Royals Rumblings - News for September 5, 2018

Royals Rumblings - News for September 5, 2018

Ned Yost thinks the young hitters can help the Royals play more small ball.

Their formula was tailored to the ballpark. In a stadium that swallows home runs but demands its fielders roam acres of space, the Royals prioritized Gold Glove defense in the outfield. At the plate, they put the ball in play at a better rate than anyone in baseball and pressured the defense to cover that ground. They ran. They stole. They took extra bases.

It all falls into Yost’s definition of manufacturing runs. And it falls into what he envisions the future of the young group he manages now.

“We’re going to have to be guys that can hit and run, that can bunt, that can steal bases, that can drive the gaps with doubles and manufacture runs,” Yost said. “We’re going to have to be able to get a runner from second base with nobody out to third base. We’re going to have to be able to sacrifice fly. We’re going to have to manufacture runs if we’re going to be successful.”

Jeffrey Flanagan gives an update on the banged up Royals from Tuesday’s game.

Frank Schwindel ain’t getting called up.

“Where am I going to play him?” Yost said of Schwindel. “I have [Jorge Bonifacio] sitting on the bench today. Do I want Boni sitting on the bench? No. I don’t have enough at-bats for everyone.

”We thought about [calling up Schwindel]. We looked to see how we could get at-bats for [him]. I mean, I got [Rosell] Herrera sitting on the bench two days in a row. I got Boni sitting on the bench. I got to give this group at-bats. Yeah, I like [Schwindel]. But it wasn’t going to work.”

These young players give Clark Fosler at Baseball Prospectus Kansas City some hope.

Are the Royals seven or eight years away from being in contention again? Maybe, but I think there is hope that they are more like four years (with some luck and a hot start, maybe three) and if that is the case, there are names in the lineup from September 2nd that will be part of the next round of success.

Danny Duffy is the Royals’ nominee for the 2018 Roberto Clemente Award for philanthropy.

The Royals extend their working agreement with the Idaho Falls Chukars.

The Wingnuts play their last game in Wichita’s Lawrence-Dumont Stadium with the team and ballpark’s future in doubt.

We have a clubhouse fight in Seattle.

The Pirates gave us the best Seinfeld-inspired combo of players.

Ryan Howard officially retires - is he the true single-season home run king?

The Astros eject a fan holding a sign with a domestic abuse hotline.

Cole Hamels disses Brewers fans, but they’re better than you think.

The MLBPA has a new chief negotiator.

Richard Justice assesses the Rookie of the Year races in both leagues.

Trent Rosencrans at The Athletic has a really fascinating look at the Reds’ complex and team in the Dominican Summer League.

Baseball America looks at which teams in history had the best farm system over a four-year period?

Presenting the college football empires map.

Elena Delle Donne is a basketball monster right now.

What is causing a drop in men’s sperm counts?

Is is time to break up Facebook?

Norm MacDonald is still searching for the perfect joke.

Your song of the day is Greta Van Fleet with Highway Tune.