Royals Make Roster Moves Following Losses To Blue Jays

After winning four games in a row to pull four games under .500, the Royals have entered a bit of a tailspin, losing five of their last six. Their past two losses to the Toronto Blue Jays have forced the team to make several roster changes as Kansas City looks to get back in contention before the All Star game.

To address both injuries and a lack of production in their pitching staff, the Royals have recalled pitchers Nate Adcock and Louis Coleman from Triple-A Omaha. Adcock is 0-3 with a 3.12 ERA in nine games, including two starts with the Royals this season, while Coleman has a 4.91 ERA in 17 appearances out of the bullpen. After a disastrous last outing, pitcher Vin Mazzaro will be heading back to Triple-A. After being handed a 3-0 lead, Mazzaro gave up six runs and 13 hits in only 5 1/3 innings in Kansas City’s 6-3 loss to Toronto. Mazzaro has gone 3-3 for the Royals this season with a 5.70 ERA. The Royals also designated Mitch Maier for assignment. Maier has hit .172 with two homers and seven RBI in 32 games this year.

The Royals only have four games remaining before the 2012 All Star game festivities hit Kansas City, and it will need to get pick up some wins to stay in contention in the AL Central. Tonight, the Royals will try to salvage a four game split with the Blue Jays, playing at 6:07 p.m. Luke Hochevar (5-8) will start for Kansas City, while the red hot Henderson Alvarez (5-6) will start for Toronto. After wrapping up its series with the Blue Jays, the Royals will travel to Detroit for a three game series before the All Star break.

Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Royals Season Starts Today

The Kansas City Royals' 2011 season officially begins this afternoon against the Los Angeles Angels. It is opening day at the K, where players and fans alike can look forward to the promise a new season brings.

Kansas City has a new opening day starter after Cy Young winner Zack Greinke was traded to the Brewers this offseason. Luke Hochevar gets the start for the Royals, and Kansas City fans never know what to expect from its former first-overall draft pick. Hochevar is as up and down as they come, but many feel he could be poised to finally break out and live up to his draft status and contract.

Recently, Kansas City turned heads as the Royals' minor league system was rated as the best in league history by Baseball America. Most fans feel this season will be another disaster in terms of wins and losses, and I would agree. The Royals are at least a year away from being able to compete for the division, but it should be fun watching the team grow.

Royals Trade of Podsednik Signals Building for the Future

The Royals traded veteran outfielder Scott Podsednik to the Los Angeles Dodgers for two minor league players. The trade is right on the heals of another Royals deal that sent Alberto Callaspo to Anaheim for a young major league pitcher and another prospect. The moves send a clear message from the organization to its fans: the Royals are in another rebuilding project, and they are just getting started.

Both Callaspo and Podsednik have been very productive for the Royals, and have been some of the few bright spots in an otherwise underachieving offense. Podsednik is getting up there in age, yet has hit over .300 consistently this season, and Callaspo has been good both offensively and defensively during his career in Kansas City.

It is common sense for struggling teams to trade its better veteran players to plan for the future. The problem is, the Royals have been repeating this plan of action since I was born. Alex Gordon, who has been an absolute bust since being taken early in the draft, is slated to be Podsednik's full time replacement. The Royals did acquire some young talent, but what are the odds they will ever produce like Podsednik and Callaspo have in Kansas City? Given the Royals history, the odds are stacked against this happening.

I can't argue with the Royals' plan of action, in principle it makes sense. However, given the way Podsednik, Callaspo and the rest of the offense has produced, I would have liked to have seen Kansas City keep its offense together and get some pitching help. The deals are done though, and we will now enter Royals rebuilding project take 22.

Comments?