Royals Rumblings - News for September 18, 2017

Royals Rumblings - News for September 18, 2017

Today’s off day is a welcome respite for the Royals, who are nursing aches and pains.

“The problem is, you push them until as far as you think can push them,” Yost said. “If they blow, they’re out (for the year).”

Danny Duffy looked sharp in his return to the mound.

The Royals are the most successful team in baseball on reviews thanks to Bill Duplissea.

During games, he works to find the best on-screen layouts to quickly review plays. He attempts to put himself in an umpire’s shoes. Some calls look wrong, he says. Yet if there is not a clear angle, he won’t challenge.

He’s learned that challenging a crew chief’s call can be less successful than challenging a regular umpire. He’s learned that the most difficult call to challenge is a stolen-base at second base because one camera angle rarely shows both the tag and the runner reaching the base.

“Those are the toughest,” he said. “You have to use two different cameras, and then there’s a center-field cam. So when there’s a play at second base, I know where to go.”

David Lesky at Baseball Prospectus Kansas City looks towards 2018.

I look at next season’s rotation as a potential strength, though they need more depth. Danny Duffy, Nate Karns, Jake Junis, Jason Hammel and Ian Kennedy (and maybe Vargas as I said above) is a pretty solid group of six, though they all have their questions. I’d take a shot on a guy like Tyler Chatwood and maybe even someone like Jesse Chavez. I think we’ve seen that you just can’t count on the main five or six for 33 starts each. If you can work some guys into swingmen in the bullpen, that would allow the team to salvage the bullpen a bit during the first few months of the season to avoid what’s happened this season and to limit the workload of a starting staff that isn’t as durable as you’d hope.

Lee Judge wonders if Alex Gordon has begun to turn things around.

Jen Nevius of Drinking the Blue Aid talks to Wilmington pitcher Anthony Bender.

The Astros clinch their first division title in 16 years.

Stephen Strasburg has been immune to the home run spike.

Is it wrong to attendance-shame Indians fans?

Japanese free agent Shohei Otani may be giving up $200 million by coming to MLB this off-season.

Will baseball broadcasting one day be like Youtube gaming videos?

A look at who has triggered vesting options for 2018.

Why hasn’t MLB fixed its September roster expansion rules?

A look at the race for the #1 pick in next year’s draft.

The contentious physics of Whiffle Ball.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is impeding talks to extend Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Celebrating 30 years of Metroid.

Looks like no hyperloop for Kansas City.

Is Netflix’s limited library killing classic films?

Your song of the day is Nathaniel Rateliff with You Should Have Seen the Other Guy.