KC Royals: Kendrys Morales Will Serve Suspension On Thursday

KC Royals designated hitter Kandrys Morales dropped his appeal for his suspension for arguing a strikeout call against Tampa Bay on August 2. He will miss Thursday’s game against the Chicago White Sox and return on Friday against the Minnesota Twins.

Kansas City Royals DH Kendrys Morales was called out on strikes by home plate umpire Carlos Torres in last week’s 3-2 win against the Tampa Bay Rays. Morales continued to complain about the call in the dugout, causing Torres to eject him from the game. The fit earned Morales a one-game suspension by major-league baseball.

Last week, Morales announced he was contesting the decision. He has now decided to drop his appeal and take his punishment on Thursday night against the Chicago White Sox.

So, why did Kendrys Morales give up his case and take his punishment Thursday? A little research reveals that Morales has a career .077/.143/.308 triple slash against Chicago White Sox starter Miguel Gonzalez, who is schedule to start against the KC Royals on Thursday night.

Missing a game against a guy who has given you fits every time you’ve faced him is the perfect time. I guess that’s not an accident.

I suppose no one can really blame Kendrys Morales for using the appeal process to select a favorable game to skip. Heck, given his track record against Gonzalez, KC Royals manager Ned Yost might have sat Morales even without the suspension.

Instead, Ned Yost chose to move catcher Salvador Perez out from behind the plate to Morales’ DH spot. Drew Butera will catch Danny Duffy on Thursday.

Butera has enjoyed his best season at the plate this season, slashing .289/.341/.526 with 9 doubles and 3 home runs in 76 at bats this season. Butera has never faced Chicago starter Miguel Gonzalez in his career.

Also absent from the Kansas City Royals lineup are regular outfielders Alex Gordon and Lorenzo Cain. Gordon taking a powder makes sense given that he’s hit .100/.231/.300 against Gonzalez in 10 career at bats. However, Cain’s day off is a little surprising since he’s hit Gonzalez to the tune of .333/.333/.667 with one home run in 9 at bats.

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Speed merchants Billy Burns and Jarrod Dyson will play in the corners in their place. I guess Yost thinks his team won’t need to score many runs with Danny Duffy on the mound. Of course, that fast outfield will be able to run down almost anything that stays in the park.