Royals Rumblings - News for February 6, 2019

Royals Rumblings - News for February 6, 2019

In his Mellinger Minutes, Sam tries to guess the number of wins for the Royals this year.

The Vegas number is 69 1/2, which seems simultaneously fair and low. Fair, because they went 58-104 last year. Low, because depending on how you want to present it this same core finished 20-14 (after the season low point on Aug. 23) or 31-36 (after the All-Star break).

The post-break record is a 162-game pace of 75 wins, and if it was my Vegas number, I’d probably be somewhere between that and the 69 1/2.

Jeffrey Flanagan lists Richard Lovelady as the prospect to watch with the Royals.

Royals: Richard Lovelady, LHPAs we’ve mentioned numerous times on royals.com, Lovelady, 23, doesn’t have to go on the 40-man roster until next fall. But Lovelady, who posted a 2.47 ERA last year at Triple-A Omaha with nine saves, may force the Royals’ hand this spring. And there certainly are plenty of open spots in the bullpen for Lovelady to grab. A lot of eyes will be on Lovelady when camp opens. He has swing-and-miss stuff and a bulldog mentality, and general manager Dayton Moore brought his name up at the team’s recent FanFest as one of those pitchers who could be the next Greg Holland, Kelvin Herrera or Wade Davis. Lovelady just needs an opportunity.

Alex Duvall of Royals Farm Report goes back and recognizes some players he mistakenly left off his prospect list.

Rubendy Jaquez might be the most unknown legitimate prospect in the Royals system. After hitting the ball well in the DSL in 2017, Jaquez was promoted to the Arizona League to begin 2018 where he tore the cover off the baseball. He finished the 2018 campaign with nine games in Idaho Falls where he got even better. Among hitters to post at least 150 PA in the Arizona League in 2018, Jaquez posted the 14th best wRC+. Six of the hitters ahead of him were 20 years old or older.

Flanagan also writes about ten players you forgot played for the Royals.

Read about new Royals beat writer Lynn Worthy at the Star.

The Turn a Pair podcast had Royals prospect Nick Heath on to discuss his career.

The Marlins sign outfielder Curtis Granderson to a minor league deal.

The Phillies may be the leading suitor to trade for J.T. Realmuto.

MLB Trade Rumors lists ten low-cost free agent power options.

How long will Francisco Lindor stay in Cleveland?

Could a “tank tax” push teams to try harder?

Why isn’t the 60-day disabled list year round?

There are concerns about the future of traditional scouting.

The patriarch of the Cubs ownership family apologizes for leaked racist emails.

The Lakers say they’re out on Anthony Davis, but that has to be a negotiating ploy.

The U.S. Men’s National Team’s strugles may have to do with how they select their players.

A glacier in Antartica twice the size of Ireland may be at risk of collapsing, sending sea levels up two feet.

Why hasn’t online grocery shopping caught on?

What pop culture did you first encounter from a parody?

Your song of the day is The Strumbellas with Salvation.