Royals Rumblings - News for October 3, 2019

Royals Rumblings - News for October 3, 2019

In his Mellinger Minutes, Sam looks at potential managerial candidates for the Royals.

Mike Matheny is the most likely, and this is not a guess....

But I also know that for as badly as it ended in St. Louis there are a lot of strong baseball people who think the world of Matheny as a leader and mind. They believe he can learn the right lessons from what went wrong with his first job and course correct in a way we’ve seen from other managers — not just Ned Yost but Bobby Cox and Joe Torre and others.

Lynn Worthy writes that the Royals have some talented players, now they have to win.

“I just think a couple guys have taken big steps forward in their career,” Merrifield said. “Mondi took a big step forward. Dozier took a big step forward. (Brad) Keller continued to get better. Scott Barlow emerged as a guy. Tim Hill really figured it out late in the year. Kevin McCarthy started pitching a lot better. We’ve just gotta have guys get better and get better quickly. Maybe a little quicker than people are used to.”

Jeffrey Flanagan previews the off-season roster decisions the Royals will have to make.

There certainly are several players on the 40-man roster who are vulnerable to losing their spot to either a non-tender or DFA, including Cuthbert, Barnes, outfielder Jorge Bonifacio, right-hander Scott Blewett, infielder Humberto Arteaga and so on. The Royals certainly would try to re-sign any or all of them. Cuthbert and Barnes are particularly vulnerable as arbitration-eligible players.

Royals Reporter makes the case for Pedro Grifol to be the next Royals manager.

Ryan Sikes at Kings of Kauffman talks to Royals minor league outfielder Tyler Hill.

Leigh Oleszczak of KC Kingdom lists the most disappointing players from this season.

The Indians won’t pick up Jason Kipnis’ option.

Astros owner Jim Crane says the luxury tax will be an issue in re-signing Gerrit Cole.

Padres owner Ron Fowler says heads will roll if the team doesn’t win in 2020.

Jeff Passan looks at the rise of Aaron Boone as a manager.

Joe Girardi wants to manage again.

A look at some of the biggest contracts from hitters expiring this year, including Alex Gordon.

Neil deMause at Deadspin has an interesting article about attendance issues and how baseball helped create empty seats to cater to season ticket-holders.

What does baseball lose if the A’s leave the Coliseum?

Good NFL receivers don’t wear numbers in the 80s anymore.

The big questions for each NHL club this year as they begin the season.

All of Amazon’s new products ranked by creepiness.

E*Trade joins its rivals in ending commissions in a race to the bottom.

Ken Burns’ new documentary on country music has led to a spike in sales for artists.

Your song of the day is The Hollies with Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress.