Weekend Rumblings - News for May 20, 2017

Weekend Rumblings - News for May 20, 2017

David Lesky at Baseball Prospectus Kansas City praises Jorge Soler despite some rough patches.

Here’s what I like about Soler, though. He doesn’t swing at bad pitches. I talked about this when I advocated for him leading off after they acquired him. He actually will take a walk. Now, that doesn’t mean he necessarily knows what to swing at in the zone, but he recognizes what is not a strike. And what that leads to is hard contact. That home run he hit on Sunday was just ridiculous. I think Soler is about to get hot, and that comes from seeing some hard contact and the ability to lay off bad pitches. And when he does get hot, he’s going to be really fun to watch.

Nate Karns left Friday’s game with some minor stiffness.

Ian Kennedy will start tonight.

Alcides Escobar tied the club record for consecutive starts.

Mike Moustakas isn’t thinking about the Royals home run record.

“On my list of what I care about,” he said, “it’s pretty far down there.”

But, hey, the rest of us can indulge the thought of the mini-drama within the real story: the prospect of Mike Moustakas eclipsing the club homer mark of 36 in a season set by Steve Balboni in 1985, a notion reinforced against the Yankees when Moustakas hit his 10th of the season to stay on pace.

Even if it’s mostly a cosmetic point, even if it has a lot to do with the cavernous confines of Kauffman, this just isn’t a good look on the Royals — who need to be liberated from this stigma.

Robert Murray at FanRag writes the Royals may have to consider being sellers soon.

According to the New York Post, Royals general manager Dayton Moore was informing opposing teams during spring training that if the team was not contending come July, they would consider trading from the young core.

“We would have to consider it (a fire sale) if things do not go right,” Moore told the Post in the spring.

One name to keep an eye on is Moustakas. Before the season, one plugged-in league source boldly predicted, “Watch, K.C. will find a way to move Moustakas if things start to get away from them.”

Sean Thornton at Bleeding Royal Blue tries to figure out what is wrong with Alex Gordon.

The Royals are offering a “summer pass” for 30 home games through July for under $100.

The Ringer Baseball Podcast discusses Seth Maness and his experimental surgery.

Jeff Sullivan writes that the Twins are hitting like they have a clue.

How Mike Trout is hitting better than ever.

What is going on with all the Mets injuries?

A Deadspin writer doesn’t understand what catcher signals mean.

Players don’t seem to want any changes to extra innings.

Buster Olney writes about why baseball retaliation for grievances is stupid.

Joe Posnanski ranks his favorite baseball stadiums.

The Cleveland Cavaliers absolutely destroyed the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Browns draft pick Myles Garrett signed his contract to Seal’s Kiss From a Rose.

The FCC votes to overturn net neutrality rules.

Which movie aliens were the scariest?

Your song of the day is Jimmy Forrest with Body and Soul.