Royals Rumblings - News for March 17, 2020

Royals Rumblings - News for March 17, 2020

Jeffrey Flanagan has his takeaways from camp before it was interrupted.

The Royals knew one area in which they had to improve dramatically going into 2020: The bullpen. In 2019, only one team in the American League had a worse bullpen (Baltimore), so if the Royals are to make a jump in 2020, it has to start with the relief corps. So far, so good. Free-agent signings Trevor Rosenthal and Greg Holland have been superb so far this spring. Rosenthal, hitting 99-102 mph on the radar gun, was not touched for a run in five spring outings. Holland was 3-0 with a 4.50 ERA, though that ERA ballooned after one shaky outing. Holland’s out pitch — his slider — looked as good as it ever did during his first go-around with the Royals.

Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com has his prospect preview for the Royals.

“The hesitation in putting guys in camp is about how they’re going to handle the environment. Are they going to try to do too much? But their maturity, how they’ve been able to handle themselves, being around Cal Eldred, Mike Matheny, getting acclimated to what some of the veteran guys are doing has been really good for them. You wouldn’t know they were in their first camp.”...

“A lot of fans like to compare where we are to 2008 or 2009,” Picollo said. “I think we’re in a similar position to 2010. You know guys are on the verge of getting to the big leagues. They may get their feet wet this year or even a little bit more, especially the pitching.”...

The Royals are having employees work remotely.

Kevin O’Brien at Royals Reporter looks at the pitchers who had concerning spring training.

Sean Facey at 12UP has a Whit Merrifield/Cubs trade idea.

Former Royals infielder Jarrod Patterson dies in a car crash.

Clubhouse Conversation talks to former Royals infielder Rico Rossy.

MLB pushes the season back to begin mid-May, at the earliest.

How many games can MLB realistically play this year?

A look at five different scenarios for the schedule.

The Blue Jays add second baseman Joe Panik to the roster.

What would be your all-time lineup if you had to win one game?

Gamers playing MLB: The Show are already plunking Astros hitters.

One minor leaguer is working at DoorDash while baseball is on hiatus.

25 of the best baseball movies ever.

Ken Burns’ Baseball will stream free on PBS.

NFL free agency is here and it has been wild - here are the latest moves.

The IOC will discuss the state of the Summer Olympics today.

A trial for a coronavirus vaccine begins.

The contestants on the German version of Big Brother don’t know about the pandemic, but they’ll find out tonight,

Universal will release films in theaters as rentals available for streaming.

Your song of the day is Huey Lewis and the News with Stuck with You.