Kansas City Royals Week Three Review: Who’s Hot, Who’s Not

Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Rodney Dangerfield once said “I went to a fight the other night, and a hockey game broke out.” While that once rang true for hockey as a whole, if Dangerfield were alive today, he could tweak that line and make it about the Kansas City Royals.

Yes, another week, and another fight where the Royals and Yordano Ventura were involved. As entertaining as it may be to watch, and as much as the Royals seem to need such a chip on their shoulder to succeed, the Royals are beginning to develop a reputation as hotheads. While this is certainly a misnomer, and the Royals should be a team that baseball looks to embrace, reputations are easy to earn and tough to shake.

However, through all the fireworks and fisticuffs, the Kansas City Royals were only 3-3 this week, losing two games yesterday due to a game that was suspended due to the weather on Friday. While the Royals won the game featuring the brawl on Thursday, one has to wonder how much of a boost this is actually giving the team.

For how frustrating as this week may have been, there were still a number of excellent performances for the Royals, Likewise, there were a few performances that were not exactly beneficial, hurting the Royals both this week, and possibly down the road.

And so, without further ado, let us review who was hot, and who was not, for the Kansas City Royals over the third week of the regular season.

Next: Throwing more than haymakers

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2. Paulo Orlando

For a while, it seemed as though all Paulo Orlando did was hit triples. That is no longer the case, as he has proven to be far more than just a strange statistical anomaly.

An afterthought and someone who very little was expected from, Orlando has seized the opportunity he received when Alex Rios went on the disabled list. The 29 year old career minor leaguer is beginning to develop a cult following among the Royals faithful, and given the excellent start to his career, it is certainly no surprise as to why that would be.

Paulo Orlando continued his torrid play for the Kansas City Royals this past week, producing a .318/.375/.455 batting line. He had two extra base hits, a double and one of his ever popular triples, while stealing a base and playing solid defense in right. In fact, Orlando has proven to be the exact type of player that the Royals would love.

It has been an excellent start to Orlando’s major league career. Hopefully, his start proves to be more than a fun story that will fade away as the season wears on.

Next: Breaking out in a big way

Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

1. Alex Gordon

To say that Alex Gordon was ice cold coming out of Spring Training would be an understatement. His wrist did not seem right, and Ned Yost went out of his way to make sure that Gordon got plenty of rest for that wrist to heal up. Yet, even with these precautions, Gordon struggled to a .174/.387/.174 batting line over the first ten games of the season, getting on base mainly through getting hit.

Back in the lineup every day, Gordon definitely appears to be breaking out of that slump. Indeed, he has gone from the clod list to heading the hot list this week, as he produced a .304/.360/.609 batting line, hitting two home runs and looking more like the player the Royals need.

Naturally, Alex Gordon’s defense had continued strong, even with his struggles on offense. Yet, this week, Gordon even outdid himself. Sunday, he launched himself into the stands catching a foul ball, much to the surprise of the White Sox faithful. Indeed, his ability to cover virtually anywhere in left, or in the foul territory adjoining his section of the field, cannot be understated.

Alex Gordon appears to be on the way back to being himself, which is certainly great news for the Kansas City Royals. Hopefully, he can continue this latest hot streak.

And now, we look at those who struggled this past week.

Next: Can't outrun a slump

Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

3. Jarrod Dyson

When Alex Rios was injured, it was supposed to be an opportunity for Jarrod Dyson to step in to a more prominent role for the Kansas City Royals. Instead, Dyson has struggled in the time he has had, showing that he may be better suited to that fourth outfielder/defensive replacement/pinch runner role that he has been in over the past few seasons.

Last week, Dyson was 0-6 with a strikeout. He did score two runs, but his overall struggles at the start of the season continued. At this point, while Dyson and Paulo Orlando are still nominally part of a platoon, Orlando’s hot play has made him a virtually every day player at this point.

This does not take away from what Jarrod Dyson does. He is a nice defensive substitute and the type of player that a team would like to have on their roster. His speed can change games, even if he makes an appearance strictly as a pinch runner. However, Dyson’s slow start may be pushing him out of playing time.

Jarrod Dyson had a chance to prove that he could be a starting caliber player. Instead, he may have lost his role as the fourth outfielder.

Next: Vargassed, again

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2. Jason Vargas

It seems that Jason Vargas is coming up on the cold side quite often during the early part of the season. Considering his overall 1.773 WHiP and 6.75 ERA, it is understandable as to why he would be frequenting this side of the list.

Vargas once again struggled on April 21st, allowing five runs on eight hits and a walk in a no decision against the Twins. While the five runs were not all Vargas’ fault specifically, as Jason Frasor was unable to keep both inherited runners from scoring, this is another start where Vargas ran of out steam the third time through the lineup.

Brought in to be a dependable innings eater, the Kansas City Royals need Jason Vargas to be exactly that this season. His ability to pitch over 200 innings virtually every year will be sorely needed now that James Shields is in San Diego. However, he just has not been that pitcher yet this season.

With the looming suspensions and the potential for the Royals bullpen to get quite a bit of work once those suspensions are finalized, Vargas is going to need to find his form soon.

Next: Speaking of those suspensions...

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1. Kelvin Herrera

This spot is not due to Kelvin Herrera’s performance on the field, although allowing six baserunners in 2.2 innings of work is not even close to ideal. Instead, this is for his actions of the past week, and what they could mean to the Kansas City Royals going forward.

First, Herrera was suspended for five games because he threw behind Brett Lawrie during the tensions from the series with the A’s. He is appealing the suspension, and was likely to see a reduction in his sentence by a game or two. Then, Herrera was suspended another two games for his actions in the brawl with the White Sox on Thursday.

While it is understandable, and laudable, that Kelvin Herrera would want to defend his teammates, the fact that he found himself in a position to be suspended again just was not smart. Now, instead of seeing his suspension reduced, Herrera is likely to miss that full week of action, costing the Kansas City Royals their primary set up man now that Greg Holland is on the disabled list.

There is a time and a place to be involved in such an altercation. Kelvin Herrera picked the wrong time.

Next: Royals Week Two: Who's Hot, Who's Not