Royalsblog

Royals outfielder, Lorenzo Cain, was optioned to Triple-A earlier today so he could be in the lineup every day. He was competing for a fifth outfielder spot, but manager, Ned Yost, didn’t want him sitting on the bench all the time. “He has the ability to be an everyday player, a young player that needs the at-bats Has Lorenzo Cain played well enough to make this club? Sure he has. But, for me, I don’t rest well knowing I have a kid like Lorenzo on my team playing once or twice a week,” Yost said. He is obviously impressed with Cain because he wants him to get his reps and at-bats in everyday down in Omaha. The Royals are looking forward to the Season Opener with thius young roster.

With the Opening Night of the 2011 season only 11 days away, Royals manager, Ned Yost’s job only gets tougher. Joakim Soria and Robinson Tejeda are the only definite pitchers in for the Royals bullpen. There are eleven or twelve pitchers still pitching for only six or seven spots left for the bully. Yost expects Tejeda to be the leader in the bullpen. He had a 2.05 ERA in his last 44 appearences. “I feel more relaxed than ever,” he said on Saturday. He also said he doesn’t feel any pressure on the mound anymore. He just goes out and pitches. This relaxation seems to be helping him hit the stike zone with accuracy, which has been one of his weak spots in previous seasons. With the beginning of the sesason just around the corner, it will be interesting to see how the Royals bullpen ends up pitching.

Outfielder Alex Gordon drove in six runs in yesterday’s matchup against the Dodgers. Three of the RBI’s came off a three run homer that towered over the right field fence. The Royals scored nineteen in a 19-7 over the Dodgers. Royals starter O’Sullivan pitched 3 1/3 innings and gave up 3. O’Sullivan’s pitch location seemed to be off as there was alot of contact made agianst him, but look for a rebound the next time he’s on the mound. The Royals face the Brewers next.

When Royals’ manager, Ned Yost, was asked about starting pitcher, Sean O’Sullivan, he leaned back in his office chair and didn’t seem to want to say fantastic, but that’s exactly what he said. “He’s looked fantastic,”Yost finally said. After a 3-6 record for the Royals last year in 14 appearences, with a 6.11 ERA, O’Sullivan came back to Spring Training 20 pounds lighter. He said he needed a change and for him that was cooking his own meals and not going out to eat. While O’Sullivan has impressed Yost, other pitchers like Everett Teaford and Vin Mazzaro have started Spring Training with rocky appearences. It is still very early, so there is still plenty of time for this young roster to get ready for the season opener.