Royals Rumblings - News for June 10, 2014

Royals Rumblings  - News for June 10, 2014

As assembled by Royals Review staff:

I know we're all frustrated at how lousy Mike Moustakas has looked at the plate for the last two and a half seasons, but at least we can rest easy knowing that he is upbeat!

"All the things that used to affect him before he left? Not affecting him now," Yost said. "He’d hit a ball hard, make an out, and it would be like the world is coming to an end. Now he’s back in the dugout, by the time he hits that step, he’s rooting for the next guy."

Participant ribbons for everyone!

"Just going down there rejuvenated everything for me," Moustakas said. "I had fun, relaxed. I told myself when I was down there, when I get back up here, I’m going to have that same attitude and that same mind-set. I’ve had it. It’s been a blast."

Oh cool, I was really worried Mike might be getting upset that his career is going into the toilet. What could be more fun than hitting .150 and getting paid to do so?

Baseball Prospectus' Nick Faleris likes our chances of landing 2014 draftees on the Top 100 Prospects list:

LindsBeard (Ottawa): Nick, I'd like your prediction - How many of the prospects just drafted will end up in BP's top 101, and which organization will have the most draftees make the list?

Draft Wrap Chat with Nick J. Faleris: At present it wouldn't be many, but that could change quickly once we see how some of these guys adjust to pro ball and how they look in fall instructs. Gun to my head I may go with Kansas City or Boston as the most likely to have the most 2014 draftees in the top 100. A lot of teams with two obvious candidates and some longer shots to jump rankings that quickly. Kansas City and Boston I could see three of each getting into game action and impressing enough to get 101 status early in their dev arc. Overall, I'd go with maybe ten or so ultimately making the list, with a big jump next year when a bunch of these high school kids take their first developmental step.

Lefty Donnie Joseph has been called up and right-hander Wilking Rodriguez has been optioned back to Omaha. Joseph had a 3.91 ERA in 23 innings at Omaha, and has NEVER GIVEN UP A RUN in his Major League career - all 5.2 innings of it. Joseph gives us three southpaws in the pen right now to counter the left-handed heavy Indians lineup the next two days. Cleveland's OPS is .661 against against lefties versus .751 against righties, so Ned has been doing his homework. Still, why Wilking and not Michael Mariot?

Nori Aoki has been the "unluckiest" hitter in terms of lowest batting average on hard-hit balls, according to Mark Simon of ESPN.

Andy McCullough did a chat with fans who tried to convince him to move Alex Gordon back to third. McCullough had a lineup recommendation, and I second his book recommendation of "What it Takes" by Richard Ben Cramer.

Our old friend Craig Brown expounds on the lineup recommendation - that Gordon should be hitting higher in the lineup, specically, back to his old leadoff position.

Top of the lineup card? Aoki-Infante-Hosmer. Damn the numbers. Damn the facts.

At this point, it feels like a point of pride for Yost, doesn’t it? Everyone who pays attention to baseball and the Royals know this lineup is the pits. They also know the two best hitters on this team are buried at number five and number seven in the order. How the hell does that make any sense? Yet there’s Nervous Ned, sticking to his guns. The Titantic may be bearing down on that iceberg, but dammit he’s not going to steer around it just because it’s in his way. Come on.

The fact is, Gordon is one of the best hitters on this team, no matter what.

TSN of Canada sat down with our own Jeremy Guthrie and talked shoes, Avril Lavigne, and working with 50 Cent.

If you weren't playing baseball what would you be doing?

I'd like to design shoes. That's what I always wanted to do. I'm not real artistic but I'd like to think that if someone else could help me or I could tell them yes or no on what things I like. I always planned on working for Nike, which was kind of my childhood dream. Whether it's an actual shoe design or just retail or advertising, it's something I'm passionate about and I would love to dedicate time and thought towards a job involving sneakers and the growth of a brand I really appreciate.

@50cent Ummm, 50? Clearly that pitching lesson did absolutely NOTHING for you tonight! Time to regroup haha. pic.twitter.com/q5oejhPGEZ

— Jeremy Guthrie (@TheRealJGuts) May 28, 2014

Phil Jackson has hired Derek Fisher to coach the Knicks despite a lack of any kind of coaching experience whatsoever. We are one step closer to Jason Kendall, Royals manager.

The NCAA settled one lawsuit against former college athletes for using their likeness in video games, only to begin testimony in another trial regarding the use of college athlete likenesses.

Gamma Squad is counting down the 50 best-looking video games of All-Time. What is better than short, fat baseball players from RBI Baseball?

This is not acceptable unless you play in a band that sings about dirty deeds, done dirt cheap.

Here you go Jeremy. Your song of the day is Avril Lavigne's smash hit "Sk8ter Boi" as sung by a Motown Tribute band: