Royals Rumblings - News for February 9, 2015

Royals Rumblings - News for February 9, 2015

Craig Brown at Royals Authority writes that Greg Holland is really, really good at throwing baseballs.

Holland presents a quandary for me. The sabermetric side believes closers can be found and the Royals have a deep bullpen, loaded with talent. If anyone could net a decent return in a trade, it would be Saveman. If anyone could be replaced, it would be Saveman. But after writing this and looking at those crazy numbers he’s posted over the last four seasons, I’m not so sure. The fan in me wants the Royals to not only hold on to him, but I want him to get an extension. Buy out his remaining arbitration years and then grab a pair of his free agency seasons as well. The funny thing is, the financial pendulum seems to be swinging the other way on closers. Three years ago, the Phillies signed Jonathan Papelbon to a four-year, $50 million contract. This winter, David Robertson signed a four-year, $46 million deal with the White Sox. The inflation that runs throughout baseball has bypassed the closer market.

Sam Mellinger writes about how close the Royals were to a doomed post-season.

In this other world, the Royals are not the American League champions. They are not 90 feet away in game seven of the World Series. None of that happens. You probably won’t be surprised to hear that this other world is being talked about in baseball circles this offseason. Actually, a lot of that conversation is taking place among Royals officials.

"Let’s not fool ourselves into thinking we were the best team in the American League," one says. "We weren’t. We were one of them, but we didn’t even win our division."

Tom Verducci says Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura is in the "DANGER ZONE" due to his workload last year.

Yes, there again is Yordano Ventura, who at the ages of 22 and 23 has packed on innings increases of 39.9 percent and 37.2 percent, respectively. The Royals tend to be one of the more liberal organizations when it comes to innings limits, and manager Ned Yost said last spring that Ventura could add 30 to 50 innings (or 20 to 33 percent) to the 150 he threw in 2013. Ventura added 58 1/3 thanks to Kansas City's playoff run. For a 6-foot righthander who throws 98 mph, he bears watching.

Andy McCullough looks at the names that will be in camp, which starts in just TEN DAYS.

Fox Sports Kansas City is running a special on FanFest, to air several times this week.

Wade Davis talks to MLB Network's "Hot Stove" to discuss his transformation from sucky starter to dominating reliever. MLB Network anoints him as the top reliever in baseball, followed by Greg Holland.

Colin Anderle of The Medium writes why no one seems to want James Shields.

New Commish Rob Manfred wants teams to bid on the All-Star Game. Why not? Works for the International Olympic Committee.

He may also be opening the door to possible reinstatement for Pete Rose. But I wouldn't bet on it.

RIP North Carolina men's basketball coach Dean Smith.

Harry Kane is good at footballing.

NBC Anchorman Brian Williams is going to sit a few plays out after getting caught in some tall tales about his experiences in the Iraq War and Hurricane Katrina.

The Grammys were a thing that happened last night. Here are your most controversial Grammy winners of all-time.

Mel Brooks says a "Spaceballs" sequel is coming. Why? MERCHANDISING!

The Wachowski's "Jupiter Ascending" looks like a huge, expensive mess.

The three things cord-cutters miss about cable.

Your song of the day is Milli Vanilli with "Girl You Know its True" at the 1990 Grammys.