Royals Rumblings - News for November 19, 2018

Royals Rumblings - News for November 19, 2018

Fangraphs does a breakout breakdown for Whit Merrifield.

Looking at Merrifield’s xSTATS, he did benefit in the BABIP department, which can be fluky. But players with speed can maintain gains at a higher rate in this category. According to xSTATS, Merrifield should have slashed .284/.351/.408 with an xOBA of .332 last season. Keep in mind, Merrifield recorded a wOBA of .319, so the on-base abilities should carry over next year. Trying to gauge his baseline for average in 2019, Merrifield’s expected average the last two seasons would be a very solid .287, especially given baseball’s current climate in regards to batting averages on the decline.

Whit loves the bullet trains in Japan.

“When I first heard about it, I kind of expected it to be like a roller coaster,” Royals infielder Whit Merrifield said, adding that he had prior experience riding bullet trains during overseas vacations. “But it’s really smooth. You didn’t know how fast you were going until you looked outside.

”I don’t mind flying. But with how easy is to travel around on the bullet train, it’s probably the easiest travel I’ve ever done.”

Jeffrey Flanagan lists the ten biggest trades in Royals history, topped by the James Shields deal.

This one ranks at the top because it helped catapult the Royals to their first winning season in 10 years in 2013, then back-to-back World Series appearances and their first World Series championship in 30 years in 2015. While fans and bloggers howled at the loss of prospect Myers at the time, general manager Dayton Moore concluded his rebuild needed acceleration. Shields threw well over 200 innings in each of his two seasons with the Royals, and more importantly, he changed the culture in the clubhouse to a winning mentality. Davis, of course, became one of the most dominant closers, in the short term, in club history.

Ballpark Digest looks back at the first home of the Royals - Municipal Stadium.

The Astros acquire shortstop Aledmys Diaz from the Blue Jays.

Keston Hiura is named MVP of the Arizona Fall League.

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen will have heart surgery.

How the Indians can rebuild their outfield.

Michael Wilbon believes strongly in pitcher wins.

The Hall of Fame cases for Chase Utley and Joe Mauer.

How does free agency work in Japan?

Alex Smith suffered a gruesome leg injury.

Sports books to give as gifts this holiday season.

The sad tale of how the publicity of being named a top burger joint killed a restaurant.

The fax machine still isn’t completely obselete, but maybe it should be?

Boba Fett made his debut 40 years ago this week in The Star Wars Holiday Special.

Your song of the day is Grand Funk Railroad with I’m Your Captain.