Royals Report: 5 Things About NYC Bounce-Back

1.) SALVADOR PEREZ’S PATIENCE PAYS OFF

Salvador Perez is by no means a “patient” hitter in any normal sense of the word. However, he is taking more walks than last season, already compiling almost half as many free-passes as he did in all of 2015.

Yes, it’s only six walks in 116 at bats, but Perez IS making pitchers throw more strikes.

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Perez’s problem has always been that he’s allowed pitchers to get him to reach for pitches out of his happy zone. As a result, Perez became a 240 pound Punch-and-Judy hitter early in his career. This from a guy that has opposite field power if he gets a pitch in his wheelhouse.

Thus, Perez’s adjusted OBP+ has steadily fallen as pitchers recognized his lack of plate discipline. However, in the last few seasons Perez’s home run totals have increased.

Last season, Salvador Perez set a record for home runs by a KC Royals catcher with 21. He’s on pace to break that mark with five dingers in the Kansas City Royals first 33 games.

In short, Perez is becoming the slugger his natural talent suggests he should be. As Salvador Perez evolves into a hitter that fits his body type, expect his production to keep increasing until he’s an almost ideal no. 7 hitter.

That’s actually pretty good for a catcher with his defense. If Perez can consistently hit 25-30 home runs, he’s a superstar.

Next: Lorenzo Cain

4.) LORENZO CAIN SHOW’S HE’S BACK

Cain blasted three home runs and five RBIs on Tuesday night. No one will produce like that on a regular basis. In some ways I was more impressed by his solid game on Wednesday night when he went 1-2 with 2 walks and a key two-RBI single up the middle with the bases loaded in the sixth to give starter Yordano Ventura a three-run cushion.

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Cain’s problem for much of April is that pitchers teased him with fastballs just outside the strike zone. Cain has responded by taking pitches the other way, and taking walks.

After getting going by peppering singles to right field, Cain has shown more extra base power. Now Cain is the no. 3 hitter that the Kansas City Royals need (when Mike Moustakas returns from his thumb injury).

Lorenzo Cain has come up big two nights in a row. The KC Royals offense REALLY needs him.

Next: Yordano Ventura

3.) YORDANO VENTURA GAVE ROYALS WHAT THEY NEEDED

Ventura’s line on Wednesday night was far from dominant. He went 6.0 innings, allowing 6 hits, 3 walks, and 3 runs while only striking out one. But, Ventura notched only the third quality start in the KC Royals last 14 games.

Betsided

That’s a big deal to a tired bullpen that had to bail out Kris Medlen in the third inning last night.

Ventura clearly paced himself, knowing that his bullpen needed him to stay in the game. He didn’t overthrow and relied on his defense to make outs. It’s the kind of start that Ventura needs to turn into a true ace: keep his team in the game when he doesn’t have his dominant stuff.

Kudos to Yordano.

The soon to be 25-year-old Ventura (whose birthday is in June) is maturing before our eyes. The growth can’t come soon enough for the Kansas City Royals pitching staff that desperately needs to right the ship to break out of their two-week malaise.

Ventura earned his third win of the season (3-2) and reduced his season ERA to 4.62 (hardly impressive but a solid outcome).

Next: Kendrys Morales

2). KENDRYS MORALES FINALLY GETS REWARDED

Kendrys Morales blasted his fourth home run of the season, while going 1-4 with 1 walk and 1 RBI.

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While it wasn’t a great performance, it’s nice to see Kendrys get rewarded for hitting the ball hard. An earlier article by Kings of Kauffman staff writer Bryon Parmon showed that Morales has actually more hard hit balls than last season, with poor results.

Kendrys Morales is hitting a mere .195/.246/.333 on the season, even after Wednesday night’s good game. Here’s to hoping that the dinger gets Morales going.

Morales poor start has been a big part of the KC Royals early-season funk. As a switch hitter, he’s a key piece in the middle of the Kansas City Royals lineup that is bullpen specialist proof. The KC Royals REALLY need to get him going for their offense to return to normal.

Next: Danny Duffy

1.) DANNY DUFFY TRIES OUT FOR THIRD BULLPEN MONSTER ROLE

Last night, struggling Joakim Soria squandered a rare late-inning lead by allowing three runs in the seventh inning (though Alcides Escobar did not help him by booting a grounder to put the leadoff runner on first base, who later scored an unearned run).

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However, throw in the fact that Soria racked up his third balk of the season, and you can see that he can’t be comfortable on the mound. With a 4.96 ERA and wondering when umpires are going to give runners a 90-foot pass at any time, he can’t just concentrate on his job.

Instead, Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost used Danny Duffy in the seventh inning as the first “monster” out of the KC Royals pen. Duffy didn’t disappoint, pitching a clean inning with one strikeout.

Duffy is blasting 96 mph gas as a reliever. As long as the Kansas City Royals insist on using him out of the bullpen, and Joakim Soria wallows, Duffy needs to take his place as the seventh inning member of KC’s three-headed bullpen monster.

Next: Five Reasons Royals Fans Should Be Concerned

The dominant back end has been an important part of the KC Royals winning formula that has yielded two consecutive AL pennants. Until Joakim Soria shows he’s back on track, he needs to give way to lefty flame-thrower Duffy.