Editing Jeremy Affeldt (section)

====2004====
In 2004, Affeldt was named the Royals' third starter out of Spring training.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kaegel |first=Dick |url=http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20040330&content_id=674110&vkey=spt2004news&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |title=Notes: Affeldt ready to go |work=MLB.com |date=March 30, 2004 |access-date=December 20, 2010 }}{{dead link|date=October 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> He went 0&ndash;3 with a 5.24 ERA in eight starts. His final start of {{baseball year|2004}} came on May 18 against the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]]. Affeldt gave up five runs in four innings and received a no&ndash;decision in a 7&ndash;6 victory by the Royals.<ref>{{cite web|last=Eskew |first=Alan |url=http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20040518&content_id=746652&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |title=Royals road rally rocks Rangers |work=MLB.com |date=May 18, 2004 |access-date=December 20, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006030531/http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20040518&content_id=746652&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |archive-date=October 6, 2012 }}</ref> Afterwards, although his blister problems had not resurfaced, manager [[Tony Peña]] named him the Royals closer on May 21 due to poor pitching and injury problems with the other Royals closers.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kaegel |first=Dick |url=http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20040521&content_id=749610&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |title=Notes: Affeldt new Royals closer |work=MLB.com |date=May 21, 2004 |access-date=December 20, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006030544/http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20040521&content_id=749610&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |archive-date=October 6, 2012 }}</ref>

Affeldt blew his first save opportunity of 2004 against the [[Oakland Athletics]] on May 22,<ref>{{cite web|last=Kaegel |first=Dick |url=http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20040523&content_id=750493&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |title=Affeldt gets rude welcome |work=MLB.com |date=May 23, 2004 |access-date=December 20, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006030609/http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20040523&content_id=750493&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |archive-date=October 6, 2012 }}</ref> but he converted in his next outing on May 25 against the [[Detroit Tigers]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Kaegel |first=Dick |url=http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20040525&content_id=752415&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |title=Kansas City gets Royal treatment |work=MLB.com |date=May 25, 2004 |access-date=December 20, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006105951/http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20040525&content_id=752415&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |archive-date=October 6, 2012 }}</ref> He converted eight of ten save opportunities before he was placed on the disabled list on June 27 with a partially torn rib&ndash;cage muscle.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kaegel |first=Dick |url=http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20040627&content_id=781653&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |title=Notes: Affeldt out several weeks |work=MLB.com |date=June 27, 2004 |access-date=December 20, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006110023/http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20040627&content_id=781653&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |archive-date=October 6, 2012 }}</ref> He was out for almost eight weeks.

After making four rehab appearances for AAA Omaha, Affeldt returned to the Royals on August 21.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kaegel |first=Dick |url=http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20040821&content_id=834190&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |title=Notes: Affeldt activated from DL |work=MLB.com |date=August 21, 2004 |access-date=December 22, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006110136/http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20040821&content_id=834190&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |archive-date=October 6, 2012 }}</ref> He made his first appearance since returning from the DL on August 22,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2004/B08220KCA2004.htm |title=Kansas City Royals 10, Texas Rangers 2 |publisher=Retrosheet |access-date=December 22, 2010}}</ref> but he did not get another save until September 1 in a 1&ndash;0 victory over the Tigers.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kaegel |first=Dick |url=http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20040901&content_id=844600&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |title=Greinke locks down Tigers |work=MLB.com |date=September 1, 2004 |access-date=December 22, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006110358/http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20040901&content_id=844600&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |archive-date=October 6, 2012 }}</ref> He picked up four more saves to finish the year with a career&ndash;high 13 saves and a 4.95 ERA.