Royals Rumblings - News for April 25, 2016

Royals Rumblings - News for April 25, 2016

Ned Yost is a manager who will stick with his players, through thick or thin.

That is Yost's philosophy, though. He sticks with his players, perhaps to a fault. Even Yost realizes that fault, especially last year when he stuck with a struggling Jeremy Guthrie in the rotation. "You just try to give them ample opportunities," Yost said.

"We could have taken Jeremy Guthrie out of the rotation six or seven starts before we did. "You just walk the line. I talk to the coaches a lot about it. They share my philosophy. They make sure we're doing the right thing. You look at stuff and at performance and the way they're competing. "But that's the worst part of the job. I hate it when a player is struggling and fans are on them. I know that either they are going to get out of it, or I know when they're at the end of it."

Lee Judge writes that Jarrod Dyson was told not to break up a double play on Thursday against Tigers.

So if the umpires are going to require middle infielders to actually be touching the bag when in possession of the ball, the umpires are going to protect those middle infielders by being tougher on a runner trying to break up a double play. Runners have to go straight into the bag and if they veer off to one side in order to flip the pivot man, umpires are going to call them and the runner at first base out.

So Royals base runners are being told to peel off if they don’t think there’s a chance of getting to the pivot man before he makes his throw to first. Saturday night Dyson told me if the ball is hit hard — and Thursday’s grounder from Escobar was — there’s no way to get to the pivot man in time; better to peel off and avoid an automatic double play.

David Lesky at Baseball Prospectus Kansas City is impressed with Ian Kennedy.

I don’t think I’ve truly acknowledged just how fantastic Ian Kennedy has been for the Royals this season. In 20 innings, he’s given up just 13 hits and only three runs. Yes, he took the loss on Wednesday, but that was on the offense, not him. What I found interesting in that game was he gave up multiple hits in an inning twice, which was just the second and third time this season that he’s allowed multiple hits in an inning. I haven’t taken the time to look back at other starters, but that seems awfully impressive to me. I’m sure there will be a time or two (or even more) that Kennedy will struggle in a start, but he’s looked as good in his three starts as I’ve seen from him in the relatively limited number of starts of his I saw before he signed with the Royals. If he can keep his walk rate where it is now (2.3 BB/9), he has a chance to have a season similar to his 2011 when he won 21 games with Arizona. I’m not predicting 20+ wins, but he could have that type of year.

Your Kyle Zimmer update:

Your Kyle Zimmer update: Shoulder feels good and likely will start at Wilmington sometime in May to get innings up, then to Omaha #Royals

— Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) April 24, 2016

All-Star voting has begun. Vote here.

The replica championship trophies the Royals handed out on Saturday have already hit ebay.

Alex Gordon hosts the Alex Gordon Classic to raise money for cancer research.

Could Carlos Beltran return to Kansas City in 2017? And were the Royals interested in Zack Greinke?

The Pitch compares the food offerings from both Kauffman Stadium and Sporting Kansas City's Children's Mercy Park.

Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco lands on the disabled list.

Have the Braves outhit Freddie Patek?

What the Tigers can learn from the Royals.

Yasiel Puig made an amazing throw, then crashed a high school prom.

Blue Jays first baseman Chris Colabello is suspended 80 games for PEDs.

A 53-year old security guard claims he can hit a 250 mph fastball.

Derek Jeter hits a hole-in-one.

Draymon Green is asked one of the dumbest questions after a game, and calls out the reporter.

Johnny Manziel is indicted for domestic assault.

Baby boomers are making spam and diapers more valuable than ever.

Broadband providers' data caps are meant to put the squeeze on cord-cutters.

Beyonce surprised many by dropping her new visual album over the weekend.

Your song of the day Little Steven with "Vote.'