Royals Rumblings - News for August 21, 2017

Royals Rumblings - News for August 21, 2017

Ned Yost isn’t panicking about the lackluster pitching.

“It’s just a bit of a slump,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “Like hitters go in slumps, pitchers go in slumps, too.”

Here is your Salvador Perez update.

Vahe Gregorian writes the Royals are stumbling towards the finish line.

But between the recent bullpen volatility and the current lack of dependability in the rotation, well-encapsulated in Kennedy, it looks increasingly like it’s going to take some kind of supernatural intervention for this team to make a move in the division …

And more and more like their best postseason hope is for the roulette wheel of the wild-card.

David Laurila of Fangraphs talks to Whit Merrifield about his success.

After six-plus seasons in the minors, Merrifield is flowering in the big leagues because… he’s in the big leagues.

“Honestly, it’s just being up here and playing to win,” Merrifield told me when I asked about his breakout campaign. “Every day there’s a motivation to come to the field. There’s an excitement that you don’t really have in the minor leagues. Down there, you’re not playing to win every game so much as you’re playing to move up. Here, it’s a different attitude, and I’m at my best when I don’t focus on my numbers.”

Neftali Feliz lands on the disabled list with Eric Skoglund up.

“You know when you wake up and your hand is all numb?” Yost said. “Well, he woke up and his hand is numb and it hasn’t gone away.”

Chris Devito joins the top 30 Royals prospect list, according to MLB Pipeline.

Lee Judge writes that when the Royals give up more than four runs, they lose a lot.

Royals players are excited about today’s solar eclipes.

“I’m going to walk outside and look at the sun,” Merrifield said. “There’s not much to it. You just walk outside and look up.”

Wade Davis picks up his 26th save in a row without a blown save, tying a Cubs record.

Umpires are wearing wristbands in protest against Ian Kinsler for his critical comments.

The Dodgers pick up Curtis Granderson from the Mets.

Aroldis Chapman is out as Yankees closer.

Aaron Judge sets the record for consecutive games with a strikeout.

The Angels could be wasting peak Mike Trout and Andrelton Simmons.

Would a MLB pitch clock be a big deal?

So what the heck is a “catch” in the NFL, anyway?

Nick Saban cares not for your solar eclipse.

Everything you need to know about today’s solar eclipse.

Standalone Star Wars movies about Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jabba the Hutt may be in the works.

RIP comedian and civil rights activist Dick Gregory and comedian and tireless Muscular Dystrophy Association fundraiser Jerry Lewis.

Your song of the day is Soundgarden with Black Hole Sun.