Royals Rumblings - News for September 4, 2018

Royals Rumblings - News for September 4, 2018

Sam Mellinger writes that the Royals are about to take a “bath financially.”

So club officials expect financial losses now will have consequences later, even as a major boost expected when a new TV contract begins in the 2020 season. Internally, the hope is that pulling back now — coupled with more TV money after next season — will put the team in more solid financial standing to support the next group of prospects once they get to the big leagues.

In the short-term, the front office aims to have payroll under $90 million next year, and another major cut for 2020.

Ryan O’Hearn is making history with two more home runs on Monday.

“That’s cool,” O’Hearn said of his first career multihomer game. “Days like that you never forget. Good to get that out of the way.”

The 25-year-old first baseman is the first Royals player to have at least nine home runs and 22 RBIs in his first 24 games.

The Royals could be rolling with a six-man rotation in September.

“We’re more open to it now,” Yost said. “I don’t wanna take Fillmyer out. I don’t wanna take Keller out. I don’t wanna take Junis out. I wanna keep looking at Lopez. Of course, I don’t wanna take Duffy out. And I want Kennedy to pitch.”

Jorge Soler suffers a setback in his rehabilitation and may be out for the year.

Soler did not re-fracture the bone in his left foot, but he was diagnosed with a bone bruise in the same area. The injury could potentially end his season, Royals manager Ned Yost acknowledged Sunday.

David Lesky at Baseball Prospectus Kansas City considers September callups.

Where are they going to find the spots for Schwindel, Josh Staumont (who has to be added anyway to avoid being exposed to the Rule 5), Nicky Lopez, Richard Lovely, Arnaldo Hernandez and anyone else who might be deserving? Well obviously some trades might happen, and maybe they’ve already happened between me writing this and you reading this. So that’ll help. One spot seems easy. According to his Instagram, Eric Stout is out for the season. Put him on the 60-day DL and there’s an easy spot for Schwindel. Bubba Starling is another guy who makes sense as either a DFA or a 60-day spot, but he did just come back for a rehab assignment in Idaho Falls, so maybe he won’t actually get transferred to the longer disabled list. Other than that, it comes down to letting a player go.

Some players will be called up today.

Five things to know about Meibrys Viloria.

Jecksson Flores wins a batting title for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.

Royals Assistant GM Scott Sharp may be a candidate for the Mets GM job.

Drew Butera may be interested in managing some day. The article also discusses former Royals farmhand Ed Lucas on the Marlins coaching staff.

Wil Myers apologizes for criticizing his manager.

Jacob deGrom continues to set records this season, despite no run support.

How did Matt Carpenter become the NL home run leader?

The biggest surprises and disappointments in baseball in 2018.

Baseball positions are starting to lose their meaning.

The inside story of the baseball game in the film The Naked Gun.

People need to stop trying to fix baseball.

The heartbreaking story of a player called up to the Majors, only to have his chance washed out.

Ayami Sato is the best female baseball player ever.

Seems like a stretch to connect the Oklahoma City bombing to the Buffalo Bills losing the Super Bowl, but whatever, Politico.

The inside story of the 2007 college football season, one of the greatest ever.

More than 20 million artifacts are destroyed in a fire at Brazil’s National Museum.

How location tracking actually works on your smart phone.

On its 20th anniversary, how Harry Potter changed the world.

Your song of the day is Camper Van Beethoven with Pictures of Matchstick Men.