Royals on the Farm 7/10

AAA -- Omaha: all-star break

mid-season stats update (all ranks noted are on team)

1B/DH Brazell .315 BA/.344 OBP/.661 SLG for a 1.005 OPS in 59 games, second on team in 2B, leads by 10 in HR and leads in RBI -- I'd say we'll hopefully see him in KC at least by September, but you never know
OF Costa .378/.458/.533 for a .991 OPS in 24 games, 13 BB, 7 K -- nothing more to prove in AAA, but can't get it done in MLB
1B/OF Butler .291/.412/.542 for a .954 OPS in 57 games, second in HR and RBI, 43 BB, 32 K -- will these be his final AAA numbers?
?? Huber .258/.322/.477 for a .799 OPS (better than I expected) in 36 games, tied for third in HR -- injury bug biting again, as usual
IF Aviles .309/.343/.454 for a .797 OPS in 80 games, second in RS, third in 2B, tied for lead in triples, third in RBI, 4/9 SB, leads team with 15 errors -- we'll see if he gets the call in Sept.
OF McCarthy .287/.344/.448 for a .792 OPS in 23 games -- done OK after coming over for Koonce
OF Maier .301/.345/.435 for a .780 OPS in 91 games, leads in games played, RS, doubles, and tied for triples, 24 BB with 57 Ks, 7/8 SB -- doing well, but I can't see it translating to much at the major league level
OF Lubanski .226/.342/.387 for a .729 OPS in 10 games, 6 BB, 10 K -- still finding his AAA legs
C Tupman .286/.381/.347 for a .727 OPS in 58 games, 29 BB, 22 K, only 10 XBH -- very nice OBP and doing better than I expected this season, but would like to see more pop in the bat

Wright 6-3, 3.72 ERA, 1.21 WHIP in 82 1/3 IP, second in W, 2.6 K/BB, one behind team lead in Ks -- another guy we may see in KC at some point this season; nice pickup by Moore
Nunez 1-1, 2.25 ERA, 0.88 WHIP in 16 IP, 2 BB/14 K -- don't know what Leo's doing differently this season but I like the results
Braun 1-2, 6 saves, 1.46 ERA, 1.09 WHIP in 24 2/3 IP, 2 K/BB -- KC closer in '08?
Buckner 7-4, 4.04 ERA, 1.25 WHIP in 64 2/3 IP, tied for lead in W, 57 K/18 BB for a 3.1 K/BB -- could get shot in MLB rotation in Sept.???
Lumsden 5-5, 6.17 ERA, 1.53 WHIP in 77 1/3 IP, 31 BB/51 K -- numbers aren't pretty, he needs some more seasoning
Hendrickson 7-4, 5.89 ERA, 1.73 WHIP in 81 IP, 37 BB/40 K -- third from bottom in WHIP and last among active O-Royals, now we know why Milwaukee gave him up for a minor-league FA catcher

The game is tonight and the second half resumes tomorrow as the Royals open a series versus the Iowa Cubs. The big promotion took place as Luke Hochevar is getting a shot at AAA. He was 3-6 with a 4.69 ERA at Wichita with 94 K in 94 IP. Now if he'd only stop giving up longballs (13 so far)..... OF Jorge Padilla was demoted to Wichita to make room.

AA -- Wichita: off day

A 4-game home set versus the first-half champ Springfield Cardinals (13-5) starts tonight. The Wranglers are 7-6 versus Springfield this season but have lost the last 4. Probable starters: Cards lefty Adam Daniels (3-1, 2.59, 1.15 WHIP) vs. Wichita righty Greg Atencio (3-4, 3.57, 1.24 WHIP leads active Wichita starters). OF Jake Blalock was released after not hitting his weight with the Wranglers -- he was hitting .153 with a .425 OPS in 30 games. Hope they only gave up cash in trade to Texas when they got him.

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: off day

Carolina League play resumes tonight as Wilmington starts a 4-game home set versus the Potomac Nationals (10-8). The Rocks are 5-1 versus the Nats. Righty Julio Pimentel (5-3, 2.58) is expected to start tonight versus an undetermined Nats starter. Still no word on any Rowdy Hardy upward move.

A -- Burlington: off day

The Bees aren't back in action until Friday as the Midwest League takes a short break.

Rookie -- Idaho Falls: off day

A 3-game home set versus the Helena Brewers (13-8) starts tonight. Helena's roster features Brew Crew '07 draftees third-round C Jonathan Lucroy (.364 BA/.958 OPS in 19 games), fourth-round IF Eric Farris (.222/.609 in 18 games), fifth-round OF Caleb Gindl (.481/1.296 in 14 games), sixth-round LH Dan Merklinger (9.00 ERA in 1 IP), eighth-round IF David Fonseca (.242/.723, leads team with 5 E) and 11 other picks from June.

Rookie -- Burlington: Kingsport 5, B-Royals 3

CF Norris 2-4, BB, RBI (4), K, RS, 2 SB (12) -- .273
RF Tucker 2-5 -- .304
LF A. Perez 1-4, BB, RBI (9) -- .228
3B Jimenez 1-4, 2B (4), RBI (10), K, E (7) -- .234
1B Amyx 1-3, BB, HBP, K, RS -- .263
*The B-Royals stranded 11.

Bradley 5 1/3 IP, UER, 2 H, 3 BB, 4 K -- 2.20 ERA
Augustine 2 2/3 IP, 4 UER, H, 2 BB, HRA -- BS, 1, L, 1-1, 0.00 ERA

A good game for Burlington fell apart in the 6th and the Royals couldn't recover. The Royals left the bases loaded in the 1st but scored on a Patrick Norris RBI single in the 2nd to make it 1-0. Antonio Jimenez doubled home a run in the 3rd and Alwin Perez singled home a run in the 6th to make it 3-0 Royals. Starter Anthony Bradley pitched well and was pulled with 1 on and 1 out in the 6th for Joe Augustine. A Jose Santos error and a HBP loaded the bases and Augustine walked home a run before giving up a sac fly and 3-run homer to Mets 1B Jose Jimenez to make it 5-3 Kingsport. The Royals only had 1 more base runner in the game after that. Jimenez was 1-3 with his 2nd homer and 3 RBI (7) to move to .241 as the Mets got the win on only 3 hits. RP Pedro P. Martinez got the win with 4 IP of an ER on a hit, 2 walks and 3 Ks to move to 1-0 with a 4.32 ERA.

Burlington is 11-8 and 1/2 a game back. A 2-game home set versus the Bristol Sox (meaning White, 7-14) starts tonight. No announced starters on the team site. The Royals are 2-0 versus the Sox.

Rookie -- AZL: Royals 5, Angels 2

DH D. Cruz 2-4, 2 3B (2), 2 RBI (10), RS -- .360
1B Wood 1-4, RBI (8), K, RS -- .296
3B Donovan 1-4, RBI (8), K -- .298
SS Jose 0-3, BB, RBI (5), RS -- .176
LF Huber 0-3, HBP, K -- .125, rehab slow going, I guess
RF Pennell 0-3, BB, K, SB (9), OF assist at third -- .333
C McCauley 0-4, K -- .267

B. Wood 3 IP, 4 H, 4 K -- 0.00 ERA, another nice rehab start
Lehmann 3 IP, H, 3 BB, 2 K, 2 WP -- W, 1-1, 5.00 ERA, first pro win
Vasquez 2 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 2 K, WP -- 7.71 ERA
Van Slyke IP, H, BB, 2 K -- SV, 2, 1.08 ERA

A 3-run 8th gave the Royals the boost they needed for the win. Diego Cruz led off the 2nd with a triple and scored on a Dennis Donovan single before Lifete Jose drove home a run with a ground out in the 3rd to make it 2-0 Royals. The Royals nailed a runner at the plate to end the 2nd as he tried to score from second on an infield base hit and Blake Wood and Mike Lehmann held the Angels quiet. The Royals left 2 in scoring position in the 5th and Lehmann left the bases full in the bottom of the inning as the 2-0 lead held. Alberto Vasquez came in to pitch the 7th and gave up a run on 2 hits to cut the lead to 1 but the Royals rallied with 2 out in the 8th. Jose walked, Justin Huber reached on an Angels error and David Wood singled home a run before Cruz tripled home 2 runs to make it 5-1. Vasquez gave up a run on 3 hits in the 8th and Eric Van Slyke stranded 2 in the 9th for his 2nd save. Angels CF Clayton Fuller was 3-4 to move to .239, RF Angel Castillo was 2-4 with his 5th RBI and 3rd SB to move to .242 and SP Robin Molina took the loss with 5 IP of 2 runs (1 ER) on 3 hits, 2 BB and 5 Ks to drop to 1-1 with a 2.95 ERA. The Angels committed 6 errors in the loss.

The Royals are 7-9 and 6 games back. They were set to play the 6-9 Rangers today.