Weekend Rumblings - News for April 6, 2019

Royals top prospect Khalil Lee has opened the 2019 season on fire for AA Northwest Arkansas. Lee finished last night’s game 3-5 and was a home run shy of the cycle. He’s now 5-9 with a double, a triple, a walk, and a stolen base through NWA’s first two games of the season.

Staying in house for a moment, Paul Shirley thinks that having a bad plan is better than having no plan at all when it comes to the Royals future.

Trevor Hooth over at Kings of Kauffman got to see the Royals live in Detroit on Thursday.

David Lesky had his “Friday Notes” up.

After it took four pitchers to get three outs in the ninth on Opening Day, I talked about being patient because routines aren’t there yet and it was sort of an odd day. And now it’s still only been a few games, but man if the patterns aren’t repeating. The most striking thing for me is the inability to throw strikes.

Drew Osborne did a film study on Conner Greene’s start for NWA over at Royals Farm Report.

Approach. Greene’s goal was to fill up the zone with a lot of fastballs. This isn’t a word for word quote, but it’s basically what he said in his interview from the day before. Greene followed this approach, the first time through especially. The second time through the lineup he did pitch backwards more using off speed stuff early.

Rustin Dodd makes seven observations from the Royals first six games over at The Athletic KC ($).

Zimmer will get more opportunities. Yet for now, Yost is looking for any reliever who can put up a zero …

2. Because it’s not just Zimmer who can’t throw strikes

In a fourth straight loss on Thursday, the club’s pitchers issued seven walks. The bullpen was responsible for four of the free passes. The lack of command and control has been the most pressing issue for one of the American League’s worst bullpens (to this point).

Ned Yost isn’t the least bit worried about the bullpen.

“In a tie ballgame, you really try to refrain from walking the first four guys,” Yost said.

Sam Mellinger wrote a great piece about Brad Keller.

“I just saw him the one time,” Mitch Webster said. “Once was enough.”

Jorge Polanco of the Twins hit the first cycle of the season last night.

Carlos Santana’s first HR back in an Indians uniform was a walk off.

Are the Rays the best team in the American League?

Ringing the alarm on five early-season MLB trends.

Edinson Volquez is back on the IL with an elbow sprain.

Everyone needs to read this adoption story.

Notre Dame is headed to the women’s national championship game. They’ll take on Baylor on Sunday night.

22,000 bees are being removed from a hive in a family home.

On this day in history, the United States officially entered WWI.

Also, in 1896, the first “modern” Olympic Games were held in Athens.

Your song of the day is “Give me the beat boys” by the Doobie Brothers: