Royals Rumblings - News for May 13, 2015

Royals Rumblings - News for May 13, 2015

Despite two terrible outings in a row, the Royals are confident Danny Duffy can bounce back.

But Yost revealed no inclination of abandoning a pitcher the club slotted as their No. 2 starter at the season’s outset.

"So what do we do, like throw him in an incinerator?" Yost said. "If you didn’t learn the virtues of patience of last year, you’ll never learn. But that’s what it is. He’ll go out and throw a good game."...

He has been overthrowing, which causes his command to evaporate. As Eiland reviewed Monday’s catastrophe, he pinpointed the exact moment Duffy rediscovered his form — during Prince Fielder’s at-bat in the second inning.

"He gained control of himself, got back within his delivery, started throwing the ball downhill, executing pitches and getting ahead in the count," Eiland said. "But you can’t wait until four runs are across the plate until you do that. He knows this. He’s aware of all this. Being aware of it, and going out and doing it, are two different things."

Vahe Gregorian and Blair Kerkhoff at the Star discuss Danny Duffy's troubles.

Sam Mellinger discusses the Royals starting pitching woes.

Well, first, I think it’s a stretch that Medlen will join the rotation — especially a stretch that they would plug him in when he’s ready for the big leagues. Maybe you can get a spot start from him, or maybe by August or September he’s ready for some starts, but the likelier scenario is Medlen joins the bullpen...

The Royals are absolutely going to give this more time before making a trade. They have Young. They have Joe Blanton. They have Aaron Brooks. All of these options have flaws, but this is more depth than most teams. I don’t want to get into talking about Brandon Finnegan starting big league games.

I would be very hesitant to deal the kind of package it would take for a two-month starting pitcher like Cueto, but it’s possible the Royals will feel particular motivation to get something done. Either way, this is not a decision that will be made for another two months, at least.

Edinson Volquez has good memories of the Rangers, the organization he grew up in.

One day during spring training in 2005, Rangers officials informed him he needed to shave his dreadlocks to conform to their minor-league policy. Volquez sensed an opportunity. Earlier in camp, veterans such as Vicente Padilla and Joaquin Benoit scolded him about his hair.

So Volquez asked Padilla, who was unaware of the team’s edict, how much he would pay for Volquez’s haircut. Padilla offered $300. Volquez balked, only to see Benoit double the bid.

"I was like ‘$600? I can do it for $600!’ " Volquez said Monday, a day before he would face his old club at this stadium, now christened Globe Life Park in Arlington. "And I did it. I took the money, and I got my hair cut."

Aaron Brooks was called up to add some depth in the pitching staff with Yohan Pino sent back to Omaha.

Royals prospect Bubba Starling talks about the power surge he experienced before getting hurt.

"Less is more for me," said Starling, who is hitting .255 with three homers in his first 15 Double-A games after battting an impressive .386 with two homers in 12 games at Class A Advanced Wilmington to open the year. "I've kind of started to figure this out. When you get guys in scoring position, not trying to drive all three runs in -- just do a little bit to help out the team."

The theory from Starling's teammates might be more fun, though. As Starling tells it, his Naturals teammates dared him to eat a beetle and, enticed by a small amount of cash, he did it. What followed soon after was a stretch of three straight games with a home run.

"So, they like to say that's where my power came from," said Starling, the Royals' No. 13 prospect.

Pitcher Miguel Almonte is showing more command of his fastball for AA Northwest Arkansas.

"Sometimes in the past, he'd get a little erratic with his fastball," the skipper said. "I just think our pitching coach, Jim Brower, has done a great job with him and [making him understand] how important it is to get ahead of hitters, especially as hard as he throws, and [then him] being able to do that."

Old friend James Shields got his AL Champs ring.

#Padres SP James Shields, on receiving his #Royals ALCS ring on Tuesday: "It's blingy."

— Corey Brock (@FollowThePadres) May 13, 2015

Barry Bonds will file a grievance accusing teams of colluding not to sign him in 2008, when the Royals' best hitter was Mike Aviles.

Rockies All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki may soon seek a trade.

Speaking of Tulo, Keith Law re-drafts the 2005 MLB draft with the Royals getting Tulo instead of Alex Gordon.

The USA collegiate national team in summer 2004 was hilariously good and still the best I've seen. Gordon played first, and Tulowitzki played short. Ryan Zimmerman was at third, Jed Lowrie was at second, and Jeff Clement and Taylor Teagarden split catching duties....Gordon was the best player on the roster, with unbelievable power from the left side and what looked like a very advanced hit tool, though he ended up struggling with better quality offspeed stuff in the majors for a few years. He was playable at third base as an amateur but, of course, has become an elite defender in left, a position switch that roughly coincided with his development into an All-Star hitter at age 26. Now 31, his peak years are probably behind him, but given how well he plays left field and his plate discipline, I expect Gordon to have a long, gradual decline phase.

HOLY COW GIANCARLO STANTON IS AMAZING AT HITTING HOME RUNS.

Tony Blengino at Fangraphs looks at the pros and cons of pulling the ball.

Was Wally Pipp really "Wally Pipp'd"?

Sean Casey hits his MLB Network co-host in the head with a line drive.

Fivethirtyeight says Lebron James is the most clutch shooter ever, and Kobe is the worst.

The President of FIFA is so scared by the investigation of him by the FBI that he won't enter the United States.

Matt Hinton at Grantland takes a look at the daunting challenge facing new KU football coach David Beaty.

Whole Foods is launching a lower-cost line of stores.

Verizon is buying AOL, which is apparently still a thing.

Rolling Stone looks at country music's conflicted relationship with religion.

10 must-see movies at the Cannes Film Festival, which begins today.

"The Muppets" are back with a TV show and here's the first trailer.

Your song of the day is Fastball with "The Way."