmington Blue Rocks
Series Finale in Augusta Postponed Due to Inclement Weather
April 15, 2018By Lexington Legends
NATIONAL
Alex Gordon headlines 2018 Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame class
April 15, 2018By News Channel Nebraska
MLB TRANSACTIONS
April 16, 2018 •.CBSSports.com
LOCAL
Cold weather postpones Royals' finale vs. Halos
Game will be made up June 25
April 15, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
The Royals-Angels game scheduled for Sunday at Kauffman Stadium on Jackie Robinson Day was postponed because of severe cold.
Wind chills just before game time hovered in the upper teens with winds from the north at 17 mph.
The game is scheduled to be made up June 25 at 3:15 p.m. CT, which falls in the middle of an eight-game, three-city road trip for the Royals. That trip will start in Houston, then come back to Kansas City for the Angels makeup game on a Monday, then travel to Milwaukee and Seattle.
The Royals also announced that Sunday's starter, left-hander Eric Skoglund, would be pushed back to Monday, when the Royals open a three-game series in Toronto.
Left-hander Danny Duffy will go on Tuesday, and right-hander Ian Kennedy will pitch Wednesday.
Royals, Angels reflect on Jackie's iconic impact
Frigid weather keeps KC from hosting game on Robinson Day
April 15, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Jackie Robinson Day is always a day for managers, coaches and players to reflect on his incredible contribution to baseball as they all pull on their No. 42 jerseys to honor him.
And Royals manager Ned Yost believes baseball should possibly honor him more than once a season.
"What he did is hard to comprehend," Yost said on Sunday before the Angels-Royals series finale was postponed due to severe cold. "Nowadays, we play this game in a different era. Players today have a bit of an idea because it's a special day, but they have no idea what he went through. What he did was groundbreaking. What he did, in my opinion, is one of the most courageous things in sports.
"To be able to honor him once a year on Jackie Robinson Day, I think, we should probably do it more than once [a year]."
Players, too, feel honored to put on the No. 42 jersey.
"Of course it is," Royals left-hander Danny Duffy said. "He's obviously a very important figure in baseball and, on a broader scale, in world history, especially American history. He was a pioneer. A lot has changed since then, and there's a long way to go still. But his family should be very proud of him. I certainly am."
Angels closer Keynan Middleton is in the Major Leagues for the first time on Jackie Robinson Day.
"It's pretty special," Middleton said. "It's actually one of the things I looked forward to during the season, one of my milestones during the year. Wearing that jersey is important to me because without him, I wouldn't have the opportunity I have right now. It's all for respect that I enjoy Jackie Robinson Day."
Sunday's game will be made up at Kauffman Stadium on June 25, a mutual off-day for both teams.
As has been tradition each April 15 since 2009, Major League Baseball celebrates Jackie Robinson Day with all players and on-field personnel wearing Jackie's iconic number. For 2018, there is additional on-field uniform elements, including a commemorative patch on all team caps and jersey sleeves, socks emblazoned with '42,' and a new lightweight hooded fleece for batting practice and dugout wear, also featuring the '42' logo. MLB will donate all proceeds from the sale of such items to the Jackie Robinson Foundation, which is a public, nonprofit organization that perpetuates Robinson's legacy by giving a four-year scholarship in his name and providing leadership development for minority college students as well as through building the Jackie Robinson Museum.
The museum will commemorate the life of Jackie Robinson as an athlete, activist and icon, illuminating his long-lasting impact across society through state-of-the-art exhibits, precious artifacts, film and other media. The National Jackie Robinson Museum Legacy Campaign has raised more than $25 million, and the museum is set to open in 2019.
The Royals are in an early-season slump. These bullpen and offensive numbers are why
April 15, 2018By Maria Torres/KC Star
A handful of days ago, Royals left-hander Danny Duffy stood in front of his Kauffman Stadium locker and paused for a half-second to make mental calculations.
The Royals had just lost his third start of the year. Their record had fallen to 3-7.
“We’ve lost all three of my starts and we could have easily won them,” he said. “We could easily be 6-4 — wow. That’s a teller.”
There was a germ of truth to his statement. If Duffy hadn’t given up a big inning in each of his starts — five runs to the White Sox in the fourth on March 29, three in the first to the Indians on April 6 and two to the Mariners in the first on Wednesday — the Royals might be better off. They might not dwell in the cellar of the American League Central with a 3-10 record, five games behind the Minnesota Twins.
But the Royals’ early season problems extend far beyond what Duffy and the starting rotation — which ranks fifth-best in the major leagues with a 3.34 ERA — have done.
The Royals are off to their worst start since 2012, when they also posted a 3-10 record in their first 13 games. They ended that campaign at 72-90, 16 games out of first place in the American League Central.
Of course, it’s still early. That’s part of the reason manager Ned Yost and company haven’t begun to panic.
Yet something is amiss with this 2018 squad.
Here’s a look at two issues plaguing the Royals as they embark on a two-city road trip that starts Monday in Toronto and continues in Detroit on Friday.
Anemic offense
The Royals have batted .231 in 13 games. They have clubbed five homers, a mark tied with Detroit for the fewest in baseball. They have been outscored 59-27 in their 10 losses.
And they have crossed the plate for runs a major-league low 39 times this season.
The Royals have done so little offensively that they’ve spoiled three quality outings by Ian Kennedy and a quality start by Jason Hammel. Kennedy is the only one of the pair to have earned a win — and he got it in a 1-0 victory in Cleveland.
To further illustrate the Royals’ offensive futility: Kennedy ranks sixth in the American League in average run support (1.67).
But there are two numbers that should stoke some hope:
.327: Mike Moustakas’ average, which is the 12th-best in the American League. He’s driven in a team-high nine runs.
.336: The Royals’ on-base percentage over the last seven games.
Additionally, Paulo Orlando has benefited from more consistent at-bats now that Alex Gordon is on the disabled list recovering from a left hip labral tear. Orlando batted .350 (7 for 20) with four RBIs in the Royals’ last five games.
Take some comfort in the recent surges of Lucas Duda and Jorge Soler, too. Duda is now hitting .282 after racking up seven hits in his last six games. And since he snapped out of his season-opening 0 for 11 rut, Soler has gone 8 for 26 with two doubles and an on-base percentage of .379.
“It’s just a matter of time,” Yost said this weekend. “Get two or three guys on track, it’s gonna help a lot.”
Bleeding bullpen
There is no team in baseball with a worse bullpen ERA than the Royals.
Their relievers have combined to allow 29 earned runs in 41 2/3 innings (6.26 ERA). Veteran Blaine Boyer has been the main offender, giving up 12 runs in 4 2/3 innings.
The bullpen has also blown four leads.
Yost tried to alleviate the relief problem by optioning Brandon Maurer, who gave up six earned runs in 4 1/3 innings, to Class AAA Omaha on Friday.
But there is some good news: Outside of Boyer, Maurer and Justin Grimm, the remainder of the bullpen has posted a 2.05 ERA.
Brian Flynn, Burch Smith, Brad Keller, Tim Hill, Kevin McCarthy and Kelvin Herrera have combined to allow just six earned runs in 26 1/3 innings.
So cold: Royals game against Angels, Ohtani postponed because of chilly temps
April 15, 2018By Blair Kerkhoff/KC Star
Salt was spread to melt ice in the Kauffman Stadium parking lot. Icicles hung from railings. The few fans were bundled in full winter apparel, but they didn’t get a chance to see baseball on Sunday.
The Royals-Angels game was postponed because of the cold weather. Temperature at the stadium around 1 p.m. on Sunday was 31 degrees with a wind chill of 20. The wind was blowing from the northwest at 17 mph.
The game, which was to be the finale of the four-game series with the Angels going for the sweep on Sunday, will be made up on June 25 at 3:15 p.m. The Royals will be between trips to Houston and Milwaukee on that day.
Tickets for Sunday's game will be honored for the rescheduled game or exchanges can be made before the first pitch on June 25. For more information, call 816-504-4040 or email . For those who came to Sunday’s game and paid to park, the yellow receipt will be honored at any future home game this season.
Sunday’s game, scheduled to begin at 1:15 p.m., was called around 12:45 p.m., although discussions among the Royals, Angels and Major League Baseball had been occurring throughout the morning, and MLB wanted to get the game in.
“Everybody in both organizations felt it was in the best interest early on not to play because of the severe cold,” Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. “Major League Baseball made it clear today they wanted us to do all we could to play.
“Then we got a call from (MLB), and the word was if you feel the weather is too cold, that it’s going to hinder play and put athletes at risk, we’ll find a mutual day to make up the game. I wish we could have made the call earlier.”
Eric Skoglund, scheduled to make Sunday’s start, will be the starter on Monday, when the Royals open a three-game series in Toronto and look to end a five-game losing streak. Danny Duffy will start on Tuesday and Ian Kennedy on Wednesday.
Snow flurries blew across the ballpark, but nothing like the larger flakes that dropped on the stadium in Saturday night’s game.
Sunday’s game was to draw more than the usual amount of attention, at least from a media standpoint. Japanese two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani was scheduled to be the Angels’ starting pitcher and sought to become the first Angels pitcher since Jared Weaver in 2006 to win each of his first three starts.
“The simple fact that I was going to be pitching in cold weather was a little worrisome for me,” Ohtani said through interpreter Ippei Mizuhara. “Also, I was worried my fingertips might be a little numb and lose the feel of the ball.”
Understandable on this day.
Cold weather has followed the Royals and much of baseball into the season. The average first-pitch temperature of the Royals’ first eight games, in Kansas City, Detroit and Cleveland, was 39 degrees.
A snowstorm in Minnesota this weekend forced the postponement of three of the four Twins games against the Chicago White Sox.
The Royals have played in colder weather. On April 7, 2007, the Royals-and Tigers opened in 29-degree weather. It was a Saturday afternoon game, won by the Tigers 6-5 on the strength of home runs by Curtis Granderson twice, Gary Sheffield and Ivan Rodriguez, all off Gil Meche. The Royals got a home run from Reggie Sanders.
Some Royals fans upset by timing of postponement of Sunday's game
April 15, 2018By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
What a weird spring, eh?
It snowed for the third straight Sunday in April, and the National Weather Service said Kansas City was poised to shatter the record for the coldest April 15 in the city's history.
That's hardly baseball weather, and the Royals' game against the Angels was postponed, which didn't come as a surprise to fans. But what did irk those who trekked to Kauffman Stadium was when the game was called — less than 30 minutes before the first pitch.
Royals general manager Dayton Moore told The Star that both teams early on felt it was too cold to play but Major League Baseball "made it clear they wanted us to do all we could to play."
“Then we got a call from (MLB)," Moore said, "and the word was if you feel the weather is too cold, that it’s going to hinder play and put athletes at risk, we’ll find a mutual day to make up the game. I wish we could have made the call earlier.”
The Royals said fans can use their tickets for the rescheduled game, which is June 25. Or they can apply the amount paid toward a future ticket. Also, parking tickets are valid for any other game in 2018.
Nevertheless, some fans were not happy that the team took so long to call the game. Here is a sampling of what people shared on Twitter:
Click the link for tweets.
Jeremy Guthrie excited that he'll make his broadcasting debut at Royals game
April 15, 2018By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
Former Royals pitcher Jeremy Guthrie had long considered trying his hand at broadcasting when his playing days came to an end.
Guthrie, who retired last year, will get his chance Wednesday when he is part of the Facebook broadcast of the Royals’ game in Toronto. He’ll be in the booth as an analyst with MLB Network play-by-play announcer Scott Braun. Former Expos star Cliff Floyd also will be an analyst, and Alexa Datt will work as an in-game reporter.
To make his debut at a Royals game is a plus for Guthrie.
“It obviously,” he quipped, “gives me the best chance to not be terrible.”
Guthrie, who was with the Royals from 2012-15, relished the opportunity to make his debut covering Kansas City.
“It’ll be fun to talk about the Royals for obvious reasons, and actually, if I could pick a place to go, Toronto was my favorite place to pitch,” Guthrie said. “So even the nuance of doing a game for the Royals in Toronto I think is fun as well.”
Wednesday’s contest, which begins at 3:07 p.m., will be the third game to be shown exclusively on Facebook. Last month, Major League Baseball announced a 25-game deal on the digital platform.
At this time, Guthrie, who said he still keeps in touch with Alex Gordon and Salvador Perez, is dipping his toe in the broadcast world.
“I have interest in this for sure,” Guthrie said. “The foreseeable future, for me, probably won’t allow for much of it, but I’ve had discussions in the past with (Royals vice president of communications and broadcasting) Mike Swanson and expressed an interest in this.
“It’s a great way to stay close to the game and stay involved in something you really love while at the same time having a little bit more flexibility than maybe some of the other positions that former players might take in order to stay close to the game. I think it’s an excellent opportunity for me, and even though it’s just one game right now, I very much look forward to it.”
Here's a mesmerizing slow-motion look at Mike Moustakas' home run in the snow
April 15, 2018By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
Normally when awaking to snow on the ground and a wind chill of 15 degrees, I tell myself, "It's OK. Baseball will be back in about two months."