Weekend Rumblings - News for April 14, 2018

Weekend Rumblings - News for April 14, 2018

Rany Jazayerli writes that the Royals have an opportunity to improve their farm system in a hurry.

So the formula for a big jump in the farm system rankings is pretty clear. You need some players in the low levels of your farm system, guys who are talented but too far away from the majors to be considered elite prospects yet, to break out. You need to take advantage of the upcoming draft to add a lot of high-upside talent. And you need to trade away every major leaguer on your roster with a pulse for more prospects.

The odds are daunting that the Royals can build a top-five farm system in one year. But they have every ingredient in place to concoct that formula.

Salvy could be back soon.

Ned Yost talks bullpen issues.

Clinton Riddle at Minor League Ball gives his impressions of Royals prospect Seuly Matias.

He is a powerfully-built young man, with a great deal of upper body strength and the demonstrated ability to drive the ball even with one-handed swings on balls outside the zone. He does take a lot of arm swings, so he’ll need to get his lower half involved more frequently. However, he definitely can turn on an inside pitch and blister it. When he becomes more comfortable with off-speed pitches (low and away is a problem area, with change-ups and curves), we’ll see fuller swings and more consistent torque and hip rotation.

David Lesky at Baseball Prospectus Kansas City is impressed with Brad Keller.

Keller doesn’t turn 23 until the end of July, and I think he might have a nice future ahead of him. I’m not completely sold on him starting, given his last two minor league seasons as a starter, but that stuff plays in the bullpen. I don’t think he’s a future closer or anything (though I’ve been wrong before), but a 93-96 MPH fastball along with a really effective slider can be a nice weapon in the bullpen. People liked Kevin McCarthy because he was able to get some ground balls, but I think Keller is just a much better version of that, and that’s valuable.

Royals players talk about who else could have been a good two-way player other than Shohei Ohtani.

The Royals talk about signing outfielder Tarik El-Abour, the first ballplayer diagnosed with autism.

Shortstop Nicky Lopez makes Carson Cistulli’s Fringe Five Prospects list.

Former Royals outfielder Johnny Damon will be on Dancing with the Stars.

Home runs are down so far, and the ball may be a reason why.

Nolan Arenado and Luis Perdomo get suspended for brawlin’.

Joe Mauer got his 2000th career hit.

Starlin Castro hit a three-run sacrifice fly.

Grant Brisbee is upset that MLB even discussed the possibility of a mercy rule.

The White Sox ballpark that never came to be that could have changed history.

A Montreal ownership group is looking to relocate a team.

The text and subtext of baseball’s rulebook.

Gambling on esports is a billion dollar industry.

How Dan LeBetard built a sports empire by not talking much about sports.

The overlooked wonders of Soviet-era industrial design.

Five people are arrested for having a rave in an abandoned Toys ‘R’ Us.

Westworld isn’t messing around in season two.

Your song of the day is Red Garland with But Not For Me.