KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Royals shook up their coaching staff Thursday in an attempt to jumpstart their failing offence, making Dale Sveum the hitting coach and Mike Jirschele their third base coach. Pedro Grifol, who took over as hitting coach last season, will now instruct catchers. The moves were announced after the Royals finished off a disastrous homestand that included a sweep at the hands of Houston, and before they opened a four-game series in Toronto. Sveum said the Royals havent done a good enough job this season of hitting pitches in the upper half of the strike zone. "The bottom line is weve struggled with elevation and weve swung at pitches down in the zone probably way too much," he said. "From thigh high to the top of the strike zone, were not doing enough damage." The Royals began the day last in the majors with 21 homers, putting them on pace to match the 1976 club for the fewest in franchise history for a non-strike-shortened season. Theyre also last in the American League in runs and slugging percentage. "There is not one man in the lineup thats hitting the ball well," Royals designated hitter Billy Butler said Wednesday. "Were just cold." Yost said "a different voice can make a difference," to struggling batters, but the Royals have heard plenty of voices about hitting: Sveum is Kansas Citys fifth hitting coach in less than three seasons. The Royals let go of Kevin Seitzer two years ago in the hope that somebody else would help the club generate more power. Seitzer was eventually hired by the Blue Jays, who currently lead the majors with 76 homers -- more than Kansas City is on pace for all season. Jack Maloof and Andre David were hired before last season, but they only made it a couple of months before they were reassigned within the franchise. It was at that point that the Royals hired Grifol and Hall of Famer George Brett on an interim basis. The Royals showed signs of life once that duo was in charge, slowly climbing into playoff contention. Grifol was given the job on a full-time basis after Brett stepped down in July, but lasted less than a year in the role. "Hes the one that pulled us out of our trouble last year," Yost said of Grifol Thursday. "A year later, we find ourselves in the exact same spot." Sveum, a former Brewers and Cubs manager, had been serving as the Royals third base coach. But he also has plenty of experience as a hitting coach, helping Milwaukee finish in the top three of the National League in homers in each of his three seasons. "Hes got experience, he studies hitting," Yost said. "Hes got a lot of knowledge. He helped Prince Fielder get, in my opinion, to the next level as an offensive performer." Custom Nike Milwaukee Brewers Jerseys .A. remained bitter for Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers on the long flight back home to New York. Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys Cheap .com) - Roosevelt Jones had 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists to lead No. https://www.customjerseysnikebaseball.com/. Howard hit a three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Philadelphia Phillies to a 6-3 win over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night. Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys 2020 . After overcoming a three-goal deficit the Senators forced the game to overtime only to watch it slip away as Seth Jones scored the winner 3:49 into the extra period as the Nashville Predators defeated the Senators 4-3 Monday night. Custom Nike Pittsburgh Pirates Jerseys . Still, its a start. Josh Baileys goal with 1:40 left capped a furious third-period rally, and the Islanders edged the Penguins 4-3 on Friday night.Worcester, MA (SportsNetwork.com) - Holy Cross football will seek to reverse three straight losing seasons in an 11-game 2015 schedule announced on Monday. The Crusaders, who last had a winning season in 2011, finished 4-8 this season, including 2-4 in the Patriot League. Their 2015 schedule features six home games at Fitton Field: against Patriot League opponents Colgate (Sept. 26), Lafayette (Oct. 24) and Georgetown (Nov. 21), and non-league opponents Albany (Oct. 3), Brown (Oct. 10) and Bryant (Oct. 31). Coach Tim Gilmores squad is expected to return 15 out of its 22 starters, led by a pair of All-Patriot League selections in quarterback Peter Pujals and wide receiver Jake Wieczorek.dddddddddddd 2015 Holy Cross Football Schedule Sept. 5, at Monmouth Sept. 19, at Towson Sept. 26, Colgate* (Homecoming) Oct. 3, Albany Oct. 10, Brown Oct. 17, at Fordham* Oct. 24, Lafayette* Oct. 31, Bryant Nov. 7, at Lehigh* Nov. 14, at Bucknell* Nov. 21, Georgetown* * - Patriot League game ' ' '