Yost sees 'no easy fixes' for KC's inconsistency

Manager refuses to use injuries as crutch during season of streaky play

July 4th, 2016
"Put some runs on the board and score more than they do," Ned Yost said of ending slumps. "Simple as that." (Getty)

TORONTO -- The one consistency about the 2016 Royals is their inconsistency. They have been one of the more up-and-down teams in baseball.
Starting in mid-May, the Royals got hot and won 13 of 16, including six straight. Then they lost a season-high eight straight. From there, they won five straight and eight of nine. Then they lost four straight.

Manager Ned Yost doesn't believe there is one single issue stopping his team from gaining any traction, even though the club has been besieged by injuries.
"I'm not going to use injuries as an excuse," Yost said. "We've been inconsistent at times offensively. When we got our pitching and hitting together, that's when we have gone on runs.
"But then we've had inconsistency, too, with our starting pitching. It's a lot of things."
Yost also doesn't believe that getting frustrated is productive.
"There's no reason to get frustrated about it," Yost said. 'You just deal with it."
So what needs to happen for the Royals to go on another run?
"Just win some games," Yost said. "Get some stops, put some runs on the board and score more than they do. Simple as that. There are no easy fixes. You just go play the game."

Ventura better
Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura, who sprained his right ankle running the bases on Sunday and was taken out after 2 2/3 innings, threw a side session on Monday and felt OK.

"The ankle is much better," Yost said. "If he keeps progressing each day, he should be fine [to make his next start, scheduled for Friday]. We'll see."