Royals hitting coach Grifol won't use Kauffman Stadium as an excuse
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Unlike one of his predecessors, Royals hitting coach Pedro Grifol doesn't seem too intimidated by the vastness of Kauffman Stadium.
While former hitting coach Jack Maloof told FOXSportsKansasCity.com in May that there was no reward in trying to hit home runs at Kauffman Stadium, Grifol actually views Kauffman Stadium as a potential advantage for the Royals.
"Whether the park is big or not, it doesn't mean anything to me," Grifol told me. "I spent 13 years in Seattle where there was one of the biggest parks in the league. They've brought the fences in there now, but still, it is what it is. You don't worry about the park. This is what we have and this is where we play, and we have to think of our stadium as an advantage for us, not the other team.
"We want to use Kauffman Stadium to help us. I'm not concerned with the dimensions."
And now, the big question: Can the Royals grow into a team that can hit home runs at The K?
"Of course, home runs can happen here and they do all the time," Grifol said. "I think it's just the byproduct of a good approach and a good swing.
"You know, I'm not really concerned about that stadium stuff. I want hitters to drive the ball, no matter where we play. I want guys to drive the ball hard and into the gaps, and home runs will be a byproduct of that."
Maloof, who was reassigned less than a day after his comments appeared in that May story, said of hitting at Kauffman Stadium: "The risk for (the Royals) to go out and hit a home run in one of 80 at-bats ... the reward isn't great enough."
Again, though, Grifol does not see Kauffman Stadium as an obstacle.
"But I'm definitely not getting into a situation where I'm going to contradict Jack's comments," Grifol said. "Jack made his comments and I'm staying away from that.
"That park question I know is a controversial question. But I don't ever even focus on the stadium. I focus on our guys getting a good pitch and driving it -- not feeling for the ball and slapping singles. We just want to drive the ball."
Maloof also said the Royals likely would "lead the league in fewest home runs." The power numbers, however, have improved since Grifol and George Brett jumped on board as hitting coaches. (Brett has since stepped away from doing road trips.)
Under Maloof and Andre David, the Royals hit 28 homers in 50 games. In 24 games at Kauffman Stadium, the Royals hit 11 homers under that coaching duo.
Under Grifol, the Royals have hit 48 homers in 62 games, including 26 homers in 31 games at The K.
One area, however, in which Maloof and Grifol seem in agreement is that the Royals have young hitters who still need to prove themselves.
While manager Ned Yost said last winter that he believed almost all of the Royals' young hitters -- Mike Moustakas, Sal Perez, Eric Hosmer and Lorenzo Cain -- could turn into 20-homer guys, Grifol said it's up to each player to prove it.
"They're talented kids but time will tell," Grifol said. "They have the talent to do it. We all know that. Moose hit 20 last year. The other guys haven't yet, but they're talented enough to.
"If they stay within their approach, it can happen. Sure."
For now, Grifol is more focused on the areas of run production and, of course, winning.
"Good hitting really comes down to being able to win games," Grifol said. "It's an understanding of how to win baseball games. I'm a firm believer in that it's not about numbers or stats, it's about playing winning baseball offensively."
And lately, Royals hitters seem to understand that, as the team has gone 16-4 since the All-Star break.
"Each guy has to evaluate what he did to help the team win, regardless of whether you went oh-for-four or oh-for-three," Grifol said. "What did you do? Did you move a runner? Hit a sacrifice fly? With winning, you have to be doing things right.
"That's their approach right now -- they're moving guys over, they're bunting guys over, they're shooting for the three-four hole (second-base side of the first baseman), or drawing a walk, and staying within their roles."
Grifol isn't trying to overload his troops with too many mechanical details.
"Mechanics at this level, you have to keep it simple," he said. "At this level, it's just minor tweaks. There's no such thing as an overhaul, especially in-season. You can't overhaul mechanics and still play.
"It's more about confidence and relationships and trying to get them in the right state of mind to compete. If there is a philosophy, it's just whatever it takes to win games."
Building relationships may have been the hardest part. Before taking this job, Grifol knew only two current Royals -- Alcides Escobar and Perez -- both of whom he knew through winter ball.
That's why the Royals felt that George Brett, in an interim hitting coach role, could help as a mentor to Grifol. Brett has since stepped down as hitting coach.
"Having George here made the transition just unbelievably easier," Grifol said. "What a great help he was to help establish relationships and that's what a hitting coach is all about -- building relationships and building trust."
Part of that trust is not insisting on mechanical changes to each player's hitting style.
"I never say, 'Do this' to a player,'" Grifol said. "It's more like we just explain to them how they can feel it. We're not in the batter's box with them. Whatever slight changes we recommend, the players have to eventually feel it for it to work.
"It's like a teacher preparing you for a test. Well, the teacher isn't taking the test for you -- you have to take the test yourself. Same principle here. We can prepare you, but you have to feel it for yourself."
You can follow Jeffrey Flanagan on Twitter at @jflangankc or email him at jeffreyflanagan6@gmail.com.
