Happy Mother’s Day!

Ned Yost met with the media in his office before today’s game with the Yankees. He was asked if sometimes players are guilty of overthinking the game. “You can’t help it. It’s human nature. Everyone wants to be successful, especially when they know we have a good team. Everybody at times puts a little extra pressure on themselves and overthinks things. Pitchers do it. Fielders do it. Everyone does it. It can be a learning experience though. It is all part of playing the game of baseball,” said the skipper.
Another topic of discussion was Jarrod Dyson batting leadoff today. Yost was asked what Dyson needs to do to be successful in the leadoff spot. “To be successful and maintain that spot his approach is going to have to be taking pitches and taking walks. Getting him to understand people don’t come to watch him hit fly balls and home runs because they are too far and few in between. People pay to watch him get on base and create havoc on the bases. He is working really, really hard at it and you can see the growth in him from last year,” said the manager.

Alex Gordon and Ervin Santana were honored on the field tonight.  Gordon is the Royals Majestic Player of the Month for April, while Santana won the Pitcher award in his first month with KC.

Royals fan Ashley had the opportunity to present the awards.  You can register for that opportunity!  Visit a local Rally House or Kansas Sampler location and sign up!  One lucky fan will get to go on the field each month.  Congrats to Ashley, Alex and Ervin!

KC Manager Ned Yost began today’s media conference discussing the club’s offense.  Yost stated that after several games with low run production, he feels the Royals are swinging the bats really well, and the offense seems to be firing on all cylinders.  “Guys are going to click when they click, sometimes you get an offense that’s struggling a little bit, and one big hit can blow it open.”  The offense has generated at least six runs in each of the past two game to go with five home runs.

Yost then talked about the performance of the pitching rotation.  The Royals skipper stated that although the rotation has had days where they don’t have their best stuff, they find ways to be successful.  “You’re going to have days when you don’t have that great stuff, and it’s the competitive nature inside of you that allows you to get through those tough times.  I’ve seen Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz do it for years, I’m seeing Shields, Santana and Guthrie and Wade Davis trying to do it, and that’s the mark of a good pitcher…always trying to find a way to get it done.”

The Royals and Yankees meet again tonight at 6:10.  The game will be on FSKC and the Royals Radio Network.

Yankees lineup:  Gardner – CF, Cano – 2B, Wells – LF, Hafner – DH, Suzuki – RF, Nix – SS, Overbay – 1B, Nelson – 3B, Stewart – C, Pettitte – LHP

Royals lineup:  Escobar – SS, Cain – CF, Gordon – LF, Butler – DH, Hosmer – 1B, Perez – C, Moustakas – 3B, Francoeur – RF, Johnson – 2B, Shields – RHP

Royals Game Notes (PDF file):Game #33 vs NYY

Trivia Fact:  James Shields is making his 27th career start vs. New York, third among active pitchers.  Only Roy Halladay and Josh Beckett have made more starts against the Bronx Bombers.

Royals Manager Ned Yost began today’s media conference addressing the upcoming series with the New York Yankees.  When asked about the different look of the Bronx Bombers this season Yost responded, “If you notice their record and where they stand, that’s a very good Yankee team.  They are finding ways to get it done and win ballgames.”

Yost then addressed the performance of Eric Hosmer.  Yost stated that although Hosmer hasn’t produced the power numbers this season, he is swinging the bat really well.  The manager went on to say Hosmer is a player who can hit the ball to all fields, and it won’t be long before he’s putting balls over the fence.

Yost concluded by discussing the recent reshuffling of the Royals batting order.  He stated that often lineup construction is highly overrated, and that the idea is to get your hottest guys as many at-bats as possible during the course of a game.  While the Royals showed success in the new lineup last night, Yost stated that it won’t change what anybody does or how they approach the plate.  Yost finished by saying, “this team is highly talented, and can having hitting success anywhere in the lineup.”

KC powered its way to a win at Baltimore last night.  Now, the Royals are home for a brief stay vs. New York.  Let’s take a look at the lineups for the 7:10 contest:

Yankees:  Gardner – CF, Can0 – 2B, Wells – LF, Hafner – DH, Suzuki – RF, Nix – SS, Overbay – 1B, Nelson – 3B, Stewart – C, Hughes – RHP

Royals:  Escobar – SS, Cain – RF, Gordon – LF, Butler – DH,  Hosmer – 1B, Perez – C, Moustakas – 3B, Johnson – 2B, Dyson – CF, Davis – RHP

Royals Game Notes (PDF file):  Game #32 vs NYY.1

Trivia Fact:  Yankees reliever Vidal Nuno attended Baker University in nearby Baldwin City, Kan.

The Royals wrap up a brief road trip tonight in Baltimore. Here are the lineups for the 6:05 Central start:

Royals lineup:  Escobar – SS, Cain – CF, Gordon – LF,  Butler – DH, Hosmer – 1B, Perez – C, Moustakas – 3B, Francoeur – RF, Getz – 2B, Guthrie – RHP

Orioles lineup: McLouth – LF, Machado – 3B, Markakis – RF,  Jones – CF, Davis – 1B, Wieters – C, Hardy – SS,  Flaherty – 2B, Reimold – DH, Garcia – RHP

Royals Notes (PDF file): Game_31_Baltimore

Royals Trivia Fact:  Jeremy Guthrie takes his 17-start unbeaten streak into Camden Yards tonight, where he is a visitor for the first time.  The former Oriole made three Opening Day starts for Baltimore.

The Royals continue a three-game set at Camden Yards tonight. Luis Mendoza takes the mound in a 6:05 Central start.

Here’s a look at the lineups:

Royals:  Gordon – LF, Escobar – SS, Butler – DH, Hosmer – 1B, Cain – RF, Moustakas – 3B, Johnson – 2B, Kottaras – C, Dyson – CF, Mendoza – RHP

Orioles:  McLouth – LF, Machado 3B, Markakis – DH, Jones – CF, Davis – 1B, Wieters – C, Hardy – SS, Flaherty – 2B, Dickerson – RF, Tillman – RHP

Royals Game Notes (PDF file):  Game_30_Baltimore

KC opens a three-game set at Baltimore tonight, with the first pitch scheduled for 6:05 Central.

Here’s a look at the lineups:

Royals:  Gordon – LF, Escobar – SS, Butler – DH, Hosmer – 1B, Cain – CF, Francoeur – RF, Perez – C, Tejada – 3B, Johnson – 2B, Santana – RHP

Orioles:  McLouth – LF, Machado – 3B, Markakis – RF, Jones – CF, Davis – 1B, Wieters – C, Hardy – SS, Flaherty – 2B, Reimold – DH, Chen – LHP

Royals Game Notes (PDF file):  Game_29_Baltimore

Royals Trivia Fact:  Current Royals Bruce Chen, Jeremy Guthrie and Miguel Tejada all played for Baltimore.  Chen won a career-high 13 games in 2005 while Guthrie served as Baltimore’s Opening Day starter on three occasions.  Tejada set a club record with 150 RBI in 2004.

Please check @Royals on Twitter for today’s lineup! We hope you can catch the game – either in person, on FSKC or on the Royals Radio Network as James Shields faces Chris Sale and the Sox at 1:10.