Royals Rumblings - News for September 13, 2017

Royals Rumblings - News for September 13, 2017

Rustin Dodd writes that Eric Hosmer is finally hitting like a superstar.

From a historical perspective, Hosmer is treading in territory rarely approached by a Royal in the last 15 years. For him, it is coming at the best possible time. According to the advanced metric Weighted Runs Created Plus, a measure of total offense, Hosmer is having the best season by a Royals hitter since Mike Sweeney in 2002. The only other seasons that come close are Alex Gordon in 2011 and Billy Butler in 2012. Hosmer could also become the first Royal to post an OPS above .900 since Carlos Beltran in 2003.

“It’s just really, really rare,” Yost says, “that you’ve got a guy that’s an elite performer, an elite person in terms of character and leadership and attitude and competitiveness and fight every day.”

Alex Duvall at Kings of Kauffman writes that keeping Hosmer should be a top priority for the Royals.

Hosmer is a star. He may not hit for as much power as some would like from a first basemen. But he is one homer away from a career high with 20 games to go, and his power continues to develop. He also has to play 81 of his games at Kauffman Stadium, which is hardly conducive to hitting homers.

Of the “Big Three” free agents, Hosmer is the youngest.

The Royals acknowledge their pitching staff is running on fumes right now.

With elimination nipping at their heels, day-to-day, moment-to-moment, they’re hanging on by a strand.

“That’s the world we live in right now,” Yost acknowledged, with a laugh. “Yeah, that’s just the way it is.”...

“Tomorrow’s going to be a rough day,” Yost said. “Because as thin as we were today, we’re even thinner tomorrow.”

Clark Fosler wonders how differently the season would have gone with Wade Davis still on the team.

In reviewing the above, I look at the games on April 9th, May 19th and September 7th as the three that one could make a very reasonable argument that Kansas City wins if Wade Davis is on the roster. Given that the first two of those three came down mostly to one bad pitch that left the yard, a logical view says Davis blows a save in at least one of those. We could also fancy a reality in which one of the two tie games (May 6th and June 8th) goes the Royals’ way with Davis in place of or in addition to Herrera.

Take those five games and change a Royals’ loss to a win in three of them? One could very certainly make that case.

Lee Judge looks at how September callups can affect a pennant race.

Amos Otis is honored for helping out eight boys during the 1977 Kansas City floods.

The Indians win their 20th in a row, tying the American League record.

Do they have the best pitching staff ever?

How have the Twins turned things around?

Buster Olney writes that home runs will be cheap in the free agent market this winter.

The Athletics are offering fans a free game next year.

The Yankees are stealing our bit with a rally mantis of their own.

What is the value of a minor league championship?

Why are so many top college programs turning to freshman quarterbacks?

Steve Smith was nominated for the football Hall of Fame, but not the one that was really good.

A pizza festival that charged $75 for pretty much no pizza, is under investigation.

19 movies released before Oscar season we shouldn’t forget.

J.J. Abrams will direct Star Wars, episode IX.

Your song of the day is Run the Jewels with Talk to Me.