Royals Pitching Perspectives (3/3-3/9)

The Royals finished their second week with a 2-3-1 record. In week 2, the Royals offense scored 32 runs in the 6 games they played, which is over a full run a game less than the previous week.

Zack Greinke pitched Tuesday against the Indians and had a rough outing. In 3.0 innings he allowed 5 hits and 4 earned runs. He did not walk a batter and struck out 3. Apparently he was tinkering with his changeup and throwing it more often to get a feel for it. That helps explain the hits, runs, and two home runs he gave up. Unless he gets hurt this spring I’m not worried about him in the least. I’m going to trust that Zack knows what he is doing even if he gets knocked around here and there. As a side note, he is my favorite Royal to be interviewed.

Greinke also took the mound on Sunday against the Brewers. In 3.1 innings he gave up 3 hits, 2 walks, no runs, and struck out only one. For the week he pitched 6.1 innings allowing 8 hits, 4 runs, with 2 walks and 4 strikeouts.

Gil Meche pitched in a “B” game on Friday.

Kyle Davies pitched Saturday against Cleveland. It was another decent start for Davies. In 3.2 innings, he gave up 4 hits, allowed 2 runs (only 1 earned), didn’t walk a batter and struck out three. He has been the star of the rotation thus far with 6 strikeouts, 2 walks, and 7 hits allowed in 8.2 innings pitched.

Luke Hochevar stayed on schedule and came into the games after Bannister on both Wednesday against the Rangers and Monday against the Cubs. He was excellent in both starts pitching a combined 6.0 innings, allowing only 4 hits and 1 earned run. He struck out four and most importantly walked none. In 8.0 innings this spring, he has only walked one batter. If he doesn’t open the season in the rotation then it will be a crime. Based on his youth, upside, and performance thus far in the spring, I have moved him from #5 on my list to #4 in the rotation.

Brian Bannister pitched on Wednesday against the Rangers and Monday against the Cubs. While both of Hochevar’s appearances were excellent, Bannister struggled in both starts. In 6.0 innings for the week, he gave up 8 hits, 6 earned runs, walked 3 and struck out 3. Bannister has been moved down in my rotation and is in danger of also being passed up by Ho-Ram.

Horacio Ramirez pitched on Saturday against Cleveland and came into the game after Davies went 3.2 and Hamulack pitched 0.1 innings. By the numbers his third outing was his best, giving up 3 hits and 1 earned run in 4.0 innings of work. He walked none and recorded one strike out.

After the two starts Bannister had this week and the way he pitched in 2008, I am starting to worry that Bannister and not Ho-Ram is the biggest concern in the rotation for 2009.

Last week they posted an ERA of 4.15 with a WHIP of 1.77 in 13 innings of work. This week in double the innings, and without Gil Meche taking a turn, the ERA bumped up to 4.50. On the positive side of things, the drop in WHIP is more important at this point than the ERA they are putting up as a team. In the 7 outings, I’d rate 3 of them bad, 3 of them good/decent, and one of them excellent.

Kansas City

ERA

WHIP

3/3-3/9 Starters

26.0

4.50

1.23

Below is the performance of the rest of the pitchers in camp for the week:

Kansas City

ERA

WHIP

Roman Colon (R)

2.0

4.50

1.50

Dan Cortes (R)

1.0

27.00

3.00

B. Duckworth (R)

2.0

4.50

1.00

Kyle Farnsworth (R)

3.0

15.00

2.33

Jimmy Gobble (L)

1.2

10.78

1.80

Tim Hamulack (L)

0.1

0.00

3.03

Ron Mahay (L)

2.0

0.00

2.50

Franquelis Osoria (R)

0.2

0.00

1.49

Joel Peralta (R)

2.0

0.00

0.50

Heath Phillips (L)

3.0

0.00

0.67

Julio Pimentel (R)

1.0

9.00

1.00

Carlos Rosa (R)

0.2

13.43

4.48

Robinson Tejada (R)

4.1

2.08

1.62

Jamey Wright (R)

1.0

9.00

2.00

Matt Wright (L)

1.1

6.77

1.50

Yasuhiko Yabuta (R)

1.0

27.00

5.00

The Bad: Kyle Farnsworth and Yasuhiko Yabuta

The Good: Joel Peralta and Heath Phillips

Franquelis Osoria and Dan Cortes were reassigned to minor league camp over the weekend.

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