http://www.kansascity.com/sports/royals/index.xml News, sports and entertainment from The Kansas City Star en-us Copyright 2013Kansas City Star Royals 60 Thu, 23 May 2013 09:51:29 CDT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss McClatchy Interactive's PubSys 1.1.fi feedback@kansascity.com (Feedback) http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/22/4251112/fitting-end-to-a-dismal-trip-royals.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/22/4251112/fitting-end-to-a-dismal-trip-royals.html#storylink=rss Wed, 22 May 2013 23:30 CDT The Royals sent their ace, James Shields, to the mound in Wednesday's finale and, as usually happens when he pitches, their attack turtled and resulted in a 3-1 loss to the Houston Astros. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/22/4251211/heres-an-eye-opener-data-show.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/22/4251211/heres-an-eye-opener-data-show.html#storylink=rss Wed, 22 May 2013 23:22 CDT Belying its reputation as a pitcher's park, the math shows a trend toward the hitters at Kauffman Stadium. That ought to be good news for the home team, which has labored at the plate for much of this season. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/22/4250820/moustakas-cites-simplified-approach.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/22/4250820/moustakas-cites-simplified-approach.html#storylink=rss Wed, 22 May 2013 23:54 CDT Mike Moustakas termed it "a relief" when he broke a zero-for-18 slide with an RBI single Tuesday night, but he also recognized it for what it was. "One hit is not going to do anything. It's not going to completely turn anything around, but it was a hit in a big situation for us." http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/21/4248695/royals-rally-against-houston-get.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/21/4248695/royals-rally-against-houston-get.html#storylink=rss Tue, 21 May 2013 23:46 CDT The Royals rallied Tuesday for a 7-3 victory at Minute Maid Park by scoring all seven runs against the Astros' bullpen and with the aid of some atrocious defense. So what? The Royals ended their four-game losing streak, pulled back to .500 at 21-21 and avoided the possibility of getting swept by the Astros. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/21/4248367/follow-up-exam-confirms-salvy.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/21/4248367/follow-up-exam-confirms-salvy.html#storylink=rss Tue, 21 May 2013 18:19 CDT The day-after news Tuesday on Royals catcher Salvy Perez was mostly positive: He has a deep bruise to his right hip but no structural damage or other longer-term issues. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/22/4248951/this-one-could-have-gone-the-other.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/22/4248951/this-one-could-have-gone-the-other.html#storylink=rss Wed, 22 May 2013 09:32 CDT The Royals came out of Tuesday's eighth inning with a lead and won the game against the Astros 7-3, but this one could have gone the other way because of poor pitch selection. Too many times on this road trip, Royals fans have seen hitters take when they should be swinging and swing when they should be taking. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/20/4246600/royals-continue-slide-in-6-5-loss.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/20/4246600/royals-continue-slide-in-6-5-loss.html#storylink=rss Mon, 20 May 2013 23:32 CDT Monday's depressing 6-5 loss to the Astros makes four straight one-run losses and 11 losses overall in the last 14 games. The Royals now are looking up at .500 -- they are 20-21 -- for the first time since the season's first week. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/20/4246270/royals-francoeur-says-its-tough.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/20/4246270/royals-francoeur-says-its-tough.html#storylink=rss Mon, 20 May 2013 23:53 CDT The bigger issue Monday for the Royals, beyond a 6-5 loss to Houston, was the status of catcher Salvy Perez's right hip. Perez left the game shortly after slamming into a post at the Houston dugout while pursuing a foul pop by J.D. Martinez in the fifth inning. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/21/4246832/the-royals-go-under-500.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/21/4246832/the-royals-go-under-500.html#storylink=rss Tue, 21 May 2013 09:44 CDT The Royals suffered their fourth straight one-run loss Monday night -- they're now one game under .500. After the game, manager Ned Yost said that starter Jeremy Guthrie had struggled with command, finding the right arm slot and keeping the ball down. Guthrie walked three, two of them scored, and the Royals lost this one 6-5. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/20/4245417/royals-qa-fans-want-to-know-what.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/20/4245417/royals-qa-fans-want-to-know-what.html#storylink=rss Mon, 20 May 2013 10:01 CDT Forty games in, approximately one-fourth of the way through the season, and the Royals are 20-20 after suffering a weekend sweep in Oakland. Let's get this out of the way: It was a brutal weekend. Three one-run losses after holding early leads in each game. The quarter point in the season is when teams traditionally step back and take a hard look at themselves. And if Bob Dutton's latest Q&A is any indication, fans are doing that, too. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/20/4246222/george-brett-moustakas-isnt-the.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/20/4246222/george-brett-moustakas-isnt-the.html#storylink=rss Mon, 20 May 2013 17:17 CDT The young third baseman, lugging a paltry batting average at the All-Star break in his first full major-league season, felt lost and dejected. Then George Brett and his hitting coach, Charlie Lau, put together a plan, one that included mechanical adjustments and fundamentals but emphasized the mental approach, something Brett says can help current Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas, mired in a one-for-34 skid at the plate. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/20/4246114/services-planned-for-fred-white.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/20/4246114/services-planned-for-fred-white.html#storylink=rss Mon, 20 May 2013 15:52 CDT Services for former Royals broadcaster Fred White, who died on May 15, will take place on May 28 at the Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/19/4244388/more-misery-for-royals-as-as-sweep.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/19/4244388/more-misery-for-royals-as-as-sweep.html#storylink=rss Sun, 19 May 2013 23:04 CDT The script changed Sunday for the Royals, but not the ending as they concluded a three-game weekend pratfall in the East Bay with a 4-3 loss to the Oakland A's. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/19/4244559/ned-yost-probably-will-shift-kelvin.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/19/4244559/ned-yost-probably-will-shift-kelvin.html#storylink=rss Sun, 19 May 2013 23:04 CDT After Sunday's crushing 4-3 loss to the Oakland A's, Royals manager Ned Yost acknowledged he will "probably" will pull the eighth-inning duty away from struggling reliever Kelvin Herrera. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/19/4243674/royals-should-inspire-as-much.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/19/4243674/royals-should-inspire-as-much.html#storylink=rss Sun, 19 May 2013 10:18 CDT The Royals should know why the city they play for is suspicious. Nothing personal, guys, but Alex Gordon and Sal Perez and especially James Shields and Jeremy Guthrie might want to know why a fan base starved to watch a winner is watching their best team in 20 years like it's a wild grizzly bear. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/18/4243713/punchless-attack-sinks-royals.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/18/4243713/punchless-attack-sinks-royals.html#storylink=rss Sat, 18 May 2013 23:30 CDT While the Royals' rotation is much improved over recent seasons, one run isn't often going to be enough. It was Ervin Santana who paid the price Saturday night for failing to pitch a shutout in a 2-1 loss to the Oakland A's. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/18/4243456/ned-yost-vows-to-remain-patient.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/18/4243456/ned-yost-vows-to-remain-patient.html#storylink=rss Sat, 18 May 2013 19:34 CDT The questions to Royals manager Ned Yost Saturday afternoon concerned third baseman Mike Moustakas, his ongoing struggles and how patient the Royals were willing to remain and for how long. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/18/4243248/is-this-variant-of-the-royals.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/18/4243248/is-this-variant-of-the-royals.html#storylink=rss Sat, 18 May 2013 17:23 CDT Roughly forty games into Kansas City's season, it's time to make some assessments of this team's advantages and its shortcomings. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/18/4242627/royals-again-offer-little-support.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/18/4242627/royals-again-offer-little-support.html#storylink=rss Sat, 18 May 2013 00:22 CDT James Shields continues to pitch like the No. 1 guy the Royals expected when they acquired him in that big off-season deal from Tampa Bay. And the Royals continue to waste his efforts. Shields gave up two runs Friday night in eight innings but only found more disappointment when the Royals' attack again went quiet in a 2-1 loss to the Oakland A's at the O.co Coliseum. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/17/4242318/dyson-returns-to-kansas-city-after.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/17/4242318/dyson-returns-to-kansas-city-after.html#storylink=rss Fri, 17 May 2013 21:14 CDT Outfielder Jarrod Dyson is expected to miss two-to-four weeks after being diagnosed Friday in Kansas City with what trainer Nick Kenney termed "a mild high ankle sprain." Dyson, 28, suffered the injury in the eighth inning Wednesday when he scaled the center-field wall at Angel Stadium in pursuit of a Mike Trout homer against Kelvin Herrera. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/17/4241342/royals-place-dyson-on-dl-and-recall.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/17/4241342/royals-place-dyson-on-dl-and-recall.html#storylink=rss Fri, 17 May 2013 21:12 CDT Outfielder David Lough feels far more at ease in this, his second trip to the big leagues. He joined the Royals prior to Friday's series opener against the A's at the Oakland Coliseum. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/16/4239941/royals-yost-says-playing-time.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/16/4239941/royals-yost-says-playing-time.html#storylink=rss Thu, 16 May 2013 23:42 CDT The Royals' outfield could be getting a new look as soon as Friday night. All signs point to the Royals putting outfielder Jarrod Dyson on the disabled list because of an ankle injury he suffered Wednesday at Anaheim when he climbed the wall attempting to catch a Mike Trout home run. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/16/4239969/hot-streak-against-angels-helps.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/16/4239969/hot-streak-against-angels-helps.html#storylink=rss Thu, 16 May 2013 14:47 CDT Billy Butler raised his average 40 points, from .228 to .268, by going eight for 13 in three games against the Angels. His output included three doubles, a home run and nine RBIs. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/16/4238735/royals-ride-seven-run-third-inning.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/16/4238735/royals-ride-seven-run-third-inning.html#storylink=rss Thu, 16 May 2013 02:04 CDT A seven-run third inning and an eight-run lead and, still, it seemed like the Royals had to hang on all night Wednesday before securing a 9-5 victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/15/4238332/royals-no-2-prospect-bubba-starling.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/15/4238332/royals-no-2-prospect-bubba-starling.html#storylink=rss Wed, 15 May 2013 20:42 CDT Outfielder Bubba Starling left his Low-A team in Lexington on Wednesday and traveled to Kansas City, where he may have Lasik surgery. Starling said he has had trouble seeing the ball at night. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/16/4238891/the-kansas-city-royals-and-a-must.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/16/4238891/the-kansas-city-royals-and-a-must.html#storylink=rss Thu, 16 May 2013 10:47 CDT Everybody loves the big pitching matchups -- your ace faces their ace -- but those games are toss-ups, and either team could win. Then there are the games you should win and can't afford to lose; not if you're going to put together a winning record. This was a game the Royals should have won and did. Beating up on bad teams is what good teams do. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/15/4237772/former-royals-broadcaster-fred.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/15/4237772/former-royals-broadcaster-fred.html#storylink=rss Wed, 15 May 2013 20:07 CDT Fred White, who teamed with Denny Matthews as the Royals' primary broadcast team from 1973 to 1998, died Wednesday of complications from melanoma. His death came one day after he officially retired from the Royals following a 40-year association with the club. He was 76. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/15/4236894/former-kansas-city-royals-george.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/15/4236894/former-kansas-city-royals-george.html#storylink=rss Wed, 15 May 2013 10:04 CDT Hall of Famer George Brett, who turned 60 on Wednesday, played his entire 21-year baseball career with the Royals, and he's still very much involved with the team. The Royals drafted him in 1971, he hit .390 in 1980, had a little trouble with pine tar in 1983, won the World Series in 1985 and was inducted into the Hall in 1999. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/15/4236265/angels-four-homer-attack-ends.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/15/4236265/angels-four-homer-attack-ends.html#storylink=rss Wed, 15 May 2013 00:45 CDT Albert Pujols, Howie Kendrick, Josh Hamilton and Mike Trout each homered as the Los Angeles Angels beat the Royals 6-2 on Tuesday night in Anaheim, Calif., ending Kansas City starter Jeremy Guthrie's club-record streak of non-losing starts at 18. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/15/4236504/what-jeremy-guthrie-accomplished.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/15/4236504/what-jeremy-guthrie-accomplished.html#storylink=rss Wed, 15 May 2013 09:29 CDT Going into the Angels game, Royals pitcher Jeremy Guthrie had a string of 18 starts without a loss -- but that was snapped Tuesday night as the Royals fell 6-2. But he did throw seven innings. When a starting pitcher does not have his best stuff but hangs in there and finds a way to give his team innings, he may not help his team win that night, but he gives them a better shot at winning the next night. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/14/4235884/lorenzo-cain-gets-a-look-as-the.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/14/4235884/lorenzo-cain-gets-a-look-as-the.html#storylink=rss Tue, 14 May 2013 20:11 CDT The latest lineup tweak Tuesday by Royals manager Ned Yost positioned Lorenzo Cain at the top of the order for the first time this season. "On days when (Jarrod) Dyson doesn't play, I've got to have a No. 1 hitter," Yost said. "For me right now, Cain is as good as anybody to give a look at." http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/14/4235566/fred-white-retires-from-royals.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/14/4235566/fred-white-retires-from-royals.html#storylink=rss Tue, 14 May 2013 19:29 CDT Broadcaster Fred White, who became an icon with the Royals over the last 40 years, announced his retirement Tuesday from the organization because of what the club characterized in a news release as "recent health issues." http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/14/4234520/who-you-play-matters.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/14/4234520/who-you-play-matters.html#storylink=rss Tue, 14 May 2013 11:23 CDT On Monday night, the Royals slapped around a team that is currently 14-24 with a .368 winning percentage. The pitcher they beat, Joe Blanton, woke up this morning with an 0-7 record and a 6.46 ERA. I'm not writing this to belittle Monday's win -- far from it. That was just the kind of game the Royals need to win to get where they want to go. But the Royals may not have done anything more to improve their performance than playing a worse team. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/14/4234130/royals-butler-break-out-in-11.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/14/4234130/royals-butler-break-out-in-11.html#storylink=rss Tue, 14 May 2013 01:12 CDT Most encouraging, perhaps, for the Royals in their 11-4 victory Monday over the Los Angeles Angels was their season-high 19-hit attack, which included five from slumping Billy Butler -- three singles and two doubles -- that accounted for five RBIs. Alcides Escobar, Lorenzo Cain and Salvy Perez each added three hits. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/14/4233783/is-billy-butler-battling-tough.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/14/4233783/is-billy-butler-battling-tough.html#storylink=rss Tue, 14 May 2013 00:46 CDT Jarrod Dyson started in center field for the fourth time in six games and served as the leadoff hitter for the second straight game. Manager Ned Yost characterized both moves as day-to-day decisions. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/13/4232868/royals-qa-bad-week-fuels-lots.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/13/4232868/royals-qa-bad-week-fuels-lots.html#storylink=rss Mon, 13 May 2013 10:40 CDT All it took was one bad week -- and it was a bad week -- to start lots of Royals fans on the here-we-go-again carousel. The Royals are still over .500 at 18-16 as they enter Monday's series opener against the Angels. As Bob Dutton writes, all teams have bad weeks. Bad teams let bad weeks turn into two, three and four bad weeks. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/13/4233132/five-ways-for-royals-to-get-back.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/13/4233132/five-ways-for-royals-to-get-back.html#storylink=rss Mon, 13 May 2013 12:27 CDT The Royals are coming off a difficult week, where they went 1-6 against Chicago, Baltimore and New York. They're still over .500 at 18-16 as they start a nine-game road trip, but they definitely have issues. What do they need to do to snap this early skid? http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/12/4231907/three-bad-sliders-cost-ervin-santana.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/12/4231907/three-bad-sliders-cost-ervin-santana.html#storylink=rss Mon, 13 May 2013 10:48 CDT Sunday against the Yankees, Royals starter Ervin Santana threw 102 pitches -- and three of them cost him the game. In the third inning, Santana threw a slider up in the zone to Robinson Cano, and the Yankees second baseman hit it over 400 feet. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/12/4231663/yankees-sweep-slumping-royals.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/12/4231663/yankees-sweep-slumping-royals.html#storylink=rss Sun, 12 May 2013 20:09 CDT Make no mistake, the Royals are in an early-May funk, and this is the kind of streak that looks familiar. The latest loss came on Sunday afternoon, a 4-2 setback against the Yankees that was the Royals' sixth defeat in their last seven games. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/12/4231997/mendoza-eager-for-regular-work.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/12/4231997/mendoza-eager-for-regular-work.html#storylink=rss Sun, 12 May 2013 20:21 CDT Luis Mendoza, who has made just four starts this season, has yet to pitch on a regular five-day rotation. But that will change on Monday, when Mendoza takes the mound in the opening game of a three-game series against Angels in Los Angeles.