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Royals Rumblings - News for August 18, 2014

THE HUNT FOR BLUE OCTOBER.

By Max Rieper
Hannah Foslien

Royals Rumblings - News for August 18, 2014

No need to be alarmed about Greg Holland, but the Royals probably should keep a close eye on signs of fatigue after some shaky outings.

"My arm feels fine," he said. "Everyone gets to a certain level of fatigue at this point of the season. That happens because of the everyday grind of a baseball season. "I just haven't been as sharp as I've wanted to the last few outings. Fortunately, it's still translated into wins. I'm pretty confident that when I get back to where I want to be, we'll be winning those games (too)."

Manager Ned Yost has said several times in the past two days that he thinks he's overusing Holland and that he might try to work someone else in for a save just to give Holland some rest. Holland's response?

"I'm getting paid to do the job," he said. "I have no problem with someone else going in there in the ninth. But like I always tell (Yost) when he tells me I'm having a day off, 'Hey, I'll be ready when the phone rings.' "I don't ever want to be in a position where I'm not prepared to do the job. I know we got six or seven other guys, however, who can do the job, too."

So, I'm guessing Denny Matthews is still a bit gun-shy about jumping all-in after years of watching this team lose?

SHOTS. FIRED.

Keith Law ranks pitchers tools in Major League Baseball and gives kudos to a couple Royals. He tabs Yordano Ventura as having the second best fastball in the big leagues and Wade Davis with the fifth best cutter in the game.

Sam Mellinger has a public service announcement for Royals fans not accustomed to this kind of winning.

Wade Davis is having a sensational season, even more remarkable after the loss of his stepbrother late last summer.

ESPN's Bob Ryan is rooting for the Royals, but isn't much of a fan of owner David Glass.

Royals pitching prospect Christian Binford is having quite a season, and he now finds himself promoted to Omaha's bullpen, possibly as a prelude to a September callup. The 21-year old right-hander has a 2.69 ERA in 22 starts over High A and AA this season.

Speaking of pitching prospects, Kyle Zimmer made his season debut for Idaho Falls.

Moving to hitting prospects, Fangraphs takes a look at a pair of former college roommates the Royals drafted who are now tearing it up in the Pioneer League.

Ryan O’Hearn is making it look easy. Forty-six games into his professional career, the 21-year-old Idaho Falls Chukar first baseman is crushing the Pioneer League. Swinging from the left side, O’Hearn is hitting .380/.455/.604 with nine home runs.

O’Hearn’s power potential is a big reason he was drafted. He left the yard eight times in his junior year, and he’s already surpassed that total in Idaho Falls. The 6-foot-3 slugger isn’t surprised. He describes his college ballpark as "what players call a graveyard – a big field where the ball doesn’t carry well because of heavy air."

He found out he’d be playing in Idaho Falls during mini-camp. The area scout who signed him, Justin Lair, had told O’Hearn to expect an assignment to Burlington. Instead, he’s starting his career with his college roomate. Corey Toups – hitting .307/.449/.458 for the Chukars – was the Royals’ 15th round selection.

RIP former Kansas City Athletics infielder and Warsaw, Missouri native Jerry Lumpe.

SHARK WEEK IS A LIE. My entire belief system is now shaken.

This guy has Yelp figured out (mildly NSFW).

This fantasy football league's penalty for losing is brilliant.

Your song of the day is Hum with "Stars."

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