Royals Rumblings - News for June 4, 2018

Royals Rumblings - News for June 4, 2018

Whit Merrifield talks about using the “Get Loud” prompt from CrownVision to his advantage.

“The crowd gets loud,” Merrifield said. “The pitcher can’t hear. You got to take off.”

Merrifield sprinted toward third base, coaxing a throw from Trivino. The ball skirted away from the bag, bouncing into foul territory, and for a moment it appeared that Merrifield might have an opportunity to score. But as Merrifield dived headfirst into the bag, he lost sight of the ball.

“I think if I would have known instantly that it was a bad throw, I could have hopped up and scored,”

Dayton Moore talks about the draft with Maria Torres.

“Players get exposed for the good and the bad,” Moore said. “No matter how much money you gave them or how much money they didn’t get. They get a chance to play and the game is the ultimate evaluator. You can’t hide it. We can’t hide it and say a player is something he’s not. Everybody knows. We can try to look into the future and project, but it’s hard to do.”

Lee Judge points out that high draft picks are no guarantee for success, highlighting some busts along the way.

One Royals front-office executive said that if a genie emerged from a bottle and offered up one player who might become a Hall of Famer, and another who was absolutely, 100 percent guaranteed to become a No. 3 middle-of-the-rotation pitcher, a lot of teams would take the sure thing.

There are very few sure things when it comes to drafting baseball players.

If you’re a fan of tanking, remember: The first part — losing — is easy; after that, things get more difficult.

David Laurila at Fangraphs talks to Red Sox first baseman Mitch Moreland on what he saw from Royals pitcher Scott Barlow.

“He’s kind of one of those guys I guess they call spin-rate guys,” said Moreland. “It seemed like his ball kind of got on you a little bit. He had good spin on his breaking ball, too. His changeup was pretty firm. I think he has a chance to be pretty good.”

Moreland was right in regards to spin. The sample is small — just 10-and-two-thirds big-league innings — but Barlow’s four-seam spin rate in his four big-league outings was a an above average 2,325 RPM. In the first two it was a well-above-average 2,778 RPM.

Jon Heyman lists a few trades he’d like to see this summer.

3. Kelvin Herrera and Jon Jay to the Astros for pitching prospect David Paulino and J.D. Davis.

Herrera has been touted here for weeks as the right one for the Astros. Paulino has been dangled by the Astros forever. The Royals will need corner guys with Mike Moustakas and Lucas Duda free agents....

6. Mike Moustakas to the Braves for A.J. Minter and Kyle Muller.

The Braves are likely to seek a third base upgrade, but probably not of a mind to deal top guys or add huge money, so Machado and Donaldson may be less likely. Moustakas is having a nice year at a reasonable rate, and he’d fit fine.

The 2080 Baseball Podcast talks Lexington Legends prospects.

Clubhouse Conversation talks to Royals relief prospect Tyler Zuber.

Big Slick raised a record $2 million for Children’s Mercy Hospital.

Former Royals pitching coach Bruce Kison died from cancer over the weekend at age 68.

Royals Farm Report notes that Josh Staumont is starting again, and he looks pretty good.

Buster Olney at ESPN thinks it is time for the Astros be “all-in”.

One baseball agent is getting out of the business, digusted with his industry.

Patrick Brennan, writing at Beyond the Boxscore, writes about the historic performance by Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.

Rangers pitcher Jake Diekman is back on the mound after losing his colon in a battle with ulcerative colitis.

Johnny Damon admits he cheers for the Yankees over the Red Sox.

White Sox slugger Matt Davidson has become one of the most improved hitters in baseball.

Everything is going wrong for the Mets.

The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League of A League of Their Own tried to keep lesbians out, but its gay stars are now speaking up.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes turned down endorsement deals to prove himself first.

ESPN, NBCSN, and FS1 are all looking at developing gambling-related shows.

Scientists left a record on the Voyager probe to give an idea of life on Earth, but will aliens be confused by it?

Why rich kids are so good at the “marshmallow test.”

The best little-known national parks in America.

Your song of the day is Wiz Khalifa with I Choose You (NSFW language).