Royals on the Farm 7/13 -- back in action

I've been to Branson twice in the last five years. In 2004, I was in Branson when the Royals dealt Carlos Beltran for a handful of magic beans that have yet to turn into a beanstalk. When I went this year, Dayton Moore makes the Yuniesky Betancourt trade that gets him roundly pounded by nearly all and sundry.

I wondered if something like this might not happen when Cortes got arrested. As I mentioned then, AA reliever Jarrod Plummer got arrested last year, and was a solid player, and is now with the Red Sox. Cortes is a different case, of course, since he was one of the more major organizational pitching prospects, but the Royals seem pretty serious about the minors guys keeping on the straight and narrow. Maybe they were making an example out of him.

I'm not apoplectic about the trade as some seem to be, but it's becoming clear that Dayton Moore's lip service about the importance of OBP is just that, mindless chatter. Nothing else explains the Jacobs, Bloomquist, Betancourt pickups. He's feeding the media lines to keep people off his back. "Of course OBP is important..." And then he openly admits on 810 Monday he doesn't understand the defensive stats quoted by Rany Jazayerli in his response to the deal. It does suck that the Royals got Angel Berroa II/Neifi Perez II for a top pitching prospect and a throw-in reliever, but it IS an upgrade over TPJ. I think. It still flies in the face of what Dayton Moore says he values, tho. Betancourt doesn't get on base, doesn't play good D, plain and simple. You don't score runs if you can't get on base, that's a simple fact, and SS is one of the prime positions you don't want an iron glove. The Royals are and will continue to be a prime example of these problems until Moore actually starts practicing what he preaches. I still await the day the Royals have a standout SS.

AAA - Omaha: all-star break

The O-Royals are 36-53 and still in the cellar. They went 2-4 in the Pipeline vacation period. Lefty Dusty Hughes has replaced Lenny DiNardo on the all-star roster, as DiNardo declined a trip to the AAA All-Star Game tomorrow night in Portland, Ore.

AA - NW Arkansas: Corpus Christi 8, Naturals 2

RF Lough 3-5, 3B, RS, OF assist at second -- .368
3B Gordon 2-3, 2 BB -- .423, slated to rejoin KC Friday
SS Betancourt 1-5, HR, RBI, RS, E -- .111, newest Royal is rehabbing hammy in TL ball
LF Duarte 1-1, 3 BB, RBI (21), SB (14), E (3), OF assist at home -- .249
CF Dyson 0-4, BB, K, OF assist at third -- .246, all 3 OFs had assists at different bases
2B Mertins 1-3, HBP, K -- .281
* NWA stranded 13.

Teaford 7 IP, 7 R (5 ER), 8 H, BB, K -- L, 3-3, 4.96 ERA
Sencion 2 IP, ER, 3 H, BB, K -- 6.02 ERA

*** A 5-run rally gave the Hooks all they needed to even the series at a game each. The Nats left the bases loaded in the 3rd and Everett Teaford, who had allowed only a hit through 3 IP, got lit up in the 4th for 5 runs on 5 hits, a walk and Yuniesky Betancourt error (WHAT????). David Lough tripled and scored on a Jose Duarte single in the bottom of the inning but NWA left 'em loaded again in the 6th. Corpus Christi scored 2 in the 7th off Teaford to make it 7-1 and Betancourt led off the NWA 7th with his 1st homer for the franchise. The Naturals stranded 2 and wouldn't threaten again. Carlos Sencion allowed a run in the 9th to finish off the 8-2 CC win. Starter Sergio Perez picked up the W for the Hooks with 6 2/3 IP of 2 ER allowed on 7 hits and 5 walks with 3 Ks to improve to 7-8 with a 4.65 ERA. Four Hooks had multiple hits, including a 3-hit night from CF Collin DeLome, who also scored twice in moving to .271. Two Hooks had 2 RBI nights. C Jason Castro, who homered in Sunday's MLB Futures Game, was 0-4 to fall to .279.

The Naturals are 12-5 and 3 games up on first. They won today's matinee game to take 2 of 3 in the series with Matt Kniginyzky getting the win. They were 4-1 over the Pipeline vacation period. RP Dan Cevette has been released. SP Rowdy Hardy is coming back to NWA. OF Jordan Parraz has been put on the DL with a hamstring injury. Parraz was named the Topps Texas League Player of the Month for June.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Myrtle Beach 5, Blue Rocks 2 (13)

3B Moustakas 2-6, 2B (21), HR (10), 2 RBI (52), RS -- .269, hitting .309 on road, .209 at home
1B C. Robinson 2-3, 3 BB -- .285
LF Ortiz 2-5, BB, K, 2 CS (6) -- .242
2B Giavotella 1-5, BB, 2 K, RS, E (14) -- .236
CF D. Robinson 0-5, BB, HBP, K, CS (13) -- .222, sigh, at least he got on twice
* The Rocks stranded 14.

Caldera 6 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 5 H, 2 BB, K, WP -- 6.19 ERA, good start (other than BB/K), no run support
Chavez 3 1/3 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 2 K -- 2.14 ERA
Sisk 2 2/3 IP, 4 K -- 2.52 ERA
Villa IP, 3 ER, 3 H, K -- L, 2-5, 4.15 ERA

*** Wilmington's pitchers kept them in the game but the offense flatlined after the 1st inning as the Pelicans got a comeback win in the series opener. Derrick Robinson got caught stealing in the 1st and it cost Wilmington as Mike Moustakas slammed his 10th homer of the season for a 2-run shot to make it 2-0 Rocks. The Rocks stranded 2. The Pelicans rallied for a 2-out run off Alex Caldera in the 3rd and a Johnny Giavotella error helped the Pelicans to a run in the 6th to tie the game. Wilmington stranded 2 in the 8th and the game went to extras. The Rocks left 2 on in the 10th and 11th and Kelvin Villa gave up a 2-run triple to DH Gerardo Rodriguez in the 13th to break the game open. The Rocks stranded 2 more in the 13th to continue the LOB theme. RP Rudy Darrow pitched 2 scoreless innings for MB for the win to move to 2-0 with a 4.50 ERA. Starter Jake Thompson worked 6 IP of 2 ER allowed on 6 hits and 4 walks with 4 Ks to move his ERA to 3.38. 3B Donell Linares was 3-5 with his 18th double and a RS to move to .286 and 2 others had 2 hits for the Pelicans. Rodriguez was 2-5 with his 2nd triple, 2 RBI (6), a walk, 2 K and RS to move to .359.

The Rocks are 8-9 and 3 games back. Game 2 of the set is tonight as Mario Santiago (4-9, 3.97) faces former Royals farmhand righty Erik Cordier (3-3, 3.23). They went 4-2 over the Pipeline vacation period. SP Danny Duffy worked 2/3 IP in the Futures Game Sunday, if you didn't see it, and allowed a hit and walk but no ER. Not exactly a lockdown performance, but he came out unscathed. The Rocks are 4-4 versus Myrtle Beach this season.

A - Burlington: Bees 7, Lansing 4

Hosmer DNP
1B D. Wood 2-4, 2 RBI (33), picked off -- .251
CF Norris 2-4, BB, 3 RS, SB (31) -- .243
RF-LF Van Stratten 1-3, BB, 2B (18), 3 RBI (36), RS -- .311
3B Taylor 0-4, RBI (10), K -- .240
C Bonilla 0-3, BB, 2 K, PB (7) -- .220

Baez 6 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 7 K, WP -- 3.93 ERA
R. Pena IP, UER, BB -- W, 1-1, 3.77 ERA
Bowden IP, H, BB, 2 K, WP -- 2.75 ERA
B. Hardy IP, K -- SV, 3, 2.41 ERA

*** The Bees rallied back for the win in the 7th to take the finale from the Lugnuts. Manauris Baez allowed 2 runs in the 2nd before stranding 2 and then allowed another run in the 3rd to make it 3-0 Lansing. Nick Van Stratten hit a 2-out, 2-run double in the 3rd to cut the lead to 1 and the Bees stranded 2 in the 4th. Patrick Norris scored on a wild pitch to tie it in the 5th but Riquy Pena allowed the go-ahead run in the 7th. Van Stratten took a bases-loaded walk to tie it in the 7th, Norris scored on an error, and David Wood hit a 2-run single to make it 7-4. Blaine Hardy pitched a perfect 9th to finish it. RP Dustin Antolin allowed 4 runs (3 ER) over an inning of work to take the loss and drop to 0-4 with a 5.40 ERA. Starter Chris Holguin worked 5 IP of 3 ER allowed on 5 hits and 3 walks with 3 Ks to move his ERA to 5.40. RF Johermyn Chavez was 3-4 with his 13th double and 2 RS to move to .259 and 1B Mike McDade had 2 hits, 2 walks, his 13th double and his 31st RBI to move to .247.

The Bees are 8-9 and 4 1/2 games back. They have tonight off. They were 2-3 over the Pipeline vacation period. IF Yeldrys Molina has been added to the Bees' roster after hitting .074 with a .167 OBP in 9 games in rookie Burlington.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Missoula 6, Chukars 5

2B Franco 2-5, HR (2), 2 RBI (10), 3 K, 2 RS, SB (5) -- .217
SS Alfaro 2-4, BB, 2 2B (7), 2 K, RS, E (3) -- .302
DH Caldwell 2-4, SF, RBI (8), RS -- .233
3B D. Batista 0-5, 3 K -- .313
C S. Perez 0-4, BB, PB (2) -- .305
CF H. Richardson 0-3, BB, K -- .404
* IF stranded 10.

Garrido 6 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 4 H, 2 BB, 4 K, HRA -- 5.89 ERA
Arias 2 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, BB, 2 K -- BS, 1, L, 1-1, 3.38 ERA

*** Missoula roared back with a 4-run 8th to steal the win from the Chukars. Angel Franco singled and scored on an error in the 1st and Allen Caldwell hit a sac fly to make it 2-0 IF. Santiago Garrido gave up a leadoff homer to 2B David Nick (his 1st) in the 1st and another run thanks in part to a J.D. Alfaro error at short to tie it but settled down to hold the Osprey in check through 6. Franco came back up in the 2nd and went long for a 2-run homer for his 2nd of the season for IF to make it 4-2. IF stranded 2 in the 4th but used a Missoula error to scratch out a run in the 6th and make it 5-2. IF stranded 2 in the 8th and Carlos Arias got touched up for a 2-run double in the bottom of the inning with an RBI triple tying it and a single scoring the eventual winning run. Alfaro got to third with 1 out in the 9th but was thrown out at home and the Chukars ended up stranding 2. RP Ryan Robowski pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless ball to improve to 1-1 with a 3.24 ERA. Starter Eury De La Rosa worked 3 1/3 IP for Missoula and allowed 4 runs (2 ER) on 3 hits and 4 walks with a K to move his ERA to 5.51.

The Chukars are 12-6 and 2 games up on first. They have today off. They were 4-2 in the Pipeline vacation period.

Rookie - Burlington: Danville 7, B-Royals 1

CF G. Beltre 1-3, HR, RBI (7), RS -- .222
SS Espinal 1-4, 2 K, CS (3), E (8) -- .267
RF Del Rosario 1-3, K -- .360
2B R. Wood 0-3, E (4) -- .186
3B Culver 0-3, K, E (2) -- .262
PR-1B F. Cruz 0-2, K, E -- .241

Hayenga 5 IP, 3 R (1 ER), 6 H, 2 BB, 5 K, WP, E (2) -- L, 1-3, 3.92 ERA
Hentges 3 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 4 H -- 3.60 ERA
Kelley IP, UER, H, BB, K -- 0.84 ERA

*** It's shaping up to be another banner year for the B-Royals as the Braves swept them to drop their winning percentage to .333. The Royals had more errors (5) than hits (4) in the loss. Keaton Hayenga stranded 2 Braves in the 1st but allowed 2 runs on 3 hits and a Yowill Espinal error in the 2nd. A Ryan Wood error helped Danville to a run in the 4th and Geulin Beltre led off the Royals 5th with his 1st homer of the season to account for their only run. Chase Hentges allowed a run in the 7th and then let a run in in the 9th before getting pulled for Scott Kelley, who allowed 2 more runs on a hit, walk, passed ball and Malcom Culver error. The last 8 Royals went down in order. Starter Julio Teheran got the win with 8 IP of an ER allowed on 4 hits and a walk with 8 Ks to improve to 1-0 with a 2.05 ERA. Three Braves had 2 hits and CF L.V. (aka Koko B., just kidding) Ware drove in 2 runs (11) as he had 2 hits to move to .384.

The B-Royals are 7-14 and 7 games out. They have today off. They were 2-4 during the vacation period. OF Gabe MacDougall has headed back to Arizona to rehab a wrist injury.

Rookie - AZL: Royals 8, Indians 6

SS A. Martinez 3-4, 2B, RBI (3), 2 RS -- .209
1B Henriquez 3-4, 2B, 2 RS -- .286
CF Llanos 2-5, 2 2B (3), 3 RBI (11), 3 K, RS -- .265, looking better than last year
C Moreno 2-4, 2 2B (4), RS, PB (6) -- .182
3B Figueroa 1-3, BB, RBI (10) -- .262
DH Stovall 1-4, K -- .282
RF L. Adams 0-3, BB, 2 K, RS -- .000, pro debut

L. Ortega 5 1/3 IP, 4 R (1 ER), 8 H, 4 K, HRA, WP, E (2) -- 5.47 ERA
C. Rodriguez 1 1/3 IP, BB, 2 K -- W, 1-1, 4.15 ERA, rehab continues
G. Batista 1 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB -- 7.84 ERA
J. Adams IP, 2 H, K -- SV, 1, 0.00 ERA

*** Two 3-run rallies helped the Royals' cause and they held off the Tribe in the 9th for the win. Luis Ortega gave up 3 Indian runs in the 1st thanks in part to a 2-run homer by DH Roberto Perez (his 1st). Alex Llanos led off the Royals 1st with a double and scored on a Yunior Figueroa single to cut it to 3-1 after 1. Ortega stranded 2 in the 2nd and Llanos hit a 2-out, bases-loaded double to score 3 in the bottom of the inning to make it 4-3 Royals. Ryan Stovall was gunned down at the plate to end the Royals 3rd and the Indians got 2 doubles to tie it and chase Ortega in the 6th. Henry Moreno doubled and scored on an error in the bottom of the 6th and Adrian Martinez hit an RBI double before scoring a run to make it 7-4. The Royals stranded 2 in the 7th but Edwin Henriquez doubled and scored on an error in the 8th to make it 8-4. Geronimo Batista allowed a run on a passed ball in the 9th and Jack Adams came in and allowed another run credited to Batista to trim it to 8-6 before Adams finished it for his 1st pro save. RP John Goryl allowed 3 ER over 3 IP to fall to 0-1 with a 3.24 ERA. Starter Kirk Wetmore allowed 4 ER on 7 hits and a walk with a K over 3 IP to move his ERA to 6.43. Four Indians had multiple hits led by a 3-hit night from 1B Chris Kersten, who also scored twice in moving to .339. Perez had 2 hits and 3 RBI (12) to improve to .389.

The Royals are 6-13 and 5 1/2 games out. They play the 11-7 Mariners tonight. They were 0-5 during the vacation period.



The Royals have signed 5th round righty Louis Coleman out of LSU, 13th rounder OF Lane Adams (as shown in AZL report), and 34th round SS Justin Trapp. There are rumors 3rd round C Wil Myers and 4th round lefty Chris Dwyer are signed but the signings won't be announced until Aug. 17 because the bonuses are over slot.