Royals Rumblings - News for September 12, 2014

Royals Rumblings - News for September 12, 2014

Rany Jazayerli is offering a mea culpa of sorts for his criticism of the James Shields-Wil Myers trade.

But it’s not too soon to give Dayton Moore and the Royals credit for making a trade that played out exactly the way they said it would. I’m not talking about wins and losses and playoff berths – which was certainly a significant part of my objection to it – but that the players they were acquiring have performed the way the Royals thought they would....

Maybe the trade won’t propel the Royals into the playoffs this year, in which case we’ll have to judge its legacy anew. But right now, it’s the reason why the Royals left Detroit in sole possession of first place with less than three weeks left in the season. And the best part is that we are all benefitting – those of you who foolishly hated the trade can reap the rewards just as much as us enlightened souls who saw the wisdom of it from day one.

Jeffrey Flanagan goes even further to endorse "The Trade" and lauds James Shields for his Big Games-ness.

"You don't earn a nickname like Big Game James for nothing," Yost said. "And it showed exactly how he got his nickname tonight. Games don't come much bigger than this one."...

Yes, the Royals gave up a potential star in Myers. But no one can argue any longer that the trade wasn't worth it as the Royals now are on the brink of their first playoff appearance in 29 years.

Gregory Dailey at Pine Tar Press is also ready to go all-in on the trade.

The Royals are in a position they have not found themselves in almost 30 years. Any casual Royals fan could have drawn up the typical "here we go again" Royals script heading in to Wednesday night. A roster filled with non-playoff experience that looked like it hadn’t "been there" before took the field after rain-delayed start. But leading the Royals was a different type of player, who has a different type of experience, and who brings a different attitude. All because of THE trade. Dominating the Tigers and putting the Royals on his back and into sole possession of first place was Big Game James. The perfect pitcher at the perfect time. James Shields.

Danny Duffy and Greg Holland are possibly ready to go back to action, something we've been hearing every day for a week, it seems.

"Everything is really encouraging," Duffy said. "It doesn’t feel abnormal. I can lift my arm with a full range of motion."

"He’s feeling good, much better," Yost said. "I don’t know if he’ll miss one more start. Let’s see where he’s at."

Luke Hochevar had a game of catch.

There's a fun project at Beyond the Boxscore where they are simulating an expansion draft. It has its flaws - the new teams are taking bigger contracts and older players than expansion teams typically do, there is no way the Royals fail to protect Miguel Almonte over Christian Colon - but its fun to think about.

This isn't substantiated yet, but Ron Washington may have departed over some sexual assault allegations.

Another Cuban player is declared a free agent, one that the Royals won't go after. A Korean shortstop is rumored to be a free agent soon as well - do we have an in with Sung Woo?

There were a lot of moving tributes in honor of those lost on 9/11 yesterday, but perhaps none so moving as the tweet from maker of the Fleshlight, the fake genital sex toy (SFW).

Grantland profiles Jeff Henry, the designer of "Verruckt" at Schlitterbahn in Kansas City, Kansas.

IKEA has opened in Kansas City, and everybody done lost their mind.

Your song of the day is Sivu with "Miracle (Human Error)"