By Robert Falkoff
MLB.com
KANSAS CITY — The first-place Royals are a factor in the American League Central race largely because of the “L” factor. Jose Lima and Curtis Leskanic have stepped in and Kansas City has stepped out to a 3 1/2-game lead.Lima and Leskanic.
A month ago, neither man was a member of the Royals organization and it looked as though the Kansas City pitching staff was in big trouble because of injuries and inexperience.
But the veteran reinforcements have arrived with a double-barreled boost.Lima has solidified the starting rotation with his 4-0 record and 3.06 earned run average.
Leskanic, the reliever acquired last week from the Milwaukee Brewers, has pitched in two pressure situations and fanned four of the five batters he has faced. Ah, the virtues of veteran pitching savvy.
The Royals got a dose of it last year from 17-game winner and former LSU Tiger, Paul Byrd.
Lima and Leskanic have come to Kansas City with resumes that include Major League success, and the cluster of young Royals pitchers can learn something from the way Lima and Leskanic go about their business on the field and in the clubhouse.
“This is going to sound negative, but they bring the experience of what it means to fail and how that doesn’t dictate how you come to the ballpark and are successful the next day,” Royals general manager Allard Baird said. “I think that’s a tremendous ability. They understand that every day is not going to be perfect. They understand that the game involves adjustments, both physical and mental.”
That type of education to young pitchers and even young position players is very important as guys try to handle the demands of a 162-game schedule.
As the Royals head into late July and August, the pressure will no doubt intensify in the AL Central race. Lima and Leskanic are fun-loving personalities who figure to help keep things light in that environment.
“They are both loose guys,” Baird said. “That type of attitude will make it easier for young guys to play around. If they were wired tight all the time, then I think that would keep the young guys away from them. But in the case of these two guys, they like to have fun until they go between the white lines and then they are all business and very focused. That’s part of creating a good culture for young players.”
The Royals have managed to add Lima and Leskanic to their pitching staff without straying beyond the boundaries of fiscal responsibility. Lima was signed to a minor league deal on June 11 after Royals scouts noticed the speed differential between his fastball and changeup was back to 10-12 miles per hour in the independent Atlantic League.
“The Kansas City Royals made the right phone call,” Lima said.
Royals manager Tony Pena knew what he was getting in Lima, who won a combined 37 games for Houston over a two-year span before falling on hard times.”
I caught Lima the first game he pitched in winter ball,” Pena said. “Lima likes to talk, he likes to have fun, he likes to dance, he likes to sing. Name it. But when it’s time to come to the ballpark, he’s a completely different person.”
Asked if he feels as good as in 1999 when he went 21-10 for the Astros, Lima said: “Pretty much. I’m locked in right now. I know I don’t throw 98 (mph). I’m just hitting my spots now. The new slider I have, I can throw it to lefties or righties anytime in the count.”
Lima quickly picked up the slider from Royals pitching coach John Cumberland.
“I won 20 games at Houston with a fastball and changeup,” Lima said. “I didn’t have that slider. Now that I’ve got a slider, that’s a new weapon I can use. It took me about five minutes to pick it up. (Cumberland) showed me that new grip and that grip is working.”
Lima’s presence in the starting rotation has enabled the Royals to come through an injury dilemma with starters Runelvys Hernandez, Miguel Asencio, Kyle Snyder and Jeremy Affeldt missing time because of various ailments.
Leskanic is making $3.7 million this season, but the Royals will get the benefit of Leskanic’s bullpen work in the second half while Milwaukee pays his entire salary. The Royals surrendered prospects Wes Obermueller and Alejandro Machado for Leskanic.
Kansas City did not feel either prospect was a future impact player.
“I’m just going to come after people with my fastball and slider and I’ll mix in a curve every now and then as a third pitch,” Leskanic said. “Everything is new and exciting for me coming over to the American League. I’m just going out there with a positive attitude and throwing my best stuff. So far, so good.”
Robert Falkoff is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to approval by Major League Baseball or its clubs.