Kansas City Star: Baseball 2008

Hillman has big ideas for turning around the Royals

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 22:30 CDT

SURPRISE, Ariz. | He doesn’t stop. That’s what they notice about Trey Hillman. He doesn’t stop, never stops, ever, he’s up before the farmers and newspaper delivery folks, he’s hitting the elliptical machine and jabbering about lineups, he’s video conferencing with his family, he’s scouring the Internet for baseball news, he’s scribbling ideas in his notebook, he’s watching minor-leaguers, he’s bouncing around asking questions, crazy questions, like what base the pitcher should cover when there are runners on first and third and a foul ball is hit behind first base.

Wichita manager suspended over tirade with ump

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 21:37 CDT

Sensing his team needed a kick in the pants, Wichita Wingnuts manager Kash Beauchamp set out to get ejected on purpose. He even told his pitching coach to get ready.

Bale struggles as Royals fall to Mariners 11-6

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:57 CDT

SEATTLE | Banny and Zack and … then what? Fade to black? The old Boston Braves could once yearn for two days of rain after Spahn and Sain. That works, too, even if it doesn't rhyme.

Meche tries again tonight for his first victory

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:57 CDT

SEATTLE | Gil Meche tries for the fourth time tonight to notch his first victory and, if history is any indicator, he couldn't pick a friendlier venue than Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif.

Bannister is brilliant again as Royals top Twins 5-1

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:48 CDT

Brian Bannister analyzes his own pitching more than you can imagine. He studies video, pours over stats, and risks carpel tunnel investigating which stats can help him do what better.

A day in the majors

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:48 CDT

The Brewers' Gabe Kapler, who managed in the Red Sox organization last season, homered for the second straight day, doubled twice and drove in three runs as Milwaukee beat the Mets 9-7. Not bad for a guy who was the manager for Class A Greenville at this time last year.

Gordon looking much better in early part of this season

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 22:11 CDT

A year of experience has meant so much to third baseman Alex Gordon this season that the dreaded sophomore jinx may not come into play.

Baseball's young stars take their lump sums

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 18:51 CDT

How would you feel about leaving millions of dollars on the table? That’s potentially what Chris Young and Fausto Carmona, two of the game’s brightest young stars, did last week.

A day in the majors

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 01:26 CDT

White Sox starter Gavin Floyd lost a no-hit bid when Detroit's Edgar Renteria singled with one out in the eighth, but the White Sox and their promising righty wound up beating the Tigers 7-0 on Saturday.

Twins defeat Royals 2-0

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 01:26 CDT

Putting on powder blue uniforms for the first time in 17 years helped pull in the fans Saturday night at Kauffman Stadium but couldn't rouse the Royals' suddenly comatose attack in a 2-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins.

Royals brave the cold and beat Yankees 5-2 in home opener

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 01:28 CDT

It was bone-chilling cold Tuesday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium after a steady morning downpour. Dark and damp. Raw and windy. Brutal stuff, really.

Royals scoreboard is a vision of the future

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 10:48 CDT

There are 40-some screens in here, most of them showing four smaller displays. Operating the Royals' new $8.3 million Crown Vision scoreboard requires a staff of 17, a beautiful and hectic symphony of button pushing and barked commands and language you'd want to keep your small child away from.

Fans contended with Kauffman construction

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 01:28 CDT

Royals fans had to navigate a new parking system and more crowded concourses Tuesday at Kauffman Stadium but didn't appear otherwise too hindered by renovations.

Bullpen remains impressive in relief

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:01 CDT

As Royals starter Brian Bannister struggled to get through the second inning against the Yankees on Tuesday afternoon, it definitely looked as if the bullpen would be in heavy use.

How the Royals and Yankees scored

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 01:28 CDT

•ROYALS FIRST: Gathright led off and singled to center. Gathright stole second. Grudzielanek grounded out, shortstop to first, Gathright to third. Teahen doubled to center, Gathright scored. Royals 1, Yankees 0.

Day in the majors

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 01:28 CDT

Aubrey Huff and the Orioles are certainly enjoying the new season. And surprising a lot of people. “We've already had more fun than at anytime last year,” Huff said after Baltimore's sixth straight victory, 8-1 on Tuesday, ruining the Texas Rangers' home opener.

Yankees don't look like Bronx Bombers

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:06 CDT

For a split second, Joe Girardi’s eyes widened. A reporter had just asked Girardi, the Yankees’ manager, what concerned him the most about his team’s 5-2 loss to the Royals on Tuesday.

Royals notebook: Former Royals pitcher David Cone impressed with scoreboard

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 01:27 CDT

Former Royals pitcher and Kansas City native David Cone barely recognized his hometown ballpark when he arrived at Kauffman Stadium.

Royals' home opener results

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:06 CDT

Royals’ home openers

1969: Royals 4, Twins 3, 12 inn.

1970: A’s 6, Royals 4

1971: Twins 2, Royals 0

1972: Royals 2, White Sox 1, 11 inn.

1973: Royals 12, Rangers 1

1974: Twins 6, Royals 4, 11 inn.

1975: Royals 8, Twins 3

1976: Royals 7, Angels 4

1977: Royals 5, Yankees 4, 13 inn.

1978: Royals 4, Orioles 2

1979: Royals 11, Blue Jays 2

1980: Tigers 5, Royals 1

1981: Tigers 6, Royals 5

1982: Royals 4, Tigers 2

1983: Royals 5, Brewers 2

1984: Royals 4, Yankees 2

1985: Royals 2, Blue Jays 1

1986: Blue Jays 6, Royals 2

1987: White Sox 5, Royals 4

1988: Blue Jays 5, Royals 3

1989: Blue Jays 4, Royals 3

1990: Orioles 7, Royals 6, 11 inn.

1991: Royals 4, Indians 2

1992: A’s 6, Royals 1

1993: Red Sox 3, Royals 1

1994: Indians 8, Royals 3

1995: Royals 5, Orioles 1

1996: Royals 5, Red Sox 4, 12 inn.

1997: Royals 6, Orioles 5

1998: Orioles 11, Royals 7

1999: Red Sox 5, Royals 3

2000: Royals 10, Twins 6

2001: Twins 6, Royals 2

2002: Twins 8, Royals 6

2003: Royals 3, White Sox 0

2004: Royals 9, White Sox 7

2005: Mariners 8, Royals 2

2006: Tigers 3, Royals 1

2007: Royals 7, Red Sox 1

2008: Royals 5, Yankees 2

Trickster Gathright ready to swipe more bases

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:06 CDT

Joey Gathright knows a secret. He knows exactly what to look for when he’s trying to steal bases, when he’s trying to raise the blood pressure of the opposing pitcher and the heart rate of Royals fans.

Royals heading home after 3-1 victory over Twins

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 01:00 CDT

MINNEAPOLIS | The Royals are heading home, finally, and feeling good about it after salvaging their weekend Sunday afternoon with a 3-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome.

Day in the majors

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 01:00 CDT

One of the biggest surprises of the young baseball season has to be the collective performance of the Cardinals' rotation.

Royals notebook: Bullpen remains in shutdown mode

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 01:00 CDT

MINNEAPOLIS | It's only six games, but the Royals' bullpen shows signs of emerging as a bankable strength after a series of shaky performances by several relievers in spring training.

THIS DATE IN BASEBALL

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 01:00 CDT

1969: The Yankees spoiled the managerial debut of Ted Williams by defeating the Senators 8-4 in the opener at Washington's RFK Stadium. President Nixon and a crowd of 45,000 attended.

Pitching matchups

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 01:00 CDT

All times p.m. unless noted

Twins rough up Meche, send Royals to 6-4 loss

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 01:39 CDT

MINNEAPOLIS | The euphoria of the Royals' three-game sweep in Detroit is fading fast after a second straight loss Saturday to the Minnesota Twins.

Nomo added to bullpen after Tupman optioned to Omaha

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 01:39 CDT

MINNEAPOLIS | Veteran right-hander Hideo Nomo completed his long-shot odyssey to return to the big leagues Saturday morning when the Royals bought his contract from short-season Idaho Falls.

THIS DAY IN BASEBALL

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 01:39 CDT

1972: For the first time in history, the major leagues failed to open on schedule because of a player strike, which started on April 1. The traditional season opener between Houston and Cincinnati was canceled and a total of 86 games were lost before the strike was settled.

A day in the majors

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 01:39 CDT

Toronto's Frank Thomas figured out what was wrong with his swing: a bad helmet. A notoriously slow starter, Thomas struggled at the plate this spring and decided his helmet was to blame, demanding a new one from Toronto's equipment manager.

ROYALS STATISTICS

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 01:39 CDT

Through Saturday

MLB Schedule American League National League

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 01:39 CDT

AMERICAN LEAGUE Seattle at Baltimore, 3:05 Minnesota at Chi. White Sox, 4:05 Tampa Bay at N.Y. Yankees, 7:05

The majors: Dud of the week

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 01:39 CDT

Pitching matchups

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 01:39 CDT

All times p.m.

The majors: Power poll, talkin' baseball

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 01:39 CDT

1. Red Sox. Fewest weaknesses of anyone. 2. Mets. Two words: Johan and Santana 3. Indians. Easy to forget they won 96 games last year.

The majors: Difficult for new stats to catch on

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 01:39 CDT

If you were so inclined, you could probably spend an entire month, 24 hours a day, trying to understand all the baseball stats that are out there. So, what the heck, here's one more.

How they scored

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 01:39 CDT

•ROYALS THIRD: Gload led off with a single. On Hernandez's balk, Gload to second. Callaspo tripled, Gload scored. Gathright hit a sacrifice fly, Callaspo scored. Royals 2, Twins 0.

The majors: Coming attractions, what to watch for

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 01:39 CDT

•Scot Shields should return to the Angels soon, and rarely does a middle reliever's presence mean this much.