Daily Clips
April 14, 2018
LOCAL
Royals can't find winning relief mix vs. Angels
Grimm bested on curveballs in a decisive 2-run 8th inning
April 13, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Royals option Maurer, recall McCarthy
Salvy progressing, could begin rehab assignment this weekend
April 13, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Royals sign El-Abour, outfielder with autism
25-year-old former collegian, independent-league player to join extended spring training
April 13, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Jason Hammel departed with a lead. The Royals bullpen couldn’t hold it in loss to Angels
April 13, 2018By Sam McDowell/KC Star
Royals make bullpen move, send struggling Brandon Maurer to Omaha
April 13, 2018By Maria Torres/KC Star
Royals marvel at Angels’ Ohtani ... but wonder if others might receive same chance
April 13, 2018By Sam McDowell/KC Star
How Reggie Sanders influenced the Royals to sign a player with autism
April 13, 2018By Maria Torres/KC Star
Former Royals star Johnny Damon will be on 'Dancing With The Stars'
April 13, 2018By Pete Grathoff & Lisa Gutierrez
How the Royals can — and must — revive their farm system this season
April 13, 2018By Rany Jazayerli/The Athletic
MINORS
Chasers Blank Sounds for 1st Road Win, 5-0
O'Hearn drives in 3; Barlow strong on the mound
April 13, 2018By Omaha Storm Chasers
Naturals Hook'd In Late-Inning In 5-2 Decision
April 13, 2018By Northwest Arkansas Naturals
Wilmington Falls Short in Pitching Duel
Lee Finishes Game With Three Hits, Including Home Run
April 13, 2018By Wilmington Blue Rocks
Legends Fall to Green Jackets in Game Two
April 13, 2018By Lexington Legends
NATIONAL
Blue Jays lose Donaldson (shoulder) to DL
Outfielder Hernandez recalled from Triple-A to fill spot on roster
April 13, 2018By Gregor Chisholm/MLB.com
Numbers Show Dramatic Decrease In Mound Visits As Part Of MLB Pace-Of-Play Rules
April 13, 2018By Maury Brown/Forbes
MLB TRANSACTIONS
April14, 2018 •.CBSSports.com
LOCAL
Royals can't find winning relief mix vs. Angels
Grimm bested on curveballs in a decisive 2-run 8th inning
April 13, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
The Royals had the Angels right where they wanted them with a two-run lead and the relievers -- Tim Hill, Brad Keller and Justin Grimm -- that have emerged in manager Ned Yost's circle of trust to set up closer Kelvin Herrera.
But the Angels nicked Keller for one run in the seventh and pushed two across against the suddenly struggling Grimm in the eighth for a 5-4 win on Friday night at Kauffman Stadium.
The game ended when Royals second baseman Whit Merrifield, last year's American League stolen-base leader, was thrown out trying to steal second base by Angels catcher Rene Rivera.
Yost said Merrifield had the green light.
"Whit had a great jump," Yost said. "We had [closer Keynan Middleton] at 1.45 [seconds] to the plate. Catcher made a great throw."
True. According to Statcast™, Rivera's pop time was 1.89 (the MLB average is 2.01). Rivera's throw was 81 mph.
Merrifield said afterward that he just wanted to get in scoring position for Mike Moustakas, whom he called the team's best hitter.
"If that situation comes up again, maybe I let Moose get ahead in the count," Merrifield said. "If he falls behind, then I take off. That's the only thing I would change…. I'm an aggressive player, not afraid to make a mistake. But looking back on it, you learn from situations from that."
Yet Merrifield's caught stealing may have never materialized had the Angels not jumped on two hanging curves from Grimm.
Grimm, who hung a curveball that Kyle Seager belted for a two-run home run on Thursday in the Mariners' 4-2 win, got beat on a 2-2 curveball by pinch-hitter Luis Valbuena that resulted in a game-tying RBI single. Earlier, Shohei Ohtani singled on a 2-2 curveball to put the tying run in scoring position.
Ian Kinsler hit a sacrifice fly later for the go-ahead run, scoring Ohtani.
"Not the two-strike curveballs that I envisioned," Grimm said. "They made good adjustments and stayed up the middle with it. I'm throwing the ball really well. Results aren't showing it. That's OK. The frustration isn't about me. It's about everyone else in the clubhouse. ... I just have to keep chucking it and it will all come together."
Royals starter Jason Hammel went 5 1/3 innings and gave up two earned runs. Though he allowed eight hits, four of those had a sub-80 mph exit velocity.
"I'm sure there's some frustration [in the clubhouse]," Hammel said. "Naturally there should be frustration. But it's a very long season and we got the guys to turn it around."
Angels first baseman Albert Pujols had two hits, including his third home run this season and the 617th of his career. He is now 13 hits shy of 3,000.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
The Gallagher bloop: The Royals have been searching for some good fortune on offense for most of the young season and they finally got some. After Paulo Orlando delivered a one-out RBI single to tie the score at 2, catcher Cam Gallagher came up with runners on first and third and one out. He sent a seemingly harmless popup to short left field, but Justin Upton couldn't make the catch. Lucas Duda scored from third and Orlando scored when shortstop Andrelton Simmons threw wildly to home plate. That gave the Royals a 4-2 lead.
Hill vs. Ohtani: The rookie lefty had a tough assignment when he entered the game with one on and one out in the sixth inning to face Ohtani with the Royals up, 4-2. Hill promptly got Ohtani to hit a soft chopper for the second out and then he struck out Simmons.
"I thought about pitching to him all week," Hill said. "Lefty versus lefty. I got him to swing ahead in the count and hit the grounder. That was perfect."
YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Royals center fielder Abraham Almonte made a terrific catch on a deep drive to center field off the bat of Martin Maldonado. According to Statcast™, the ball had a hit probability of 89 percent and an exit velocity of 103.5 mph.
HE SAID IT
"The repetitiveness of autism and the repetitiveness of baseball kind of go hand in hand. It's great to be able to marry those two." -- Royals special advisor Reggie Sanders, on outfielder Tarik El-Abour, who is believed to be the first player with autism to sign a Minor League contract
UP NEXT
Right-hander Jakob Junis (2-0, 0.00 ERA) will take the mound for the Royals in Game 3 of the series at 6:15 p.m. CT on Saturday at Kauffman Stadium. Right-hander Garrett Richards (1-0, 4.20) will pitch for the Angels. Junis has worked 14 straight scoreless innings with nine strikeouts.
Royals option Maurer, recall McCarthy
Salvy progressing, could begin rehab assignment this weekend
April 13, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
The Royals are still searching for the Brandon Maurer they were sure they acquired before the non-waiver Trade Deadline last season.
Maurer had 20 saves in half of a season with the Padres, but Maurer never has shown that skill level with the Royals, who finally optioned him to Triple-A Omaha on Friday and recalled right-hander Kevin McCarthy.
Maurer, 27, showed flashes of late-inning effectiveness last season with the Royals, but overall he had a disappointing 8.10 ERA in 26 games with the club. This season, Maurer was 0-2 in five games and had a 12.46 ERA.
Royals manager Ned Yost said it simply was time to try and get Maurer fixed.
"I just think he came over here and started pressing last year, and never got off to a good start," Yost said. "He was just pressing and pressing. He got into Spring Training and wanted to impress, and started pressing again.
"His stuff is still really good. He just needs to get into a different environment and get some confidence back. The reality is that his stuff is eighth-inning stuff or good enough when your closer needs a day. He just needs to have some success and get his confidence back."
McCarthy, 26, was solid for the Royals in 2017, posting a 3.20 ERA in 33 games. He also was a favorite to make the 25-man roster coming out of Spring Training.
But Yost indicated McCarthy fell victim to a numbers game.
"The toughest break for him was having two Rule 5 [Draft] guys here," Yost said. "It's like two more guys who are out of options."
McCarthy, who appeared in three games with Omaha this month and gave up two runs, said he understood the Royals' decision not to keep him coming out of camp.
"I was definitely disappointed," McCarthy said. "But the name of the game is stocking inventory. I knew I had options. I understood."
Salvy getting close
Yost said catcher Salvador Perez, on the 10-day disabled list because of a left knee MCL tear, could go out on a rehab assignment as soon as the end of the weekend. The original estimate for recovery was 4-6 weeks. But Perez could be back on the short end of that estimate.
Royals sign El-Abour, outfielder with autism
25-year-old former collegian, independent-league player to join extended spring training
April 13, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
When 25-year-old outfielder Tarik El-Abour got the news from his mother, Nadia, that the Royals were going to sign him to a Minor League deal, he could barely contain himself.
"Nadia told me he just started walking from wall to wall," Royals special advisor Reggie Sanders said. "He kept saying he can't believe this is happening. He kept saying, 'All I ever wanted was to play baseball.'"
See, El-Abour became what is believed to be the first player with autism to sign a Minor League contract last week. El-Abour, a right-handed-hitting outfielder, presently is playing in extended spring training with many other hopeful young Royals.
El-Abour was diagnosed with autism when he was 3 years old. He didn't speak until he was 6. But his love of baseball at an early age persuaded Nadia to focus on his abilities, not disabilities, Sanders said.
According to the website autismspeaks.org, autism refers to a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. It also is characterized by unique strengths.
"The repetitiveness of autism and the repetitiveness of baseball kind of go hand in hand," Sanders said. "It's great to be able to marry those two."
Sanders is well-informed on the subject. His 40-year-old brother Demetrious is autistic, and a few years back, Sanders founded RSFCares, which works to provide a comprehensive network of support for children and families living with autism.
Two years ago, a high school mentor for El-Abour brought his story to Sanders' attention.
Sanders became fascinated with El-Abour. El-Abour graduated from San Marino High School, played baseball briefly at Pasadena City College, then received a scholarship to play baseball at Concordia (Calif.) University. But he was cut before the season began.
A determined El-Abour transferred to Pacifica College, played a year there, and when the school merged with Bristol University, he played his season year there and earned a degree in Business Administration.
After graduation, El-Abour, a 5-foot-11, 170-pounder, signed with the independent Empire League and played for the Sullivan Explorers in southern New York. He hit .323 and won rookie of the year honors. Last year, he hit .240 for the Plattsburgh Red Birds.
Sanders approached the Royals about letting El-Abour take batting practice prior to a game with the Angels last season. The Royals were all in. And when Sanders saw how easily El-Abour fit in with the Major League players personally, as well as with his bat, he decided he eventually would take things to the next level.
That next level came in February when he convinced general manager Dayton Moore and his staff to consider offering El-Abour a contract. The Royals' organization has a history of inclusion, having rescued the career of Jim Eisenreich, who had Tourette's Syndrome as well as Asperger Syndrome (a form of autism).
The Royals made the offer to El-Abour. Sanders couldn't be more proud of the Royals or El-Abour.
"After his first game, Tarik called me in extended spring training," Sanders said, "and he said, 'I'm in the right place.'"
Jason Hammel departed with a lead. The Royals bullpen couldn’t hold it in loss to Angels
April 13, 2018By Sam McDowell/KC Star
The worst-performing bullpen in the American League prompted a pregame move Friday, Royals manager Ned Yost trying something — anything — to find the right combination to close out a victory. Starter Jason Hammel had been the most recent victim of those struggles, his six shutout innings five days ago failing to hold up.
Hammel gave his bullpen a second opportunity on Friday.
It returned him an identical outcome.
After Hammel departed with a two-run lead Friday, the Royals bullpen couldn’t make it stick, and the Angels escaped with a 5-4 win in front of an announced crowd of 15,011 at Kauffman Stadium.
Justin Grimm was charged with the blown save in the eighth inning after the Angels flipped a one-run deficit into a one-run lead in the frame. Luis Valbuena had the game-tying single, and Ian Kinsler followed with a go-ahead sacrifice fly.
The Royals (3-9) losing streak hit four games.
“There should naturally be some frustration,” Hammel said of the clubhouse mood. “Just not quite getting it done, just a step behind. But it’s a very long season. We got the players here to make it spin. I’m not worried about it. I know the rest of the guys aren’t worried about it.
“But we do need to find some rhythm — something that can wake us up, I guess. A little bit still like a spring-training hangover or something like that.”
The Royals tried to formulate a ninth-inning rally, but Jon Jay’s leadoff hit was erased by Abraham Almonte’s second double play of the evening. And after Whit Merrifield drew a two-out walk, he was caught stealing to end the game with Mike Moustakas standing at the plate.
Yost said Merrifield, who led the American League in stolen bases in 2017, had the green light.
“I felt like I needed to get in scoring position for our best hitter,” Merrifield said. “Looking back on it, I might’ve been a bit overzealous. Maybe if that situation comes up again, I let Moose see if he can get ahead in the count. Maybe if he falls behind, then I take off.
“But, you know, I’m an aggressive player. I’m not scared to make a mistake. Guy made a good play, a good throw.”
The Angels (12-3) have won six straight.
The difference? Those bullpens. Five Angels relievers combined for four shutout innings, finished off by Keynan Middleton. They escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the sixth, the Royals failing to tack on to a 4-2 lead. Blake Wood was credited with the win.
Hammel has allowed just two runs over his past two starts, but he’ll take his next turn in the rotation in search of his first victory of 2018. He left with that 4-2 lead Friday. Brad Keller relinquished half the advantage in the seventh before Grimm yielded three singles and two runs in the eighth.
Grimm also took the loss Wednesday against Seattle.
“Throwing the ball really well right now. The results aren’t showing that,” Grimm said. “That’s OK. This frustration, it ain’t about me. I know I’ll be fine. It’s about every other guy in this clubhouse right now. The last two outings, for me, my frustration is for the other guys, not for me personally. It sucks to deal with, but just keep chucking and it will all come together.”
The Royals scored more than three runs for just the second time since opening day, a brutal stretch of offensive ineptness marked by a mix of cold weather and ineffectiveness with runners in scoring position. The temperature warmed Friday, and the production with men on base followed. Cam Gallagher, Whit Merrifield and Paulo Orlando each delivered run-scoring singles with men in scoring position.
The Angels aided the cause. When Gallagher sent a bloop single to left field, shortstop Andrelton Simmons retrieved the ball and fired wildly to home, allowing a second run to score. Gallagher wound up at third base on a ball that traveled only 200 feet from home plate. It gave the Royals a 4-2 lead.
Hammel lasted 5 1/3 innings. He allowed two runs on eight hits, both coming on Albert Pujols’ third-inning blast. Within the next few weeks, Pujols will almost certainly become the 32nd player in MLB history to reach 3,000 hits.
Hit No. 2,986 finished in the left-field seats here, 367 feet from home plate. Pujols, the former Fort Osage star, turned on an inside fastball off the plate for a two-run homer in the third inning, opening the scoring Friday. Hit No. 2,987 found right field for a two-out, run-scoring single in the seventh that cut the margin to 4-3.