 06/19/2003 6:18 PM ET
Royals notes: Lopez released
Right-hander allowed seven earned runs Thursday
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By Robert Falkoff / MLB.com
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KANSAS CITY -- Moments after Thursday's game against Minnesota, the
Royals announced they had released veteran right-hander Albie Lopez.
The Royals will swallow Lopez's $1.5 million guaranteed contract. Lopez
entered Thursday's game against Minnesota in the fifth inning and allowed
six hits and seven earned runs in two-thirds of an inning. Lopez departed
with a 12.71 earned run average. He recently returned after a stint on the
disabled list with a groin injury.
"We expected Albie to pitch better than he did," Royals general manager
Allard Baird said. "When he went on the disabled list with the groin
injury, we felt it would be a situation where he not only got physically
healthy, but also would benefit from a mental break. It just didn't work
out. It was time for us to move forward."
The Royals are expected to bring up a pitcher from the minor leagues
Friday to take Lopez's spot on the roster.Big changes: One of the biggest changes in the Royals from 2002 to
2003 revolves around the Minnesota factor.
Last year, the Royals were pummeled, 14-5, by Minnesota in the season
series. The 14 wins were the most by either team in the all-time series.
But it has been a different story this year with Kansas City taking
control.
Jason Grimsley
/ P
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"I think it says a whole lot about our starting pitchers," Royals
reliever Jason Grimsley said. "Last year, they'd jump on us early and
score four or five runs in the first few innings. We were pretty much out
of the ballgame before the fifth inning. Now, it's different. We know
we're going to be in the ballgame and they know we're going to be in the
ballgame."
The Royals set the tone against Minnesota by taking a pair of
one-run games at Kauffman Stadium in late April. Kansas City then battled
for a split of a four-game series at the Metrodome, winning the finale in
14 innings. Going into Thursday's game, the Royals had scored 31 runs in
the opening three games of their series against Minnesota.
"They are the defending champions of the division and there's an
energy you feel when you play the champions," Royals pitcher Kris Wilson
said. "Anytime you have the first-place team going against the
second-place team, it's an exciting feeling. We've still got a lot of
games left with these guys so it should be fun the rest of the season."
The Royals will visit the Metrodome for a two-game set, July 23-24.
Minnesota comes back to Kauffman for a three-game series, Aug. 15-17, and
the teams will play a four-game set at the Metrodome, Aug. 21-24.
Finding a home: Royals pitching coach John
Cumberland, who was dismissed in a staff shuffle at Boston in 2001, has
found a happy home in the Kansas City organization.
"I didn't even know if I wanted to stay in the game
because I was so disappointed by what happened in Boston," Cumberland
said. "But (general manager) Allard Baird gave me an opportunity to come
here and things worked out for me."
Cumberland wasn't even on the Royals' radar screen
when Spring Training commenced in 2002. But an opening for a Triple-A
pitching coach at Omaha developed when Dick Pole left as roving minor
league pitching instructor to take a job as the pitching coach at
Montreal. Rich Mahler was moved from Omaha pitching coach to Pole's job
and the Royals hired Cumberland to take over at Omaha. A few months later,
the Royals fired pitching coach Al Nipper and promoted Cumberland.
"I hope that in some small way I can help this
organization get back to where it was years ago when it contended every
year," Cumberland said. "With what we've got here, I really believe that
can happen."
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Mike Sweeney
/ 1B
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Sweeney rest: First baseman Mike Sweeney was out of
the starting lineup Thursday as he continues to recuperate from upper
back stiffness.
Sweeney said the stiffness is not related to the
back and hip strain he suffered last year when he missed 30 games.
Manager Tony Peña prefers to take a cautious
approach with players who have minor injuries so that it doesn't develop
into something more serious.
Surprise gathering: The Royals are gathering a
collection of Major League players at their complex in Surprise, Ariz.
Right-hander Miguel Asencio, who recently underwent
arthroscopic elbow surgery, is in post-operation rehab in Surprise.
Right-hander Runelvys Hernandez is throwing on a rehab assignment there
and outfielder Dee Brown has reported to Surprise as he recovers from a
left wrist sprain. Robert Falkoff is a reporter for
MLB.com. This story was not subject to approval by Major League Baseball
or its clubs.
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