Royals Rumblings - News for July 2, 2020

Royals Rumblings - News for July 2, 2020

Jeffrey Flanagan talks to reliever Tim Hill, a cancer survivor who never considered opting out of this season.

“I know there are people worried about me,” Hill said, “but honestly I don’t feel that high risk. I take care of myself through nutrition and working out. I never really considered opting out. I know that’s an option but I’m not going to do that.”

Royals medical people and Hill’s physicians have cautioned him of the risk.

“They weren’t trying to freak me out,” Hill said. “They just wanted me to be aware. Honestly, I don’t feel that my immune system is weakened or compromised.”

Flanagan also has four storylines to watch during Royals Summer Camp.

The final five or six spots on the staff get intriguing. Randy Rosario and Jess Hahn are both out of options; the Royals have a chance with the new roster limits to keep inventory there. Greg Holland was having a solid spring minus one shaky outing, but he will have to be added to the 40-man roster. Power righty Josh Staumont was impressive, striking out 10 in six outings with a 0.00 ERA. Rule 5 Draft right-hander Stephen Woods Jr. showed some promise before a high left ankle sprain shut him down, but he’s healthy now. Lefty Richard Lovelady was having a fine camp, striking out six in five outings with a 0.00 ERA.

Alec Lewis talks to J.J. Picollo about why Asa Lacy was left off the 60-man club pool.

In our case, you look at a guy like Carlos Hernández, who is on the roster — he’s left off. It’s just the abnormal situation we’re in. This is not exactly your normal spring training, so you start to wonder … what type of experience could this really be for Asa? It would be an unusual first experience.

Also, because we have the depth we have in Double A and Triple A, space was limited. And some players have paid their dues, so to speak. They’ve pitched a couple of seasons. So to not include one of those players and bring a guy who hasn’t pitched yet … that’s a tough one. Even though we would’ve liked to have had him there.

Baseball men are doing baseball things.

At Royals Academy, Clint Scoles writes about what it would be like to re-start the Royals Academy.

At UL’s Toothpick, Darin Watson looks at the 1980 Royals and a losing skid in July.

Here’s how media will have to cover the Royals this season.

The Royals will host a voter registration event at the Urban Youth Academy this Friday.

Former Royals pitcher and Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy shares his harrowing experience contracting the coronavirus.

Rob Manfred admits the owners were never planning on having more than 60 games this season.

The Cardinals will play the White Sox in a corn field in Iowa for the Field of Dreams game.

Teams won’t be allowed to publicly identify players that test positive for coronavirus.

Cardinals reliever Jordan Hicks will begin the season on the Injured List.

Will anyone hit .400 this season?

Some former MVPs say it is time to take Kenesaw Mountain Landis’ name off the award due to his stance on segregating baseball.

The NFL will cut back the pre-season to just two games.

Six FC Dallas players test positive for coronavirus a week before the MLS re-start tournament.

Amazon’s video game Crucible flopped so hard it is being un-released.

NBC and CBS’s new Peacock deal shows how complicated streaming rights will be.

Beavis and Butthead are returning to TV, this time on Comedy Central.

Your song of the day is Thin Lizzy with The Boys are Back in Town.