.Were seeing a transitional change, no doubt, he saaid

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- It has not been a smooth rookie season for right-hander Jose Berrios, the Minnesota Twins top pitching prospect.Berrios, who turned 22 in May, starts Friday against the defending World Series champion Kansas City Royals.Berrios has not pitched since Aug. 11 when he yielded six runs (five earned) and eight hits in two innings in a loss to Houston.The last outing was not very well, Berrios said Thursday on the eve of his eighth career start.In the extra time between starts, he has been working with pitching coach Neil Allen and bullpen coach Eddie Guardado.They helped me a lot, Berrios said We throw sides the past ten days, so, we do a couple of adjustments, (on the) release point and rhythm, and so I think Ill be prepared for tomorrow.In his past two starts -- both defeats, Berrios surrendered 10 runs, 14 hits and two walks while striking out five in seven innings.Those two starts ballooned Berrios ERA to 9.32 in 28 innings. Batters are hitting .331 off him with a .410 on-base percentage, a .593 slugging percentage and a 1.004 OPS.Berrios, a 2012 first-round draft pick out of Puerto Rico, started for the World Team in the 2014-15 Futures Games, pitching a scoreless inning in each. He made four early starts for the Twins, but was demoted after retiring only two Tigers and giving up seven runs May 16.Berrios pitched well for Triple-A Rochester, 10-5 with a 2.44 ERA, earning an Aug. 1 recall. There is a learning curve for most rookies, even one as talented as Berrios that the Twins hope to build future rotations around.Now, I can learn every day and everybody here tries to help me, Berrios said. But its my first year. I have the ability. A couple of the outings have been rough, but I learn from that. I do adjustments. I keep the good things and the bad things I try to dont do it again. Thats what I do right now, learn about that.Veteran Royals right-hander Edison Volquez, who starts Friday, has a 2/3 record in his previous nine starts, but has pitched at least six innings in eight of them. Volquez is 6-3 with a 4.04 ERA at home this season.Volquez has a successful history against the Twins, a 5-1 record with a 2.29 ERA in eight career starts and one relief appearance. Volquez is 2-0 with a 2.95 ERA in three starts against them this season, allowing six earned runs in 18 1/3 innings.The Royals rotation has a 1.61 ERA in a five-game winning streak. Pitching can be contagious, said right-hander Dillon Gee, who allowed one run over seven innings Thursday in the 8-1 victory over the Twins.I think so, Gee said. I think energy alone is contagious. I think guys feed off each other. Good results tend to feed down. You watch those guys go out and there and put up the games theyve been putting up. It makes me want to do the same thing and provide for this team like they are.The only run off Gee was a leadoff home run to Brian Dozier.You just cant make mistakes to that guy, especially heaters up in the zone, Gee said. I was glad I could come back and settle down after that.With the club over .500 for the first time since July 22, Gee senses the club kicking into a higher gear to make a bid to return to postseason.Were having a lot of fun right now, he said. The guys on the bench are having a blast and keeping it loose. Guys are just having a good time out there and the results are starting to show the way weve been playing. Air Max From China . Emery skated the length of the ice and fought an unwilling Holtby during the third period of the Flyers 7-0 loss Friday night in Philadelphia. He was given 29 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct. But Emery did not face even a disciplinary hearing with NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan because rules 46. Fake China Shoes . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. https://www.chinashoes.us/ . LOUIS -- Alexander Steen scored a power-play goal with 59. China Shoes Online . Shot outdoors against the stunning backdrop of Banff, Alta., the networks 30-minute original production airs tonight at 8pm et/5pm pt on TSN2. The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre. China Shoes Wholesale . -- The boos poured down on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at the end of a horrible first half. Newly appointed NSW adviser Peter Sterling believes the Blues next generation isnt far from State of Origin success.Two weeks after being introduced as coach Laurie Daleys right-hand man, Sterling tipped heralded Trbojevic brothers Tom and Jake as possible inclusions in 2017.Were not far from the mark. We have the right players, Ive got no doubt about that, Sterling said as part of a Blues call to arms on Monday.We used 22 last season and of that, only Paul Gallen and Greg Bird are unavailable. The Trbojevic brothers and Bryce Cartwright were a part of the game three as shadow players.Brett Morris didnt player last year, weve got Shannon Boyd and Trent Merrin who did some great stuff for the Kangaroos, and therell be others outside of that. The players are there.I just think a couple of little areas need to be addressed and success is not far away.Eight rookies made their Origin debut under Daley in this years losing series against Queensland, including game three winners Matt Moylan, James Tedesco and Tyson Frizell.Sterling praised Daley for slowly bringing them into Origin but predicted now is the time for the states rising stars to make their mark against the Maroons.Were seeing a transitional change, no doubt, he saaid.ddddddddddddThese players are better prepared for Origin than theyve ever been and its been because of what Lauries done over his tenure and also in the years before that.Theyve not been thrown to the wolves. Theyre coming in at the right time, erring on the right side of caution, so that we dont burn players. I think weve been guilty of doing that in the past.The former Blues halfback re-iterated his support of axed playmaker Mitchell Pearce, who wasnt considered for this years series after a controversial suspension for off-field dramas.Sterling said Pearces experience alone made him a contender for a recall.We know hes had some problems but when it comes to what he can do on a football field, theres never been any question about that, he said.Itll be dependent on how he starts the season, where his headspace is, how well hes playing.But when it comes to the number sevens, hes right up there with the very best of them. Hes obviously had plenty of experience now, thatll put him in very strong contention.The Blues are next week expected to name their emerging squad for a camp in January. ' ' '