KC Headlines: Royals Score Runs, Zach Price, Thomas Robinson
By Ben Nielsen
Mar 27, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets power forward Thomas Robinson (41) drives past Indiana Pacers power forward Jeff Pendergraph (29) in the first half at the Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports
ABOUT LAST NIGHT…
Royals 9, Twins 8
Last we left you, Jeff Francoeur still consumed a roster spot on the Kansas City Royals 25-man list. This is no more. Frenchy was dumped for Johnny Giavotella on Saturday night in an effort to find an every day starter at second base and kickstart an offense that has had problems scoring runs.
In the first game post Jeff Francoeur David Lough and Johnny Giavotella went seven-for-eight, scored five runs, drove in five, ripped three doubles, and homered. Not a bad start.
Sunday’s win pushed the Royals to 38-41 and 4.5 games back of Detroit and Cleveland for first place in the AL Central. KC can cut that gap further with a good series at home against the Indians starting Tuesday. Detroit will travel to Toronto.
Royals Nugget: Lough, Giavotella, and Eric Hosmer combined to produce six extra-base hits for the Royals yesterday. It was the most extra-base hits for the Royals in a single game since April 5 when they had seven extra-base hits against the Philadelphia Phillies in a 13-4 win.
Zach Price will transfer from the NCAA National Champion Louisville Cardinals to the Missouri Tigers the school announced over the weekend. Price is a 6-10, 250 pound power forward averaged 1.3 points and 1.4 rebounds in 7.7 minutes per game last season. Louisville head coach Rick Pitino said Price’s decision to leave was about playing time.
“I feel like I can bring a lot to Missouri, but there’s a lot I also need to work on,” told PowerMizzou.com. “I feel like I can be a good defensive player and a good offensive player and be incorporated into the system like the other good big men Missouri has had. I want to work on all aspects of my game.”
Price, along with fellow Baylor transfer Duce Bello, will have to sit out this season before finishing out their two years of remaining eligibility.
Thomas Robinson is on the move again, this time to the Portland Trail Blazers who traded two future second round picks and the rights to foreign players Kostas Papanikolau and Marko Todorovic for the former fifth overall pick. This will be the third team Robinson has played for in a span of just over one year.
The good news is the Trail Blazers are an excellent fit for Robinson. An awful situation in Sacramento really hindered the development of Robinson and forced him to play to his only real strength which is rebounding. His lack of technique on both offense and defense prohibited him from having the kind of rookie season his talent suggests he should have had.
His bouncing around from team-to-team is less about Robinson’s ability and more about the situation he is in. Sacramento had a serious ownership problem and nearly moved the franchise to Seattle. The doubt of the franchise led to a terrible roster which is led by a dubious character in DeMarcus Cousins. Robinson was traded not because of his performance but because of money.
Houston is trading him for similar reasons as they are trying to open up cap room to sign free agent Dwight Howard.
Robinson now has the luxury of a home and an excellent franchise in Portland. He’ll be teamed up with former Jayhawk Jeff Withey on the bench as the two learn from LaMarcus Aldridge. There is a ton of upside in Robinson and Portland is great place for it to be unlocked.
IN OTHER NEWS…
– People are starting to get giddy about the MLS All-Star Game. (KC Star)
– The week in review for the Royals. (Kings of Kauffman)
– Eric Fisher and the Chiefs have not yet started contract negotiations. Why? I dunno. (Arrowhead Addict)
– Joe Posnanski says good-bye to Jeff Francoeur. (Joe Posnanski)
ELSEWHERE AND EVERYWHERE…
– Brazil destroyed Spain yesterday in the FIFA Confederations Cup final. 3-0.
– Mumford and Sons headlined Glastonbury over the weekend. Good news for the health of the band.
– EW names “The Wire” the best show of all-time. “The Simpsons” is second.
– Want to get into radio? Don’t.
ONE MORE THING…
This country has a mental health problem. A really, really bad problem.