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03-22-2003, 11:00 AM
Falkoff's another former writer from Houston, same as Chris Haft covering the Reds for MLB
by Robert Falkoff @ MLB.com (http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/kc/news/kc_news.jsp?ymd=20030321&content_id=227143&vkey=spt2003news&fext=.jsp)
http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/images/2003/03/21/dEIDRfW9.jpg
Roster takes shape
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- With just over a week remaining in Spring Training, the Royals' personnel picture is coming into sharp focus for manager Tony Peña.
Peña said Friday that Carlos Febles has held off challenger Desi Relaford for the starting second base job. But Peña quickly added that Relaford is going to get plenty of at-bats and will be a big part of the Kansas City ballclub.
"Not only can he play second, but shortstop and third base, too," said Pena. "Angel Berroa will need off time. Joe Randa will need off time."
Even as a non-starter, Peña predicts Relaford will get plenty of at-bats. The competition seemed to spark both Febles and Relaford. Going into Saturday's game, Febles was hitting .382 with a .488 on-base percentage in 34 at-bats.
Relaford, who was slowed early by a sore bunion, was hitting .462 in 13 at-bats. But Relaford had a tough day at the plate Saturday, going 0-for-5 against the A's.
Meanwhile, Peña appears close to settling on Michael Tucker as his everyday leadoff hitter.
"If I say Michael Tucker is my leadoff guy on Sunday, the 23rd, then Michael Tucker will be my leadoff guy the rest of the way, no matter what," Peña said.
Since Peña has already settled on Randa as his No. 2 hitter, Tucker looms as a stronger leadoff candidate because of Tucker's base-stealing potential. The Royals want a man at second with nobody out as often as possible with Randa in the No. 2 hole. Randa is adept at moving runners along.
The chemistry could be right for a Tucker-Randa combo because Tucker stole 23 bases last year, which ranked second on the club behind Carlos Beltran's 35 steals.
"I think Michael can steal 35 to 40 bases," Peña said.
If Tucker leads off, the bottom three in the order would likely include Febles, Brent Mayne and Berroa. Peña said he could envision that trio holding up its end of the offensive burden.
"You can do a lot of things with those guys," Peña said. "Mayne is a contact guy. Febles and Berroa have speed."
Careful planning: For planning purposes, Peña said Friday he isn't expecting to have center fielder Carlos Beltran until approximately April 15.
Beltran is recovering from a strained right oblique muscle and is expected to start the year on the disabled list.
"If he comes back before that, great," Peña said. "But I prepare myself for the worst."
Heading west: Peña wished former Royals outfielder Mark Quinn well after hearing Friday that Quinn has signed a minor league deal with the Padres.
"Good for him," Peña said.
The irony of the Quinn situation is that he'll be reunited with former Royals manager Tony Muser. Quinn and Muser, now the bench coach of the Padres, never saw eye-to-eye when the two were paired in Kansas City.
The skipper says: "If we broke camp today -- Dee Brown and (Ken) Harvey -- both of those kids are on my ballclub." -- Tony Peña
How's the weather: It was warm and pleasant Friday with the temperature rising to the high 70s. The next couple of days are supposed to be even warmer.
Coming up: The Royals will travel to Peoria Saturday to meet the San Diego Padres in a 2:05 p.m. (CT) game. Right-hander Kyle Snyder will draw the start. It's a big outing for Snyder in his quest to be in the starting rotation.
by Robert Falkoff @ MLB.com (http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/kc/news/kc_news.jsp?ymd=20030321&content_id=227143&vkey=spt2003news&fext=.jsp)
http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/images/2003/03/21/dEIDRfW9.jpg
Roster takes shape
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- With just over a week remaining in Spring Training, the Royals' personnel picture is coming into sharp focus for manager Tony Peña.
Peña said Friday that Carlos Febles has held off challenger Desi Relaford for the starting second base job. But Peña quickly added that Relaford is going to get plenty of at-bats and will be a big part of the Kansas City ballclub.
"Not only can he play second, but shortstop and third base, too," said Pena. "Angel Berroa will need off time. Joe Randa will need off time."
Even as a non-starter, Peña predicts Relaford will get plenty of at-bats. The competition seemed to spark both Febles and Relaford. Going into Saturday's game, Febles was hitting .382 with a .488 on-base percentage in 34 at-bats.
Relaford, who was slowed early by a sore bunion, was hitting .462 in 13 at-bats. But Relaford had a tough day at the plate Saturday, going 0-for-5 against the A's.
Meanwhile, Peña appears close to settling on Michael Tucker as his everyday leadoff hitter.
"If I say Michael Tucker is my leadoff guy on Sunday, the 23rd, then Michael Tucker will be my leadoff guy the rest of the way, no matter what," Peña said.
Since Peña has already settled on Randa as his No. 2 hitter, Tucker looms as a stronger leadoff candidate because of Tucker's base-stealing potential. The Royals want a man at second with nobody out as often as possible with Randa in the No. 2 hole. Randa is adept at moving runners along.
The chemistry could be right for a Tucker-Randa combo because Tucker stole 23 bases last year, which ranked second on the club behind Carlos Beltran's 35 steals.
"I think Michael can steal 35 to 40 bases," Peña said.
If Tucker leads off, the bottom three in the order would likely include Febles, Brent Mayne and Berroa. Peña said he could envision that trio holding up its end of the offensive burden.
"You can do a lot of things with those guys," Peña said. "Mayne is a contact guy. Febles and Berroa have speed."
Careful planning: For planning purposes, Peña said Friday he isn't expecting to have center fielder Carlos Beltran until approximately April 15.
Beltran is recovering from a strained right oblique muscle and is expected to start the year on the disabled list.
"If he comes back before that, great," Peña said. "But I prepare myself for the worst."
Heading west: Peña wished former Royals outfielder Mark Quinn well after hearing Friday that Quinn has signed a minor league deal with the Padres.
"Good for him," Peña said.
The irony of the Quinn situation is that he'll be reunited with former Royals manager Tony Muser. Quinn and Muser, now the bench coach of the Padres, never saw eye-to-eye when the two were paired in Kansas City.
The skipper says: "If we broke camp today -- Dee Brown and (Ken) Harvey -- both of those kids are on my ballclub." -- Tony Peña
How's the weather: It was warm and pleasant Friday with the temperature rising to the high 70s. The next couple of days are supposed to be even warmer.
Coming up: The Royals will travel to Peoria Saturday to meet the San Diego Padres in a 2:05 p.m. (CT) game. Right-hander Kyle Snyder will draw the start. It's a big outing for Snyder in his quest to be in the starting rotation.