Craig Calcaterra May 27, 2014, 9:15 AM EDT

Ned Yost and his flexible thumb

Expectations can be a drag. It’s not Ned Yost’s fault that a lot of people thought the Royals would be this year’s version of the 2013 Pirates and end a long playoff drought. So if the team is failing to meet those expectations, is it really his fault?

Well, sure. Because in this particular case the expectations weren’t terribly unreasonable. No one predicted a championship or even a division title. But respectability and occasional friskiness is definitely something this Royals team should be living up to given the talent on the roster. Perhaps Yost isn’t doing anything egregiously wrong (just go with me on that for now, Royals fans) but lots of dudes have been fired for managing a talented but underachieving team which appears to be listless and without fire.

Ken Rosenthal — who has never been one to call for managers’ heads all willy-nilly — thinks it’s time for Ned to go:


Nope. Not at all. And that’s before you take into account his crazy in-game decisionmaking, his odd bullpen usage and post-game comments which, intentionally or not, suggest that winning isn’t always the most important thing. Which, to you and me and the kids at the bus stop it shouldn’t be, but to a major league manager it kinda is.

I’m not sure who today’s version of Billy Martin is. The guy who comes in, kicks butts, lights a fire under a team and manages a quick turnaround. Maybe it’s Ozzie Guillen? Maybe someone else? All I know is, it ain’t Ned Yost.
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2. Lest he be misunderstood, Brett didn’t mean it specifically in the context of the Royals.

He meant the duty itself, as he laid out in one stream-of-consciousness answer coaxed only by the question of why it’s such a chore via telephone Thursday:

“Now they have indoor cages, and guys do the underhand soft-toss drills at like 1 in the afternoon. And (batting practice) isn’t until 5, or 5:30 on the road.

“So you do the soft-toss, and you pick up all the balls, then you soft-toss to somebody else, and then you go out and take batting practice. And then right before the game, they want more soft-toss.

“And then let’s say you’ve got four guys swinging the bat real good at one time on the team. They don’t need a lot of counseling. They don’t need a lot of work. (And) if you’ve got four guys (doing well), that mean you’ve got nine swinging the bat (poorly).

“And so you’re always trying to think, ‘What could make him have more success?’ … So there’s always going to be times when you have to, you know, tinker with people’s swings.

“Four guys you don’t have to tinker with if you’ve got four guys swinging good, but there are nine guys constantly scratching their heads saying, ‘What am I doing wrong? How come this isn’t working?’

“You say, ‘Try this.’ (They respond) ‘That doesn’t feel good.’

“ ‘Well, then try this.’ … ‘That doesn’t feel good.’ …

“They (line out) to center, hit it on the nose, and they’re mad. What are you mad at? You hit the ball hard. That’s all you can do. The more you hit the ball consistently hard, the higher your average is going to be. So don’t get mad when you hit the ball hard (and are out). You’ve done your job. That’s why they have eight guys out there with gloves.

“It’s a tough job, dealing with major-league players. They’ve all had success, because that’s how they got to the big leagues, and now they’re not successful and they’re scratching their heads too much. …

“They’re all used to being the best players on their teams. Guess what? They’re not the best players on the field any more. Kind of hurts their egos a little bit.

“It’s a never-ending battle. I really believe it’s the worst job in baseball.”

Looking for a K.C win and a Greg Holland save any minute now.

Royals beat Tigers 11-8 to pull within half-game

DETROIT (AP) -- Omar Infante showed the Detroit Tigers what they're missing.

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Infante hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning and had an RBI single in a four-run fifth against former teammate Justin Verlander, helping the Kansas City Royals beat the Tigers 11-8 Monday night.

Infante became expendable in Detroit last November when the franchise traded first baseman Prince Fielder to Texas for second baseman Ian Kinsler. The next month, Infante signed a $30.25 million, four-year contract with the Royals, and their manager is glad he did.

''I didn't really think much about Omar last year with the lineup that they had,'' Royals skipper Ned Yost acknowledged. ''I would try to pitch around this guy and pitch around this guy to get to Omar, and Omar constantly just beat our brains in offensively. At about the midway point, I started realizing how really good he was.''

With 90-plus games left this season, the Tigers are finding out how vulnerable they are and how good Kansas City is in the tightly contested AL Central.

The Royals have won a season-high eight straight to pull within a half-game of Detroit atop the division. Kansas City has won 11 of 13 since trailing the Tigers by 6 1/2 games at the start of the month.

''We got on a nice little run here and we've made up some ground,'' Yost said.

Detroit scored six runs in the ninth inning and pulled within three on J.D. Martinez's two-out grand slam off Donnie Joseph. Michael Mariot struck out Austin Jackson looking for the final out.

Jason Vargas (7-2) gave up two runs on seven hits and two walks to win his third straight.

Verlander (6-7) allowed seven earned runs in consecutive starts for the first time in his career, giving up a season-high 12 hits and striking out two over six innings. He got off to a good start, retiring the Royals in order on 10 pitches in the first inning, and pitched four scoreless innings before getting roughed up.

The Royals took a 4-2 lead in the fifth inning when Billy Butler followed Infante's RBI single with a three-run double off Verlander.

''Our confidence level is as high as it can get,'' Butler said. ''I don't think it is as much him as it is we're going really good right now.''

Infante cleared the left-field fences with his third homer this year with two on to make it 7-2 in the sixth, leading fans to boo Verlander, who is in the second season of his seven-year, $180 million deal.

''I don't blame the fans for booing,'' Verlander said. ''They are frustrated with me, just like I'm frustrated with myself. I would have probably booed myself tonight. They've cheered me a lot of times, and they will cheer me again.''

The jeers kept coming in the next inning when Kansas City scored four runs - one earned - on four hits and two errors off Evan Reed, who failed to retire any Royals as their lead grew to 11-2. The Royals finished with a season high in runs and hits (17) on a steamy night in the Motor City.

Detroit hurt its chances of winning the opener of the four-game series early in the game.

View galleryRoyals beat Tigers 11-8 to pull within half-game
Kansas City Royals pitcher Jason Vargas throws against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning of a b …
Both teams lost a player to cramps.

Tigers outfielder Torii Hunter left the game in the fourth with a cramp in his right hamstring.

''It's not a strain,'' Detroit manager Brad Ausmus insisted.

Royals catcher Salvador Perez was replaced in the seventh because of cramps in both calves.

''He's fine,'' Yost said. ''They made him drink a bunch of fluids and gave him an IV.''

NOTES: Kansas City RHP Yordano Ventura (4-5) will start against Detroit RHP Max Scherzer (8-2) on Tuesday night, when the Royals will have a chance to move into first place and push the Tigers to second in the division for the first time this season. ... Kansas City's winning streak is the longest active streak in the majors and its best since winning nine in a row from July 22 to Aug. 1 last year
sports.yahoo.com/news/royals-beat-tigers-11-8-024625197--mlb.html

Royals win 9th straight to take over 1st place
By NOAH TRISTER (AP Baseball Writer)
7 hours ago
AP - Sports

DETROIT (AP) -- It's been over a decade since the Kansas City Royals were in first place this late in the season, and try as he might, manager Ned Yost couldn't totally downplay the achievement.

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He just wants it kept in perspective.

''It's nice. We've got a lot of games to play. We don't get all geeked up,'' Yost said. ''It's better than the alternative, trust me.''

Alex Gordon and Mike Moustakas homered as part of a seven-run second inning, and the Royals displaced the Detroit Tigers atop the AL Central on Tuesday night with an 11-4 victory, their ninth in a row.

Kansas City is in first place this late in the season for the first time since 2003, according to STATS. The Royals were leading the division in late August that year, only to finish third at 83-79. They have not made the postseason since winning the World Series in 1985.

''A lot of games left, so it really doesn't matter, but to say you're in first place, it feels pretty good,'' designated hitter Billy Butler said. ''Being in first place any time is good - even if it's after the first game.''

Gordon and Moustakas hit two-run shots off Max Scherzer, and Kansas City has won the first two games of this four-game series emphatically. The Royals, who trailed the Tigers by seven games after a May 20 loss, now lead Detroit by a half-game.

Scherzer (8-3) yielded a career high-tying 10 runs in four-plus innings. The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner allowed the first eight batters of the second inning to reach base, with Kansas City scoring six runs before making an out.

''I'm just not putting guys away with two strikes. That's my problem,'' Scherzer said. ''I've taken punches on the chin before, and I've come back. I'm not worried about that. I just have to get back to where I'm putting guys away.''

Scherzer did strike out five in the game.

Yordano Ventura (5-5) allowed three runs and eight hits in seven innings.

Ian Kinsler hit a solo homer for Detroit.

After winning 86 games in 2013, Kansas City is hoping to unseat the Tigers, who have won the last three division titles. Detroit looked headed for a fourth straight year at the top after a 27-12 start, but now the Tigers are facing a surprising number of questions about their starting rotation, which was expected to be among the best in baseball.

Justin Verlander has slumped badly over the last month - he took the loss in Kansas City's 11-8 victory in the series opener Monday. Scherzer threw his first career shutout last week, but the Royals tagged him for 10 hits in his next start Tuesday.

Gordon opened the scoring with his two-run drive to right field, and Moustakas' homer made it 4-0. Omar Infante added a two-run single before Eric Hosmer finally made the first out of the second inning on a tapper to the pitcher. Some fans cheered sarcastically, even though another run came home on the play to make it 7-0.

Verlander and Scherzer combined to allow 17 runs in the first two games of this series. That's the most ever by two teammates with Cy Young Awards in back-to-back team games, according to STATS.

Ventura allowed two runs in the second, but that was the first of three consecutive innings in which Detroit hit into a double play. With the Royals ahead 10-2 in the fifth, Ventura walked Miguel Cabrera with the bases loaded, but the hard-throwing rookie caught a break when a pitch to Victor Martinez sailed past catcher Salvador Perez.

The ball bounced hard off the backstop, right back to Perez, and Detroit's Eugenio Suarez was caught between third base and home. Perez threw to third to catch Suarez retreating and end the inning.

NOTES: Detroit is out of first place for the first time since taking over the division lead July 3 last year, according to STATS. ... The Tigers agreed to terms with OF Derek Hill, the team's first-round draft pick. ... Perez extended his hitting streak to 11 games. ... Royals INF Danny Valencia (left hand) was assigned to Triple-A Omaha for a rehab assignment. ... Detroit OF Torii Hunter, who left Monday's game with a hamstring cramp, did not play. ... Detroit LHP Drew Smyly (3-5) faces Kansas City RHP Jeremy Guthrie (3-6) on Wednesday.
sports.yahoo.com/news/royals-win-9th-straight-over-023029125--mlb.html

that just might change this year. I hope so cuz I picked them to win the central and was mocked un mercilessly by these guys lol

Lots of games left.  And the fact that I live here in KC.  Hell this is the Show Me State.  They are gonna have to show me

Royals Add A Hammer



The league's worst home run-hitting team added some juice to its lineup Monday.

The Royals, a team with a league-worst 71 home runs this season, acquired Josh Willingham from the Twins on Monday for minor-league reliever Jason Adam. Willingham was deemed expendable by the Twins after posting .210/.345/.402 line over 68 games in a free agent year.
In Willingham, the Royals hope they're getting a player closer to his 2012 form. That year, Willingham hit 35 home runs and had 110 RBI in his first season with the Twins.

Willingham will most likely split time with Raul Ibanez -- another all-or-nothing hitter past his prime -- at designated hitter while Billy Butler mans first base. When Eric Hosmer returns from the disabled list, playing time will likely be based on merit.

It's not hard to see how a change of scenery and the opportunity to play for a first-place club could spark the 35-year-old. Despite his many shortcomings, Willingham does still possess pop, after all -- even with the poor slash line, he's got 12 home runs in 278 at-bats this season. When healthy and cranking them out he's a mixed league asset, but until he runs away with everyday at-bats in KC he's nothing more than an AL-only option.

Right now it appears possible that BOTH the Chiefs and the Royals make the playoffs. Isn't that one of the signs of the apocalypse?

royals "fans" make me sick

huge ovation when jeter came to the plate

My least favorite matchup to watch in the NFL tomorrow night

Say it every year

royals 4-11 vs detroit

francis, what the jeter is up with your fightin' roy-als?

I saw that. To make matters worse , I'm pretty sure Nathan tried the same move and he returned to 2nd safely. They pretty much told Dyson we are paying attention

And a shame cause the way Nathan has pitched , I would have bet they tie that game