Bannister believes he's recovered from Cincinnati ?hangover?

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--The Kansas City Star



Royals right-hander Brian Bannister is the other pitcher in today?s series finale against Washington, but he expects to be a different pitcher from the guy who showed little bounce-back ability in his last start after getting shelled in Cincinnati.

Bannister admitted to a carryover effect Friday in Atlanta after permitting 11 runs in three-plus innings June 12 against the Reds. He was ?gun-shy? in terms of challenging hitters and allowed five runs against the Braves in four innings.

?What happened in Cincinnati,? Bannister said, ?I hadn?t gotten over that when I pitched in Atlanta. But I?ve had another five days, and it?s my job to go out there and be ready to go. And I will be.?

All-Star participants

Third baseman Mike Moustakas and first baseman Eric Hosmer, the organization?s top draft picks in 2007 and 2008, are heading to the All-Star Futures Game next month in Anaheim, Calif.

Moustakas, 21, and Hosmer, 20, will play for the U.S. team against a collection of world stars July 11 at Angel Stadium. Both teams consist of 25 players generally viewed as the game?s top prospects.

Every club is guaranteed to have one player selected for the game. The Royals haven?t had two since Billy Butler and Alex Gordon in 2006.
 
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Royals take their crack at Nationals' Strasburg



It?s Strasmas again here in the nation?s capital, which is how the locals refer to those days when their remarkable rookie, right-hander Stephen Strasburg, takes the mound.

The Royals find themselves cast in the role of supporting players this afternoon, but most admit to being intrigued at the opportunity to separate legend from legit talent when they conclude their three-game series against the Nationals.

?I know he?s got great stuff,? first baseman Billy Butler said. ?Everybody knows that. I?ve seen him on TV. Actually, we?ve been watching him quite a bit. It?s a good challenge for our offense.

?We swing the bats pretty well and, hopefully, we can get a little recognition if we can get to him.?

The strange start time ? 3:35 p.m. Central time ? isn?t affecting expectations for a full house at Nationals Park. Also, Fox Sports Kansas City adjusted its telecast schedule to add today?s game because of anticipated interest.

The rest of the nation figures to check in, too, because Strasburg, let?s face it, has become a national phenomenon.

He appeared on this week?s cover of Sports Illustrated and, remember, ESPN actually ran a countdown clock in the corner of the screen before his big-league debut June 8 against Pittsburgh.

And Strasburg didn?t disappoint anyone in that debut: He limited the Pirates to two runs and four hits in seven innings while striking out a whopping 14 and walking none before getting pulled after 94 pitches.

?Absolutely, he?s the talk of the game,? catcher Jason Kendall said. ?Imagine that kid driving to the ballpark that day (with ESPN counting down the minutes) and then doing what he did. It?s pretty impressive.

?But it?s not like the kid asked for any of that. I don?t know him at all, but he seems like a down-to-earth kid.?

Strasburg followed his debut with a fine outing in winning at Cleveland before turning dominant again last Friday ? one run in seven innings with 10 strikeouts and no walks ? in a no-decision against the White Sox.

Today marks start No. 4, and expectations, if anything, have only spiked upward. Strasburg, who turns 22 next month, is 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA while allowing 10 hits in 19 1/3 innings. He has 32 strikeouts and just five walks.

?Of course, you get excited to face a guy like him with all of the hype around him,? second baseman Mike Aviles said. ?You just want to see what it?s all about.?

Strasburg shows no signs of being overwhelmed by those mounting expectations.

?Right now,? he said, ?I?m trying to go out there and answer the bell every time out and put the team in position to win the ballgame. That?s my goal right now.?

The Nationals plan to pitch Strasburg on every fifth day ? as opposed to every fifth game ? at least through the All-Star break. But they are also limiting him to seven innings or roughly 100 pitches.

?We?ll get to the point where we don?t hold him back,? manager Jim Riggleman said. ?But, right now, that?s not where we?re at with him.?

That approach prompted Strasburg?s exit against Chicago in a 1-1 game after seven innings even though he had thrown only 85 pitches. Washington eventually lost 2-1 in 11 innings.

?I definitely wanted to go out there to finish the game out,? he said, ?but there is a bigger picture here. The bullpen came in and kept us in scoring distance. We just didn?t get the job done.?

So how good is he?

?Honestly, his stuff reminds me a lot of (Mark) Prior when he first came up,? White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko reported. ?But he throws a tick or two harder, and the change-up is what puts him over the top.

?I don?t know what he calls it, but it?s like a split or change-up, and that?s a whole different ball of wax. Command is great, stuff is great. He?s the whole package.?

Today, the Royals get their turn to experience Strasmas.

?It?s great for the game,? said Brian Bannister, who will start for the Royals. ?There?s a (Mark) Fidrych-type atmosphere to it. Or (Fernando) Valenzuela. Those are big moments in baseball history, and I think it?s fun to be part of.

?And I get to hit off of him. So I?ll be able to see it for myself.?
 
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Doesn't Bannister have solid numbers during day games?If I remember right his day game #'s were much better then at night,just don't know where to confirm it.Thanks if u know and can confirm or deny it.
 
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