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Yabuta's hold on job shaky
By BOB DUTTONThe Kansas City Star
Royals manager Trey Hillman shows no inclination to disrupt his rotation, which suggests Bale will return to duty as a reliever. If so, someone in the bullpen has to go.
That points to Yabuta, who has yielded 12 runs, 19 hits and nine walks in 13 innings over nine appearances. The other possibility is Joel Peralta, who has options, but Hillman left little doubt as to his preference.
“Peralta is better,” Hillman said. “He is. I have no reservations in saying that. Right now, he’s better in consistency of throwing strikes. And in consistency of fastball command and secondary pitches, he’s better there, too.”
The Royals shelled out $6 million last winter to lure Yabuta from Japan for a two-year deal with an option for 2010. He was viewed, at the time, as a replacement for departed David Riske as the bullpen’s primary right-handed setup reliever.
Yabuta, 34, excelled in that role over the three previous seasons by accumulating 86 holds for the Chibe Lotte Marines. The Royals have yet to see that form. Yabuta has allowed runs in five of his last six appearances, and his nine walks are just one shy of his total last season in 62 2/3 innings in Japan.
“The walks concern me more,” Hillman said, “than his missed location (within the strike zone).”
No move is imminent.
Bale is scheduled to test his fatigued shoulder by throwing a live batting practice before tonight’s game in Cleveland. He is likely to throw another session before returning from the disabled list.
Hillman said Bale probably wouldn’t need a minor-league rehab assignment if he returns as a reliever. Bale opened the season in the rotation and went 0-3 in three starts while allowing 13 runs and 25 hits in 15 1/3 innings.
“I like John Bale being on this staff,” Hillman said. “If it ends up being three lefties and four righties in the bullpen, I think everybody is OK with that.”
Hillman also likes Luke Hochevar and Brett Tomko, for now anyway, at the back of his rotation. Hochevar, 1-1, beat the Blue Jays in his last start for his first big-league victory and pitches the series opener tonight against the Indians.
“I think he is ready to stay consistent in the rotation,” Hillman said. “Given the fact that he’s the only sinkerballer in the rotation, that’s kind of nice.”
Tomko, 1-3, is a different matter; he has allowed 16 runs in 14 1/3 innings in his last three starts.
“I still believe in him,” Hillman said, “and I have every intention of giving him a couple of more starts. We’ll see how he does in his next start and go from there.”
Deal completed
The Royals accepted $50,000 from San Diego in lieu of a player to complete the March 26 trade that sent outfielder Justin Huber to the Padres.
Huber has had limited duty with the Padres. He entered Thursday’s game at Philadelphia with five hits in 22 at-bats for a .227 average in 12 games. He had one homer and three RBIs.
One-run losses
The Atlanta Braves are on pace to eclipse one of the Royals’ more dubious records: The worst record in one-run games since the start of division play in 1969.
The Braves carry an 0-9 record in one-run games into tonight’s game against the Reds in Atlanta. Research by Gerry Fraley of The Sporting News found the 1999 Royals own the worst mark in the postdivision era at 11-32, a .256 winning percentage, on the way to a 64-97 finish.
The current Royals, by the way, are 3-2 in one-run games.
The 1975 Astros have the second-worst winning percentage in one-run games at .281 by going 16-41.
Last year’s Orioles threatened the Royals’ mark by going 13-31 for a .295 winning percentage. The difference was a 2-0 record the Orioles posted against the Royals in one-run games.
The 1970 Orioles have the best record in one-run games at 40-15 for a .727 winning percentage. That club finished 108-54.
Indians on the horizon
The Royals make their first of three trips to Cleveland when they open a three-game series tonight at Progressive Field (formerly Jacobs Field). One good thing: The Royals won’t have to face lefty Cliff Lee.
That’s because Lee pitched Wednesday night and improved to 5-0 by beating Seattle. Lee finally gave up a few runs, which boosted his ERA to 0.96.
The Indians swept a three-game series when the teams met April 22-24 at Kauffman Stadium. Lee completed the sweep by throwing a three-hit shutout.
Maroth released
Veteran left-hander Mike Maroth was released from the Class AAA Omaha roster after going 0-2 and allowing 12 runs and 12 hits in 7 2/3 innings over three starts.
Maroth, 30, signed a minor-league deal in February in an effort to resuscitate his career after going 5-7 with a 6.89 ERA last season in 27 games for the Cardinals and Tigers.
Shoulder problems slowed Maroth in spring training, and he was reassigned March 27 to Omaha.
Etc.
•Zack Greinke’s nine strikeouts were one shy of his career high. He had 10 in eight innings last Sept. 20 in a 3-0 victory over the White Sox.
•Texas DH Michael Young went zero for three, which snapped his hitting streak at 14 games. That matches Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia for the longest this season in the American League.
•David DeJesus raised his average to .354 by going two for three with a walk. He has hits in 12 of his last 13 games.