Royals Rumblings - News for September 12, 2016

Royals Rumblings - News for September 12, 2016

David Lesky at Baseball Prospectus Kansas City thinks the Royals should hang onto Alcides Escobar next year, despite a poor season.

I’ve seen a lot of people talk about Escobar’s option and how the Royals should decline it, pay the buyout and just move Raul Mondesi to shortstop next season. I get the logic. The guy has a .298 OBP. He seems significantly slower than he once was and his defense isn’t what many believe it to be (in my opinion). But at the same time, the option is for $6.5 million, which is a pretty insignificant outlay for a guy who has been worth 5.6 WARP over the last almost three seasons. In fact, with a win being worth roughly $8 million on the open market, Escobar has either been worth about that $6.5 million salary or more in five of his six seasons with the Royals when you measure it by WARP. When you add in that Mondesi is hitting a gentleman’s .179/.227/.268 on the season, I’m not so sure turning shortstop over to him next season is the best idea in what many believe is the final season of a championship window.

Sean Thornton at Bleed Royals Blue looks at the decline of “Steady Eddie.”

The interesting part is that he has also thrown the same amount of strikes this year (64.0%) as last year while throwing less pitches per plate appearance (3.79 compared to 3.87 in 2015). This backs up my theory that hitters are swinging earlier in the count against Volquez, which seems to be what is happening. Batters are also putting the ball in play more against Eddie this year, 30.7% to 29.2% last year. This would seem to be backed up by the increase in his BAbip, which is risen from .293 to .317 this year. Hitters are not letting Volquez go deep in the count this year and are taking advantage of his early strikes, which are turning into more hits against him.

Mike Courson at Kings of Kauffman argues that Ned Yost and Joakim Soria are hurting the team.

In his last three appearances, Soria has allowed six hits, a walk, and four earned runs. He’s lost two of those three games for a Kansas City team needing every win it can get in this final month of the regular season.

But Soria does not have the power to put himself in a game. That responsibility rests solely on the shoulders of Yost. He once again is proving he cannot manage close ball games and always waits a batter or two too long before bringing in a different arm.

Don’t look for Jason Vargas to pitch out of the pen.

Look for more Merrifield and Colon in the lineup.

Lorenzo Cain got a stem cell injection. What is that?

Ned Yost recalls visiting Ground Zero after September 11.

The Giants were very interested in picking up Wade Davis back in July.

Stacy Gotsulias at Call to the Pen looks at the resurgence of Kendrys Morales.

Lee Judge writes that the Royals have been lacking in fundamentals lately.

Cam Gallagher’s squeeze bunt sends Northwest Arkansas to the Texas League championship.

The Athletics release former Royals designated hitter Billy Butler.

Dodgers pitcher Rich Hill is lifted after seven perfect innings.

Andrew Cashner says that beard policies will be a big deal in free agency.

The revival of Justin Verlander.

A peek at Babe Ruth’s private scrapbooks.

The Chiefs stage an amazing comeback to win their season opener against San Diego.

Central Michigan upsets Oklahoma State on an amazing Hail Mary that should not have happened.

Google is helping eliminate robotic-sounding voices.

Is this the tipping point for electric cars?

Christopher Eccleston regrets leaving Doctor Who so early.

Your song of the day it The Walkmen with “Heaven.”