Royals Rumblings - News for May 18, 2016
Darin Watson at Baseball Prospectus Kansas City looks at the struggles of Kendrys Morales.
If you want some good news, I don’t believe Morales has fallen off the metaphorical cliff or forgotten how to hit. This seems fixable, whether he tries harder to lay off pitches that may be a bit below the strike zone, or attempts to drive some of those low outside pitches the other way. Yes, teams would prefer that the slow-footed Morales hit singles to left, but perhaps an attempt to wait a bit longer on the ball would result in more balls hit hard up the middle or to left-center. We can hope that his game-winning home run on Sunday, a blast to deep center field, is a sign that Morales is coming around (although that was certainly not one of the low pitches that have troubled him this year). Presumably, teams will continue to attack Morales in this fashion until he makes an adjustment to their adjustment.
Rustin Dodd asks Ned about KenMo's struggles.
"You get to total desperation on something you’ve done your whole life, and OK, maybe you just say, ‘Maybe I’m better right-handed,’ " Yost said. "But he’s not there yet. Yeah, he’s struggled. He knows why he’s struggling."The simplest reason for Morales’ struggles, according to rival scouts and advanced metrics, stems from the way opposing teams are defending him with extreme shifts and attacking him with offspeed pitches.
Sam Mellinger is skeptical Cheslor Cuthbert can move to second base.
Switching positions is not as easy as some fans sometimes think, particularly moving toward the center of the diamond. Outfielders start in center, then move to a corner. Infielders start at shortstop, then move to the corners. Mike Moustakas was drafted as a shortstop, for instance. There is also the matter of the Royals seeing themselves as a defense-first organization, and then essentially giving a guy a big league tryout at a position he’s never played. But, guys, let’s also keep in mind that Cuthbert is batting .222/.243/.361 this season. He had hits in his first seven games, and the bar for production out of second base is low, but let’s not pretend he’s going to be Rogers Hornsby.
So, all of this is a long way of saying: no, I don’t think it’s realistic.
Mike Moustakas could be returning soon.
Mike Moustakas apparently is heading for NWA tomorrow for rehab assignment. Should be back Saturday in Chicago. #Royals
— Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) May 17, 2016
Top Royals pitching prospect Kyle Zimmer was promoted to AA Northwest Arkansas but lasted just one inning in his first start.
"No sure what's going on with Zimmer. Obviously something's going on." Vance Wilson said.
— paul boyd (@nwapaulb) May 18, 2016
David Huff, released by the Royals this week, has signed with the Angels.
The Braves fire manager Fredi Gonzalez.
The Cubs sign reliever Joe Nathan.
Catcher Francisco Cervell signs a three-year contract extension with the Pirates.
Lenny Dykstra admits to putting HGH in his cereal.
The trailer for "Pitch", a new FOX show about a fictional female baseball player for the Padres.
Kansas State hires former Minnesota footiball coach Jerry Kill in an administrative role.
What happens to the sites of World's Fairs once they're over?
Is the TSA a waste of money that actually puts lives at risk?
Tetris is going to be a movie trilogy for reasons no one understands.
Your song of the day is The Roots with "The Seed (2.0)".