Royals keeping tabs on Classic participants

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- With eight players from the Major League camp involved in World Baseball Classic play, the Royals are keeping close track.

"We're all pretty interested; we're watching. We want them all to do good," manager Ned Yost said. "Like last night, you're torn when Hoz is facing Mendy. It's, 'All right, who do we root for here?'"

The Eric Hosmer vs. Luis Mendoza confrontation in the USA-Mexico game ended with Hoz grounding out to his Kansas City teammate.

But the Royals are checking beyond TV watching and the box scores, especially with the pitchers.

"We've been monitoring it pretty good. We've got all the managers' and pitching coaches' phone numbers so we're watching pretty good," Yost said.

How the players do in the games, though, does not figure in on the Royals' evaluation process.

"What are we going to do? Send [Hosmer] down if he goes 1-for-11?" Yost cracked. "We just want them there for the experience, not to evaluate. They're all there for the experience."