Rotation News

Miguel Asencio is experiencing tightness in his elbow - the same elbow that was operated on last season. Though the Royals are being cautious, I don't think he will pitch again. Even when healthy, I'm not sure he could be a consitently effective pitcher.

I think it's starting to look more and more like Zach Grienke will open the season in KC. He's the young pitching phenom who has been outstanding in A and AA ball. He's with the team in Spring Training and has impressed everybody. In an inter-squad game today, he got out of a jam by getting Juan Gonzalez to ground into a double play. Beltran reached base on Ken Harvey's error and Mike Sweeney hit a single setting up an interesting match up with Juan Gone. After working the count to 2-2, Juan hit a grounder back to Grienke who started the double play.

The Royals keep saying that they want to make sure Grienke's ready before promoting him to the big league team. Allard Baird has said that he wants him to experience failure so we will know how well he can bounce back. My feeling is that if he can help the team win now, let him pitch. Injuries are mixing up the rotation to start the season. They've already lost Kyle Snyder. Asencio is questionable. Appier supposedly won't be ready for opening day. Affeldt's blister problem may keep him in the bullpen. That leaves several lefties for the rotation (Gobble, May, Anderson, George). Grienke would be a nice fit.