Weekend Rumblings - News for March 9, 2019

Weekend Rumblings - News for March 9, 2019

Ned Yost talks to Sam Mellinger about why he continues to manage.

“I have more fun now than I’ve ever had doing this,” Yost said. “I don’t have any pressure on me. When I sit back and look at where I am in my life, I’ve got everything I’ve ever wanted. Everything. My farm’s paid off, my houses are paid off. I don’t owe anyone a penny. I’ve got money in the bank. I don’t need anything.

“So the pressure of winning daily, like, ‘I need to win or I’m going to get fired,’ it’s not there. So what it’s done is allowed me to walk through this door every day and enjoy every single aspect of this job. Every single aspect of it. From being with my coaches, being with the players, being with the front office. Every day.

Meibrys Viloria says he is ready for the big leagues if needed.

“I can play in the big leagues,” he said, convinced that the work ethic that got him this far will help him continue to excel. “I came [to Spring Training] to work hard. I’m going to play hard, like how I play. If you give me the opportunity, I’m going to play.”

David Lesky still thinks the Royals will end up with Martin Maldonado.

The Royals are publicly saying they’re fine going with Gallagher and Viloria to catch, and maybe they are. But I don’t buy it. For one, Ned Yost has publicly said not to rule out another addition, so there’s that. For another, it’s not typically in this organization’s DNA to go with such inexperience behind the plate. That said, Yost fought for Perez to be up much sooner in 2011 and maybe he has more pull now and he seems to really love Viloria, so I suppose it’s possible. But I still don’t buy it. Martin Maldonado was apparently not pleased with his time in the Boras agency and has changed agents. I think he has a real good shot to be catching on Opening Day with the Royals, and he’s awesome defensively.

Maldonado has switched agents.

The Royals have insurance on Salvador Perez’s contract.

Clint Scoles thinks Omaha could have a pretty good bullpen to start.

The Royals thanks in part to service time considerations will likely open the season with Richard Lovelady, Josh Staumont, Jason Adam, Connor Greene and perhaps Michael Ynoa in their Omaha bullpen. That’s a talented group of hard throwers for a Triple-A bullpen. At times last season, Adam looked like the best of the bunch but he struggled finding feel for his breaking ball once in Kansas City. Another trip to Omaha where he can work with the same major league ball that he will in Kansas City may help him find that feel more consistently.

Drew Osborne at Royals Farm Report thinks the next relief prospect on the radar could be Tyler Zuber.

The Royals praise Zuber for his competitiveness and bulldog mentality. Zuber fills up the zone and isn’t afraid to attack any hitter. He limits runners posting a 2.64 BB/9 rate and a 1.34 WHIP in 78.1 career innings. Guys who are competitive on the mound are a very valuable commodity in baseball. You need to build your team on these players.

Rany Jazayerli continues his look at the worst trades in Royals history.

The Astros have made short-term offers to Dallas Keuchel.

Why batting practice is dying a slow death.

Shohei Ohtani plays catch.

Robot umps and a shift ban will be tested in the Atlantic League in an agreement with MLB.

Amazon will team up with the Yankees to buy the YES Network.

Former outfielder Jacque Jones has to pay $67,000 in a revenge porn case.

Hall of Famer Tom Seaver is diagnosed with dementia and will retire from public life.

The NFL needs more player-for-player trades.

A Division II basketball player declares for the draft, trying to become the first player at that level drafted by the NBA in over a decade.

The creators of The Simpsons are pulling the Michael Jackson episode after recent revelations.

Will cities ban stores that try to go cashless?

Why America loves Alex Trebek.

Your song of the day is Duke Ellington with Things Ain’t What They Used to Be.