Daily Clips
March 9, 2017
LOCAL
Esky triples his fun for Venezuela vs. Royals
March 8, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/218487098/alcides-escobar-tough-on-royals-in-exhibition/
Caramo rises to challenge of facing Miggy
March 8, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/218526604/royals-yender-caramo-solid-against-countrymen/
Zimmer, Staumont among 9 sent to Minor League camp
March 8, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/218448630/kyle-zimmer-josh-staumont-among-royals-cuts/
Moss eyes more selective approach at plate
March 8, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/218467964/brandon-moss-to-be-more-selective-at-plate/
Salvador Perez, Alcides Escobar help Venezuela thump Royals 11-0 in exhibition before WBC
March 8, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article137287503.html
Royals players for Team Venezuela wore armbands in memory of Yordano Ventura
March 8, 2017 By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/for-petes-sake/article137305673.html
Royals send top prospects Josh Staumont and Kyle Zimmer to minor-league camp
March 8, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article137160273.html
Eight astonishing things I’ve learned about baseball
March 8, 2017 By Lee Judge/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/judging-the-royals/article137168578.html
MINORS
Royals Reassign Nine To MiLB Camp
2016 Omaha alums Dziedzic & Farrell among players announced
March 8, 2017 By Andrew Green/Omaha Storm Chasers
http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20170308&content_id=218448978&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t541&sid=t541
NATIONAL
MLB commish Rob Manfred admits it's unlikely MLB players will play in Olympics
2020 Olympic teams figure to rely on minor league players again
March 8, 2017 By Mike Axisa/CBSSports.com
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-commish-rob-manfred-admits-its-unlikely-mlb-players-will-play-in-2020-olympics/
Hosmer back at home to represent USA
South Miami native raised by longtime firefighter, Cuban immigrant
March 8, 2017 By Jon Paul Morosi/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/218414232/usas-eric-hosmer-at-home-in-miami-for-classic/
MLB TRANSACTIONS
March 9, 2017 •.CBSSports.com
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions
LOCAL
Esky triples his fun for Venezuela vs. Royals
March 8, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/218487098/alcides-escobar-tough-on-royals-in-exhibition/
It must have seemed like an intrasquad game at times for the Royals as they watched teammates Salvador Perez and Alcides Escobar rip hit after hit for the other side.
Perez had two hits and Escobar had two triples in leading Team Venezuela of the World Baseball Classic to an 11-0 romp in an exhibition game on Wednesday at Surprise Stadium.
"That's a good thing," Escobar said of his two triples. "When I see my guys on the other side, it makes me so happy. I got to say hi to Ned [Yost] and all the guys."
Escobar said he didn't get any special favors from Royals pitchers. His first triple came against left-hander Mike Minor. The second was against right-hander Kevin McCarthy.
"They didn't tip me off," Escobar said. "They threw sliders and changeups. No easy ones."
Escobar came close to two home runs.
"The second one, maybe, I thought it was a homer," he said. "But I hit the ball good. Got two triples."
Escobar simply is happy to be playing for his country.
"This is the best team for me," he said. "I get to represent my country. I think every player in any sport is 100 percent for their country."
The World Baseball Classic runs through March 22. In the U.S., games air live exclusively in English on MLB Network and on an authenticated basis via MLBNetwork.com/watch, while ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN provide the exclusive Spanish-language coverage. MLB.TV Premium subscribers in the U.S. have access to watch every tournament game live on any of the streaming service's 400-plus supported devices. The tournament is being distributed internationally across all forms of television, internet, mobile and radio in territories excluding the U.S., Puerto Rico and Japan. Get tickets for games at Marlins Park, Tokyo Dome, Estadio Charros de Jalisco in Mexico, Petco Park, as well as the Championship Round at Dodger Stadium, while complete coverage -- including schedules, video, stats and gear -- is available at WorldBaseballClassic.com.
Caramo rises to challenge of facing Miggy
March 8, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/218526604/royals-yender-caramo-solid-against-countrymen/
Asked how he felt pitching against his countrymen, Royals right-hander Yender Caramo quickly smiled.
"It was good," he said.
Caramo, from San Felix, Venezuela, threw a scoreless inning in the Royals' 11-0 loss to Team Venezuela of the World Baseball Classic in an exhibition game on Wednesday at Surprise Stadium.
Caramo, 25, has admired countrymen such as Miguel Cabrera, Carlos Gonzalez and Victor Martinez for years.
The first batter Caramo faced was Cabrera. Caramo got him on a groundout.
"I watched him for a long time," Caramo said. "I felt excited when I pitched to Miguel and Carlos Gonzalez."
Caramo also got Gonzalez on a groundout before giving up a single to Martinez and a walk to Salvador Perez. But Caramo got out of the jam by getting Odubel Herrera to ground out.
"He's got that heavy sinker," Royals manager Ned Yost said of Caramo. "And good life on his fastball. Interesting guy."
Zimmer, Staumont among 9 sent to Minor League camp
March 8, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/218448630/kyle-zimmer-josh-staumont-among-royals-cuts/
The Royals reassigned pitchers Kyle Zimmer, Josh Staumont, Luke Ferrell, Jonathan Dziedzic and Eric Skoglund, catchers Chase Vallot and Xavier Fernandez, infielder Corey Toups and outfielder Alfred Escalera to Minor League camp on Wednesday.
The Royals have 55 players remaining in big league camp.
Zimmer, the Royals' first-round pick in the 2012 Draft and their No. 9-ranked prospect according to MLBPipeline.com, made two Spring Training appearances, giving up two earned runs in 2 1/3 innings.
Staumont, who is not on the 40-man roster, gave up one run in three innings over two appearances. He is ranked No. 3 among Royals prospects.
The Royals remain high on both Zimmer and Staumont, and consider them power pitchers who could contribute to the big league team this season.
"It's just a matter of finding them innings," manager Ned Yost said. "We're running out of innings about this time of camp. They need to keep pitching."
Moss eyes more selective approach at plate
March 8, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/218467964/brandon-moss-to-be-more-selective-at-plate/
The Brandon Moss that Royals fans will see in 2017 will look a lot like the Brandon Moss they've seen from afar in recent years.
Moss will take mighty cuts at the plate, with intentions of reaching the gaps or beyond the fences.
And he likely will strike out often.
But Moss also pledges this: He will be more selective this season with hopes of driving up an on-base percentage that dipped in 2016 to .300, nearly 20 points below his career mark.
It doesn't mean Moss is going to ease off the throttle at the plate and make more contact.
"I want to be more selective and draw more walks," Moss said. "I'm no good when I just try to make contact. Strikeouts are still going to be there."
But by spitting on pitches out of the zone, Moss believes his on-base percentage should rise significantly.
"It should," he said. "I know what the root cause of [my low OBP] is -- when I go into a funk, I start swinging at more pitches for hits. Instead of being selective and finding a pitch to drive the ball, you're trying to get your average up -- and the only way to do that is get more hits, so you stop being selective.
"That's been my downfall the past couple of years. Instead of just staying selective when you get into a funk, I try to hit my way out of it. That doesn't work."
It has been well-documented that Moss' career took off when it was suggested to him as he was toiling in the Minors that he should take his hitting approach from the batting cages -- where he swung to drive the ball or hit homers on every attempt -- to the game.
Since adopting that philosophy, Moss has averaged nearly 25 home runs a season the past five years. That power was the main attraction for the Royals.
But Moss believes he can contribute more than just home runs -- he wants to draw more walks to help the team.
"Look, I wish I was Mike Trout or some of the other guys in this locker room," Moss said. "But my contact ability isn't the same as these guys. I have to choose.
"I have to be selective and not sell out. Stay on your legs and get a pitch to drive. There are times you try to just make contact -- runner on third and infield back, hit a ground ball to second and the run scores.
"But for the most part as a power hitter, you look for your pitch to drive. I just have to be more selective about that."
Salvador Perez, Alcides Escobar help Venezuela thump Royals 11-0 in exhibition before WBC
March 8, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article137287503.html
On a quiet Wednesday afternoon at Surprise Stadium, Team Venezuela, one of the early betting favorites in this year’s World Baseball Classic, unveiled what amounted to an All-Star team in an exhibition game against the Royals.
The starting lineup featured nine players who have combined for 30 All-Star appearances, two MVPs and one Triple Crown. The assemblage of talent was jarring, even on a sleepy day at spring training.
“It’s a tough draw,” Royals manager Ned Yost would say, stating the obvious.
The Royals were playing without catcher Salvador Perez and shortstop Alcides Escobar, who were starting for Venezuela. The club also lacked first baseman Eric Hosmer, who departed camp this week to join Team USA in Florida.
The result was not a fair fight. Just two days before its opener in the World Baseball Classic, Venezuela did what you might expect a team with nine All-Star starters to do, roughing up the Royals 11-0 in a rare Cactus League matchup.
“That’s a good team,” Yost said. “They should go pretty far.”
Perez finished 2 for 3 with an RBI single against Royals starter Ian Kennedy. Escobar, batting eighth for Venezuela, clubbed two triples and racked up three RBIs. And that was just the start of the Venezuelans’ firepower. Astros second baseman Jose Altuve led off and had two hits. Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera batted third and roped a solo homer to right field in the sixth.
The homer caromed off the head of a young fan standing in the grassy berm in right-center and provided a momentary scare. The young boy eventually came to his feet, shook off the encounter and headed for a first-aid stand.
Perez and Escobar will return to Surprise Stadium on Thursday for another exhibition game against the Texas Rangers. Venezuela will open the World Baseball Classic against Puerto Rico at 8 p.m. Friday in Estadio Charros de Jalisco in Zapopan, Mexico.
“You want to see them do good,” Yost said of Perez and Escobar. “They’re part of your group, and you know that they are going to go compete for this WBC and you want them at the top of their game and they both looked great.”
The arms
Kennedy can blame the schedule for this one. In his second Cactus League start, he drew the short straw, facing the stacked Venezuelan lineup. Kennedy allowed two runs (one earned) on three singles and an error in the first inning. He bounced back in the second, working around a two-out walk.
Right-hander Yender Caramo, a native of Venezuela, replaced Kennedy and worked a scoreless inning in the third, facing countrymen Cabrera and Carlos Gonzalez. Caramo, 25, called the moment a thrill. He retired both hitters.
My first time,” he said. “Pretty excited.”
Reliever Mike Minor allowed four runs (two earned) across two innings, though his final line could have looked better with some smoother defense. Right-hander Kevin McCarthy was knocked around for four runs in the sixth.
The regulars
Alex Gordon made another start in right field and finished 0 for 3 with three strikeouts. With Gordon in right, Jorge Soler moved over to left field and was 1 for 3.
Mike Moustakas started at third base and recorded one hit in three at-bats while making a throwing error in the field. Brandon Moss, who was nursing a sore back, returned to the lineup and collected a hit.
The young guys
Raul Mondesi finished 1 for 2 while making an error at second base. Terrance Gore replaced Lorenzo Cain in center field and made a terrific running catch in the gap.
Royals players for Team Venezuela wore armbands in memory of Yordano Ventura
March 8, 2017 By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/for-petes-sake/article137305673.html
It doesn’t seem like Team Venezuela is going to need much of a warm-up for the World Baseball Classic.
With a starting lineup of eight All-Stars, Team Venezuela beat the Royals 11-0 on Wednesday at Surprise Stadium. That group included a pair of Royals: shortstop Alcides Escobar and catcher Salvador Perez.
The game was the first tuneup for Team Venezuela ahead of the WBC.
One cool thing to note from the game. Escobar and Perez each had a black armband on their uniform. It was in honor of former teammate Yordano Ventura, who died in January in a car accident in the Dominican Republic.
Royals manager Ned Yost was touched by the gesture.
“I thought it was cool though, Venezuela, they had black armbands on Esky and Sal,” Yost said. “Kind of respect for Yordano, which I thought was a classy act.”
I don’t know if this is a one-time deal because Team Venezuela played the Royals, but it seems likely that Perez and Escobar will be wearing them through the tournament.
The Dominican Republic team will most certainly be wearing armbands throughout the World Baseball Classic. Mike Swanson, Royals vice president of Broadcasting and Communications, tweeted a photo of one of the jerseys.
Royals send top prospects Josh Staumont and Kyle Zimmer to minor-league camp
March 8, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article137160273.html
The Royals began the process of thinning out their spring training roster on Wednesday morning, sending five pitchers and four position players to minor-league camp.
The cuts included top pitching prospects Josh Staumont and Kyle Zimmer, who could project as bullpen options at the major-league level in 2017. But Royals manager Ned Yost said the club wanted Staumont and Zimmer to stretch out as starters heading into the season.
“We’ve got enough competition right now in this camp for our bullpen,” Yost said. “But if something happens down the road, and they’re performing down there, and they’re lengthened out, they can very easily come back here and jump right into the bullpen.”