Weekend Rumblings - News for April 2, 2016

Weekend Rumblings - News for April 2, 2016

The New York Times tracked down the fans in the stands in the famous photo of Eric Hosmer scoring the game-tying run in Game 5 of the World Series.

Peter Monaco SHARES SEASON TICKETS WITH HIS FAMILY:

"Groundball is an easy out. I don’t know what the guy on third is thinking to try to run on that play, but the minute he moved, it should be an out. And that throw was atrocious. The minute the guy breaks toward the plate, it’s like, ‘We got him!’ The game’s over at this point. The throw almost hit Chris Christie in the head."

Rustin Dodd has a terrific piece on Wade Davis, weaving his acquisition with his big moment in the ALCS last year.

When the Royals acquired Wade Davis before the 2013 season, the thought process was simple: General manager Dayton Moore believed Davis could be a back-of-the-rotation starter on a team starved for starting pitching. If he burned out as starter, Davis could move to the bullpen. The Royals could not know, of course, that they had landed one of the greatest relief weapons in the history of baseball. They could not know that more than three years after that, the James Shields Trade might as well be named for Wade Davis.

"Dadgum," Yost says, "who would have known back then that he was going to be the absolute best?"

Mark Simon at ESPN marvels at Lorenzo Cain's range.

The data indicate that just about every center fielder is either good against shallow balls or good against deep ones, but has a below-average rating in the other. Last season, Cain was 14 bases above average on shallow balls and plus-11 against deep; that plus-14 on shallow balls was best in the majors among center fielders last season. The next eight players below him in the rankings had a negative rating against deep balls.

Simply put: There isn’t a ball that Cain can’t catch, no matter where he is on the field.

Rany Jazayerli completes his countdown of the top Royals moments of the last two seasons, and calls it quits.

So it feels like the right time to say goodbye. I know I’ve said goodbye before; I’ve retired more times than Sugar Ray Leonard. But this goodbye feels more complete, and more permanent. The unfortunate demise of Grantland means that I currently have no other venue to write about baseball, so I don’t have anywhere else to retire from. And I’m leaving, if not on top, then at least with the Royals on top. Whatever debt they owed to me has been paid back with interest. I can walk away now with something I’ve never had before: closure.

The Baseball Prospectus Kansas City guys give their predictions on the season.

Kendrys Morales will receive his Silver Slugger Award before Sunday's game.

Royals games will be streamed live in-market on the FoxSportsGo app, if you authenticate a cable subscription.

Lee Judge asks what if Eric Hosmer did not have the green light for his run home in Game Five of the World Series.

Alan Eskew at Baseball America writes about Hunter Dozier's efforts to rebound after a disaster season.

The Royals re-sign Travis Snider, Clint Barmes, and Brian Duensing to minor league deals and assign them to Omaha.

DaveO with Clubhouse Conversation has his AL Central preview on his podcast.

Grant Brisbee rules on whether the Royals would violate the unwritten rules of baseball by retaliating against the Mets.

Beyond the Boxscore previews the AL Central.

Jeremy Guthrie signs a minor league deal with the Padres.

Is the time right for baseball to return to Montreal?

The reason baseball bats break is more complicated than you think.

Hardball Times assembles a list of the best places to eat at and around each MLB ballpark.

The Final Four is being played in a stadium where jump shots don't work.

Here are the terrible April Fool's Day gags from this year.

The first impressions from Tesla Model 3.

Las Vegas is trying pedestrian-powered street lights.

Guns 'n Roses announces its comeback tour, including a stop at Arrowhead Stadium.

Your song of the day is Silverchair with "Tomorrow."