Look for the Royals to choose between Willie Bloomquist and Mitch Maier as their interim center fielders while Coco Crisp recovers from a strained right rotator cuff. Manager Trey Hillman shows no inclination to move David DeJesus back to his old position. “We’ll leave Dave alone in left as much as we can,” Hillman said, “especially since he’s continuing to look better at the plate.” Nor do the Royals appear inclined to promote another full-time outfielder from the minors. Instead, utility infielders Luis Hernandez and Tug Hulett are taking extra work in right field. “On an emergency basis,” Hillman said, “in case we need to have it.” Bloomquist made his third start in center Tuesday in the series opener against Arizona. Maier started last Sunday in center, for the 11th time, when Crisp was placed on the disabled list. “It will be a combination of both,” Hillman said. “I’m not afraid by any means, offensively or defensively, with either one of them. Some of it will be (based on) matchups, but some of it will depend on whether we need Willie somewhere else.”Back in town Arizona manager A.J. Hinch spent only two seasons playing for the Royals — 2001-02 — but has a long list of friends he’d like to catch up with in this three-game series. They include Kevin Seitzer, John Wathan and Joe Randa, though Hinch also has some family from Iowa and Oklahoma in town.Doggone it Veteran reliever Kyle Farnsworth sported a bandage on his left hand after requiring stitches to close a wound suffered earlier in the day while breaking up a scuffle between his two American bulldogs. “The young one came and butted in,” he said. “It happened this morning. Then the same situation happened again this afternoon. There were two fights, and the second one was worse. “One of them has an eye that’s messed up, and the other one has two puncture wounds in the back of his neck.” The injury was not expected to affect Farnsworth’s availability.Ramirez to Washington Left-hander Horacio Ramirez, who rejected an opportunity to pitch at Class AAA Omaha, signed a minor-league contract with Washington and will be assigned to Class AAA Syracuse.More signings The Royals signed 10 more picks from last week’s draft, including three of their top eight selections: right-hander Mathiew White, a sixth-round pick from New Mexico; left-hander George Baumann, a seventh-round pick from Missouri State; and catcher Benjamin Theriot, a ninth-round pick from Texas State. Overall, the Royals have signed 17 of their 49 selections.Etc.•The Gloves for Kids program, organized by broadcaster Ryan Lefebvre, raised $6,780 for area youth players Monday at Dick’s Sporting Goods in Town Center Plaza in Overland Park. •Alberto Callaspo has hit safely in nine straight games and is batting .441 in that span with 15 hits in 34 at-bats.

Posted on Tue, Jun. 16, 2009 11:22 PM

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Royals notebook: Bloomquist or Maier will replace Crisp in center

By BOB DUTTON

The Kansas City Star

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Look for the Royals to choose between Willie Bloomquist and Mitch Maier as their interim center fielders while Coco Crisp recovers from a strained right rotator cuff.

Manager Trey Hillman shows no inclination to move David DeJesus back to his old position.

“We’ll leave Dave alone in left as much as we can,” Hillman said, “especially since he’s continuing to look better at the plate.”

Nor do the Royals appear inclined to promote another full-time outfielder from the minors. Instead, utility infielders Luis Hernandez and Tug Hulett are taking extra work in right field.

“On an emergency basis,” Hillman said, “in case we need to have it.”

Bloomquist made his third start in center Tuesday in the series opener against Arizona. Maier started last Sunday in center, for the 11th time, when Crisp was placed on the disabled list.

“It will be a combination of both,” Hillman said. “I’m not afraid by any means, offensively or defensively, with either one of them. Some of it will be (based on) matchups, but some of it will depend on whether we need Willie somewhere else.”

Back in town

Arizona manager A.J. Hinch spent only two seasons playing for the Royals — 2001-02 — but has a long list of friends he’d like to catch up with in this three-game series. They include Kevin Seitzer, John Wathan and Joe Randa, though Hinch also has some family from Iowa and Oklahoma in town.

Doggone it

Veteran reliever Kyle Farnsworth sported a bandage on his left hand after requiring stitches to close a wound suffered earlier in the day while breaking up a scuffle between his two American bulldogs.

“The young one came and butted in,” he said. “It happened this morning. Then the same situation happened again this afternoon. There were two fights, and the second one was worse.

“One of them has an eye that’s messed up, and the other one has two puncture wounds in the back of his neck.”

The injury was not expected to affect Farnsworth’s availability.

Ramirez to Washington

Left-hander Horacio Ramirez, who rejected an opportunity to pitch at Class AAA Omaha, signed a minor-league contract with Washington and will be assigned to Class AAA Syracuse.

More signings

The Royals signed 10 more picks from last week’s draft, including three of their top eight selections: right-hander Mathiew White, a sixth-round pick from New Mexico; left-hander George Baumann, a seventh-round pick from Missouri State; and catcher Benjamin Theriot, a ninth-round pick from Texas State. Overall, the Royals have signed 17 of their 49 selections.

Etc.

•The Gloves for Kids program, organized by broadcaster Ryan Lefebvre, raised $6,780 for area youth players Monday at Dick’s Sporting Goods in Town Center Plaza in Overland Park.

•Alberto Callaspo has hit safely in nine straight games and is batting .441 in that span with 15 hits in 34 at-bats.

Posted on Tue, Jun. 16, 2009 11:22 PM

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