Royals Rumblings - News for October 9, 2018

Royals Rumblings - News for October 9, 2018

Craig Brown at Baseball Prospectus Kansas City thinks strong TV ratings means the Royals can cash in on their new TV deal.

They’re the number one program by a massive amount. Their ratings would have to crater for the Royals not to be the number one show in primetime in Kansas City in the summer. And that’s what really matters when it comes to the current negotiations.

Advertisers prefer to support live content, specifically sports, with its well-defined target audience and aversion to time-shifting. (That’s the fancy term for using the DVR to record a program and skip over the commercials.) If you feared that there was a TV rights bubble, put those in your back pocket. There is no better content for advertisers these days than baseball. Those rights fees are going to continue to rise and the Royals are in an excellent position to take advantage.

The Brewers are streaking with Lorenzo Cain this post-season, just like the Royals did in 2014.

“There are some similarities. It’s definitely starting out that way,” said Cain, who singled in the fifth inning of Sunday’s 6-0 victory over the Rockies for his first hit of the 2018 postseason. “Hopefully we can keep it going, continue to stay hot and continue to win ballgames.”

MLB Pipeline lists the top prospect to watch from each team at the Arizona Fall League.

Royals: Khalil Lee, OF (KC No. 2)Though Lee intrigued clubs as a high school left-hander with a low-90s fastball and a promising slider, the Royals preferred him as an outfielder and made him a full-time position player after taking him in 2016’s third round. He has a chance to have solid or better tools across the board -- his arm strength is his best attribute -- and displays some of the best patience in Kansas City’s system as well as the ability to fit anywhere in the outfield.

Alex Duvall at Royals Farm Report gives a season review for Nicky Lopez.

Umpire Angel Hernandez had himself a night in Game 3 of the ALDS.

The history of “bullpenning” goes back farther than you think.

The Statcast broadcast was successful for reasons beyond advanced stats.

The Marlins fire four coaches.

If Joe Mauer is leaving, who will play first base for the Twins?

Why the Dodgers might be in actual legal trouble for their activities in Latin America.

Does playoff experience really matter at all?

Chris Davis wasn’t quite the worst player of all-time this year.

How DO you beat the Chiefs?

Drew Brees breaks the yardage record and of course, draws a celebration penalty.

A new UN report says we have about 12 years left to do anything about climate change.

Actor Daniel Radcliffe spends time as a newspaper fact-checker.

Is Venom good bad or bad bad?

Your song of the day is Oingo Boingo with Dead Man’s Party.