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Royals showing hope as break approaches
By Joe Warren
Herald-Tribune
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- As the Royals approach the All-Star break it is becoming increasingly apparent that this is a different team than graced the Kauffman Stadium field the past few years.
While the Royals continue to hold down the AL Central cellar with a 36-50 record following Friday night's loss to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, a closer inspection at the numbers says this young team is improving.
For example, a look at the team's record since the end of May shows a 17-15 mark.
Manager Buddy Bell, when asked recently how he felt about the state of the Royals, replied that his team is young, but headed in the right direction.
"We have some young guys that are getting better," Bell said. "I think that is the key to this whole thing. In terms of experience, we don't have to a lot of it. I am encouraged by the way we have played baseball lately and the way that our younger guys have been playing."
One of those young players is rookie third baseman Alex Gordon. Coming into 2007 with a mountain of expectations, Gordon's struggles out of the gate mirrored the team.
The former first-round pick was hitting .185 entering June, with three home runs and eight RBIs. Gordon had also struck out 46 times.
Things didn't look like they would get any better for Gordon when June started, as his first three games of the month had him 0-for-12 with six more strikeouts.
Since June 6, as the Royals started to pick up steam, the 23-year-old University of Nebraska product followed suit.
"Alex is starting to come around," Bell said.
To say Gordon is coming around might be tempering it a little. The reigning Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year has gone 36-for-105 in his past 27 games, a .343 clip, with three homers and 17 RBIs.
The left-handed hitting phenom had 11 multi-hit games in that span, including four games with at least three hits. One of those three-hit games was Friday, when Gordon went 3-for-4 with an assortment of singles that showed how well his game had progressed.
The first single came in the second inning when Gordon took a 1-2 change up that was down and away and slipped it right up the middle. A pair of wild pitches and a Joey Gathright double later and the Royals had their first run of the game.
Gordon's second at bat was a strike out, but in his third plate appearance it was a first-pitch fastball that the third baseman was looking for, and he pounced, lining a single to right field for his second hit of the game.
In the eighth inning Gordon drove in a run as he took an 0-1 fastball to opposite field in left-center, scoring Ross Gload from second base.
Three hits, three different parts of the field. That's great maturity for a rookie.
Gordon said of his recent improvement at the plate that confidence is the main factor.
"At the beginning of the season, I was kind of hoping for a hit," Gordon said. "I'd go up there struggling, and I needed a hit to get out of the slump. Now, I look forward to going up there because I know I'm going to get a hit and I'm going to help the team out."
While Gordon has been a big part of the Royals' improved play, he isn't the only part.
Mark Teahen, who has played right field and first base -- both for the first time this season -- has continued to play at a high level after finishing as the team MVP last season.
Teahen is batting .285 with 45 RBIs and 41 runs scored in his third major league season. The former Nevada Griffon only has five home runs after notching 18 in 2006, but his defense has been surprisingly solid in right, where he is tied for second in the majors with 10 outfield assists.
Another steady performer this season has been the team's lone All-Star Game representative, starting pitcher Gil Meche.
After signing a 5-year, $55-million deal that raised a lot of eyebrows throughout the league in the offseason, Meche has delivered with a 3.26 ERA in 116 innings pitched. While a lack of run support in his starts has Meche with only a 5-6 record, he's been a stalwart on the mound. The right-hander has lasted at least six innings in 15 of his 18 starts, while also giving up three runs or fewer in 13 of them. Seven times this season Meche has allowed two earned runs or fewer but could not get a victory.
The Royals bullpen, which actually struggled out of the gate, has also been good. Since June 1, the Kansas City relievers have combined for a 2.62 ERA.
Joakim Soria, Jimmy Gobble, David Riske, Zack Greinke and Octavio Dotel have all been good lately. Soria hasn't allowed an earned run since May 20, a span of 13 appearances. Greinke has allowed six earned runs in 19 1/3 innings since June 1, an ERA of 2.80. Dotel has eight saves in 10 chances.
Another improving player is catcher John Buck. A guy who hit .244 in two previous seasons with an average of 11 home runs and 49 RBIs, Buck has had a power surge in 2007.
The third-year backstop has 15 home runs in 57 games this season, tying for most long balls in the majors among catchers.
Throw in players who have been steady all season like shortstop Tony Pena Jr., and center fielder David DeJesus, and the Royals are no longer a team everybody looks forward to playing.
Now if Billy Butler can continue to show promise, and the Royals can find a mashing first baseman and a couple of starters, the boys in blue might be on to something.