Weekend Rumblings - News for March 31, 2018

Weekend Rumblings - News for March 31, 2018

Nate Karns could follow the Mike Minor path to the bullpen.

“We had a lot of discussion on how best to utilize [Karns] in 2018, knowing that when we made the deal for him, we felt he was going to be in our rotation every fifth day,” Moore said. “And our scouts, all of our analytical people, everybody felt that was his best role. But he just hasn’t been able to stay healthy to this point.

”You go into this thing with a plan, but you’ve got to be open-minded to adjust the plan. Allow the player to change your mind one way or the other. Allow the medical team to change your mind one way or the other. When we spoke to [trainer] Nick [Kenney] yesterday, my thought to Nick was just, ‘Let’s do this.’ I was throwing it out there. If Nick would have felt differently, he would have said it. But there was no pushback.”

Whit Merrifield was thrilled to finally be on an Opening Day roster.

“I woke up about 6 and wasn’t able to get back to sleep,” Merrifield said. “I was tossing and turning the rest of the morning. My first thought when I woke up was what time can I leave to get to the field and not be overly early? I piddled around a little bit at the apartment and got here around 8:30 ready to go.”

But fans were less thrilled.

Sam McDowell of the Star writes that time just ran out for Kyle Zimmer.

“The clock is always running,” Moore said. “There’s always another player. We had to make moves, and Kyle simply is at a point in time in his rehab process where we’re not going to be in a position to stay along with him while he’s on the roster.”

Sam Mellinger talks to Hall of Fame broadcaster Denny Matthews about his 50th year of Royals baseball.

Broadcast partner Ryan Lefebvre is asked his favorite Matthews calls, and the three that come to mind are illustrative....

3. After a completely naked streaker was escorted off the field: “Ryan, I must say you described what happened with great skill. But, if I could add just one detail, now that it’s all said and done: Folks, it was no big deal.”

Former Royals pitching coach Dave Eiland, now with the Mets, talks about being aggressive, such as when Noah Syndergaard aggressively threw at the Royals in Game 3 of the 2015 World Series.

“And I knew right then and there we had lost that game,” Eiland said. “I knew Noah wasn’t going to let anyone get comfortable up there. I probably shouldn’t have smiled, but as a pitcher, I liked it.”

Royals Farm Report looks at how minor league rosters are shaping up.

The man who designed the iconic Royals logo back in 1969 talks about how he did it.

The Kansas City Urban Youth Academy officially opened this week after significant support from the Royals.

What can you say about White Sox slugger Matt Davidson after his three-home run game?

The Tigers appeared to win their season opener, but replay overturned it and they lost a wild extra-inning affair.

Ranking Opening Day home runs.

Jon Heyman’s breakout stars for 2018.

Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitski will have surgery on both heels.

Baseball salaries used to be a big secret.

John Sterling and his home run call for Giancarlo Stanton need to be stopped.

The Fortnite craze has infected the Astros clubhouse.

Are the Mariners too obsessed with outfield defense?

Loyola’s Sister Jean says God prefers college hoops over the NBA.

The Notre Dame women’s basketball team chokes in the last 15 seconds, but beats UConn in overtime anyway.

A leaked Facebook memo reveals a “growth at all costs” philosophy.

The lost tradition of playing ball to celebrate Easter.

A guide to the Easter eggs in Ready Player One.

Your song of the day is Nat Adderley with Work Song.