Royals Rumblings - News for May 18, 2020

Royals Rumblings - News for May 18, 2020

At Royals Academy, Clint Scoles considers the possibility of the Royals selecting prep outfielder Zac Veen in the draft.

What we know from previous discussions with Lonnie Goldberg is that the Royals breakdown their board between high school and college guys meaning Veen could be the #1 player on that board. At the point, through multiple mocks on different sites, we see Veen landing somewhere between pick #5-8. If the Royals can go to his camp and get them to agree to #6 slot money, they can save a significant amount of money. That slot is worth $5.74m, which is $920k in savings from the Royals allotted amount, which means they could pass on nearly $1m to later picks with the 5% overages they’re allowed.

Jason Brown at the Leavenworth Times considers how a shortened schedule could affect the Royals.

When I heard MLB was closing in on a date to start the regular season, I immediately thought about how the Royals would become the ’98 New York Knicks that made the NBA Finals as a seven-seed in a strike-shortened season. All it would take is squeaking into the playoffs – which will still be expanded under the recently approved rules – and getting hot for a few weeks. Sadly, I don’t think this will be the case for the Royals. MLB’s plan for a shortened season is unlike any other shortened season in the past due to the circumstances and it will be more difficult to execute than any other before it because of the vastly different health situations around the country.

Of the nine teams the Royals would face under the proposed regionalized schedules, four made the playoffs last season and six won 75 or more games, making the Royals’ schedule one of the more difficult in the league.

The ten clubs that are best at identifying undrafted free agents.

3. Royals

The Royals have only two major NDFA signings, but they were huge. Frank White was one of baseball’s best second basemen for nearly two decades and Dan Quisenberry is one of the all-time great closers. Both played starring roles on the Royals’ 1980 American League championship team and their 1985 World Series-winning team.

Let’s check in on Josh Staumont.

David Hill at Call to the Pen thinks the Royals are set to spend money soon.

Jordan Foote at Kings of Kauffman would have loved a “Last Dance”-type documentary about the Royals.

Jeff Passan writes about the immensity of baseball’s proposed safety protocol.

MLB owners claim they will lose $640k per game without fans.

Alex Rodriguez thinks players should take the owners’ proposal to split revenue.

Why Michael Jordan’s .202 batting average in Double-A is more impressive than it seems.

Why baseball players wear the numbers they wear.

MLB draft bonuses will be deferred this year.

Did “Major League Baseball” exist as an entity before 2000?

What it means to lose the Little League World Series this year.

How the St. Louis Browns were on the verge of moving to Los Angeles before history changed everything.

Remembering Toni Stone, the first woman to play on a men’s professional baseball team.

The German Bundesliga is back, but not in spirit.

Can sports really help a country heal during a pandemic?

Even if you call your local restaurant directly for an order, Grubhub may be taking a cut.

Will going digital work for San Diego’s Comic-con?

Fred Willard’s genius was taking the ridiculous seriously.

Your song of the day is Eric Clapton with She’s Waiting.