Royals Rumblings - News for September 17, 2018

Royals Rumblings - News for September 17, 2018

Rustin Dodd writes about how the Royals became fun again.

This is the Royals right now. Once on pace for the worst season in club history, once sitting a franchise-worst 52 games under .500 on Aug. 23, the clubhouse pulled itself out of a year-long nosedive, piecing together a month of solid baseball. Once old and bad and something even worse (dreadfully dull), the Royals are younger and faster and suddenly, well … fun.

“I don’t know if it rejuvenates me,” Royals manager Ned Yost said, reflecting on the run on Sunday morning. “But I sure feel a hell of a lot better.”

He also talks to broadcaster Denny Matthews about how long he plans to keep doing Royals baseball.

I told Ryan a couple of years ago — we were talking about guys who are retired, and I said, ‘Well, if you notice that I’m making mistakes and stumbling over words and mixing players up … just put me in that one chair and shut me out in the hall and lock the door on me. Don’t let me back in the booth. I’ll get the hint.’

He said I’m not going to do that. I said, ‘No, you have to. I’ve worked with you for 17 years’ or whatever it was at that time a couple of years ago. He said, ‘Well I’m not going to do that.’

Adalberto Mondesi has shown the organization he can handle the grind of playing every day.

Yost said he recently had quality control coach Pedro Grifol speak with Mondesi to see how he was feeling physically.

“He goes, ‘Look, I’ve programmed myself mentally to play every day. If you guys want to give me a day off, that’s your choice. I’m ready to play every day. I feel great,’” Yost said. “He’s progressing in all phases of his game.”

Jorge Lopez bruised a rib in a collision with Hunter Dozier on Friday.

“I’m feeling much better, but it’s still bother me when I am coughing,” Lopez said. “I can’t even laugh.”

That didn’t stop him from cracking a joke about Dozier.

“That’s a strong boy,” said Lopez, who is 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds. “He’s like 220, he’s 6-4. I’ve got no upper body.”

The Lexington Legends are South Atlantic League champions.

Ben Zobrist bikes to Wrigley Field in full uniform.

Why did umpire Laz Diaz pick a fight with Bryce Harper?

Alex Bregman still has a chip on his shoulder for not being the number one pick in the draft.

Should the A’s try to “bullpen” the Wild Card game?

The favorite to win the National League may not even make the playoffs.

Minor league players explore options to unionize.

One former player thinks minor leaguers can earn more through letting investors have a stake in their future.

Why is baseball not faring well in China?

Bills cornerback Vontae Davis retired in the middle of Sunday's game.

Is Patrick Mahomes off to the best start by a quarterback....ever?

Jeff Bezos wants to fix preschools by treating them like Amazon.

Fortnite has been cited in over 200 divorce proceedings.

A German triathlete is banned from an all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant for eating all that he could.

Your song of the day is Soundgarden with The Day I Tried to Live.