Royals Rumblings - News for July 21, 2015

Royals Rumblings - News for July 21, 2015

Andy McCullough says the rotation is a six-headed monster this week.

"I’m not going to run a six-man rotation," manager Ned Yost said before Sunday’s series finale with the White Sox. "But we’re going to have to figure out who are the most productive guys. We’ve got to go on who is getting the job done." ...

"When you sit down and look at it, really, Duffy and Ventura and Guthrie were our best guys at the end of the year last year," Yost said. "They were. All three of them. And all three of them have had their struggles this year, but you still work to get them going, because you know what they can do. But then again, Duffy and Ventura do have definite value coming out of the ‘pen, to get us to where we need to go."

McCullough also reports the Royals may be taking a look at Reds outfielder Jay Bruce.

Several rival execs speculating about Jay Bruce as a KC target. FWIW, heard Reds scouts have had eyes on Omaha, NWA recently.

— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) July 20, 2015

Lee Judge still thinks stat guys don't appreciate defense.

People who are into numbers tend to discount defense because it’s difficult to measure; people who play the game for a living can see when a defender robs the hitter, and they know how important it is. The guys who play don’t much care if you put runs on the board or keep runs off the board; they all count toward a win. It’s hard for a guy playing in a corner to make enough plays on defense to keep a weak bat in the lineup, but the guys who play up the middle get more opportunities. Alcides Escobar had two hits at the plate and probably took away another four from the White Sox — and that’s a pretty damn good day.

Kris Medlen was reinstated with Yohan Pino getting shipped down.

Lorenzo Cain was named co-American League Player of the Week.

Ben Duronio at Fangraphs looks at Cain's long-term value.

Deadspin sums up Alcides Escobar's top defensive plays on Sunday.

Statcast takes a look at Escobar's day on defense.

An error by Royals minor leaguer Casey Kotchman allowed Canada to win the gold medal at the Pan American Games.

The Sporting News names Nori Aoki, Gregg Jefferies, Chili Davis, and Warren Cromartie as its "Fleeting Four" for the Royals.

Royals fans use the fewest emojis in baseball.

Royals 22nd round pick Drew Milligan has been to the K before, will he be there again, this time in uniform?

Crazy, this time last year I was at the K as a fan, and now I am part of the best organization in the game @Royals pic.twitter.com/ovCWmnb73h

— Drew Milligan⚾LTD (@DMilli26) July 20, 2015

Dave Cameron takes a look at who has the worst trade value in baseball.

Does it matter that Johnny Cueto and Cole Hamels have struggled recently?

The White Sox are listening to trade offers on Jeff Samardzija.

Fivethirtyeight looks at the best All-Star teams ever.

Iowa native Zack Johnson is your British Open champion.

Kansas State football coach Bill Snyder favors expansion and a championship game for the Big XII.

The NCAA revises its college basketball tournament selection process, but is it enough?

Gawker's editors resign after a controversial article.

Cuba opens an embassy in Washington.

Should we stop referring to car collisions as "accidents"?

NBC is planning to reboot "Xena: Warrior Princess."

Your song of the day is the Dead Kennedys with "Holiday in Cambodia."