Royals Rumblings - News for March 2, 2017

Per MLB.com’s Chris Gabel, Billy Burns is trying to make his case for a spot on the Opening Day roster:

"I want to showcase what I can do, and provide a value for this team," Burns said. "Hopefully show them I can play here. ... It's the same thing I always do -- try to improve my game and compete at the highest level; play hard and run fast. That's all.

"I don't really speculate. I just go out and play my game, and let everybody else worry about that."

With Jarrod Dyson traded to the Mariners in early January, Burns could fill that valuable speed role coming off the bench.

Nate Karns threw two perfect innings in the Royals 7 - 3 loss to the Cubs yesterday.

Peter O’Brien’s dongage is really impressing his teammates:

“O’Brien has the most pop I've ever seen,” Gordon said. “I told the coaches, ‘I’m not in his BP, because he makes me feel like a high school kid.’ ”

So here is your introduction to O’Brien, the 26-year-old former second-round pick, the catcher turned outfielder turned possible DH, the most intriguing newcomer, perhaps, during the opening weeks of spring training.

In a clubhouse full of All-Stars and veterans, he remains somewhat of a long shot to make the 25-man roster. He lacks a natural defensive position. He has batted just .176 in 37 major-league games. In December, he was designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks before being sent to the Royals in exchange for a little-known minor-league pitcher named Sam Lewis. But there is the power — yes, that power — the tool that makes professional baseball players look on in awe, the gift that turns every batting practice session into a display of majestic blasts and ridiculous clout.

BP KC’s (and formerly Royals Review’s) Clark Fosler takes a stab at the 25-man Opening Day roster. This is how he sees the bullpen shaking out:

Bullpen – Kelvin Herrera, Joakim Soria, Matt Strahm, Travis Wood, Chris Young, Peter Moylan and Chris Withrow.

Only Herrera, Soria and Strahm were in this group just one month ago and, again, the change is for the better. If you want to swap Wood and Karns, I’ll let you. Young is not going anywhere and, as I wrote a few weeks back, might just ‘matter’. I have an irrational attachment to Peter Moylan and believe he has a job to lose even though he is a recent signing. Truthfully, if Moylan is your fifth guy, that is a solid group. I chose Chris Withrow for the final spot over Seth Maness, who I am going to predict might need just a bit more time to get game ready after having ‘primary repair’ surgery last August. I once again ignore Mike Minor, who currently occupies a 40 man roster spot and will not speak of Kyle Zimmer other than to say if someone is going to suffer a freak injury, it is surely him.

Salvador Perez lost 25 pounds. Is he in the best shape of his life?

Patrick Brennan (painting_the_corners404) looks at how luck from last year plays into this year’s projections for the Royals at Kings of Kauffman.

BP’s Matthew Trueblood watched baseball of yore and marvels at the changes in the game.

KATOH hates Brendan Rodgers.

Jeff Zimmerman evaluates how teams’ initial closers have done.

FanGraphs’ Travis Sawchik tries to figure out the value of Mark Buehrle and working quickly.

In Silicon Valley, startup workers are seeing incidence of sexual harrassment at staggering rates.

The majority of violent crimes go unsolved in the U.S.

What is driving the attack on net neutrality?

Grown-up fun in the pool es no bueno.

Five awesome Elliott Smith bootlegs you can download legally.

The song of the day is “Nobody Speak” by DJ Shadow, featuring Run The Jewels.