Royals Rumblings - News for September 11, 2017

Royals Rumblings - News for September 11, 2017

Ned Yost is considering a six-man rotation when Danny Duffy returns.

Duffy, who is recovering from a pronator strain in his left elbow, will throw a two-inning, simulated game on Monday at Kauffman Stadium. That could position him to return to the mound in Cleveland next weekend, Yost said....

“I am planning out or thinking about getting to the off day,” Yost said, “which would then automatically give everybody an extra day, and then just going on a six-man the rest of the way to give everybody the extra day for the rest of the year.”

Joakim Soria was set to return early this week, but has to attend to family matters.

Soria returned home to Arizona this weekend to be with his 7-year-old daughter Angela, who was suffering from appendicitis. Also, Royals manager Ned Yost said Soria’s wife, Karla, is pregnant and due to give birth on Thursday.

Colby Wilson at Baseball Prospectus Kansas City wonders what is wrong with Jason Vargas.

He’s throwing fastball more. He’s going to the changeup more when he falls behind. It’s a classic chicken-or-egg conundrum: are two of Vargas’ worst offerings getting hit harder because he’s throwing them more or is he throwing them more out of fear that people will start keying on the stuff with some movement, perhaps because it has been less accurate and his release point has, ever so slightly, been a little off? And if that’s the case, why wouldn’t he reverse course now, with the results being what they have been?

I don’t have the answers, mind you. There are only so many guys that can carve out a high-level big-league career with a fastball that only occasionally scrapes 90 mph.

Whit Merrifield talks about mental health.

Eric Boston at Kings of Kauffman profiles Royals minor league catcher Nick Dini.

Steve Balboni reflects on his career and his franchise home run record.

Seriously, will the Indians ever lose again?

Aaron Judge becomes just the second rookie ever to hit 40 home runs.

The Twins are trying to become the most unlikely playoff team in MLB history.

Buster Olney thinks paranoia over sign stealing will stymie attempts to improve pace of play.

Stephen Loftus at Fangraphs argues the new provisions penalizing teams for exceeding the luxury tax threshold aren’t very harsh.

What should the Blue Jays do with Roberto Osuna?

Lenny Dykstra and Lena Dunham get weird on Twitter.

How the decision to cancel a college football game due to a hurricane happens.

Tony Romo is actually a really good broadcaster.

Some maps showing how people are evacuating Florida.

Why are we getting so many movies about the Joker?

Stephen King’s It destroys September box office records, suggesting that maybe Hollywood should make more good movies.

Your song of the day is The Beta Band with Human Being.