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Royals Rumblings - News for July 8, 2015

Two wins for the price of one.

By Max Rieper
John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Royals Rumblings - News for July 8, 2015

Sam Mellinger does not expect the Royals to make a big move by the trade deadline.

So, anyway, like I was saying, no, I don’t think the Royals will make a big move, if we’re defining "big move" as a frontline starter — the kind of guy who starts opening day. I think the Royals will make a move, probably, but we’re still two weeks or so from having a solid feel for what the Royals will be at the deadline.

This team is in first place, by a bunch. Things are moving along, and they’re moving along with through a lot of obstacles. I mentioned this on the Border Patrol yesterday, but I expect the Royals to have a better record going forward than they’ve had so far, mostly because I think the pitching will be better and they’ve dealt with a lot of injuries. I understand the desire to take advantage of the now, but I don’t think this is a time you mortgage a big chunk of the future for a two-month rental.

Clark Fosler at Royals Authority thinks adding punch to the lineup should be a priority.

Offensively, the Royals are eight in runs scored per game, but that very average mark has an anchor on it. After averaging 5.4 runs per game in April, the Royals are averaging 3.75 runs per game since (those numbers are from memory, so if it is 5.3 and 3.8 don’t get all bunched up – the point remains the same). That is NOT ENOUGH RUNS....

If you believe, as I do, that the Royals have enough prospect power (and money, by the way) to make one big move, then I really don’t see how you would not first look to make a splash with an addition to the lineup. I have a lot more faith that Ventura, Vargas and Medlen will make the rotation better than in Alex Rios and Omar Infante becoming passable offensive contributors.

Orlando's walk-off grand slam was the fifth in franchise history.

The Royals announced how the rotation shakes out the rest of the first half.

Ben Lindbergh at Grantland looks at some of the most overperforming pitchers in baseball, and wonders if Chris Young will float back to Earth anytime soon.

Young’s season has further cemented his status as one of the sport’s strangest statistical case studies. The 36-year-old has allowed a league-low .217 BABIP, bringing his career mark to .252, the seventh-lowest among pitchers with at least 1,000 innings pitched, according to Baseball-Reference....

What we can say with some certainty is that defense-independent stats that assume no special BABIP-suppression skill don’t properly appreciate Young, whose career ERA beats his career FIP and xFIP by 0.66 and 1.14 runs, respectively. One could also make a case that few pitchers have been coddled by their ballparks as much as Young, who’s played in favorable parks for fly-ball pitchers since his early years in Arlington. And his BABIP this year obviously has something to do with the Royals’ MLB-best outfield. But neither the dimensions of Kauffman Stadium nor the wheels of Lorenzo Cain & Co. is likely to change during the rest of the season, so Young has found his happy place (and a bit of extra bite on the fastball).

Kelvin Herrera was stunned by his selection to the All-Star team.

When the shock faded, after he received the news from manager Ned Yost, Kelvin Herrera called his mother, Maria. She picked up the phone in the Dominican Republic. He told her to pack a bag: She needed to be in Cincinnati on Sunday.

"Oh," she said, recalling a midseason honor her son received in 2011, "you’re going to the Futures Game!"

"No, no, mami," Herrera replied. "This is the real game now."

Eric Hosmer was a total professional when he made his cameo for the HBO show "Ballers."

The scene was shot in Miami Beach in January. The party took place on a boat that Krutel said is owned by Bill Dean, a wealthy Washington D.C. businessman. Hosmer lives in south Florida in the offseason, so Krutel figured he’d ask Hosmer to join the party, even if it was fictional.

"Eric showed up on set, we put him through makeup and like a typical movie star, and he went to wardrobe," Krutel said. "We asked him on set and away we went."

The players did not vote any Royals to start the All-Star Game, but guess what, they still get to start anyways.

Jordan Wevers at Fansided wonders if MLB doctored the final All-Star voting results.

mcgeejack gives his Royals statistical predictions the rest of the way.

Interesting piece at Fangraphs on reliever usage this year. Note the Royals are dead last in percentage of relief outings on no days rest.

This baseball season has featured fewer walks and bunts, and more defensive shifts than past years.

Is Alex Rodriguez the worst All-Star Game snub?

The Reds are reportedly holding up the trade market because they don't want to trade guys before they host the All-Star Game.

The Angels tried to convince the Red Sox to help them acquire Josh Reddick from the Athletics.

Andrew McCutchen is a hero.

Cardinals rookies in full uniform in a Wrigleyville Starbucks. Best Lattes in Baseball.

A former Royals scout has sued Major League Baseball, alleging collusion among clubs to create unfair pay conditions for scouts.

Sporting Kansas City is trying to work on some deals for when the transfer window opens today. The Blue Testament says they may be interested in a West Brom player.

The U.S. Men's National Team defeats Honduras in the Gold Cup.

In this fanpost, Blue and Red looks at soccer's path to success.

Is Milwaukee going to lose its NBA team?

China's stock market is crashing.

Its probably okay if your kids play with make-believe guns.

The directors of "The Lego Movie" will be making a Star Wars movie about Han Solo.

Your song of the day is Passenger with "Night Vision Binoculars."

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