All Aces catcher Lucas May needed was a change of scenery.
May started the 2011 season as an Omaha Storm Chaser -- the Kansas City Royals' Triple-A affiliate. His confidence had been shaken after he was cut from the Royals' roster on the last day of spring training. It showed. He struggled, batting .176 in 25 games with Omaha.
That all changed on June 2, when he was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks and arrived in Reno to the first-place Aces. Since then, he has rediscovered his confidence and offense. In the 26 games he has played for the Aces as a backup to all-star catcher Konrad Schmidt, his average has almost doubled.
"This team is playing really well and when you surround yourself with the type of guys that we have on our team, it's easier to play that way," May said. "Everyone's confidence is up, which boosts your confidence."
The difference was no more obvious than Thursday's game against the 51s. The Aces trailed 6-5 in the bottom of the ninth inning and had two outs when May stepped to the plate. The result was a game-tying home run and an eventual Aces victory in extra innings.
Aces manager Brett Butler said May has been a solid player on offense and defense for the team. He doesn't have a weakness on defense and has been patient on offense, fitting in well with Aces' veteran lineup.
In his last eight games, May has 10 hits and nine RBIs. Overall, his statistics have nearly doubled in every category since his arrival in Reno.
"Last night he gave us a tie," Butler said. "He just gives us some stability."
May said the biggest difference is playing on a veteran team. While he enjoyed his time in Omaha, it was a young team. Playing with veterans gave the 26-year-old May a chance to observe and absorb their habits.
"Veteran guys know how business is supposed to be done," May said. "So they set it by example. You watch what they do, hear what they say and try to incorporate that in your own game."
Talking with hitting coach Rick Burleson has also helped. May often approaches the coach to discuss the mental aspect of the game, like pitch sequences and specific at-bats. May said that has been important to his success.
"For me the biggest thing about Burly is that he's been there and he's been conversational about the games so he's helped a lot," May said.
While May didn't play in the Friday's game at Aces ballpark, he is still enthusiastic. He loves his new scenery.
"Things that transpired in spring training, confidence might have been down a little bit," May said. "But ever since I got here, the team has welcomed me with open arms and made me feel part of the team, so it's been a lot of fun."
2011年7月30日星期六
Royals 12, Indians 0: Royally slammed (with two videos)
It was baby steps Friday night for the Indians, who got five more hits and made five less errors than they did in their previous game — but it didn't matter as the Indians were trampled, 12-0, by the Kansas City Royals in a game that was basically over after Tribe starter Carlos Carrasco went head hunting in the fourth inning.
The Indians' new and improved offense, featuring newcomer Kosuke Fukudome — three groundouts and a strikeout in his Tribe debut — was a dud. The Indians, who have lost seven of their last eight games and are 1-5 on this homestand, were shut out for the 11th time this season, tying them with the Angels and A's for the most in the American League.
In their last two games, the Indians have been no-hit in one game and shut out in the second. In losing five of the six games on this homestand, the Tribe has been outscored, 26-7.
"This is our team. We're not going to change 10 guys. We already brought one new guy in here," said Manager Manny Acta. "There's no magic switch to hit."
Lefty Jeff Francis, who came into the game with a record of 1-6 and a 5.22 ERA in seven starts since his last win, and with a career mark in three starts vs. the Tribe of 1-2 and a 7.98 ERA, shut out the Indians on four hits over eight innings.
"He threw a lot of strikes, changed speeds and kept us off-balance with that big, slow breaking ball," said ActaThe Royals almost had as many home runs (four) as the Indians had hits (five). Three of the four Kansas City homers came off Carrasco, who in five starts since his last win, June 29, is 0-5 with a 9.13 ERA while giving up 35 hits, including eight home runs, in 232⁄3 innings.
Carrasco also may be facing a suspension for his embarrassing and thoughtless antics in the fourth inning, which nearly triggered a bench-clearing brawl.
After giving up a two-run homer in the first inning to Billy Butler and a solo homer to Alex Gordon in the second, Carrasco gave up a grand slam to Melky Cabrera with one out in the fourth, which gave Kansas City a 7-0 lead.
Cabrera stood at home plate and admired his blast, choosing not to run until the ball had cleared the right-field wall, a bit of showboating clearly noticed by Carrasco.
Butler was the next hitter, and Carrasco threw his first pitch behind Butler's head — and was immediately ejected from the game by home plate umpire Scott Barry.
"He showed his frustration the wrong way," said Acta of Carrasco. "We don't condone those things. He has been talked to. It was a dangerous situation. He's young. He's still learning."
After getting buzzed, Butler started toward Carrasco, who was on his way to the dugout. Catcher Lou Marson and third baseman Jack Hannahan intercepted Butler as the two dugouts emptied. Order was quickly restored — but the game was already out of hand.
Said Carrasco, "I didn't throw at anybody. The ball just got away. I know it looked bad because of the home run."
Asked if he was upset that Cabrera stood at home plate and admired his homer, Carrasco said, "I was upset with myself and Melky, too."
Butler got a measure of revenge by homering for a second time in the game in the eighth inning off reliever Frank Herrmann. Cabrera did get his comeuppance in his next at-bat in the fifth inning when Tribe reliever Chad Durbin's second pitch sent him sprawling into the dirt.
There were no further incidents in the game.
Acta said he didn't have a problem with Cabrera standing at home plate admiring his homer.
"He has a right to do anything he wants," said Acta. "He's been around for a long time. Whether Carlos thought he was showing him up or not, Carlos has to make his pitches."
The Indians never got a runner past second base vs. Francis, who left after eight innings and 115 pitches.
The Indians' new and improved offense, featuring newcomer Kosuke Fukudome — three groundouts and a strikeout in his Tribe debut — was a dud. The Indians, who have lost seven of their last eight games and are 1-5 on this homestand, were shut out for the 11th time this season, tying them with the Angels and A's for the most in the American League.
In their last two games, the Indians have been no-hit in one game and shut out in the second. In losing five of the six games on this homestand, the Tribe has been outscored, 26-7.
"This is our team. We're not going to change 10 guys. We already brought one new guy in here," said Manager Manny Acta. "There's no magic switch to hit."
Lefty Jeff Francis, who came into the game with a record of 1-6 and a 5.22 ERA in seven starts since his last win, and with a career mark in three starts vs. the Tribe of 1-2 and a 7.98 ERA, shut out the Indians on four hits over eight innings.
"He threw a lot of strikes, changed speeds and kept us off-balance with that big, slow breaking ball," said ActaThe Royals almost had as many home runs (four) as the Indians had hits (five). Three of the four Kansas City homers came off Carrasco, who in five starts since his last win, June 29, is 0-5 with a 9.13 ERA while giving up 35 hits, including eight home runs, in 232⁄3 innings.
Carrasco also may be facing a suspension for his embarrassing and thoughtless antics in the fourth inning, which nearly triggered a bench-clearing brawl.
After giving up a two-run homer in the first inning to Billy Butler and a solo homer to Alex Gordon in the second, Carrasco gave up a grand slam to Melky Cabrera with one out in the fourth, which gave Kansas City a 7-0 lead.
Cabrera stood at home plate and admired his blast, choosing not to run until the ball had cleared the right-field wall, a bit of showboating clearly noticed by Carrasco.
Butler was the next hitter, and Carrasco threw his first pitch behind Butler's head — and was immediately ejected from the game by home plate umpire Scott Barry.
"He showed his frustration the wrong way," said Acta of Carrasco. "We don't condone those things. He has been talked to. It was a dangerous situation. He's young. He's still learning."
After getting buzzed, Butler started toward Carrasco, who was on his way to the dugout. Catcher Lou Marson and third baseman Jack Hannahan intercepted Butler as the two dugouts emptied. Order was quickly restored — but the game was already out of hand.
Said Carrasco, "I didn't throw at anybody. The ball just got away. I know it looked bad because of the home run."
Asked if he was upset that Cabrera stood at home plate and admired his homer, Carrasco said, "I was upset with myself and Melky, too."
Butler got a measure of revenge by homering for a second time in the game in the eighth inning off reliever Frank Herrmann. Cabrera did get his comeuppance in his next at-bat in the fifth inning when Tribe reliever Chad Durbin's second pitch sent him sprawling into the dirt.
There were no further incidents in the game.
Acta said he didn't have a problem with Cabrera standing at home plate admiring his homer.
"He has a right to do anything he wants," said Acta. "He's been around for a long time. Whether Carlos thought he was showing him up or not, Carlos has to make his pitches."
The Indians never got a runner past second base vs. Francis, who left after eight innings and 115 pitches.
订阅：
博文 (Atom)