Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

Trade underscores Royals' desire to increase inventory and gain financial flexibility

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November 7

Kansas City Star

"Two overriding factors surfaced Friday in explaining the Royals' decision to send third baseman/outfielder Mark Teahen to division-rival Chicago with cash for second baseman Chris Getz and third baseman/outfielder Josh Fields. Increasing inventory while gaining financial flexibility. "Our motivation behind this deal - and any deal that we make this winter," Royals general manager Dayton Moore acknowledged, "is to acquire as many zero-to-three service-time players as we can. That was certainly what we did here." Players with fewer than three years of service time, with a handful of exceptions, are not eligible for arbitration. That generally limits their salary, again with a few exceptions, ..."

Royals decline options on Crisp, Olivo and Yabuta

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November 6

Kansas City Star

"The Royals trimmed their roster today by declining 2010 contract options on outfielder Coco Crisp, catcher Miguel Olivo and reliever Yasuhiko Yabuta. Crisp and Olivo are immediately eligible to file for free-agency. Yabuta can become a free agent if he fails to reach agreement with the Royals on a major-league contract before Nov. 16. All three moves were expected. Shoulder injuries limited Crisp, 30, last season to 49 games, and the Royals weren't willing to gamble $8 million that he will make a full recovery. He received a $500,000 buyout. Olivo, 31, led the club last season with a career-high 23 homers but is seeking a multiyear deal. That made it likely that he would exercise his ..."

Royals complete trade, send Teahen to White Sox for two players

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November 6

Kansas City Star

"The details took another day once the news broke, but the Royals and White Sox completed a deal Friday morning that sends third baseman/outfielder Mark Teahen to the Chicago for second baseman Chris Getz and third baseman/outfielder Josh Fields. Both clubs confirmed the deal, which includes the White Sox receiving cash considerations to offset the imbalance in salaries. "It's strange," Teahen said. "I don't think it's really sunk in, but I had a day to digest the possibility of it. There are definitely some positives out of it. It's always nice to get into a situation where they've had success." Teahen, 28, batted .271 last season with 12 homers and 51 RBIs in 144 games while playing first ..."

Sox' Getz confirms trade to Kansas City

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November 6

Chicago Tribune

"White Sox second baseman Chris Getz confirmed he has been traded to Kansas City with Josh Fields for Mark Teahen and an undisclosed amount of cash. Getz said he was notified by Sox general manager Ken Williams of the trade, ending more than 24 hours of speculation after a report in Thursday's editions of the New York Daily News. The cash included in the deal will provide aid to the Sox, who could give the arbitration eligible Teahen a 2010 contract that could be worth around $5 million. Getz and Fields aren't eligible for salary arbitration. "I'm happy," Fields said before placing a return call to Williams."

Royals' Wright files for free agency

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November 6

Kansas City Star

"Royals reliever Jamey Wright was one of 79 players who filed Thursday for free agency. The act of filing is routine for all eligible players. Wright, 34, was 3-5 with a 4.33 ERA last season in a club-leading 65 appearances. He signed with the Royals in February as a minor-league free agent but spent the entire season on the big-league roster while making $800,000. Eligible players have 15 days to file for free agency once the World Series concludes. The players' association cites 183 players either qualified or provisionally qualified pending the resolution of option clauses in their contract. Wright is one of four Royals on the list. Lefty swingman Bruce Chen is also immediately ..."

Real deal? Teahen trade on hold

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November 6

Chicago Sun-Times

"Bizarre had to be Chris Getz's word of the day. The second baseman woke up a member of the White Sox on Thursday, but by breakfast time, he was headed to the Kansas City Royals. At least that's what the New York Daily News was reporting. The paper had Getz and disgruntled third baseman Josh Fields fitted for royal-blue uniforms and the Sox getting jack-of-all-trades Mark Teahen, 28. A source close to the situation then confirmed to the Sun-Times that the deal was virtually done, but there were still talks about minor-league prospects possibly being involved. That was the holdup. Meanwhile, the Sox and Royals told different media outlets they had nothing to report, and that included letting ..."

Chicago White Sox reportedly trade for Mark Teahen

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November 6

Chicago Tribune

"A reported trade the White Sox didn't announce Thursday overshadowed the team's re-signing of Mark Kotsay. The Sox wouldn't confirm reports they have acquired versatile left-handed hitter Mark Teahen from the Royals for starting second baseman Chris Getz and infielder Josh Fields. Although several scouting sources acknowledged the teams thoroughly evaluated and discussed personnel, neither Getz nor the agent for Fields said they had been informed they had been traded. Nor had Getz, who underwent a sports hernia operation Oct. 2, been asked to take a physical examination, which usually is the final step to complete a trade involving a player recovering from an injury. "I've heard nothing at ..."

Reports of Teahen trade appear to be premature

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November 6

Kansas City Star

"It didn't take long for the Royals to surface in baseball's offseason trade rumors. Merely hours after the New York Yankees secured their 27th World Series title, a report claimed the Royals had agreed to send outfielder Mark Teahen to the Chicago White Sox for second baseman Chris Getz and third baseman/outfielder Josh Fields. The report first appeared Thursday in the New York Daily News and gained steam when the Chicago Sun-Times cited confirmation from the White Sox. It now appears those reports, at best, are premature. "We're in discussions with a lot of clubs about a lot of things," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. "There is nothing to announce yet, and we won't comment ..."

Report: Royals trade Teahen to White Sox for two players

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November 5

Kansas City Star

"It didn't take long for the Royals to surface in baseball's off-season trade rumors. Merely hours after the New York Yankees secured their 27th World Series title, a report claimed the Royals have agreed to send outfielder Mark Teahen to the Chicago White Sox for second baseman Chris Getz and third baseman/outfielder Josh Fields. Initial attempts to contact the Royals for comment were unsuccessful. Teahen said he had "no idea" if the report was true in responding to a text message. The White Sox also have not confirmed the report. The trade, reported by the New York Daily News, said Chicago views Teahen as a replacement for aging right fielder Jermaine Dye, who is eligible for free agency. ..."

White Sox trade Chriz Getz and Josh Fields to Royals for Mark Teahen

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November 5

Chicago Sun-Times

"The White Sox have traded Josh Fields and Chris Getz to Kansas City in exchange for infielder-outfielder Mark Teahen, the White Sox have confirmed. Teahen hit .271 while connecting on 12 home runs and driving in 50 runs last season. The 28-year-old lefty has spent his entire five-year career with the Royals. The move likely means Jermaine Dye, who is a free agent, will be replaced in right field by Teahen."

Club faces option decisions

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November 5

Kansas City Star

"The end of the World Series puts the Royals on the clock in terms of picking up the 2010 options on catcher Miguel Olivo, outfielder Coco Crisp and reliever Yasuhiko Yabuta. The Royals show little inclination to do so with Crisp ($8 million) and Yabuta ($4 million), although the buyouts aren't cheap: $500,000 on each player - or more than the club is likely to pay next year to any player not yet eligible for arbitration. Even so, the uncertainty surrounding Crisp's surgically repaired shoulders and the near-certainty regarding Yabuta's ability scream in support of buyouts. Olivo's pending $3.3 million deal is a tougher call. First, it's a mutual option, which means Olivo can choose to ..."

Royals fans stay true blue in Big Apple

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November 4

Kansas City Star

"Matt Hoffman has done everything he can for his son. The boy has a Zack Greinke jersey, Royals batting gloves, and even a little brother named Gordon. There is a ball in the house with five or six autographs from Royals players. But Kiefer is no dummy. He's 6 years old, and really starting to understand the game. He knows when the infield should play in, when the runners should be moving, and which counts the pitcher will throw a fastball. So, yeah, Kiefer is a smart kid. And he's a New York kid in a town dominated by Derek Jeter, unlike his old man, who grew up in George Brett's Kansas City. Temptation is all around the boy, especially now, as the team his friends root for is one win from ..."

Players pick Greinke as American League's top pitcher

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October 29

Kansas City Star

"Royals right-hander Zack Greinke garnered another award Wednesday as the top pitcher in the American League. This one came courtesy of his peers in balloting for the Players Choice Awards. Greinke was previously selected as the AL's top pitcher by The Sporting News and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum after going 16-8 with a 2.16 ERA. He now appears positioned as the favorite for the Cy Young Award, which will be announced Nov. 17."

Players pick Greinke as American League's top pitcher

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October 28

Kansas City Star

"Royals right-hander Zack Greinke garnered another award today as the top pitcher in the American League. This one came courtesy of his peers in balloting for the Players Choice Awards. Greinke was previously selected by The Sporting News as the AL's top pitcher and looks to be the favorite for the Cy Young Award, which will be announced Nov. 17. Toronto's Roy Halladay and New York's CC Sabathia were the other finalists in balloting by players to determine the league's most outstanding pitcher."

Marlins assistant Foster to replace Mizerock in bullpen

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October 28

Kansas City Star

"Steve Foster is joining the Royals as the new bullpen coach after spending the past three years in that role for the Florida Marlins. He replaces John Mizerock, who was fired after the season. All other members of manager Trey Hillman's staff were previously retained, although special-assignment coach Eddie Rodriguez became the first-base coach when Rusty Kuntz became a minor-league instructor. The Royals cited a preference for a former pitcher in seeking Mizerock's replacement. Foster, 43, was 3-3 with a 2.41 ERA in 59 appearances for Cincinnati from 1991-93 before injuries effectively ended his career. Foster previously served as a minor-league pitching coach for two years in the ..."

Royals hire Cleveland assistant as new head trainer

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October 23

Kansas City Star

"The Royals reached outside the organization Thursday in hiring Nick Kenney to replace Nick Swartz as their new head athletic trainer. Kenney joins the organization after spending the previous five seasons as an assistant trainer for the Cleveland Indians. He previously worked two years as an assistant trainer for the Cincinnati Reds. "We have hired one of the most highly respected trainers in the game," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. "Nick brings a high level of energy, enthusiasm and expertise to the Royals' organization. "I'm extremely confident that he will lead and direct our medical programs in a very progressive and dynamic manner.""

Greinke among those honored by Negro Leagues Museum

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October 22

Kansas City Star

"Yet another award for Zack Greinke. In what figures to be a long line of honors, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum on Wednesday selected Greinke as its AL Bullet Rogan Award winner as the American League's best pitcher. Chris Carpenter is the National League winner, with Joe Mauer and Albert Pujols winning the Oscar Charleston MVP awards for the AL and NL, respectively. Bud Selig is the Buck O'Neil Award winner, presented for outstanding support of the museum, and Joe Morgan is the Jackie Robinson Lifetime Achievement Award winner for career excellence in the face of adversity."

Greinke leads Legacy awards

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October 22

Kansas City Star

"Another day, another award for Zack Greinke - this one on his 26th birthday. In what figures to be a long line of honors leading up to the American League Cy Young Award on Nov. 17, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum named Greinke their AL Bullet Rogan Award winner as the AL's best pitcher. The awards will be formally presented in January at the museum's 10th Annual Legacy Awards, to be held at the downtown Convention Center. Chris Carpenter is the NL's winner, with Joe Mauer and Albert Pujols winning the Oscar Charleston MVP awards for the AL and NL, respectively. Bud Selig is the Buck O'Neil Award winner, presented for outstanding support of the museum, and Joe Morgan is the Jackie ..."

Greinke picked by The Sporting News as AL pitcher of the year

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October 22

Kansas City Star

"Royals ace Zack Greinke received a present Wednesday - on his 26th birthday - from The Sporting News: He was honored by the online magazine as the American League pitcher of the year. Greinke won the award in a vote by 31 major-league general managers and assistant general managers. Bret Saberhagen, the 1989 recipient, is the only other Royals pitcher to win the award. The Sporting News' result typically is a harbinger of the Cy Young Award, which is generally viewed as the game's most prestigious honor for pitchers. The Sporting News' last 14 AL winners went on to win the Cy Young balloting. Greinke went 16-8 for a 65-97 club and led the majors with a 2.16 earned-run average. San ..."

Former Wolfson standout Billy Butler is royalty with Kansas City Royals

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October 20

Jacksonville Times-Union

columnist Gene Frenette

"Nobody could blame former Wolfson High star Billy Butler if he secretly desired to suit up for the New York Yankees or another big-market, contending ballclub. Being stuck in Kansas City with the money-challenged Royals (one winning season since 1994) can seem like the equivalent of a baseball wasteland. If Butler were a greedy, self-centered egomaniac, he might long for greener pastures. But the 23-year-old first baseman saw the big picture when the Royals drafted him with the No. 14 overall pick five years ago. He wants to be part of the solution in Kansas City, no matter how long it might take to fix the talent-challenged franchise. "The Yankees are sitting there and can buy pretty much ..."

Moustakas off to big start in Arizona Fall League

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October 17

Kansas City Star

"Maybe the Royals were right: All third baseman Mike Moustakas needed to do to unlock his swing was get away from the cavernous ballpark at Class A Wilmington. Moustakas had two doubles, a homer and seven RBIs Thursday in leading the Surprise Rafters to a 12-5 victory over Mesa in the Arizona Fall League. That followed an RBI double in four at-bats on Wednesday in his fall-league debut. That's just what Royals assistant general manager J.J. Picollo, who oversees the scouting and farm departments, predicted when asked recently about Moustakas' suspect numbers at Wilmington. "I know people are up and down on his year," Picollo said, "but he's a power hitter who has (16) home runs and (86) ..."

Three minor-league players retained

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October 14

Kansas City Star

"The Royals started their off-season personnel moves by retaining three minor-league players who were eligible to become free agents: outfielder/first baseman Scott Thorman and two left-handed pitchers, Kelvin Villa and Carlos Rivas. All three are former Atlanta prospects. The Royals did not retain veteran right-hander Brandon Duckworth, who spent the last 3½ years in the organization. Duckworth, 33, was 3-6 with a 5.31 ERA in 20 games last season at Class AAA Omaha. Thorman, 27, is a left-handed hitter whom the Royals signed May 21 following his April 27 release by the Class AAA Oklahoma City, a Texas affiliate. He batted .297 in 97 games for Omaha with 19 homers and 63 RBIs. The Braves ..."

Soria honored as baseball's top reliever for September

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October 9

Kansas City Star

"Royals closer Joakim Soria sure knows how to close out a season. Soria was honored Thursday as the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Month for September after converting all 10 save opportunities and pitching 13 2/3 scoreless innings in 12 appearances. It marks the second straight season that Soria won the award in September. The award is determined through a vote by a Major League Baseball panel and seeks to recognize each month's "most outstanding relief pitcher." Four other relievers received votes: Joe Nathan of the Twins, Mariano Rivera of the Yankees, Jonathan Broxton of the Dodgers and Francisco Cordero of the Reds. Soria's 10-save month boosted his season total to 30 and ..."

Mizerock out as bullpen coach

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October 7

Kansas City Star

"It didn't take long for the Royals to decide that only minor changes are needed to manager Trey Hillman's on-field coaching staff. Everyone is coming back for 2010 except bullpen coach John Mizerock, whose departure ends his 18-year association with the organization. "It's just a philosophical change that I made with regard to the bullpen coach," general manager Dayton Moore said. "Rock's expertise is as a catcher, and I want a bullpen coach whose expertise is as a pitcher." Moore also announced first-base coach Rusty Kuntz, 54, will shift to a new role as assistant to the general manager/field instructor. It was a move that Kuntz desired after the 2008 season before he agreed to return to ..."

Greinke is in an arms race for the AL Cy Young

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October 6

Kansas City Star

"Votes are due today, so it's a good time to look at perhaps the most interesting American League Cy Young race in years. Zack Greinke, with a strong cyber-push from various baseball observers, at one point looked like a near lock. He's still the favorite, but the weekend put doubt back in the minds of some. First, Greinke gave up four runs in six innings at Minnesota, a game shown on national TV, a game Greinke called his biggest of the season. The defense didn't help him much, and there is no shame in giving up the key hit to MVP-to-be Joe Mauer. But, still: If there are voters looking for a reason to not vote for Greinke, they probably will cite an underwhelming final start. Then came ..."

Royals end with 13-4 gift to Twins

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October 6

Kansas City Star

"Luke Hochevar now has all winter to figure out what went so wrong over the last 10 weeks. His once-gleaming potential now looms as increasingly suspect after yet another dreadful outing Sunday when the Royals closed their season in a 13-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins. "I just need to clear my head and get away from it," Hochevar admitted. "I know the adjustments I need to make. I will work my butt off this off-season and come back stronger for spring training next year and have a really good season next year." It can't be any worse, can it? Hochevar yielded three homers and seven runs in just three innings, which served to strip all drama from a playoff atmosphere at the Metrodome _ until ..."

Moore, other top officials head to Arizona for season evaluations

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October 6

Kansas City Star

"The focus on next year shifts to full-time mode today when the Royals open a series of organizational meetings at their year-round complex in Surprise, Ariz. "We'll sort of unpack the season like we always do," general manager Dayton Moore said, "and get everybody's viewpoints. We'll evaluate where we are and what we need to do. We'll look at potential trade opportunities and how we match up with other teams. "We'll be able to do that a little more in-depth as other organizations begin to narrow their focus. We've got to narrow our focus as well." The agenda also includes an evaluation of the major-league coaches. Decisions on whether to retain any or all of manager Trey Hillman's staff ..."

Power, confidence evident in rout of Royals

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October 5

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"By the time Jason Kubel stepped in for his first at-bat Sunday against Royals starter Luke Hochevar, the Twins were fairly certain they were facing another elimination game, and perhaps their Metrodome farewell. The Tigers had a four-run lead in Detroit, with ace Justin Verlander on the mound. The Twins had Carl Pavano, pitching on three days' rest. But after Hochevar walked Denard Span and Joe Mauer, Kubel did something he's done so many times this season, turning a hanging breaking pitch into a towering drive to right field. The largest Twins crowd in 16 years didn't seem to believe it at first. A dull buzzing sound could be heard as the ball carried, but once everyone realized it was a ..."

Gordon's 'bad year' means motivation for off-season work

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October 4

Kansas City Star

"Third baseman Alex Gordon offered just the barest hint of satisfaction Saturday afternoon following his two-run homer against José Mijaresin a 5-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins. "It was a lefty vs. lefty," he said of his 412-foot bomb. "And they think I can't hit lefties." Generally, though, Gordon doesn't sugarcoat his disappointment at a season that included nearly three months on the disabled list and a remedial tour at Class AAA Omaha. "It's been a bad year," he said. "It hasn't been fun. Nothing really good came out of this year. The only thing I can get out of it is extra motivation to work hard in this off-season to get healthy and get ready for next season." Gordon carries a .231 ..."

Mauer solves Greinke as Royals fall to Twins Cy Young stats watch

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October 4

Kansas City Star

"Let's start by working backward: The decisive blow Saturday afternoon was Michael Cuddyer's tie-breaking homer in the eighth inning that carried the Minnesota Twins to a 5-4 victory over the Royals at the Metrodome. It was a no-doubt, one-out drive to left against rookie reliever Dusty Hughes, and it means the Twins will enter today, the season's final day, with their postseason aspirations still intact. But the drama, and one of the season's finest moments, came earlier when the Royals allowed Zack Greinke to face Joe Mauer in the sixth inning of a scoreless game with two outs and a runner on third. It was a decision that, strategically, is almost impossible to defend: Even if you're the ..."

Pavano gets the start today, with Twins' season on the line

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October 4

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"With one more game to go, Ron Gardenhire has chosen to go with experience. Though rookie Brian Duensing was scheduled to pitch today's regular-season finale against Kansas City, Gardenhire will start Carl Pavano on short rest. " 'I got this,' he said. That's good for me," the Twins' manager explained after Saturday's 5-4 victory over Kansas City kept his team's playoff hopes alive for at least one more game. Pavano (13-12, 5.07 ERA) couldn't have been happier. "That's what it's all about right here," he said. "Heck, go out there and do it. What else can I say?" Pavano's last start was a big one, too. He had a chance to help pull the Twins within a game of Central Division-leading Detroit ..."

Greinke challenges Twins' best and Mauer makes him pay

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October 4

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Zack Greinke had every chance, and every reason, to pitch around Joe Mauer in the sixth inning Saturday. In a scoreless game, Greinke had two outs and a man on third. Why go after the major leagues' best hitter? "I feel like I could get him out if I make my pitches," Greinke said. The Kansas City Royals' ace has done it before, and he came close again Saturday, but this time it was Mauer who prevailed, starting a four-run Twins rally with a run-scoring single after falling behind 0-2. "You've got the best pitcher — well, certainly the best pitcher we've faced — on the mound with two outs. It's kind of what everybody wanted to see," Mauer said after the 5-4 win. "I was glad (he pitched to ..."

Twins Take Central Race to Final Day

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October 4

New York Times

"For the third time in four years, the Minnesota Twins ensured that the American League Central race would go down to the final day of the regular season. And maybe beyond. But the Twins rarely do things easily. On Saturday, they knocked out the American League Cy Young Award contender Zack Greinke after six innings, then lost a four-run lead and kept the largest crowd at the Metrodome in two seasons squirming before defeating Kansas City, 5-4, on Michael Cuddyer's eighth-inning home run."

DeJesus rejoins club but remains weak from bout with flu

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October 3

Kansas City Star

"Outfielder David DeJesus rejoined the Royals prior to the series opener against the Twins after missing six straight games while battling a severe case of the flu. It was a still-weak DeJesus, however. He didn't play Friday's game, and his status is uncertain for the season's two remaining games. "I'm feeling better," he said, "but I lost seven pounds in a matter of days. I didn't eat from Thursday (Sept. 24) to Sunday. Now, I don't even feel like the same person. It's kind of weird how weight can fly off you so fast. "I'm here to see what I can do. If I can do anything, that would be great. But I don't want to rush it, and we have only three games left. It's still in me. I don't know how ..."

Story Royals? rally falls short in 10-7 loss to Twins

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October 3

Kansas City Star

"It comes to this for Zack Greinke: His final showcase start in a possible Cy Young season will come today against a surging Minnesota club that now finds itself just one game behind first-place Detroit with two games remaining. The Twins made short work of Lenny DiNardo before holding off the Royals in Friday's 10-7 victory at the Metrodome. That rout, coupled with Detroit's 8-0 loss to Chicago, tightened baseball's only remaining playoff race. So the dome should be rocking this afternoon when Greinke tries to beat the Twins for the second time in a week. He and Joakim Soria combined for a 4-1 victory last Sunday at Kauffman Stadium. As for Friday, a looming fiasco almost turned into a ..."

For Zack Greinke, a Cy is just a sigh

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October 3

Kansas City Star

"This seems like a good time for an unfiltered look at Royals pitcher Zack Greinke, and not only because he makes his final start of a magnificent individual season today. It's his last chance to make an emphatic statement to the 28 members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, who will vote before Tuesday on the American League Cy Young Award. It is that award that generally designates the league's best pitcher. Greinke, with a 16-8 record and 2.06 earned run average, appears to be the favorite in the regular season's final weekend. There's more, though. Greinke proved again this past week that he is a candid enigma whose distaste for individual attention forever clashes with ..."

Royals have list of questions to answer this offseason

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October 2

Kansas City Star

"The season isn't quite over yet for the Royals. Three more games this weekend against the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome, including Zack Greinke's final showcase start Saturday afternoon in pursuit of the Cy Young Award. Even so, the emphasis throughout the organization long ago shifted away from this summer's many disappointments toward next year and beyond. The goal: Determine the best way to recapture momentum in what, before this season, had been a steady (if slow) climb back to respectability under general manager Dayton Moore. Step one is for everyone to get well and stay that way. "That's the most important thing we can do," Moore said. "We feel that we will - that Mike Aviles ..."

Misplaced Mijares purpose pitch mars Twins' series-ending win over Tigers

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October 2

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Never mind the bench-clearing, the infighting, and the late-inning chaos that Michael Cuddyer admitted "soured" Minnesota's 8-3 win Thursday. The Twins still won. And that means their hope, though stomped on, trampled over and barely hanging on, lives another day. The win split the teams' four-game series and left Detroit's magic number for clinching the American League Central Division at 2. But even as talk centered on the eighth and ninth innings when Jose Mijares, in one pitch, found a way to draw scorn from both dugouts, the Twins had their consolation. In front of a sellout crowd of 40,533 at Comerica Park, Minnesota put the Tigers' champagne party on ice. "I've watched enough teams ..."

Manship gets the ball for first game of Twins' final series

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October 2

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Jeff Manship will start today's game against Kansas City for the Twins, with Nick Blackburn starting Saturday and Brian Duensing pitching Sunday, manager Ron Gardenhire said Thursday. The Twins waited until the last minute to make a decision about today because they had all of their starting options available out of the bullpen, if necessary. In the second inning Wednesday, Manship warmed up in the bullpen but ended up sitting back down. Francisco Liriano pitched in relief, taking him out of contention for the start. Blackburn's start on Saturday would come on three days' rest and Duensing's on Sunday with a regular four days between starts. But Gardenhire said both of those starts are ..."

Greinke witty and royally talented

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October 2

Philadelphia Daily News

columnist Paul Hagen

"The Kansas City Royals visited Yankee Stadium this week and that can mean only one thing: New York reporters were all over sensational righthander Zack Greinke. Since the presumption up there is that the universe revolves around midtown Manhattan, they probably figured he'd tell them he couldn't wait to become a free agent so he can sign with the Bronx Bombers."I don't want to pitch for New York in the playoffs," he said instead. "I want to pitch for Kansas City in the playoffs."Setting aside for a moment that this seems to be a distant dream for the Royals at the moment, the quip inspired Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star to compile a Top 10 list of Greinke's best quotes. A ..."

Twins' pitching rotation unsettled for season-ending series vs. Kansas City this weekend

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October 1

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Stripped across the top of the Twins' game notes each day are the pitching matchups for the next few games. On Wednesday, the box read: Friday, TBA; Saturday, TBA; Sunday; TBA. As the Twins have moved up in the standings, manager Ron Gardenhire has clamped down on any talk of next year. This week in Detroit, he also has refused to answer questions about anything other than the game in front of him. Asked (again) before Wednesday's game about how soon he would decide his starting rotation for this weekend against Kansas City, Gardenhire said, "Probably after (Thursday's) game, and I'm not even positive then." "We'll just have to get through the next two games," he said, referring to ..."

Royals' Butler has blossomed into a star this season

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October 1

Kansas City Star

"Let's start with the list. Yes, Billy Butler has seen the list. He's studied the list. He knows the list. He's heard about it so many times he can recite by heart the list that has come to define his breakout season. It's the group of major-league baseball players who've hit 50 or more doubles in a season at the age of 23, and it reads like an invitation list to Cooperstown: Hank Greenberg, Enos Slaughter, Stan Musial, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, Grady Sizemore and Miguel Cabrera - and now Butler. That's three Hall of Famers, four others with good shots, and the Royals' first star hitter since Mike Sweeney. Pretty heady stuff, especially for a guy demoted to the minors last season. "I ..."

Soria reaches 30 saves by closing out victory

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October 1

Kansas City Star

"Joakim Soria recorded his 30th save Wednesday night and joined Dan Quisenberry and Jeff Montgomery as the only pitchers in Royals' history to reach that milestone in consecutive seasons. Quisenberry had a four-year run from 1982-85 and Montgomery did it three straight years from 1991-93. Now Soria, who had 42 last year in his first full season as the club's closer. Soria's 30 saves this season, in 33 opportunities, came despite missing nearly a month of the season because of a sore shoulder. The ailment has also limited his availability on other occasions. "It's better than I thought it would be," he said. "After I had shoulder inflammation and missed all of that time, it's good to have 30 ..."

Soria saves Royals in 4-3 victory over Yankees

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October 1

Kansas City Star

"Here's more proof, if any were needed, that Joakim Soria makes a difference when the Royals find themselves looking to protect slender leads in the late innings. Soria closed out a 4-3 victory Wednesday night over the New York Yankees _ yes, barely, by stranding runners at second and third in a scoreless ninth. But really, all that matters is he closed it out, right? Contrast that with Tuesday night: Kyle Farnsworth blew a one-run lead to the Yankees in the ninth inning when Soria was unavailable while recovering from Sunday's career-high 46-pitch outing against the Twins. "Soria just gives you confidence," catcher John Buck said. "You look at his face and into his eyes _ like I did when I ..."

Chamberlain Fails Playoff Audition

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October 1

New York Times

"When A. J. Burnett took the mound Tuesday night, his goal was to reassure the Yankees that he would be all right when the playoffs begin. When Joba Chamberlain did the same Wednesday night, it was more of an audition. After the way he pitched, he is not likely to get a callback soon. Chamberlain had a strong outing against Boston in his previous start, but he struggled with his command Wednesday and could not make it out of the fourth inning in a 4-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals, one of the worst offensive teams in the American League."

Royals pitcher Zack Greinke says Tigers' pitching could Yankees hard time

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September 30

New York Daily News

"Zack Greinke has not pitched against the Yankees this season, but the Kansas City ace has an opinion about which AL Central contender the Bombers should prefer not to face when the playoffs open next week. Just as you'd expect a Cy Young front-runner to say, Greinke gives the edge to the Tigers over the Twins because of their pitching. "I didn't think Detroit's pitching would do as (well) as it did for as long as it did," Greinke said before the Yankees beat the Royals, 4-3, Tuesday night at the Stadium. "They've got three guys who could pitch well in the playoffs for them, and the Twins don't really have a (Justin) Verlander or (Edwin) Jackson or (Rick) Porcello. (Minnesota's) bullpen ..."

Burnett Looks Sharp as He Prepares for First Postseason

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September 30

New York Times

"Six years ago, A. J. Burnett stood on the field at Yankee Stadium wearing a sweatshirt and a glum expression. His team was preparing for Game 1 of the World Series, but he would not be pitching. Burnett's Marlins went on to win the title, beating the Yankees in six games, but he was a spectator, going through his rehabilitation after undergoing reconstructive elbow surgery that April. "It's really hard not to be a part of this," he said that day. On Tuesday night, after delivering six and a third strong innings in the Yankees' 4-3 victory over the Royals, Burnett recalled his mixed feelings that October afternoon. "I remember that," he said. "It was a workout day, and I wasn't doing much. ..."

Yankees rest most regulars and still batter Royals 8-2

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September 29

Kansas City Star

"Only now, in the season's final week, are the Royals getting their first look at the new Yankee Stadium. And tonight, perhaps, or maybe Wednesday, they figure to get a look at the Yankees. Who were these guys? The Yankees rested most of their regulars Monday, one day after clinching the American League East Division title by completing a three-game weekend sweep against second-place Boston. And still beat the Royals 8-2. Robinson Cano, one of three regulars in the New York lineup, hit a grand slam that highlighted a five-run seventh inning against Royals starter Luke Hochevar. Jorge Posada also contributed a single and double to a 12-hit attack. But the Yankees also got lots of production ..."

DeJesus still battling the flu in Kansas City

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September 29

Kansas City Star

"A flu-ridden David DeJesus remains in Kansas City as the Royals embark on a season-ending road trip. He has now missed four straight games, and there is no target date for his return. "He's still sick, that's all I can tell you," manager Trey Hillman said before Monday's series opener against New York at Yankee Stadium. "He's still running a fever. Beyond that, I don't know what his travel plans are. I don't know when I'll expect to see him." Asked whether DeJesus is battling the swine flu virus, Hillman said, "Not that I know of." DeJesus is batting .281 with 74 runs and 71 RBIs in 144 games. He also has 28 doubles, nine triples and a career-high 13 homers. "We're trying to get him ..."

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