The Rotation

The Rotation is shaping up this way:

1. Scott Elarton has been named the Opening Day starter. Who would have ever expected that? Especially after being hit so hard this spring. He's 1-0, with a 7.71 ERA in his two starts. He's given up 11 H, but at least he's only walked one guy. On that statistic alone, he probably should be our Opening Day starter.

2. Runelvys Hernandez is the number two guy. He's been wild as all get-out this spring—walking five guys in 8.1 IP. His ERA is a tolerable 4.32, but he's already given up 3 HR. BB + long ball = bad season. Hopefully he can figure out his control problems before the season starts.

3. Joe Mays is the number three guy and according to Bell, "throwing like he did a couple of years ago." A couple of years ago, he missed the entire 2004 season. But I hope that Bell wasn't referring to Mays' 2003 campaign in which he was 8-8 with a 6.30 ERA. I'd prefer that he threw like last season instead, even though it wasn't much better: 6-10 with a 5.65 ERA. No matter how you slice it, slotting Mays in the number three position shows that our rotation is already in trouble.

The Rest:

Mike Wood looks like he has a shot at the rotation with Redman and Greinke on the shelf temporarily. He threw five shutout innings in his last appearance, and he's 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA. He's striking guys out (10) and not walking many (2) in 12 IP. He's better suited for long relief and an occasional spot start because his stuff just isn't good enough to get guys out the third time through the line up. But right now, he probably should be the number two guy.

Jeremy Affeldt is struggling. In his three appearances, he's 1-1 with a 5.63 ERA. And surprisingly, he only has two strikeouts in 8 IP. Things aren't looking good for Jeremy regarding his quest to rejoin the rotation.

Denny Bautista is also struggling. In fact, his numbers are almost identical to Affeldt's. Bautista is 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA in three appearances. Baird and Bell continue to say that they are happy with Bautista's release point (over the top) and say it's a good indication that he's fully recovered from arm surgery that sidelined him most of last season. We'll see.

J. P. Howell is coming off a horrible season (3-5, 6.19 ERA in 15 starts with KC), but in his two relief appearances this spring, he has a 1.80 ERA with 6 K and only 1 BB in 5 IP. Right now, he has as good a shot as any of the other guys vying for the final two spots in the rotation.

Jimmy Gobble seems to be settling into a relief role nicely. He hasn't started for the Royals yet this spring and in his three relief appearances, he has a 3.60 ERA. At this point, he may be better suited to pitch out of the pen.

Kyle Snyder doesn't really even appear to be in the running for spot in the rotation. In his four relief appearances, his ERA is sitting at 12.00. I'm disappointed because I really think Snyder has potential. But potential only gets a person so far.

If I had to guess, Mike Wood will probably nail down the number four spot in the rotation and Denny Bautista will start the year in the number five spot—although with all the off days in the schedule early on, he may not even get a shot until mid-April, and that's when Redman will probably be coming back.