KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- In a flurry of moves involving left-handers, the Royals activated Bruce Chen, demoted Tim Collins and designated for assignment Donnie Joseph.
None of the moves was particularly surprising.
Chen was eligible to come off the disabled list Tuesday, and the Royals did so promptly. Chen will be used in long relief, manager Ned Yost said.
Collins, like Louis Coleman, has been a staple in the bullpen the last few years. But each has struggled mightily this season, and both now are in the minors.
Collins was 0-3 with a 4.15 ERA and had given up 17 hits and 10 walks in 17 innings. His main issue?
"Secondary pitches," Yost said. "When he was right, he had good fastball command, but his out pitch was with his secondary pitches. Curveball to lefties, changeups to righties, off-speed to lefties and so on. That's how he got guys out.
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"And lately he really has increased the number of fastballs he throws because he needs them for strikes. He needs to go back and get confidence again that he can throw his secondary pitches for strikes."
Yost said the Royals by no means have given up on Collins or Coleman.
"This bullpen was built with (Greg) Holland and (Wade) Davis at the back end," Yost said, "but it's really important we have Coleman, (Aaron) Crow, Collins, and (Kelvin) Herrera to pick up the seventh innings and sometimes the eighth or ninth when Davis and Holland can't go.
"We need all of them."
Tuesday's moves also are a sign of faith in left-hander Francisley Bueno.
"He gives you a chance," Yost said. "He's not going to go out and get behind everyone."
And that was the problem with Joseph, who could actually clear waivers, Yost thought. Joseph got whacked for six runs in 2/3 of an inning last week in Detroit, and couldn't close out an 11-2 lead in the ninth.
"I think Donnie still has a chance to be an effective situational left-hander," Yost said. "But he has to throw strikes.
"I got to know what I'm getting at this level."
You can follow Jeffrey Flanagan on Twitter at @jflanagankc or email him at jeffreyflanagan6@gmail.com.
