Royals Rumblings - News for April 10, 2015

Royals Rumblings - News for April 10, 2015

Sam Mellinger has taken notice with the newfound power these Royals are displaying.

We are only two games into the Royals’ encore from last year’s pennant, but so far this is like watching a Honda Civic after it gets a turbocharged engine. The Royals hit far fewer homers than any other team in baseball last year, which became like a theme for them in 2014, at first as the reason they weren’t winning and then as a sort of badge of honor — look at those crafty Royals, always figuring out a way. The players on this team will be the first to tell you they do not expect to bash their way through the American League, but it’s hard not to notice they have hit two home runs in each game this season.

Yes, small sample size, it’s only two games, blah-blah-blah, but here’s an interesting fact: the Royals hit multiple home runs in consecutive games only four times last year, and never against the big outfield at the K.

Did they do something to the parking lots at the K to affect the home runs?

Paulo Orlando had a sensational Major League debut with a triple, but it was a long road to get here.

Orlando was a 12-year-old beckoned to check out the obscure game of baseball with Japanese immigrants on one of the precious few baseball diamonds in the nation that takes up nearly half of South America. Seventeen years and nine minor-league seasons and 1,017 minor-league games and 4,093 minor-league plate appearances and hundreds of endless bus rides and infinite uncertainty later, Orlando started in left field Thursday for the Royals to spell Alex Gordon.

Edinson Volquez, who gave up just one run in eight innings of work, seems to realize he made a wise decision deciding to play in front of this defense.

On the mound, midway through eight innings of one-run baseball, Edinson Volquez tipped his cap three times. It was an act he repeated so often on Thursday, he lost count. "Unbelievable," Volquez said. "I think we’ve got the best defense in baseball right now."

Welcome to Kansas City, Edinson. Barbecue and defense. That's what we do.

Clark Fosler at Royals Authority looks at some of the data regarding Danny Duffy's start on Wednesday that yielded mixed results.

Danny’s velocity was way up at the start of the game, touching 98 once and lingering at 97 mph, but declined with each inning. Perhaps, as has been an issue in the past, Duffy was just a little too amped and paid the price as the game went on. It was not horrible outing, as there were at-bats where Duffy was simply overpowering, but certainly not a performance anyone wants to see on a consistent basis. Like Perez’ pitch framing, watching Duffy’s early (and late) velocity will be interesting in the coming weeks.

The Royals officially sent Luke Hochevar on rehab assignment to Omaha.

Mike Sweeney's induction to the Royals Hall of Fame is set for August 15.

A's rookie Mark Canha gives the "Bull Durham" cliche interview in his debut..

ESPN's Stephania Bell looks at the data on Tommy John surgeries.

Ben Lindbergh at Grantland looks at Jon Lester's weird aversion to throwing over to first base.

The Fivethirtyeight staff discussed the New York Times op-ed bemoaning how stats are ruining baseball.

A-Rod homered, the innocence of a nation was lost.

Speaking of A-Rod, MLB is totally ignoring him and Roger Clemens in its "Franchise Four" campaign.

Bert Blyleven is not a fan of the city of Detroit.

Everyone at Kentucky declared for the NBA draft. KU's Perry Ellis may leave too.

NBA player Chris Copeland was stabbed, and two Hawks players were arrested.

California wants to make it tougher to opt-out of vaccines for children, but will it work?

The "Game of Thrones" showrunners break down the "Mountain vs. Viper" fight scene for us.

Your first teaser-trailer for HBO's "True Detective", Season 2 starring Colin Farrell, Vince Vaughn, and Rachel McAdam.

Your song of the day is Def Leppard with "Undefeated."