Royals Rumblings - News for August 2, 2017

Royals Rumblings - News for August 2, 2017

Sam Mellinger thinks the Royals did the right thing not selling.

I know there are still some holdouts who believe the Royals should’ve been sellers, that even if they get into the postseason they’re likely to be gone quickly. We all have our opinions, and none of them are invalid, but I find this to be hogwash.

The idea behind making a seller’s trade is that you better position yourself for a playoff run in the future. But if you’re in position for a playoff run now, particularly with a group that’s taken you on two unforgettable playoff runs the last three years, why the hell would you give up on that for some vague run at the 2021 AL Central?

This is even more true with the reality that the Royals can always go into full rebuild mode later.

Delaying a rebuild is not an irreversible decision — but giving up on 2017 is.

Buster Olney at ESPN gives the Royals an “A-” in grading July moves.

Kansas City didn’t necessarily add stars the way it did in the 2015 pennant race, when the Royals swapped for Johnny Cueto and Ben Zobrist. Rather, the Royals added Cabrera and a trio of pitchers in a deal with San Diego. But the Royals’ efforts to get better provided a jolt of adrenaline for a team competing for a postseason spot, before Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Lorenzo Cain, Alcides Escobar and Jason Vargas become free agents. It was the perfect response to the team’s improving play, because nobody knows when the Royals will be in position to win again.

Dan Szymborski at ESPN writes the Royals helped their playoffs more than any other team except the Yankees.

I would have liked for them to have gone even further, going more seriously after Lance Lynn and/or Zack Cozartand really solidify the roster for what looks very much like this era's final Royals push. They didn't go as far as I would have preferred, but they did make other moves that shored up team weaknesses by picking up Melky Cabrera and a trio of Padres pitchers.

Rustin Dodd looks forward to the schedule.

The 10 games against Cleveland would well decide the division. The Zack Greinke subplot would be fun, but here’s what (I think) might be the most important games down the stretch:

The Royals have 22 games left against Minnesota, Chicago and Detroit — three teams that have cashed it in over the last couple weeks.

The Indians have 20 games left against the same teams.

A hat tip to my friend and rival Flanny for coming up with this analogy. But those games are kind of like easy Par 5s in golf. You need to birdie and eagle those holes to be in the hunt.

Why isn’t General Manager John Scheurholz in the Royals Hall of Fame?

Former White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest talks about his Royals fandom.

Edinson Volquez, now with the Marlins, will get Tommy John surgery.

Inside the frenzied minutes leading up to the Dodgers landing Yu Darvish.

Does Max Scherzer already have the Cy Young wrapped up?

Austin Jackson may have made the catch of the year.

Doug Gottlieb suspects Adrian Beltre of PEDs partly because he’s Dominican.

The Blue Jays fan that tossed a beer on the field during the playoffs opens up about his mistake.

LaVar Ball is using misogyny to sell t-shirts.

The new Chargers coach isn’t allowing Phillip Rivers and Antonio Gates attend the Hall of Fame induction of former teammate LaDainian Tomlinson.

Inmates in Alabama escaped using peanut butter to alter door signs.

American sperm counts are down.

Can an app make you a better runner?

Your song of the day is Modest Mouse with Fire it Up.