SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) – Jeremy Jeffress’ fastball has registered triple digits on radar guns. Where that fastball goes after it leaves his right hand had been anybody’s guess.

   Jeffress showed superb control Tuesday in two perfect innings, striking out two, as the Kansas City Royals beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-5. Alex Gordon and Lorenzo Cain homered for the Royals, while Johnny Giavotella and Eric Hosmer each drove in two runs.

   Jeffress, Milwaukee’s 2006 first-round pick who was acquired in the Zack Greinke trade, began last season in the Royals bullpen, but was sent to the minors May 19 after walking 11 in 15 1-3 innings.

   He threw 16 strikes in 24 pitches against the Reds.

   “I was really impressed with the amount of strikes I threw,” Jeffress said. “Last year was a pretty tough year with the walks.”

   Derrick Lewis, his pitching coach in the Arizona Fall League, made an adjustment in Jeffress’ delivery that could pay huge dividends.

   “He said he didn’t throw hard, but he knew mechanics,” Jeffress said. “I told him, `Get me the mechanics and I’ll do the rest.”‘

   In three exhibition outings, Jeffress has allowed one hit, walked one and struck out four in four innings.

   “Jeffress jumped out at me pretty good,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “We all know his stuff is extremely electric. He does throw 96 to 100 miles per hour. He has a fantastic breaking ball. Command has been what he’s battled in his career to this point. The last five or six outings in the fall league something clicked for him. He got to a point where his mechanics were working for him and he started banging strikes. He’s brought that into spring training. It’s been a real pleasant surprise seeing him command the ball the way that he has.”

   Left-hander Jonathan Sanchez, who was the Royals’ key offseason acquisition in a trade with San Francisco, gave up four runs on three hits, including Jay Bruce’s homer, and two walks in two-plus innings. He threw 51 pitches, 30 for strikes.

   “I was trying to throw my off-speed pitches behind in the count,” Sanchez said. “I’m getting there. It doesn’t matter what happened. I’m good. I’m just getting my rhythm and getting the feel of the game. I missed my spot with Bruce, left a fastball over the middle. That happens once in a while, but it’s not going to happen again.”

   Yost called it “a good step” for Sanchez.

   Mike Leake, the Reds’ starter, allowed four runs on eight hits and two walks in three innings in his third start.

   “Everything was working fine,” said Leake, who led the Reds with 12 victories last year. “It was just dropping the elbow and getting in a few 2-0 counts. I feel strong. I even felt strongest in that last inning. I feel good about where I’m at right now.”

   Many hits off Leake were ground balls.

   “It’s Arizona, so I think all the infields are hard,” said Leake, who was a 2009 first-round pick out of Arizona State. “I’m glad I was getting ground balls, but they were finding holes. A couple of those found their way through the five (third base) hole that they were working.”

   Bruce, who also had a run-producing single in the third, extended his hitting streak to six games, the longest this spring by the Reds. Scott Rolen went 0-for-1 and walked twice, ending his five-game hitting streak.

   Notes: Royals C Salvador Perez left after the first inning with a knee injury. Yost said Perez hurt his knee while warming up Sanchez in the bullpen. He was taken for an MRI. . Royals DH Mike Moustakas was a late scratch with a sore right knee, which was bruised after being hit by a pitch Monday. . Reds LF Chris Heisey struck out in the third and fifth innings and has struck out 10 times in 21 at-bats.

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) – Alex Gordon and Lorenzo Cain homered and Everett Teaford pitched three scoreless innings as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Cincinnati Reds 7-5 on Tuesday.

Gordon’s home run to lead off the fourth snapped a 4-4 tie. Cain homered to open the fifth. Teaford struck out four in three innings to pick up the victory in relief.

Jay Bruce homered in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to six games, the longest by the Reds this spring.

Neither starting pitcher was sharp. Reds right-hander Mike Leake allowed four runs on eight hits and two walks in three innings. Royals left-hander Jonathan Sanchez left after 51 pitches in two-plus innings, charged with four runs on three hits and two walks.

Royals catcher Salvador Perez left after one inning with a knee injury and was taken for an MRI.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

When the Kansas City Royals arrived in Arizona this spring, there were many question marks around the team’s pitching, or lack thereof. Lucky for Royals’ fans, many of those pitching questions are being answered with pleasant answers in the first 8 games of spring training.

While it is difficult to get an accurate read of a team through only the first 8 games; it is fair to say that the staff as a whole is pitching well. 29 different pitchers have recorded at least 1 inning pitched, giving up a very low 25 earned runs as the Royals have jumped out to a 5 – 3 spring training records.

One of the biggest questions of the year is which two players will round out the starting rotation. Luke Hochevar and Bruce Chen are locks, and Jonathan Sanchez looks to have a firm grip on a starting job as well. Hochevar looked great in his first outing while Chen and Sanchez both looked shaky giving up a combined 11 hits and 7 earned runs in 2 2/3 innings pitched.

In my mind, Aaron Crow and left-hander Danny Duffy look to be the clear favorites for the fourth and fifth spots in the rotation. Both young pitchers have been pitching well out of the gate and are beginning to separate themselves from the pack.

Through the first 8 games of spring training, here is a list of who is looking sharp and who is starting out slow for the Royals:

Looking Sharp

Aaron Crow: 1 game, 2 IP, 0 hits, 0 earned runs, 2 SO, 1 BB

Luke Hockevar: 1 game, 2 IP, 1 hit, 1 earned run, 1 SO, 1 BB

Luis Mendoza: 2 games, 6 IP, 3 hits, 0 earned runs, 4 SO, 1 BB

Danny Duffy: 1 game, 2 IP, 0 hits, 0 earned runs, 5 SO, 1 BB

Slow Out of the Gates

Bruce Chen: 1 game, 1 2/3 IP, 7 hits, 4 earned runs, 0 SO, 0 BB

Jonathan Sanchez: 1 game, 1 IP, 4 hits, 3 earned runs, 1 SO, 0 BB

Vin Mazzaro: 2 games, 4 IP, 6 hits, 4 earned runs, 1 SO, 0 BB

Zach Miner: 1 game, 1 2/3 IP, 3 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 SO, 1 BB

Alex Wibholm is an Iowa native and fan of the Kansas City Royals and AL Central Division. Alex attends several KC games every year.

Sources:

http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) – Scott Rolen singled in a run to help a Cincinnati Reds split squad beat the Kansas City Royals 5-1 on Friday.

Rolen’s health is a key for Cincinnati after the veteran third baseman played in only 65 games for the Reds last season. He had surgery on his left shoulder in July.

Rolen has five hits in nine at-bats this spring and appears to be mobile in the field.

Royals left-hander Danny Duffy, in his first spring start, struck out 5 of the six batters he faced, including Rolen. The Royals’ third-round pick in 2007 started 20 games last season after being recalled May 18.

Reds starter Homer Bailey, the leading candidate to be the fifth starter, allowed a hit and a walk in three scoreless innings.

Minor league outfielder Donald Lutz hit his second home run of the spring off Vin Mazzaro, who came to Kansas City in exchange for David DeJesus.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Cincinnati Reds third baseman Scott Rolen fouled off some tough pitches from Vin Mazzaro before hitting an RBI single on Friday.

“I will take at-bats like that all year long,” Rolen said.

All year long? The Reds would like that very much, too.

Rolen’s health is a big key for Cincinnati, which beat the Kansas City Royals 5-1 on Friday. He played in only 65 games last season and had surgery on his left shoulder in July.

Rolen has five hits in nine at-bats this spring and appears to be mobile in the field.

“I’m not worried about my health or seeing the ball,” he said. “I didn’t go home tired last season. I felt like I didn’t contribute last season.”

Reds manager Dusty Baker is thrilled to have Rolen back. Cincinnati sorely missed his presence in the middle of the lineup last season, when it slipped from NL Central champions to 79-83.

“Scotty is getting ready,” Baker said. “He’s not there yet but almost.”

Royals left-hander Danny Duffy struck out five in two hitless innings in his first spring start. Duffy, who was selected by Kansas City in the third round of the 2007 draft, started 20 games last season after he was recalled May 18.

He had problems with the strike zone last year but made adjustments to his delivery.

“I dropped my glove a little so my motion is less violent,” Duffy said. “It was a good outing. There is a long way to go but so far the adjustments have worked.”

Reds right-hander Homer Bailey, who is competing with Aroldis Chapman for the fifth spot in the rotation, allowed a hit and a walk in three scoreless innings.

“Homer threw the ball well,” Baker said. “His velocity and location, everything was good today.”

Minor league outfielder Donald Lutz hit his second home run of the spring for Cincinnati.

NOTES: David Lough had two hits for Kansas City. … Lorenzo Cain, who came to the Royals in the Zack Greinke trade, was on base twice with a hit and a walk. … Reds RF Jay Bruce, who lost 16 pounds over the winter, has no home runs but is hitting .625. … Reds 1B Joey Votto is hitting .333 this spring.

Cabrillo High graduate Danny Duffy made a successful spring debut Friday for the Kansas City Royals. The 23 year old started for the Royals in their Spring Training game against the Cincinnati Reds.

The left-hander struck out five of the six batters he faced, including Scott Rolen. He retired the Reds in order in the first two innings, before calling it a day.

The Royals’ third-round pick in 2007 started 20 games last season after being recalled May 18. He is expected to compete for one of the spots in the Royals’ starting rotation this season.

The Reds went on to beat Kansas city 5-1.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP)—Cincinnati Reds third baseman Scott Rolen fouled off
some tough pitches from Vin Mazzaro before hitting an RBI single on Friday.

“I will take at-bats like that all year long,” Rolen said.

All year long? The Reds would like that very much, too.

Rolen’s health is a big key for Cincinnati, which beat the Kansas City
Royals 5-1 on Friday. He played in only 65 games last season and had surgery on
his left shoulder in July.

Rolen has five hits in nine at-bats this spring and appears to be mobile in
the field.

“I’m not worried about my health or seeing the ball,” he said. “I didn’t
go home tired last season. I felt like I didn’t contribute last season.”

Reds manager Dusty Baker is thrilled to have Rolen back. Cincinnati sorely
missed his presence in the middle of the lineup last season, when it slipped
from NL Central champions to 79-83.

“Scotty is getting ready,” Baker said. “He’s not there yet but almost.”

Royals left-hander Danny Duffy struck out five in two hitless innings in his
first spring start. Duffy, who was selected by Kansas City in the third round of
the 2007 draft, started 20 games last season after he was recalled May 18.

He had problems with the strike zone last year but made adjustments to his
delivery.

“I dropped my glove a little so my motion is less violent,” Duffy said.
“It was a good outing. There is a long way to go but so far the adjustments
have worked.”

Reds right-hander Homer Bailey, who is competing with Aroldis Chapman for
the fifth spot in the rotation, allowed a hit and a walk in three scoreless
innings.

“Homer threw the ball well,” Baker said. “His velocity and location,
everything was good today.”

Minor league outfielder Donald Lutz hit his second home run of the spring
for Cincinnati.

NOTES: David Lough had two hits for Kansas City. … Lorenzo Cain, who came
to the Royals in the Zack Greinke trade, was on base twice with a hit and a
walk. … Reds RF Jay Bruce, who lost 16 pounds over the winter, has no home
runs but is hitting .625. … Reds 1B Joey Votto is hitting .333 this spring.

I think most Kansas City Royals fans would agree that for the team to make any sort of run for the post season in 2012, the starting rotation will have to come up big. If just a couple guys can step up and get 16 or 17 wins, this young ballclub has a real chance at a special season.

Let’s take a look back at the 5 greatest pitching seasons in Kansas City Royals’ history.

5. Dennis Leonard (1977); 20 – 12 record, 3.04 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, .227 AVG, 244 SO, 79 BB

Dennis Leonard was an absolute workhorse in the late 1970s and early 1980s. During that span Leonard had 3 seasons in which he hit the 20 win plateau and broke the 280 IP threshold. His banner year came in 1977 when he had a career best 3.04 ERA and threw a team record 244 strikeouts, which still stands to this day.

4. Zack Greinke (2009); 16 – 8 record, 2.16 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, .230 AVG, 242 SO, 51 BB

If there is one ex-Royal playing today that the organization would love to have playing back in Kansas City, it would be Zack Greinke. In 2009, Greinke became a full-fledged superstar by putting up 242 strikeouts in only 229 IP, with an impressive ERA of 2.16 and 1.07 WHIP.

3. Roger Nelson (1972); 11 – 6 record, 2.08 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, .196 AVG, 120 SO, 31 BB

Roger Nelson’s 1972 season is perhaps one of the most underappreciated pitching campaigns in MLB history. His 0.87 WHIP, 2.08 ERA and .196 AVG marks are still single season records for Royals starting pitchers. If there are blemishes to Nelson’s year, it would be only picking up 11 wins and throwing well under 200 IP that season.

2. Bret Saberhagen (1985); 20 – 6 record, 2.87 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, .241 AVG, 158 SO, 38 BB

1985 was the first of Saberhagen’s two Cy Young Award winning seasons, which came on top of a World Series MVP. Statistically, there have been more dominate years, but there is no denying that Saberhagen was the key to the 1985 World Series title, and in team sports, titles are what make players and seasons great.

1. Bret Saberhagen (1989); 23 – 6 record, 2.16 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, .217 AVG, 190 SO, 43 BB

1989 was the second and last Cy Young Award winning season for Saberhagen. Though the team didn’t win the title that year, Saberhagen’s 1989 numbers clearly outshine his numbers from 1985. When comparing the two years, his win total and strikeouts were considerably higher, while at the same time he was able to drop is ERA, WHIP and AVG by large margins as well.

Alex Wibholm is an Iowa native and fan of the Kansas City Royals and AL Central Division. Alex attends several KC games every year.

Sources:

http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

In the upcoming 2012 season, the Kansas City Royals will need to rely heavily on offensive production to make a run at the post season. With a mediocre starting rotation, putting a lot runs on the board will be key for the Royals to produce wins.

If any of the young studs on the current roster can have seasons like those listed below, it should be an exciting year to be a Royals fan.

And now, my list of the 5 greatest offensive seasons in Kansas City Royals’ history:

5. Johnny Damon (2000); .327 AVG, .382 OBP, 214 hits, 42 2B, 10 3B, 136 runs

Before Johnny Damon became a household name with the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, he started his All-Star career with the Royals. His 214 hits and 136 runs in the 2000 season still rank in the top 3 for single season efforts of any Royals player.

4. Willie Wilson (1980); .326 AVG, .357 OBP, 230 hits, 133 runs, 79 SB

While his 1980 numbers lacked power (3 HR) and walks (28 BB), Willie Wilson’s season that year was phenomenal. His 230 hit total is still a team record for a single season, while his 133 runs and 79 stolen bases continue to hold second place marks.

3. Mike Sweeney (2000); .333 AVG, .407 OBP, 206 hits, 29 HR, 144 RBIs

Perhaps the greatest offensive player in Royals’ history not named George Brett, Mike Sweeney’s 2000 season was one for the record books. Few Royals have been able to have a season with a combination of huge power numbers and the ability to simply put the ball in play and get on base.

2. George Brett (1985); .335 AVG, .436 OBP, 184 hits, 5 3B, 30 HR, 112 RBIs

In the second best season of his Hall of Fame career, Brett carried the Royals to the 1985 World Series title. His numbers that year of .335 AVG, .417 OBP, 103 BB and 30 HR all still crack the organization’s top 10 in their respective single season statistical records.

1. George Brett (1980); .390 AVG, .454 OBP, 175 hits, 9 3B, 24 HR, 118 RBIs

George Brett’s 1980 season is the gold standard to which all Royals players have to shoot for. The numbers speak for themselves. Brett’s .390 AVG is a full 50 points higher than the second best batting average of any other Royals player in franchise history. On top of that, he only had 22 strikeouts in 449 AB. With numbers like that, it is no wonder he is, and will always be, the face of the franchise.

Alex Wibholm is an Iowa native and fan of the Kansas City Royals and AL Central Division. Alex attends several KC games every year.

Sources:

http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

Shelley Duncan is picking up where he left off last year for the Cleveland Indians.

Duncan hit his second three-run homer in three games to lead the Indians to a 3-2 win over a Kansas City Royals split squad on Tuesday.

“He’s a bat that at any moment can pop one out,” Indians manager Manny Acta said of Duncan, who had seven homers and 23 RBIs in 26 games in September.

Duncan homered in the third inning off reliever Zach Miner, who is working his way back from Tommy John surgery in 2010.

Starter Will Smith and Noel Arguelles each worked two scoreless innings for the Royals. Irving Falu, who has 17 homers in eight years in the minors, hit a two-run shot for Kansas City.

Duncan has had plenty of power in the minors yet is still seeking a steady job in Cleveland.

He has hit 203 homers in 12 years as a pro — only 22 in parts of five seasons at the big-league level with the New York Yankees and Indians.

With Grady Sizemore sidelined at least two months following back surgery, there’s an opening in the Indians outfield.

Acta isn’t even looking for somebody to match Sizemore’s Gold Glove-caliber defense, but is eager to get some right-handed production for a predominantly left-handed lineup that struggled to score last season.

“Every guy in the big leagues can play left field,” Acta said. “How well (can Duncan), we’ll see. Defense is very important to us because we have a staff of contact pitchers. But at times, you have to give up defense for some offense because scoring has been an issue here.”

Kevin Slowey worked two scoreless innings in his Indians debut. Acquired from Colorado in January after being dealt to the Rockies by Minnesota in December, the 27-year-old is looking to bounce back from an 0-8 season with a 6.67 ERA last year for the Twins.

“It’s tough to assess much over two innings, but I threw all my pitches and felt fine,” Slowey said.

Bench coach Chino Cadahia managed the Royals and liked what he saw from all his pitchers, especially hard-throwing reliever Jeremy Jeffress.

Jeffress, part of the trade that sent former Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke to Milwaukee after the 2010 season, struck out one over one scoreless inning.

“He’s got a big fastball and can play a big role for us,” Cadahia said. “They all threw well. Zach had that one (homer) that got away, but he threw free and easy.”

Notes: Indians RHP Chris Perez, sidelined with a left oblique strain, played catch in his first baseball activity since being hurt Feb 24. “I played catch, no big deal,” the All-Star closer said after making 45 throws from 60 feet. … Sizemore returned to Indians camp and began rehab. He had surgery for a herniated disc on Friday. … Falu, Billy Butler and Brayan Pena each had two of the Royals’ 10 hits. … Royals right fielder Wil Myers made a nice diving catch of a liner hit by Jason Donald in the first inning. … Acta took note of veteran INF Cristian Guzman, in camp as a non-roster invitee. “He’s already set a record,” said Acta, who managed Guzman in Washington. “Sometimes it takes him two months to get two walks. He’s got two in two games.”