Royals camp report
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Five things to know about the Kansas City Royals:
1. After ranking last in the majors with a 5.65 ERA last season, the Royals not only spent $55 million for five years of Gil Meche, they also brought a whopping 31 pitchers to camp to start this spring. Of those, Scott Elarton and Zach Day were rehabbing from injuries, so the number of active pitchers was 29. "I prefer 26, 27, and I think we had 23 on our 40-man roster," GM Dayton Moore says. "We added guys like Brandon Duckworth and Dewon Brazelton, some guys we felt could compete for the job. We needed to get to the point where we created competition." Meche, Odalis Perez, Luke Hudson and Jorge De La Rosa will be the first four starters out of the gate, and Zack Greinke, who left camp a year ago but is better mentally now, is competing with Brian Bannister for the fifth spot.
2. The Royals brought catcher Jason LaRue in to push John Buck, and LaRue has gone above and beyond. LaRue has been so good that manager Buddy Bell says he doesn't have a starting catcher, he has a "1 and 1A" catcher. Right now, it looks like a platoon situation.
3. To make room at third for Alex Gordon, the Royals' No. 1 pick -- second overall -- in the 2005 draft, Mark Teahen has shifted to right field and has even played some center for Kansas City this spring. Best of all, he's already looking like a natural outfielder. "I can't say enough good things about him," Moore says. "He worked as hard as he could at third base and he was disappointed when we asked him to move, but he understood what was best for our team. He's a tremendous leader."
4. Angel Berroa, the 2003 AL Rookie of the Year, is having an alarming spring after struggling badly last year. He is looking uncomfortable in the field and at the plate, but the Royals do not want to pull the plug on him. "One thing I've always been taught is stay with tools," Moore says. "Angel Berroa has tools. He's got easy power in his bat, great hands and a strong, accurate throwing arm. He understands he needs to play better. He's a wonderful kid. It's not a lack of effort. We want to be a championship baseball team, and to do that, you have to have a consistent shortstop." If Berroa doesn't pick it up, the Royals don't have a lot of alternatives. The backup right now is Andres Blanco, and prospect Alex Sanchez is having some issues with his elbow.
5. One of the more fun hitters to watch this spring has been outfielder Billy Butler, who is only 20 and likely will open in Triple-A. "My God can that guy hit," says a scout who has been following the Royals this spring. Butler batted .331 with 15 homers and 96 RBI for Double-A Wichita last season and is having the time of his life in major league camp. "I've held my own wherever I've been, and I've been the youngest player in each league," says Butler, a polite kid from Jacksonville, Fla. His defense is a liability and there probably won't be a spot for him on the team but, the way he looks at it, he's still here. "I love this," he says. "This organization has been a first-class organization for me. They've done nothing but treat me right. They've done everything in my interest. Whenever I'm ready, I'm sure they'll make sure where I need to be."
joebcool69 
