Royals Rumblings

Royals Rumblings - News for August 15, 2016

Paulo Amaze-o!

By Max Rieper@maxrieper Aug 15, 2016, 8:00am EDT

Royals Rumblings - News for August 15, 2016

Ned Yost marvels at Paulo Orlando after a four-hit game.

"It’s just amazing," Royals manager Ned Yost said, sitting in his office after another series victory. "His consistency — it just seems like he gets two and three hits every night. You know, at the end of the spring training, you tell me in the middle of August [that] Paulo Orlando would be doing what he’s doing. I mean, I’d have a hard time believing it."

Ned also thinks Cheslor Cuthbert is a Rookie of the Year candidate.

"Is it too early to start the conversation (for Duffy and the Cy Young)? Yeah, probably," Yost said this weekend at Target Field. "Is it too early to start the conversation of (Cheslor) Cuthbert for Rookie of the Year? Yeah, I don’t think so on that one."

Lee Judge says Danny Duffy’s improvement is due to the human element.

So if you hear about Danny Duffy gaining confidence or learning just how good he is, those things matter because it changes what he does on the mound. After Danny threw a complete game while giving up a single run against the White Sox Thursday night, manager Ned Yost talked about Danny spending time in the bullpen and how that helped Danny understand who he is. ...

The human element has tangible results.

There is still no clear timetable for Wade Davis' return, although he should return before September.

"He’s feeling better," Yost said. "He’s totally symptom free, playing catch, extending it out."

Davis went on the disabled list on July 31 — retroactive to July 28 — after suffering a flexor strain in his right forearm. The strain was a recurrence of an earlier injury, and the Royals will likely be cautious with Davis’ return. As of Saturday, Davis had yet to return to a mound. Once that occurs, he will progress to side sessions, live batting practice and a possible rehab assignment.

Jeffrey Flanagan writes about the praise for Salvador Perez's defense.

One day last week as Royals manager Ned Yost was sitting in his office gabbing with a couple of reporters, he was asked point blank if Salvador Perez was the best defensive catcher in baseball. Yost didn't hesitate.

"Absolutely," Yost said. "But well, wait, I'll say best in the league. That other guy [Yadier] Molina is pretty darn good, too."

Darin Watson at Baseball Prospectus Kansas City compares this year’s post-championship team to the last post-championship Royals team.

But there were a couple of pieces of good news. The 1986 season saw the debuts of future stars Bo Jackson and Kevin Seitzer, plus David Cone, who would be a star elsewhere before returning to Kansas City briefly. Jackson and Seitzer would become key parts of the team the very next season. It would be pretty cool if Cheslor Cuthbert (although he debuted last year), Raul Mondesi, and Matt Strahm could be the 2016 versions of those guys (hopefully with longer careers here). Obviously those players have different strengths and weaknesses, but if this new group can be solid like that one was, the Royals will have a good foundation going forward.

Lee Judge on the importance of making contact.

Leigh Oleszczak at KC Kingdom thinks Jarrod Dyson may become expendable.

Olympic track and field competitor Jenny Simpson is apparently a big Royals fan.