Royals’ plan to stretch out Soria just part of his preparation as closer
By BOB DUTTON
The Kansas City Star
SURPRISE, Ariz. | Joakim Soria worked two innings in Thursday’s 4-3 victory over the Diamondbacks and is ticketed for a three-inning outing Monday against the Giants.
It isn’t what it seems. The Royals have no plans to turn Soria into a starter at this point. He’s still the closer, at least for the foreseeable future.
“We’re stretching him out just so he can use all of his pitches,” pitching coach Bob McClure said, “just like he did last spring. We’re not doing it to make him a starter.”
The Royals are adjusting the assignments and workloads for much of their staff after two cycles through their rotation. After Brian Bannister works today against the Rockies, he and Gil Meche are each scheduled to make their third spring starts in Class AAA games.
“That way,” McClure said, “they can control their pitch counts and have a little breather. It also gives you a chance to look at other guys.”
The Royals believe Soria, a former starter, benefited last spring by pitching extended innings. He opened the season with five straight scoreless appearances and 10 in his first 12 outings.
“If you practice a little bit more, it helps,” Soria said. “They’re giving me the innings to do it. That’s important to me. I need to practice all of my pitches — my change-up, slider and curveball (in addition to his fastball).”
Plans call for Soria to begin tapering off his workload after facing the Giants.
“After (Thursday),” McClure said, “he’ll have three days off and then go three innings. After that, we’ll start backing him down.”
Bannister’s start today concludes two cycles through the rotation, counting an intrasquad game Feb. 28 that served as the first outing for Brett Tomko and Jorge De La Rosa.
Meche has not allowed a run through five innings in two spring starts. Shifting him to a minor-league game offers the opportunity for Hideo Nomo to make his first start after two piggy-back relief appearances.
“His velocity has gone up each time,” McClure said of Nomo. “His control has been better each time. He got into a little trouble (Wednesday against the Giants) and was able to work out of it. He’s a veteran guy. Shoot, you never know.”
The Royals scratched Luke Hochevar from his scheduled relief outing Thursday to give him a starting assignment today against the Rangers in a “B” game.
“Don’t read anything into that,” manager Trey Hillman said. “He came in as a starting candidate. He’s as much in the race as he was. The intent from day one was to build his innings.”
Rotation candidates
Locks: Gil Meche, Brian Bannister and Zack Greinke.
Near-lock: Brett Tomko.
In the mix: John Bale, Kyle Davies, Jorge De La Rosa, Luke Hochevar, Brian Lawrence and Hideo Nomo.
Pitching plans
Today vs. Rockies: Bannister (4 innings), Davies (3-4), Ron Mahay (1), Jimmy Gobble (1) and Joel Peralta (1). B game vs. Texas: Hochevar (3), Brandon Duckworth (2) and Tyler Lumsden (2).
Saturday at Brewers: Bale (4), De La Rosa (3-4), Ryan Braun (1-2) and Chin-Hui Tsao (1).
Sunday vs. Cubs: Tomko (4-5), Julio Pimentel (1-2), Yasuhiko Yabuta (1), Leo Nuñez (1) and Mahay (1). B game vs. Texas: Lawrence (3), Neal Musser (1), Mike Maroth (1).
Monday vs. Giants: Nomo (3-4), Joakim Soria (3), Tsao (1), Gobble (1-2) and Carlos Rosa (1). Class AAA Omaha: Meche (4-5).
Tuesday at Diamondbacks: Greinke (4-5), Duckworth (1-2), Peralta (1-2) and Braun (1).
Wednesday at Angels: Hochevar (3-4), Davies (4-5), Musser (1) and Nuñez (1). Class AAA Omaha: Bannister (5), Yabuta (1) and Maroth (1).
Thursday vs. Angels: De La Rosa (4-5), Pimentel (2-3), Gobble (1), Peralta (1) and Tsao (1). B game vs. Texas: Bale (5).
Note: Innings are what each pitcher should be prepared to throw; they can also reach that total with bullpen work
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