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Royals Rumblings - News for August 1, 2018
Ned Yost talks about Ryan O’Hearn, who homered in his Major League debut.
“Dayton wanted to get a look at him,” manager Ned Yost said. “His numbers weren’t great but if you breakdown whatever metrics you look for all that stuff, he was smoking the ball. A lot of hard outs. A lot of real hard outs. He was swinging the bat pretty good but he just didn’t wasn’t having much to show for it.”
O'Hearn: "I’m just at a loss for words. I’m excited to be here and today was the most fun I had at a baseball field — once I settled down a little bit — ever. I’m ready to get back tomorrow."
— Maria Torres (@maria_torres3) August 1, 2018
After Ryan O'Hearn's first career homer, a member of the Royals bullpen delivered a counterfeit ball to his locker with a sharpied message between the seams: "Bryan O'Hearn 1st Dong"
— Rustin Dodd (@rustindodd) August 1, 2018
In his Mellinger Minutes, Sam considers whether Mike Moustakas would return to Kansas City this winter.
Anything’s possible, but that’s hard to see.
Most obviously, the Royals are trying to shed payroll, not add it, but I also wonder if Moose would even take a little — a little — less to play somewhere else. Kauffman Stadium is bad for his numbers and swing, and Moose has always struck me as a guy for whom winning is more important than even most big leaguers.
Losing always seemed to bother him on a personal level, and he was (mostly) able to channel that productively.
Rustin Dodd talks to Dayton Moore about the trade deadline.
It is still possible the Royals will attempt to move Duda, Hammel or others in August when players must first clear waivers before being dealt. Moore did not dismiss that idea Tuesday, stating that there was “a level of interest in a lot of our guys.” Yet the prospect could require a strong stretch from either Duda or Hammel, who recently moved to the bullpen from the starting rotation.
“It depends on how players perform and the needs of the teams,” Moore said.
Jeffrey Flanagan at MLB.com has more.
“I guess it depends on how players perform and the needs of the [other] teams,” Moore said. “This trading market for us began in June when we traded Jon Jay. It continued to progress when we traded Kelvin Herrera. And we acquired Brian Goodwin and then we traded Mike Moustakas.
”The trade market for us has been something we’ve been consistently involved with since June 10.”
Darin Watson at Baseball Prospectus Kansas City defends Dayton Moore.
None of this is to say that Dayton Moore is infallible or that he deserves a lifetime contract. But I do think he deserves the benefit of the doubt. Let’s not forget that the farm system looked barren just a few months ago. It’s not great now, but they have added talent at the lower levels through this year’s draft (taking advantage of those picks they got from not trading Hosmer or Cain), plus players like Khalil Lee and Seuly Matias have had breakout years. The low minors look pretty good now.
Tyler Dierking at Kings of Kauffman wonders if 2018 draft pick Kyle Isbel is for real.
2080 Baseball has video of pitching prospect Daniel Lynch.
Reviewing all the trades made at the deadline.
The winners and losers at the trade deadline.
What does the future hold for Joe Mauer?
Now Yankees pitcher J.A. Happ has hand, foot, and mouth disease.
Yu Darvish’s agent fires back at Alex Rodriguez for criticism during a broadcast.
More players should be like Sean Doolittle.
Do recently revealed offensive tweets from players show a toxic culture?
Who has the worst logo in sports?
How legal sports gambling will affect how we watch sports.
The $300 million plan to farm salmon in the middle of the ocean.
Fivethirtyeight introduces “Popularity Above Replacement Governor” ratings.
20th Century Fox is planning a prequel to the classic baseball film The Sandlot.
Your song of the day is The Who with The Kids Are Alright.