Royals Rumblings - News for July 3, 2019

Royals Rumblings - News for July 3, 2019

In his Mellinger Minutes, Sam applauds the long, unusual path to the All-Star Game for Whit Merrifield.

He is a homemade success story, a guy who had dozens of chances to be happy walking away but stayed focused. He is not the fastest or the strongest or the guy who can throw the hardest. But he can do everything better than almost anyone, and whether those skills came later or scouts simply missed it doesn’t really matter anymore.

Because he believed, and he kept on, when even many who loved him didn’t see the point.

Now he’s a gosh dang All-Star, and a millionaire many times over.

That’ll carry a speech or two for a high school or college coach.

Vahe Gregorian thinks Whit Merrifield should be Always Royal.

While the honor doesn’t tell us anything we didn’t know about the man who led the majors in hits and steals last year, it also should cap off how the Royals view him: as not merely a potential part of their future but one of its pillars, right there with Adalberto Mondesi and Hunter Dozier and Bobby Witt Jr., etc.

With a four-year contract that guarantees $16.25 million (with a club option for a fifth year), with a versatile game we can all admire and a story of resolve that any fan can embrace, this is a guy who needs to be Always Royal.

It took them too long to recognize he belonged. Now, they need to recognize he belongs for the long term.

Clint Scoles writes about the Royals and their international signings.

Officially the only player signed by the Royals today was Roger Leyton a 6’1 170 lbs outfielder from Nicaragua. A five-tool type outfielder the organization believes he has the toolset to stay in center with his gliding footspeed. An all field line drive contact approach Leyton could develop into a 15-20 home run player down the line. An excellent athlete who is very athletic and can cover a lot of ground in centerfield. Royals scout Luis Ortiz was the scout on the ground responsible for Leyton who trained with Pablo Lopez and played for Boer in Nicaragua.

Jeffrey Flanagan talks to Martín Maldonado on the loss of his former teammate, Tyler Skaggs.

Kris Bubic was named as a replacement to participate in the Futures Game in Cleveland.

Patrick Corbin wore number 45 in honor of his former teammate, Tyler Skaggs.

Why the Yankees are going to invest $5 million in a 16-year old.

Where all the top international prospects are signing.

The home run derby field already looks loaded.

Why the Rays continue to struggle to draw fans.

Are the Orioles the worst team in history?

Mike Trout is already better than a lot of of Hall of Famers.

Yankees broadcaster John Sterling missed his first game in 30 years.

The winners and losers of NBA free agency so far.

Eliminating the franchise tag would make NFL free agency more fun.

Can a new California law on online bots reduce their influence?

The video games that made people question their beliefs.

The end credits for Spider-Man: Far From Home set up Marvel’s future.

Your song of the day is Beastie Boys with Egg Man.