By STEVE PENN

The Kansas City Star

There were many moving speakers at the forum Saturday presented by High Aspirations, a mentoring program for young African-American males.

They included a minister, the head of a local construction company, an anti-crime activist and even a newspaper columnist. Each had inspiring remarks, but the most moving comments came from a disgraced former first baseman for the Kansas City Royals who got caught up in drugs.

Willie Mays Aikens is a perfect example of what’s happening to too many young African-American males.

On Saturday, he explained the depths to which drugs took him and how far he’s come back.

In 1980, Aikens had the game-winning RBI in Game 3 of the World Series, the first win for the Royals in a World Series game.

Following the 1983 season, Aikens and teammates Willie Wilson, Jerry Martin and Vida Blue pleaded guilty to attempting to purchase cocaine. Aikens was suspended and the Royals traded him to Toronto.

Aikens played parts of two seasons before winding up his career in the Mexican League. After Aikens’ career, his legal troubles continued, culminating with being found guilty of selling 50 grams of crack cocaine to an undercover officer. He was sentenced to 20 years and eight months in prison, serving 14 years before his release.

“I’ve always heard that I needed to tell my story,” Aikens said. “I knew I needed to go around to try to help people. When you come full circle, you serve. You try to help other people. I’ve experienced being a drug addict and an alcoholic. I’ve experienced the prison life. So when I talk about it, I know what I’m talking about.”

Three months ago he married the woman who gave him support while he was incarcerated.

“During prison, I prayed to be able to experience having a little kid because I missed that,” Aikens said. “I missed that with my daughters. And I never had it with my father. I’ve experienced everything else in my life, except seeing a little kid grow up.

“Three weeks ago, I had a daughter with my wife. I’m a perfect example of what happens when you turn your life around. When you turn your life around and you start walking in the ways of God, he blesses you. I don’t have any doubt why these things are happening to me.”

Aikens said he welcomes the association between himself and High Aspirations.

It’s good to see Aikens putting his life back in order. He seems to finally have his priorities straight. Too many African-American males fall into the same trap as Aikens. Now he can influence young African-American males to steer clear of cocaine merely by explaining to them exactly how it ravaged his life.

To reach Steve Penn, call 816-234-4417 or send e-mail to spenn@kcstar.com.

 

Kansas City, MO – infoZine – The Kansas City Royals announced that the club has extended an invitation to Major League Spring Training camp to left-handed pitcher Brandon Sisk. Sisk becomes the 24th non-roster invitee (14th pitcher) to Royals’ Major League camp.

Sisk, 25, pitched the entire 2010 campaign for Northwest Arkansas (AA), posting a 4-6 record with nine saves and a 4.46 ERA in 40 relief appearances. The 6-foot-1, 212-pound southpaw struck out 63 in 68.2 innings. The 2009 Wilmington Pitcher of the Year finished the 2010 season with Surprise in the Arizona Fall League, posting a 2.51 ERA in 10 relief stints, allowing hitters just a .167 opponent batting average.

Signed as a non-drafted free agent out of Azusa (Calif.) Pacific University on July 8, 2008, Sisk currently resides in Elkhart, Texas.

Pitcher Dusty Hughes Claimed on outright waivers by Minnesota Twins

Kansas City Royals announced that the Minnesota Twins have claimed left-handed pitcher Dusty Hughes on Outright Waivers. Hughes was designated for assignment by the Royals on January 20.

Hughes, 28, was 1-3 with a 3.83 ERA in 57 relief appearances in 2010. His 57 appearances were the second-most in the American League among rookies.

Jeff Francis hasn’t forgotten toeing the rubber on a cold and rainy night in August 2004 at Sky Sox Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The Canadian left-hander believes the New Orleans Zephyrs chased him from the Pacific Coast League game in the third inning, Francis’s final start for the Sky Sox before breaking into the major leagues with the Colorado Rockies.

“It was a terrifically horrendous start,” Francis recalled in a recent interview. “I came out of the game and sat next to him, and he said some stuff to me about not letting outings like that get to you.”

Francis is referring to former Colorado Springs pitching coach Bob McClure, who shared lessons learned from his 19-year pitching career in the majors with Francis until joining the Kansas City Royals in the same capacity following the 2005 season.

McClure wasn’t around in 2007 when Francis won 17 games for the Rockies and led the team to the World Series, going a combined 2-0 in the National League Division and Championship Series.

But they will be reunited this season after Francis, a free agent, signed a one-year contract with the Royals worth $2 million US. McClure will attempt to get the Vancouver hurler back on track after a pair of unproductive and injury-riddled seasons in 2008 and 2009.

“A lot of guys had told me what a good coach he was and what you could glean from him just sitting around him watching baseball — talking the game, learning how to make adjustments as a pitcher and how to approach certain types of hitters,” said Francis, Baseball America’s minor-league pitcher of the year in 2004.

“He’s just a guy that loves baseball, pitched a long time in the major leagues and I think, from experience, knows really well how to carry yourself on the mound. Sometimes it just takes a fresh set of eyes to point something out and help you in the right direction. It should be fun to work with him again.”

The feeling is mutual as McClure raved about Francis in an interview with the Kansas City Star earlier this month.

“He’s a character guy, No. 1, and he’s had some success at the highest level, including playoff experience,” McClure said. “He has very good command, especially at the bottom of the strike zone, and a real good feel for pitching.”

Confidence is what McClure is best known for instilling in Francis, who sports a 55-50 mark and 4.77 earned-run average over six major-league seasons.

It was tested last season when the 30-year-old Francis went 4-10 with a 5.00 ERA in 19 starts after missing the first six weeks recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum in the shoulder joint that cost Francis the entire ’09 campaign.

“It’s a big deal,” Francis said of taking confidence to the mound. “Your failures always have to teach you something and you can’t step on the field without confidence. You have to step out there with the same attitude that you’re better than the guy you’re facing.

“That’s an attitude I’ve taken and it has served me pretty well. It certainly stuck with me [in 2004] because I just had this horrible start and you start questioning yourself. Bob told me right away not to let [such thoughts] come into your head.”

Colorado and Kansas City have faced each other often in spring training and interleague play since McClure’s departure from the Rockies, so Francis would meet up with his old pitching coach on the field prior to games and chat, but not about anything specific to pitching.

That is about to change.

Francis must report to spring training, along with the Royals’ other pitchers and catchers, by Feb. 15 in Surprise, Ariz. He could be Kansas City’s opening-day starter against the visiting Los Angeles Angels on March 31.

With ace Zack Greinke traded to Milwaukee over the winter, the Royals’ projected starters include non-household names such as Luke Hochevar, Kyle Davies, Sean O’Sullivan and newcomer Vin Mazzaro.

Francis admitted to knowing very little about the American League and the teams he would be facing this season after spending his entire major-league career in the National League.

“In his playing career, Bob [McClure] switched leagues [three] times and he mentioned to me that a lot of times unfamiliarity favours the pitcher,” Francis said. “Hopefully, I can use that to my advantage. There’s no question having that [designated hitter] in the lineup [instead of a pitcher in the NL] makes a difference.”

Besides McClure, Royals catcher Jason Kendall will help Francis get quickly comfortable in his new surrounding. Like McClure, the 36-year-old backstop has switched leagues three times, returning to the AL last season with the Royals. He played two-plus seasons with Oakland from 2005 to 2007.

“I’ve never met a pitcher who didn’t like throwing to him,” said Francis. “The guy goes out and catches 150 games a year [151 in 2008, 118 last year] so there’s no question about his durability and his commitment to his pitchers.”

Francis went on the disabled list last August with a “very sore” throwing shoulder, but returned in mid-September and finished the season healthy. He said there hasn’t been any soreness or setbacks during the off-season.

“I’m happy where I am,” said Francis, adding he would continue building arm strength and sharpening his skills leading into spring training. “I’ve done all I can to prepare, so it’s just a matter of going on the field and letting things take care of themselves.”

Francis, who called 2011 a sink or swim year for himself, is excited to pitch for a Royals outfit that has turned in seven consecutive losing seasons, but boasts some talented youngsters and the best farm system in the game, according to Baseball America.

“I’ve had three below-average years,” he said, “and I’ve got this opportunity to go out and [start], be healthy. I expect to be myself. I expect to go out there and be an effective pitcher and win some games for the Kansas City Royals.

“If I don’t, there might be some other options out there, who knows? I’m certainly not planning for that.”

The Kansas City Royals haven’t gotten many things right over the recent years.

Owner David Glass ran a tight ship, spending little money on keeping their talented players or on free agency, scouting or the draft.

The general managers have made poor trade after poor trade (ex. David Cone for Chris Stynes and two minor leaguers; Johnny Damon for Angel Berroa; and Jermaine Dye for Neifi Perez).

When the Royals have spent money on free agents, it has seemingly always been the wrong ones (ex. Juan Gonzalez, Benito Santiago and Jose Guillen).

They have whiffed on several draft picks over the years. In 1997, the Royals selected pitcher Dan Reichert (21 career wins) over the likes of Lance Berkman and Jayson Werth. In 1998, Kansas City grabbed pitcher Jeff Austin (two career wins) with the No. 4 overall pick over the likes of J.D. Drew, Carlos Pena and CC Sabathia. Most recently, the Royals selected pitcher Luke Hochevar with the No. 1 overall pick in a 2006 draft class that included Evan Longoria and Tim Lincecum.

Kansas City even got the steroids era wrong. Since 1995, only five Royals players have had 30-home run seasons. Danny Tartabull had 31 in 1991, Gary Gaetti hit 35 in 1995, Chili Davis hit 30 in 1997, Dean Palmer had 34 homers in 1998 and Dye smacked 33 in 2000. The Royals, the Minnesota Twins and the Pittsburgh Pirates are the only teams in baseball to not have a player with a 40-homer season over that same time span. (Of course, I’m not saying more Royals should have used steroids, but in the days where second baseman were hitting 40 homers right and left you would hope for a little more offensive firepower.

Yes, the Royals have made plenty of mistakes.

However, one thing they’ve gotten right is Royals FanFest. The annual event at the Overland Park Convention Center gives fans the opportunity to hit in the batting cages, run the bases, meet current and former Royals, listen to player interviews and receive autographs.

I took my 7-year-old son Kyler to the event again this past weekend, and we had a tremendous time. With the snow on the ground, it leaves me yearning for baseball.

This event allows my son to pick up the bat again and for us to start talking baseball. He was allowed to get up close to all of the players he watched on television last year (Billy Butler, Alex Gordon, Hochevar, etc.), and I was able to see the players from my youth (George Brett, Willie Wilson, Dennis Leonard, etc.).

However, what sets this event apart is that they make it kid friendly. Kyler not only got to play baseball, but he got to do it while receiving instruction from Royals players and alumni. Over the years, the likes of Kevin Seitzer, Jason Kendall, John Mayberry, Gordon and Hochevar have given assistance while Kyler was playing. These are the types of things that create lasting memories.

Of course, the Royals aren’t the only team to do this type of offseason event. However, Kansas City runs it right. Rumor has it that at the FanFest for the St. Louis Cardinals, Albert Pujols was charging $175 for autographs.

The Royals truly make it for the fans. Kansas City’s best position player, Billy Butler, was signing autographs for free at FanFest, and even traveled to Pittsburg’s Meadowbrook Mall on Monday as part of the Royals Caravan.

That should be applauded, because it’s real easy to point out all of the Royals’ mistakes.
This is a time to take notice when they get something right.

Mark Schremmer is a Pittsburg native who has been a journalist in Kansas for more than 10 years. He currently serves as assistant news editor at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached at markschremmer@yahoo.com.

By Daniel Bates
Last updated at 8:42 AM on 28th January 2011

• Injury-plagued star made only nine starts – and didn’t win a single game

A baseball pitcher has handed back the $12million he earned last year because he ‘didn’t feel he was worth it’.

In a rare show of humility from a top sportsman, Gil Meche gave the cash back to the Kansas City Royals after what he admitted was a miserable performance.

The star signing was on three times more than anybody else on the team but only made nine starts all year without scoring a single win.

He said: ‘This isn’t about being a hero – that’s not even close to what it’s about.

‘It’s just me getting back to a point in my life where I’m comfortable. Making that amount of money from a team that’s already given me over $40 million for my life and for my kids, it just wasn’t the right thing to do.’

Meche, 32, signed a five-year $55million contract at the start of the 2007 season with the Royals – at which point he was considered a prize catch.

Initially he played well but by 2009 his body began to fail and last year, the final year of his contract, he became plagued by an injury to his right shoulder.

The temptation would be to work the system and sit it out until the end of the contract.

Meche said that, when he looked back at the season he had had, there was no way he could take the $12million.

He told the New York Times: ‘When you don’t want to play ball, it’s no use. If it’s not in my heart to keep playing, to keep pushing to pitch, I had to do what I had to do. Next month may be a funny feeling from what I’m used to, but I’m really content with it.

‘It got to the point where I wasn’t going to lie to myself and say, “I’m going to be healthy, I’m ready to roll, I can’t wait to get going”.

‘None of those things were true. Last year when I left for Kansas City, I said all those things, and I thought I’d be able to do it.

‘Once I got home after the season, I just didn’t have it in my heart to keep playing. I think I did the right thing with the feeling I was having about pitching. It wasn’t fair to the team or my teammates to go back.’

The divorced father of three now plans to spend more time with his children aged seven, five and three.

His decision drew praise and bewilderment from bloggers and commentators.

Jim Duquette, the former Mets general manager, said: ‘It’s just so odd and so rare. There was no way that we would have ever had a conversation like, “Hey, Mo, listen, you’re not able to play, so you should retire”.‘

On one newspaper website, Dee Luthur from Newton, MA, added: ‘WOW! What a courageous decision, and what refreshing moral fibre Mr Meche possesses.

‘I do not know him, but I am extremely proud of him. I will make sure my six young nephews know who he is, and that his behaviour is to be emulated. Bravo, young man.’

Meche’s decision has parallels with that of train conductor Keith Fitzhugh who rejected the chance to play American football in the NFL to carry on doing his regular job instead.

The 24-year-old from Hampton, Georgia, said he was flattered by the offer from the New York Jets but could not risk losing a steady pay cheque, which the Jets could not guarantee, to support his family.

 

ROYALS INVITE LEFT-HANDER BRANDON SISK TO MAJOR LEAGUE SPRING TRAINING

KANSAS CITY, MO (January 27, 2011) – The Kansas City Royals announced today that the club has extended an invitation to Major League Spring Training camp to left-handed pitcher Brandon Sisk. Sisk becomes the 24th non-roster invitee (14th pitcher) to Royals’ Major League camp.

Sisk, 25, pitched the entire 2010 campaign for Northwest Arkansas (AA), posting a 4-6 record with nine saves and a 4.46 ERA in 40 relief appearances. The 6-foot-1, 212-pound southpaw struck out 63 in 68.2 innings. The 2009 Wilmington Pitcher of the Year finished the 2010 season with Surprise in the Arizona Fall League, posting a 2.51 ERA in 10 relief stints, allowing hitters just a .167 opponent batting average.

Signed as a non-drafted free agent out of Azusa (Calif.) Pacific University on July 8, 2008, Sisk currently resides in Elkhart, Texas.