Weekend Rumblings - News for February 9, 2019

Weekend Rumblings - News for February 9, 2019

In his mailbag, Jeffrey Flanagan talks about an under-the-radar prospect.

Well, I don’t have a “favorite” so to speak. But I think an under-the-radar prospect that Royals fans should pay attention to is outfielder Nick Heath. He is very fast, a tremendous defender, and he showed in the Arizona Fall League that his bat is progressing. Heath, 25, led the AFL in stolen bases with 13 and hit .338 there with a .427 on-base percentage. He is coming on fast.

Zach Crizer at Baseball Prospectus points out the PECOTA projection for Adalberto Mondesi is unprecedented.

No one has ever hit 15 or more homers and stolen 40 or more bases in a season with an on-base percentage below .300. That’s a reality, a truth you can inspect to your satisfaction. It can’t deceive you. Now look to PECOTA. It says 23-year-old Royals shortstop Adalberto Mondesi will hit 18 homers and steal 43 bases this season despite a .288 OBP. A showman promises invulnerability to the restrictions of history, and it’s willing to believe.

The Royals are in the running for Dominican outfielder Erick Pena.

Pena grew up playing in La Javilla, the little league program in Santo Domingo where Nomar Mazara and Amed Rosario played. Pena has a lot of game experience growing up in the Dominican Republic and traveling to the United States for different events. A 6-foot-3 lefty, Pena is an advanced hitter with strong hands who makes consistent hard contact. He’s also fluent in both English and Spanish, with a bonus expected to be in the $3-$4 million range. Pena trains with John Carmona, whose program also has two of the slickest fielding shortstops for 2020, Armando Cruz and Luis Ravelo.

Brady Singer (23rd), Jackson Kowar (50th) and Yefri del Rosario made Baseball America’s ranking of top right-handed pitching prospects, while Daniel Lynch (11th) and Kris Bubic (39th) are ranked on the lefty list.

Lynn Worthy catches up with Jackie Robinson’s daughter, in town to visit the KC Urban Youth Academy.

Former Royals pitcher Nathan Karns signs a Major League deal with the Orioles.

On the Fish Stripes podcast, Jeff Conine talks about how the Royals discovered him.

Former Royals outfielder Brian McRae faces multiple charges after allegedly assaulting a woman.

Hunter Pence signs a minor league deal with the Rangers.

Hal Steinbrenner talks about the slow off-season with the Yankees.

Travis Sawchick at FiveThirtyEight proposes saving free agency through restricted free agency.

Lance Berkman finds it odd he fell off the Hall of Fame ballot while Edgar Martinez got in.

This might be the craziest pitching windup you’ve ever seen.

A minor league team will end peanut sales to accommodate those with allergies.

The winners and losers of the NBA trade deadline.

A NASCAR driver has a car with a huge picture of his face on it.

Former New York Times editor Jill Abramson addresses allegations of plagiarism in her book.

Is Stephen Soderbergh’s High Flying Bird a sports flick or a political manifesto?

A quickfire ode to the greatness of Top Chef.

Your song of the day is Count Basie with Moten Swing.