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September call-ups have purpose for these Royals

By WTOP Staff

DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — In the span of just a few hours on a hot Tuesday afternoon, Terrance Gore drove from Arkansas to Kansas City, moved into a locker deep within Kauffman Stadium, slid into a starched white Royals jersey and took some bunting practice on the field.

By nightfall, he was standing on second base in the middle of a pennant race.

These are heady times for the Royals, a franchise that hasn’t been to the postseason in nearly 30 years. They were clinging to a 1 1/2-game lead over Detroit in the AL Central as they took Thursday off and prepared for a road trip that takes them through the wild card-contending Yankees before a crucial three-game series against the Tigers at Comerica Park.

They’re also heady times for a bunch of wide-eyed players like Gore, annual September call-ups who have arrived in Kansas City as rosters were expanded for the final month of the regular season.

For as long as all but the hardiest of Royals fans can remember, this was the time of the year when the youngsters got a chance to show what they could do in the future. They’d get tossed into the lineup for meaningless games with the club far out of contention, playing in front of oceans of empty seats while trying to impress their manager and front office.

This year, they’ve been called upon to help the Royals win a division title.

“In years past, I’d bring these guys up and give them a look, you know? See them in the field,” manager Ned Yost said. “But most of these guys are going to stay in their role.”

Indeed, each of them has a very specific skillset that Yost is counting on:

— Gore is a demon on the base paths, capable of going first to third in a flash. He’ll be used primarily as a pinch runner, as he was in Tuesday’s game against Texas.

“All I do is run. Steal bases. And look where I am now,” he said. “I’m just going to get out there and run, do my best. Use my God-given ability and see what happens.”

— Brandon Finnegan was pitching in the College World Series for TCU earlier this year. Now, the first-round draft pick’s powerful left arm will be counted upon to get left-handed hitters out.

“I relieved a little bit in college. It’s nothing new,” said the mop-haired Finnegan, who projects as a starter in the long-term. “Then again, it’s not a for-sure thing that I’m going to get to play, but if my number is called, I’m ready.”

— Massive outfielder Carlos Peguero slugged 30 homers for Triple-A Omaha, including 15 in the month of August. He’s expected to bring that same power to some pinch hitting.

“Any time you come here, to join a new baseball team, you have to set in your mind to be ready to help,” Peguero said. “We’re in a good position right now. All I want to do is help.”

All the extra players give Yost flexibility.

When it comes to the bullpen, the skipper can mix and match depending on the batter, a luxury that he hasn’t always had this season. That has already proven useful when his star trio of Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and All-Star closer Greg Holland were overworked and unavailable.

When it comes to position players, Yost is able to substitute more freely. He may have been reticent to use backup catcher Erik Kratz as a pinch hitter lest something happened to starter Sal Perez, but Francisco Pena’s arrival gives the Royals another serviceable backstop.

These aren’t players without pedigree, either.

Liam Hendriks, who will work out of the bullpen, allowed one run in seven innings in a spot start against Minnesota last month. Fellow right-hander Aaron Crow is a former All-Star who earned a save Tuesday night. Johnny Giavotella is capable of playing several infield positions, and he provides another bat with pop after hitting .308 for Omaha this season.

“We brought Lane Adams, who wouldn’t have been here in years past, Terrance Gore, to fill a need, you know? To run the bases,” Yost said. “All of these guys, the pitchers we’ve brought in for depth, all of these guys have specific functions.”

Specific goals, too. It’s a near certainty that none of them will make a postseason roster. But they all want to help the Royals get there for the first time since 1985.

“It means a lot to be in this with these guys,” Finnegan said. “I mean, it’s crazy, but it’s a great experience to be able to make.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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