By Bob Dutton
The News Tribune
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The date is finally here for Mariners outfielder Jarrod Dyson. He returned Thursday to Kansas City for the first time in his career as a visiting player when the Mariners opened a key four-game series against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
Dyson spent 11 years in the Royals’ organization, including seven big-league seasons in which he became a fan favorite because of the same speed, defense and irrepressible personality that Mariners fans have come to appreciate.
“It’s going to be special,” he admitted recently. “That was my first (professional) home. I know all of those guys. I played with all of those guys. We grew up together. We won a World Series together. They’ll always be my brothers.”
Dyson quickly added: “I want to beat those guys. We need to beat those guys. They got the best of us (last month at Safeco Field), and this is my home now.”
The Mariners do “need to beat those guys.” They enter the series at 55-54 and trailing Kansas City by 11⁄2 games in the race for the American League’s final wild-card berth. (Tampa Bay is one-half game behind the Royals.)
Dyson was given a standing ovation by the Kauffman crowd — at least in his first at-bat. That crowd will then settle in for the anticipated baserunning matchup between Dyson and Royals All-Star catcher Salvador Perez.
That rivalry traces to intrasquad games at the Royals’ complex in spring training. The two were always placed on opposing sides, and even teammates enjoyed the competition, which came heavily dosed with banter from both sides.
Dyson went 2-for-3 with a stolen base in his return.
The first encounter resulted in Perez throwing out Dyson who, when questioned by a grizzled reporter, responded: “Well, it was a pitchout.”
No, it wasn’t.
“He got a fastball because they knew I was running.”
No, he didn’t. It was a breaking ball, and Perez had to reach for it.
Dyson then just shook his head. He won the next encounter, though, and won more than he lost over the years.
But nothing close to his 85.1-percent career success rate.
The rivalry resumed last month when the Royals came to Safeco. Dyson stole second against Perez on July 5, which prompted a big smile from Perez that promised, “Next time.”
Dyson said the stolen base meant little because the Royals won all three games.
But “next time” arrives Thursday, and Dyson has already promised to be running and, if he steals a base, he plans “to do a little zoom.” That’s Dyson’s signature gesture in which he waggles his hands as if revving a motorcycle.
And if Perez wins?
“I’ll just nod to him,” Dyson said, “and run off the field.”
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