Royal Link Roundup: Melky Cabrera Contract Talk, Starting Pitching Dreams, World Series Drama

Rany weighs in with his latest thoughts on the starting pitching situation, while the official site reports there's no movement on a long-term contract for Melky. Meanwhile, a rainout raises the possibility of our favorite phony pitching in a possible Game Seven. In the grab bag, we look at Iowa, dying cultures, Soviet architecture and a very important demonstration of the democratic principle.

Royals:

• Rany on the Royals: For Want Of A Pitcher, Part 3.
• No multi-year deal for Melky in the works | royals.com: News
• Royal Revival: Giavotella Undergoes Surgery
• Catching up with the 1994 Royals: Part 10 - Kevin Appier - Royals Review

Baseball:

• 2011 World Series: Game 7 And The Chris Carpenter Situation - Baseball Nation

Grab Bag:

• Swing State Blog: Swing State Primer: Iowa's Most Democratic Counties
• Russia's aesthetic revolution: How Soviet building still influences today's architects - Architecture, Arts & Entertainment - The Independent
• Protecting rapidly vanishing languages, cultures, & species § SEEDMAGAZINE.COM
• The Top Ten 2011 Hometown Hotties