Results tagged ‘ Mike Sweeney ’
Royals Awards Luncheon Photos (1 of 2)
Royals sign Mike Sweeney to a one-day contract, Sweeney announces retirement
The Royals have announced today that the club has signed first baseman Mike Sweeney to a one-day minor league contract at which point Sweeney announced his retirement as a Kansas City Royal at a press conference in Surprise, Ariz., site of Royals spring training.
The 37-year-old Sweeney was a five-time American League All-Star with the Royals, whom he played with from 1995-2007 after being drafted in the 10th round in 1991 out of Ontario (Calif.) High School. Sweeney was a .297 career hitter with 325 doubles, 215 home runs, 909 RBI and 759 runs scored. He capped his playing career with the Oakland Athletics (2008), Seattle Mariners (2009-10) and Philadelphia Phillies (2010), singling in his only career postseason at bat last season for the Phillies.
The club record holder for RBI in a season with 144 in 2000, Sweeney ranks in the top six all-time in Royals history in 17 offensive categories, including second in average (.299) and home runs (197). He narrowly missed winning the 2002 A.L. batting crown, hitting .340 in 2002, the second-highest single-season average in club history to George Brett’s .390 mark in 1980. Sweeney represented the Royals as an American League All-Star for four straight seasons from 2000-2003 and again in 2005. He joins George Brett (13), Amos Otis (5) and Frank White (5) as the only players in club history to make five or more All-Star appearances.
The Royals honored Sweeney in 2008 by creating the Mike Sweeney Award, given to a minor league player who best represents the organization both on and off the field. Sweeney was a three-time Les Milgram Royals Player of the Year (2000, 2002 and 2005) and 1999 Joe Burke Special Achievement Award winner. In addition, he was honored with the 2007 Fred Hutchinson Award, presented annually since 1965 to one Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies former pitcher and manager Fred Hutchinson’s honor, courage and dedication on and off the field.
Sweeney and his wife, Shara, have three children: sons Michael and Donovan, and a daughter, McKara.
Royals sign Mike Sweeney to a one-day contract, Sweeney announces retirement
The Royals have announced today that the club has signed first baseman Mike Sweeney to a one-day minor league contract at which point Sweeney announced his retirement as a Kansas City Royal at a press conference in Surprise, Ariz., site of Royals spring training.
The 37-year-old Sweeney was a five-time American League All-Star with the Royals, whom he played with from 1995-2007 after being drafted in the 10th round in 1991 out of Ontario (Calif.) High School. Sweeney was a .297 career hitter with 325 doubles, 215 home runs, 909 RBI and 759 runs scored. He capped his playing career with the Oakland Athletics (2008), Seattle Mariners (2009-10) and Philadelphia Phillies (2010), singling in his only career postseason at bat last season for the Phillies.
The club record holder for RBI in a season with 144 in 2000, Sweeney ranks in the top six all-time in Royals history in 17 offensive categories, including second in average (.299) and home runs (197). He narrowly missed winning the 2002 A.L. batting crown, hitting .340 in 2002, the second-highest single-season average in club history to George Brett’s .390 mark in 1980. Sweeney represented the Royals as an American League All-Star for four straight seasons from 2000-2003 and again in 2005. He joins George Brett (13), Amos Otis (5) and Frank White (5) as the only players in club history to make five or more All-Star appearances.
The Royals honored Sweeney in 2008 by creating the Mike Sweeney Award, given to a minor league player who best represents the organization both on and off the field. Sweeney was a three-time Les Milgram Royals Player of the Year (2000, 2002 and 2005) and 1999 Joe Burke Special Achievement Award winner. In addition, he was honored with the 2007 Fred Hutchinson Award, presented annually since 1965 to one Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies former pitcher and manager Fred Hutchinson’s honor, courage and dedication on and off the field.
Sweeney and his wife, Shara, have three children: sons Michael and Donovan, and a daughter, McKara.
Photos: Royals Awards show
Hardware was handed out on Saturday afternoon at the Royals Awards show, which honored Billy Butler, Bruce Chen, Joakim Soria and all of the organizational award winners. Let’s take a look!
Chen, the Joe Burke Special Achievement winner, and Soria, the Bruce Rice Pitcher of the Year, congratulated one another after the event. Both players were very proud and appreciative of the awards. Bruce, who worked his way back from “Tommy John” surgery in 2007, wanted to make sure that his award arrived to his Arizona home without a scratch – so he bought a seat on the plane for it!
Billy Butler received his second Les Milgram Player of the Year honor on the same day that would see him ink a long-term contract with the Royals.
Mike Moustakas was all smiles as he received the George Brett Hitter of the Year honor from the Hall of Fame third baseman.
John Lamb earned the Paul Splittorff Pitcher of the Year award. John, who turns 21 in July, will be the youngest player in Kansas City’s Major League camp at spring training.
Eric Hosmer won the Carolina League batting title and slugged key playoff home runs in the Texas League playoffs in 2010. On Saturday, he was recognized for the other part of his game with the Frank White Defensive Player of the Year award.
Derrick Robinson took his game to another level in 2010, setting a career high in batting average. Robinson, who led the Texas League with 50 stolen bases, earned the Willie Wilson Baserunner of the Year award for the second time. Wilson pointed out that Robinson is outstanding at both baserunning and base stealing.
Former Missouri State pitcher Buddy Baumann received the Mike Sweeney Award from the five-time All-Star. The award goes to the minor league player who best represents the organization off of the field. Baumann participated in a variety of community events while with the Wilmington Blue Rocks in 2010.
Royals announce 2010 organizational award winners
The Royals are pleased to announce the remaining organizational award winners for the 2010 season. The honorees will be recognized at the 2011 Royals Awards Show, scheduled for Saturday, January 22 in conjunction with Royals FanFest presented by Sprint and Teva Neuroscience at the Overland Park Convention Center.
During the event, the Royals will recognize 12 honorees for their contributions both on and off the field in 2010. Former Royals greats such as George Brett and Willie Wilson will be among the presenters in attendance.
Previously, the club announced the following award recipients as voted on by the Kansas City Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA). Royals’ closer Joakim Soria was the selection for the 2010 Bruce Rice Pitcher of the Year while Billy Butler was the 2010 Les Milgram Player of the Year for the second straight season. Starter Bruce Chen was named the 2010 Joe Burke Special Achievement Award winner.
The remaining award recipients to be recognized at the event include:
Mike Moustakas, recipient of the George Brett Hitter of the Year – recognizing the organization’s top hitter. The 22-year-old third baseman combined to hit .322 with NW Arkansas (AA) and Omaha (AAA), tying for the minor league lead with 36 home runs. The Royals’ first-round selection (2nd overall) in 2007 also posted 41 doubles and drove in 124 in being named the Sporting News Minor League Hitter of the Year, the Texas League Player of the Year, and a Baseball America 2010 first-team Minor League All-Star.
John Lamb, recipient of the Paul Splittorff Pitcher of the Year - recognizing the organization’s top pitcher. The 20-year-old pitched at three levels of the Royals system in 2010, wrapping up at NW Arkansas. The six-foot-three lefty from Laguna Hills, Calif., was a combined 10-7 with a 2.38 ERA in 28 starts, allowing 122 hits in 147.2 innings, striking out 159 and walking just 45. Lamb was a fifth-round pick of the Royals in 2008.
Derrick Robinson, recipient of the Willie Wilson Base Runner of the Year - recognizing the organization’s top base runner. The 23-year-old patrolled center field for the Texas League-champion Northwest Arkansas Naturals in 2010, hitting .286 with a league-leading 50 stolen bases in 67 attempts. The speedster, drafted by the Royals in the fourth round in 2006, has swiped 236 bases in his professional career, including 181 in his last three campaigns, and is a two-time winner of the Willie Wilson Award, also earning the honor in 2008.
Eric Hosmer, recipient of the Frank White Defensive Player of the Year – recognizing the organization’s top defensive player. Hosmer, 21, is an athletic first baseman who posted a .988 fielding percentage in 80 games at Wilmington (A Advanced) before upping that mark to .994 in 43 games at first for NW Arkansas. At the plate, the Royals’ first-round pick (3rd overall) in 2008 batted a combined .338 with 43 doubles, nine triples, 20 home runs, 86 RBI and 87 runs, also stealing 14 bases in 16 attempts.
Buddy Baumann, recipient of the Mike Sweeney Award - recognizing a player who best represents the organization on and off the field. The 23-year-old left-handed pitcher tirelessly volunteered for numerous community events throughout the 2010 season, visiting Wilmington-area schools and hospitals and conducting several baseball clinics. Kansas City’s seventh-round selection in 2009 was 0-0 with a 1.80 ERA in three relief appearances for Burlington (A) to begin 2010 before going 4-2 with four saves and posting a 2.24 ERA in 31 games (14 starts) for Wilmington.
Brian Poldberg, recipient of the Dick Howser Player Development Person of the Year – recognizing an outstanding member of player development. The only manager the NW Arkansas Naturals have ever known, Poldberg led the club to the Texas League Championship in 2010. The team was also recently recognized as the Baseball America Minor League Club of the Year. After ending a seven-year playing career, the Carter Lake, Iowa resident has been a coach and instructor in the Royals organization since 1987.
Sean Gibbs, recipient of the Art Stewart Scout of the Year – recognizing an outstanding scout. Gibbs has served the Royals organization as an area scout since 2007. He has scouted and signed several players including 2010 Burlington (R) Pitcher of the Year Crawford Simmons.
Andrew Layman, assistant general manager of the Wilmington Blue Rocks, is the recipient of the Matt Minker Award – recognizing an outstanding minor league affiliate employee. Layman has directed the merchandise, ticket and stadium operations departments during his 19-year Blue Rocks tenure. In 1998, he received the Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Award for best exemplifying the spirit of volunteerism in recognition of his time invested with a local teen. The Malvern, Pa. native is a 1992 graduate of Lynchburg College where he played lacrosse. He currently makes his home in Wilmington with fiancée, Jordan, and their son, Mason.
In addition, the Royals will honor Chuck Sailors with the Dan Quisenberry Special Achievement Award - recognizing an outstanding member of the community. In 2004, Sailors founded the KC Urban Youth Center at 28th and Troost in Kansas City, Mo. Today, the center is part of three low-income housing communities in urban Kansas City serving more than 300 students and their families each year. Sailors and his staff work daily with a holistic approach in order to offer hope, community and wholeness to children and youth living in traditionally underserved communities.
Awards Night photos
FanFest is underway! We have a great crowd out here already – many of them are hoping to land the ticket for the Cy Young autograph session. Here’s a look back at Royals Awards Night.
Former Royal Teahen wins Hutch Award
Mark Teahen’s charitable efforts in the Kansas City community earned him the Hutch Award yesterday. The national award is given annually to a Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies the honor, courage and dedication of baseball great Fred Hutchinson, both on and off the field. Teahen, traded to Chicago on November 6, is the first member of the White Sox to win the award. George Brett (1980), Dennis Leonard (1986) and Mike Sweeney (2007) are past Hutch recipients. This was Teahen’s second year as a finalist for the award.
Teahen is the spokesperson for the YMCA Challenger Baseball program in Kansas City. His fundraising efforts with the program include an annual fashion show. He also participated in countless community events, including the Royals AbilityCAMP, an interactive baseball camp for children with disabilities. Thank you Mark for your work in the Kansas City community!
Teahen earns second straight Hutch Award nomination
Royals infielder/outfielder Mark Teahen is a finalist for the Hutch Award for the second straight year. He is the only repeat nominee from last year’s group of 10 finalists. The honor is given to the MLB player who best exemplifies the spirit and competitive desire of Fred Hutchinson, a baseball player who passed away from cancer in 1964 at the age of 45.
Mark participates in numerous community appearances throughout the year and is the spokesperson for Kansas City’s Challenger Division baseball program.
The other nominees are Jonny Gomes, Tim Hudson, Torii Hunter, Mark Lowe, Mike Lowell, Nick Markakis, Kevin Millwood, Justin Morneau and Albert Pujols.
The Royals have had three Hutch winners (George Brett, 1980, Dennis Leonard, 1986 and Mike Sweeney, 2007). This year’s award will be the 45th. Mickey Mantle accepted the first award in 1965 and Boston’s Jon Lester was the 2008 recipient. Other recipients include Hall-of-Famers Sandy Koufax, Carl Yastrzemski, Al Kaline, Willie McCovey and Lou Brock.
For more information about the Hutch Award, including a full list of past recipients, visit www.fhcrc.org/hutchaward.
Baseball Awards Dinner Returns
Another great event has been added to FanFest weekend…a baseball awards dinner. The January 16 event at the Sheraton Overland Park Hotel will be the first awards dinner held by the Royals since 2001. Kansas City’s 2008 award winners, Pitcher of the Year Joakim Soria, Player of the Year Mike Aviles, and Special Achievement winner Zack Greinke will be honored. Ten additional honors, listed below, will be presented.
Dan Quisenberry Special Achievement Award - recognizing an outstanding member of the community
Matt Minker Award – recognizing an outstanding minor league affiliate employee
Art Stewart Scout of the Year - recognizing an outstanding scout
Dick Howser Player Development Person of the Year – recognizing an outstanding member of player development
Mike Sweeney Award - recognizing a player who best represents the organization on and off the field
Willie Wilson Base Runner of the Year - recognizing the organization’s top base runner
Frank White Defensive Player of the Year - recognizing the organization’s top defensive player
Paul Splittorff Pitcher of the Year - recognizing the organization’s top pitcher
George Brett Hitter of the Year - recognizing the organization’s top hitter
Ewing Kauffman Mr. Baseball Award – recognizing an overall contribution to baseball in the Kansas City area
Frank White, Willie Wilson, and Mike Sweeney will all be on hand to present awards. Ticket information for the awards dinner will be announced at a later date, as will the award winners. Check back for more details!
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Would the real Billy Butler please stand up
He’s tearing up opponents right now. Last night he hit his third homer in the team’s last three games.
Not surprisingly they’ve won 2 of 3, notching victories in the games in which he’s gone yard.
Today we’re going to talk about Butler, who has the second highest average in the Majors over his last eight since August 24 (.500, Boston’s Dustin Pedroia is at .512) and note something that hasn’t happened since 1999. To do that, let’s go Around the Horn…
First
Part of Billy Butler’s surge can be attributed to “letting go.” Manager Trey Hillman told reporters that Butler said twice during batting practice in Detroit that he needed to “let it go.” Hillman said Butler felt like he was feeling for things too much. He repeatedly said to himself “I got to let it go.”
Apparently he has. Butler is in the midst of an eight-game hitting streak, though you could call it a hitting barrage. He’s 16-for-32 during the streak and has an RBI for every game in the streak. Last night he cracked a deep shot to left-center for a three-run homer and added another RBI later, tying a season high with four RBI. He also put together his seventh three-hit game.
Butler has been pretty solid since the All-Star break, though his average drooped slightly, he’s re-adjusted to the league and is turning things on in a big way. He’s raised his batting average a full 20 points since the streak started and is now at .281.
Last season Butler hit eight dingers and 52 RBI. This year he’s at 10 and 50 and the team has 25 games left.
Second
Zack Greinke pitched his way to his 10th victory of the season last night. Not only is that good news for Greinke, who continues to add to his career year (he’s at career bests in wins, quality starts, strikeouts and after last night, ERA), but it’s great news for the Royals.
Greinke is tied with Gil Meche in wins and it’s the first year the Royals have had two double-digit game winners since 1999, when Jose Rosado and Jeff Suppan both tallied 10. Greinke’s strikeouts are also the most for a Royal since Kevin Appier put down 196. If Greinke punches out an average of seven or eight an outing for the rest of the season, he’s got a shot to challenge Appier’s total or even push for 200.
It’s a tall order, but he’s been mowing them down all season and produced eight K’s last night. So he’s definitely got the ability to do it.
Short
Joakim Soria recorded the 51st save of his career and moved into fifth all-time on the Royals career saves list, passing Mike MacDougal who had 50. Soria needs 3 more to catch Roberto Hernandez at fourth and seven to match Doug Bird in third. After Bird, the all-time saves list gets a little tougher. Soria is 187 shy of Dan Quisenberry in second and he needs 253 to catch Jeff Montgomery who sits in first…Billy Butler became the sixth Royal to reach double-digits in homers. It’s the most since the 2003 team had eight guys with 10 or more…Ryan Shealy hit his first home run in his first game back in the Majors. His last MLB game was June 27, 2007 and his last homer was June 6, 2007…From Trey Hillman’s Press Conference: Hillman trusts Ron Mahay when he says he’s ready to pitch, but he will be careful in using Mahay. Expect to see him in less stressful situations and earlier in ball games to start…Also: Hillman said he studies the statistics and compares his club with others. As far as bullpen usage, he said the Royals are comparable and he likes where the relievers are set up at the moment and will continue to “go with the hot hand in the eighth”…Finally: There’s been a lot of speculation about Mike Aviles’ status next season. Hillman said he’s comfortable playing Aviles at short or second. During Spring Training he would have said he’d prefer to have Aviles at second, but Aviles didn’t play much short in Arizona. Now Hillman would say short, but he’s seen more of Aviles at short than second now. Hillman also complemented Alberto Callaspo on his defensive work at second, specifically the double play he turned on Saturday.
Third
Having the A’s in town doesn’t totally feel like a road trip for a few of their players. Mike Sweeney, the 13-year Royal
and one-time captain in Kansas City, was activated today from the Disabled List. Sweeney chose to wear No. 5 this season for the Athletics, in honor of the lone Royal player in Cooperstown, George Brett. Sweeney exchanged lineup cards last night during the pre-game conference.
Sweeney has a familiar face in the visiting clubhouse. Former Royal Emil Brown is now with Oakland, but he was not in the lineup last night.
Other A’s with local ties: Reliever Brad Ziegler pitched at Odessa High School and Missouri State University in Springfield. Reliever Josh Outman, who made his Major League debut last night, pitched at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg. And reliever Joey Devine is from Junction City, Kansas, and we noticed a littler cheering section for him during last night’s game.
Tonight’s lineup: As Around the Horn was finishing this post, we heard the game was called. You can still enjoy the notes which were for today’s game.
The game will be made up tomorrow at 4:10. Brian Bannister is still scheduled to throw and Kyle Davies will throw the second game of the double-dip.
Today’s Official Game Notes.
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