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Royals Rumblings - News for October 31, 2018

Happy Halloween!

MLB: World Series-Houston Astros at Los Angeles Dodgers Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

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.

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.”

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.