Royals Rumblings - News for October 11, 2019
Jeffrey Flanagan reviews the rookie season for Nicky Lopez.
But his hard-hit rate spike 10 points to nearly 28 percent in the final 10 games. What changed?
“The injury didn’t help when I was struggling,” Lopez said. “I hurt it from getting jammed so many times and after that it was always in the back of my mind. But as it got better I was more confident.
“And I think for awhile I was really trying to do too much. I kind of lost sight of why I was here a little bit when I was struggling. I just went back to the basics, lowered my hands a tiny bit, but went back to the basics to have fun. I’m up here for a reason. I did stuff to get here. It was going back to that.”
Michael Huckins at Kings of Kauffman thinks extending Dayton Moore would be a mistake.
By all accounts Dayton Moore is a well-respected leader both in the franchise and in baseball. But Major League Baseball is a tough business, that is why he makes so much money. And the celebrations of 2015 are long over. Flags may fly forever, but they do not make repetitive 100 loss seasons any less humiliating. And they also do not make them any more acceptable.
Jason Pennini at Prospects 1500 ranks the top players in the Arizona Summer League, including Bobby Witt, Jr at #3.
The second overall pick in the 2019 draft is a premier athlete. He has 70 raw power and is a plus runner. The 2019 stat line was underwhelming but let’s not overreact to 180 PAs. Witt fits the new-age shortstop archetype; he is not special defensively like a Yordys Valdes, but he fields well enough to stick at the position. The infield actions, footwork and awareness for the position are there. He is a higher-variance player than Abrams, but has loud tools, pedigree, and star upside that few on this list can match.
Infielder Gabriel Cancel has replaced Travis Jones in the Arizona Fall League.
I’m told the Royals likely will start Bobby Witt Jr. and Brady McConnell at Lexington next spring. McConnell probably will play some third base and second base and outfield with Witt at SS.
— Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) October 10, 2019
Former Royals bench coach John Gibbons submitted his résumé to the Royals for the managerial position.
Brian Flynn and Daniel Tillo will represent Team USA as they qualify for the Olympics.
Leigh Oleszczak at KC Kingdom looks at storylines for the Royals this offseason.
Did MLB switch the baseballs for the post-season?
Gabe Kapler is out as the manager of the Phillies.
Carlos Beltrán is among three candidates the Mets will interview for their managerial opening.
Jeff Passan writes that Dave Roberts will have to own the Dodgers implosion.
A position-by-position breakdown of the Nationals/Cardinals NLCS matchup.
Jose Ramirez is willing to play second or third next year, but he doesn’t want to move around.
Should the Twins move Eddie Rosario for a pitcher?
This year’s Super-Two arbitration cut-off is abnormally low.
The Hall of Fame case for Yadier Molina, Russell Martin, and Brian McCann.
A profile of Sean Forman, the creator of Baseball Reference.
Padres pitcher Jacob Nix was tased after breaking into a home.
The onside kick is dead, how do we fix it?
Women played football back in the 1930s, but then there was a backlash.
Overburdened schedules are taking a toll on our social lives.
Alfonso Cuarón signs a multi-year deal with Apple TV+.
Your song of the day is Todd Rundgrenw ith Bang the Drum All Day.