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Royals Rumblings - News for October 31, 2018
Craig Brown at Baseball Prospectus Kansas City writes about how much the defense has declined.
In 2018, the Royals Park-Adjusted Defensive Efficiency (PADE) was second worst in baseball at -2.07. On the spectrum presented by Baseball Prospectus, that lies somewhere between “Poor” and “Horrendous.” In the championship years, the Royals posted a PADE of 0.58 and 0.83. Those are strong showings, but not elite, as you may have expected.
At any rate, the stellar defense has exited the stadium. If you prefer a number that isn’t park adjusted, he Royals Defensive Efficiency – or the rate they turned balls in play into outs – was an anemic 0.691. That was the second worst success rate in the league, just one one-thousandths better than the Orioles. That most definitely earns a “Horrendous” on the Baseball Prospectus scale.
The Royals decline the $12 million mutual option on Jason Hammel.
Highest ERA, Royals history (min. 50 starts):
— Royals Review (@royalsreview) October 30, 2018
Glendon Rusch 5.80
Jason Hammel 5.59
Dan Reichert 5.53
Runelvys Hernandez 5.38
Kyle Davies 5.34 https://t.co/GLaWM3Rkpm
Jeffrey Flanagan talks to Royals’ 2018 draft pick Rylan Kaufman.
MLB.com: What do they have you working on here?
Kaufman: Been working on my changeup. That’s something I really need to develop. Also working on commanding my fastball. That’s pretty much it. I’m pretty much fastball-curveball and working on that changeup. I love it here. I love the environment with the Royals. Just great coaches, great teammates.”
When I was getting to know some of the Royals prospects earlier this month at the instructional league in Surprise, I casually asked several of them who their best friend in the organization was so far. Four of them said Brady Singer. Sounds like a pretty good teammate.
— Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) October 30, 2018
Will Leitch at MLB.com looks at each team’s biggest free agent regret.
Royals: Jose Guillen, three years, $36 million, 2008 Guillen was terrible for Kansas City, but he was even more of a problem off the field, criticizing the organization constantly and even getting in fights with fans. He is, uh, not missed.
Wait, the Red Sox championship club was largely homegrown?
Craig Edwards at Fangraphs takes a look at the lousy World Series television ratings.
Scott Boras says Bryce Harper already has a done deal with a team.
Mike Moustakas and Joakim Soria become free agents.
The top MLB stories to watch for this off-season.
J.T. Realmuto reportedly wants out of Miami.
The new Cardinals hitting instructor uses cutting edge technology.
The Athletic gets another $40 million in funding.
The Booger-Mobile for Monday Night Football has been taken down a notch.
Why some young adults don’t vote.
Naomi Watts will star in the Game of Thrones prequel series for HBO.
Why you can’t stop eating Halloween candy.
Your song of the day is The Misfits with Monster Mash.