Royals Rumblings - News for August 15, 2019

Royals Rumblings - News for August 15, 2019

Rany Jazayerli assess how the pitchers are doing as the Royals rebuild.

It remains one of the great single-season rookie pitching crops in baseball history. Jackson, Gubicza and Saberhagen combined to pitch for 45 seasons in the majors and were worth a combined 113 WAR in their careers. Saberhagen would start in the ALCS as a rookie in 1984; all three would make starts in the playoffs in 1985, when the Royals won their first World Series.

So it’s possible for one extraordinary rookie crop to completely change the fortunes of a franchise. It doesn’t happen very often. It probably won’t happen again. But at least it’s possible.

And let’s be honest, the Royals aren’t contending anytime soon unless a massive wave of young pitching washes ashore. As we discussed last week, they already have at least half of a contender-quality lineup assembled, but they have only the barest bones of a contender-quality pitching staff in place.

Mike Moustakas applauds Jorge Soler’s pursuit of his single-season club home run record, writes Jeffrey Flanagan.

“I hope that he gets to that number, and I hope he gets far past it,” Moustakas told MLB.com. “You know, playing with Jorge was awesome. He’s such a great dude. For what he’s able to do in the box, it’s incredible. This guy is such a talented athlete, and he’s coming off an injury. He was done last year. …

“For him to come off an injury and have such a great season like he’s having right now, it makes it that much better.”

Here is your Adalberto Mondesi update.

At Royals Academy, Clint Scoles gives his thoughts on the report the Royals nixed an Ian Kennedy trade.

The tweet this week by Royals Farm Report reignited the lack of an Ian Kennedy trade problem for Royals fans. While I’ve confirmed with people in the know that Joey Wentz was informed that he might be traded to the Royals I doubt I’ll be able to confirm if the owner wouldn’t cover some of Kennedy’s contract. If that was the case though it would be a mistake on the owner’s part as that money is already a sunk cost and more importantly it is an outdated deal.

Pirates pitcher Jameson Taillon undergoes Tommy John surgery.

Phillies pitcher Jake Arrieta is out for the year.

Like the Royals, the Tigers have an arsenal of young pitchers that will soon be ready.

Aaron Civale may be Cleveland’s next pitcher development success story.

Jurickson Profar will have a reduced role for the Athletics.

What are the early returns on the Bryce Harper and Manny Machado deals?

How Lance Lynn became the best pitcher in the league.

A pitch clock is coming to college baseball next season.

Yasiel Puig gets his U.S. citizenship.

Video is released of a cop pulling a gun on Yankees GM Brian Cashman.

How the Little League World Series became one of the summer’s most-watched events.

A man dies after a taco-eating contest at a minor league game.

CBS and Viacom will reunite.

WeWork files for an IPO despite showing billions in losses the last few years.

What do you think of Magic Johnson’s lists of his favorites?

Your song of the day is Violent Femmes with American Music.