Weekend Rumblings - News for March 7, 2020

Weekend Rumblings - News for March 7, 2020

Ryan O’Hearn talks to Lynn Worthy about adjusting his swing.

“Being able to make the adjustments I think is going to be good in the long run, understanding that I don’t have to swing out of my shoes in plus counts,” O’Hearn said. “I’m just staying within myself and going out there and having fun.”

Jeffrey Flanagan writes there may be a soft platoon at first base.

“I’m not ruling that (soft platoon) out at all,” Matheny said. “I’ve explained it, certainly to O’Hearn, to ‘be prepared all the time, and that we’re not afraid having you face a lefty. But understand that if we can create a way to set you up better, we’re open to whatever we have to do.’”

Worthy also writes about how Alex Gordon has mentored Hunter Dozier in his transition to the outfield.

“I told him to take your aggressiveness charging the ball and coming up and throwing it,” Gordon said. “I feel like I don’t have the strongest arm, but what I did take from third base days was I was always good at charging the ball as quickly as possible and reading the hops. I think that’s maybe where I get my outfield assists from, taking good angles, being aggressive, charging the ball. I think that comes from my third base days. I told him to try take that because he was kind of like me over there at third.”

Daniel Lynch reacts to his short start against the Angels.

“I think I was a little bit amped up,” Lynch said. “First guy, I walked him and then I felt like I made some pretty good pitches in the second at-bat. He just fought, broke his bat and he doesn’t put the ball in play. He had a really good at-bat. I felt like I made a good pitch to him 2-2, but, you know, I’ve got to come back and make a pitch there. I felt, obviously, not the sharpest, but I felt good about how I battled and made some pitches when I needed to.”

Jesse Hahn talks about being back on the mound.

“At first I think I was a little rusty, shaking off a couple years of rust,” Hahn said. “Now, I’ve become pretty comfortable with everything. Every pitch for me right now feels comfortable in my hand. For a while there I was struggling finding my slider. I felt like I lost my slider a little bit. Today, I felt like I threw some good one. Even though I gave up a hit on one, it was kind of the shape that I wanted to see in it.”

Alec Lewis profiles Jackson Kowar.

That’s why, although Kowar has proven his plus changeup can stifle both righties and lefties, his fastball can crash into the catcher’s mitt wherever it’s set up. Scouts, however, have often asked about Kowar’s third pitch, the curveball.

The pitch, of course, was Kowar’s focus in his workouts this offseason. The biggest hurdle now: confidence in the pitch.

“It’s definitely rising,” Kowar said. “Last year was big because, in pro ball, it’s different. You’re developing, so you’re allowed to throw (however many) breaking balls. … Doing that last year and having the ability to throw it a bunch has given me confidence.”

Flanny has ten questions to get to know manager Mike Matheny.

Alex Gordon is eager to finish his career in Kansas City.

Doc Riddle at Royals Farm Report talks to Royals minor leaguer Brandon Marklund.

The Blue Jays offered Mike Moustakas a multi-year deal before the Reds signed him.

The Angels fire a clubhouse manager for giving visiting pitchers a sticky substance.

The Mets assign Tim Tebow to minor league camp.

A grand jury is examining evidence concerning the drug overdose death of Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs.

Is Mike Trout’s excellence boring?

MLBPA has expanded their grievance against the Marlins and Rays.

The outfield nightclub at Marlins Park in Miami will close.

Let the kids design uniforms.

Wichita’s new baseball stadium has a name.

The coronavirus has raised questions about MLB’s series in London this year.

Will cheating ruin the Paralympic Games?

The top 100 NFL free agents.

How a shipwrecked crew survived ten days at sea.

The dominant cheerleading program in the documentary Cheer is only competing against one other school.

The new FX show Devs will break your mind.

Your song of the day is Art Farmer with Stupendous-Lee.