The Royals? No. 4 starter, Sidney Ponson, will try to turn things around tonight when he takes the mound against Seattle right-hander Carlos Silva.
Ponson has struggled this season, posting an 0-4 record and a 7.16 ERA in five starts.
But while Ponson has had his share of difficulties, Hillman isn?t ready to push the panic button ? yet.
?I really don?t consider his start (today) to be a make-or-break point for Sidney,? Hillman said. ?If we gave him a little run support in two of his starts, I don?t think this would be as much of a topic as it has become.?
It?s also become a bigger issue thanks to the strong start that former No. 1 overall pick Luke Hochevar has had in Omaha. Hochevar is 5-0 with a 1.13 ERA and was recently chosen the Pacific Coast League pitcher of the week.
?I can?t mention this and sidestep what everybody seems to be talking about, and that?s the performance of Luke Hochevar,? Hillman said. ?I?m thrilled for Luke. I hope at some point we do get to see him, but I don?t want it to be because somebody is not performing or because we have an injury.
?(Sidney) has had some rough innings. Part of it has been mechanical, and I think the other part has been him just trying to do too much.?
Ponson has struggled this season, posting an 0-4 record and a 7.16 ERA in five starts.
But while Ponson has had his share of difficulties, Hillman isn?t ready to push the panic button ? yet.
?I really don?t consider his start (today) to be a make-or-break point for Sidney,? Hillman said. ?If we gave him a little run support in two of his starts, I don?t think this would be as much of a topic as it has become.?
It?s also become a bigger issue thanks to the strong start that former No. 1 overall pick Luke Hochevar has had in Omaha. Hochevar is 5-0 with a 1.13 ERA and was recently chosen the Pacific Coast League pitcher of the week.
?I can?t mention this and sidestep what everybody seems to be talking about, and that?s the performance of Luke Hochevar,? Hillman said. ?I?m thrilled for Luke. I hope at some point we do get to see him, but I don?t want it to be because somebody is not performing or because we have an injury.
?(Sidney) has had some rough innings. Part of it has been mechanical, and I think the other part has been him just trying to do too much.?
