Royals Rumblings - News for July 16, 2018

Royals Rumblings - News for July 16, 2018

An injury to Wilson Ramos means Salvador Perez will start his fifth consecutive All-Star Game.

Seuly Matias, who had two hits, including a home run in the Futures Game, wants to cut down on his strikeouts.

“I think that when I go back (to the Legends), I will have my timing down,” Matias said. “I know I’ll get better. I know I can do it. I know that with God, I can do it. It’s just an adjustment.”

Rustin Dodd highlights Matias as the plum of the international scouting department, but notes they almost had a bigger haul that year.

In the summer of 2015, Francisco says, the Royals had shifted their focus and resources to four Dominican prospects: Matias and Guzman; a young outfielder named Juan Soto; and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the son of the Hall of Fame outfielder. ...

The Royals were hours away from a deal for Soto but could not secure the funds before he agreed to terms with Washington. They were also close on Guerrero, but could not meet a $3.5 million price tag. The scouts did their job, Francisco says, building trust in the relationships and putting the club in position.

“We were happy with the money we got and the players we got,” Francisco says. “But it could have been an even better year.”

Ned Yost talks about Paulo Orlando’s struggles.

“Paulo’s had a bit of a struggle here,” Yost said. “Two years ago, it was no fluke. ... But he struggled last year offensively, and up here (this year) has struggled.

“I don’t know why he’s struggled. His swing looks the same to me.”

Your Mike Moustakas trade rumor update.

Maria Torres writes about how Whit Merrifield has been grinding his whole career.

The opportunity arose in the form of Alex Gordon’s groin strain in early July 2015, but Merrifield was passed over. In an interview published this week by Infield Chatter, Merrifield said Royals officials had originally chosen him to take Gordon’s spot and changed their minds at the last minute.

Merrifield’s season took a dive. Before the Class AAA All-Star game, he had batted .293 with 21 doubles, four triples, three home runs and 29 RBIs for the Omaha Storm Chasers. He batted just .220 with 11 extra-base hits in his final 50 games.

“I thought that was it,” Merrifield told The Star. “So I was thinking in my head what I was gonna do. I had a talk with my father that offseason and realized I’m gonna stick with it. That’s when I sort of reinvented myself, went on that crazy diet, put on a bunch of weight, became a lot stronger. (In) 2016 was when I started finding the player I am now.”

Danny Duffy abandoned his curveball, but now it’s back and better than ever.

“The curveball has been a godsend,” he said. “What I was doing wasn’t working. So I tried to figure something new out. This isn’t so new as it is just trying to rekindle what I had when I first came up.”

Royals draft pick Jackson Kowar made his pro debut and talked about expectations.

“At the end of the day I didn’t really execute two-strike pitches against the middle of the order when I needed to. I had a walk and a base hit there with the (No. 3), (No.4) hitters.”

Whit Merrifield is listed among these potential non-rental trade assets that could net a good haul.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny lost his clubhouse, then lost his job.

Is Chase Utley a future Hall of Famer?

The Manny Machado sweepstakes are heating up.

Are closers still the best relievers?

The Red Sox have turned Fenway Park into a biomechanics lab.

David Cone has embraced analytics, taking the YES Network into the modern age.

Keith Olbermann tries to fix the All-Star Game.

George Will is against big changes to the game to fix perceived problems.

Novak Djokovic wins Wimbledon, his 13th grand slam title.

France wins the World Cup, but Croatia’s Luka Modric wins the Golden Ball.

Social media influencers are using their kids to expand their brand.

Elon Musk is kinda losing it on this Thai rescue mission.

The weirdest and most wonderful alternate dimensions in the DC and Marvel universes.

Your song of the day is Saint Motel with Move.