Royals Rumblings - News for March 30, 2020

Royals Rumblings - News for March 30, 2020

Dayton Moore talks about some potential changes we could see when baseball returns.

How many games will the almost certainly shortened season be? How late into the year will the postseason go? Will teams schedule and play more double-headers? Will the playoffs format change?

”We’ve had a lot of discussions on what would be an acceptable format, what we think would be best for the Kansas City Royals,” Moore said. “I’ve always been in favor of seven-inning doubleheaders. That could be a really neat thing on a Sunday afternoon for our community.”

Alec Lewis of The Athletic did a Q&A session, and he discusses the potential of the pitching prospects.

You’re not going to hear evaluators talk about Singer beyond, like, a No. 3 starter. Many are skeptical of the arm action/changeup. I, though, see it differently. The competitiveness is off the charts. He’s never disappointed. So I could see him reaching higher than maybe they do. Daniel Lynch, some think, has No. 1 potential. He’s a lefty with a plus fastball and breaking balls. He’s lengthy, so it’ll take time to establish the repeatable arm slot, but many evaluators are confident there. Kowar, I think, also has top-end potential. He’s got the best changeup in the system probably, and his curveball has come along. Also a fastball that can touch 98. Bubic is a bit of a different pitcher, but his changeup is exceptional, too, and his deception becomes a real problem for hitters. The thing each will need for years to come to live up to the potential: Health. And with pitching, unfortunately, that’s the last thing from a given.

Lewis and Nate Taylor also come up with a 25-person class for a Kansas City Sports Hall of Fame.

Although he may not be in Baseball’s Hall of Fame, Buck O’Neil’s career and legacy is extraordinary. O’Neil was a prominent All-Star first baseman in the Negro Leagues with the Kansas City Monarchs, leading the Monarchs in a number of successful season, including a sweep of the Homestead Grays in the 1942 Negro World Series. In 1946, O’Neil won the Negro American League batting title with an average of .353. After his playing career, O’Neil became the first black coach in the Major Leagues with the Cubs in 1962. He is credited with signing Hall of Famers Ernie Banks and Lou Brock to their first professional contracts. O’Neil was a scout with the Royals before one of his greatest contributions to the sport: He established the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in 1994.

What’s the latest on Greg Holland?

Royals Reporter looks at some recent Royals with talent who could never put it together.

Cuthbert has always been a classic tale of “potential” over production as a Royal. He wasn’t terrible by any means, but he wasn’t really great at anything either. He was an average fielder. He had an average batting eye. He had average power. And he never got a great opportunity either, with Moose ahead of him until 2018, and Dozier taking the position a year ago. It makes one wonder what Cuthbert would have done had he been given a Royals spot full time like in 2016.

Jordan Foote at Kings of Kauffman profiles Alec Marsh.

Royals reliever Tyler Zuber is training at his alma mater, Arkansas State University.

Former Royals catcher Matt Tupman is featured in a book of players with brief stints in the big leagues.

Joel Wagler at KC Kingdom looks at the top second basemen in club history.

MLB will likely expand rosters to 29 the first month of the season.

Keith Law writes about how the new agreement between players and owners will affect the draft.

Scott Boras isn’t a fan of limiting the draft.

A shortened season could cost some players from reaching historic milestones.

MLB will pay non-uniformed employees through April, but it is unclear what will happen beyond that.

The Mets are still for sale.

The best pitchers to never win a Cy Young award.

Former Royals pitcher Blaine Hardy has Tommy John surgery.

Athletics minor league coach Webster Garrison is hospitalized for the COVID-19 virus.

A look at how the mid-90s Indians assembled their powerhouse roster.

The greatest “what if” scenarios in March Madness history.

What the NBA can learn about China’s attempt to restart basketball.

In a doomsday scenario, your postal carrier will deliver critical supplies as a last resort.

Uranus is leaking gas into space.

Okay let’s talk about Tiger King.

Your song of the day is The Knack with Let Me Out.