MINNEAPOLIS | After a day to reflect, the question remains: Was that a new-look Luke Hochevar who worked seven strong innings Friday night in a 2-1 victory over Minnesota? Or was it merely a simple (if fortuitous) anomaly?
“It was only one game,” Hochevar said, “but I don’t think it was an accident. It’s just a different approach. I’m not only using all of my pitches but also all of the locations in the zone. Not just down and away or down and in. I’m using all quadrants.” Hochevar’s problem, the Royals believe, was that he became too predictable — especially when he worked himself into jams. That led to big innings. “It’s a comfort level that hitters had that he’s going to pitch down and away,” manager Ned Yost said. “And they sat (on pitches) down and away. We’re not talking about hitting guys, but we’re talking about throwing inside. “You have to be able to pitch effectively in to get guys away from you stuff down and away.” The Royals also pushed Hochevar ease off the throttle when in trouble. They wanted a blend that included more off-speed pitches, including consecutive off-speed pitches, rather than a steady diet of fastballs and hard sliders. “He’d just gotten predictable,” Yost said, “and we need to take that predictability out of his repertoire. He needs to use all four pitches, and he needs to use them in different spots on the plate.” Hochevar limited the Twins to one tainted run and three hits, although that one run — which scored on a wild pitch — was sufficient to position him for a loss before Eric Hosmer launched a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning. But Hochevar’s effort, by any measure, marked a sharp improvement after yielding 19 runs and 29 hits in 20 2/3 innings over his four previous starts. “I just felt I didn’t fall into any pattern,” he said. “I wanted to change speeds and, by doing that, I felt it opened up a lot more options for me. It kept them guessing instead of them knowing I was just going to go right at them – harder, harder, harder.” It worked — this time, anyway. The next test comes Friday against Tampa Bay at Kauffman Stadium. “It was one start,” Yost said. “It was just the start of what I want to see him do, but it was a great starting point for what we want him to accomplish.”Moose under wraps Yost dismisses any concerns regarding slumping rookie third baseman Mike Moustakas, who is mired in a two-for-37 slump that has dropped his average to .212. “He’s pulling off the ball a little bit and pressing a little bit,” Yost said. “He’s getting pitches to hit, but he’s trying to hit them so far that he’s pulling his front shoulder off (the pitch), which makes his bat drag.” Moustakas has just four extra-base hits and four RBIs in 104 at-bats over 28 games since his June 10 promotion from Class AAA Omaha. His struggles, Yost said, are no surprise. “He’s always been a kid who, when he got to a new level, has taken a period to adjust,” Yost said. “I think it’s the same thing here. Once he gets acclimated to this environment, he’s going to be fine.” The bottom line, which Yost makes clear, is Moustakas remains a fixture as the club’s starting third baseman. There are no internal discussions of sending him back to Omaha for a remedial tour. “Nooooo,” Yost said. “No. No thought whatsoever. Moustakas is fine. He’s going to work his way through this.”Betemit on block The Milwaukee Brewers are showing interest in utilityman Wilson Betemit, according to FoxSports.com. It seems a natural match. The Royals can’t find playing time for Betemit, 29, following Moustakas’ arrival, and the Brewers are seeking an alternative to slumping third baseman Casey McGehee. Betemit will be a free agent at the end of the season but is unlikely to qualify for compensation. That means the Royals would get nothing in return if he chooses to sign elsewhere.Hosmer’s late bomb Hosmer became only the second rookie in franchise history Friday to hit a home run in the ninth inning or later that turned a deficit into a lead. Bob Hamelin did it twice in 1994, and both were walk-off blasts at Kauffman Stadium. Hamelin hit a two-run shot to deep right on April 13 against Jeff Russell in a 2-1 victory over Boston; and he hit a three-run drive on July 25 against future Royals closer Roberto Hernandez in a 6-4 victory over Chicago in 12 innings Blyleven tribute It might be no coincidence the Twins chose a game against the Royals to honor Hall of Fame inductee Bert Blyleven with a pregame ceremony that retired his No. 28. Blyleven is the all-time leader in victories against the Royals with 34. That’s nine more than Roger Clemens, who ranks second with 25. Nolan Ryan is third with 24. The Hall of Fame ceremonies are July 24 in Cooperstown, N.Y. Blyleven is joined in the 2011 induction class by second baseman Roberto Alomar and club executive Pat Gillick. The Twins previously retired the numbers of Harmon Killebrew (3 in 1975), Rod Carew (29 in 1987), Tony Oliva (6 in 1991), Kent Hrbek (14 in 1995) and Kirby Puckett (34 in 1997). They also, like all clubs, have retired No. 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson. Blyleven is the Twins’ career leader in complete games, shutouts and strikeouts. He ranks second in victories and innings pitched, third in starts and fifth in ERA. He was 287-250 with a 3.31 ERA in a 22-year career from 1970-92 that also included time with the Indians, Pirates, Angels and Rangers.Kendall update Plans call for veteran catcher Jason Kendall, 37, to keep his right arm in a sling for four weeks after undergoing follow-up surgery last Wednesday to repair new damage in his right rotator cuff. Kendall’s recovery period is expected to extend through the 2012 season, which seems likely to end his career. He underwent the initial procedure Sept. 3, 2010 and spent much of this year attempting to return to active duty before new problems surfaced.Minor details Left-hander Mike Montgomery continued his mid-season renaissance by delivering another quality start Friday, although he still got stuck with a loss when Class AAA Omaha fell 9-2 to New Orleans. Montgomery allowed three runs and six hits in six innings while striking out five and walking none. He has given up four runs in 17 2/3 innings in three starts since getting an 11-day break after a nine-run shelling in just three innings at Round Rock. Power reliever Jeremy Jeffress allowed a tight game to shift into a rout by allowing six runs in two-thirds of an inning in Friday’s loss. The debacle spiked his ERA to 7.13 in 16 games since his May 19 demotion from the big leagues. Jeffress’ meltdown came exactly one month after he permitted six runs in one-third of an inning in a loss to Iowa. In-between, he allowed two runs and four hits in nine innings over six appearances.Looking back It was 21 years ago Sunday — July 17, 1990 — that Bo Jackson hit three home runs in three at-bats in a 10-7 victory over New York at Yankee Stadium before leaving in the sixth inning because of a shoulder injury. Jackson missed 39 days before hitting a homer Aug. 26 in his first at-bat after returning from the disabled list in an 8-2 victory at Seattle. He remains the only player in franchise history to hit four homers in four consecutive at-bats. All-time victory leaders vs. the RoyalsBert Blyleven 34-22Roger Clemens 25-7Nolan Ryan 24-15Mark Buehrle* 21-11Jim Palmer 21-11Kenny Rogers 21-20Charlie Hough 20-10Tommy John 18-8Mike Mussina 18-7* — still activeRead more Royals
Posted on Sat, Jul. 16, 2011 05:58 PM
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To reach Bob Dutton, call 816-234-4352 or send email to bdutton@kcstar.com. Follow his news updates at Royals_Report@twitter.com.
