Royals Rumblings - News for July 6, 2020

Royals Rumblings - News for July 6, 2020

Salvy talks about testing positive for the coronavirus with Jeffrey Flanagan and reporters.

“It would have been hard for it to happen right when the season starts or the middle of the season,” Perez said, “because you miss a lot of games. But this way, hopefully, I’ll be back soon and enjoy Opening Day. And have fun.

“I’ll be super happy to be back. I think we’ll have a great team, and I can’t wait to be back.”

Mike Matheny reveals to reporters that he had the coronavirus a month ago, writes Flanagan.

“I did have symptoms. We knew. We had a family member test positive, so we knew even before the test because we had exposure, so my wife and I took off and we quarantined just the two of us. And it was just the way they said it might happen, about three days [after exposure], I started feeling it.

“But we laid low and quarantined and stayed away from people and it ran its course. Fortunately I’ve been tested with the right antibody and looking forward now to donating some plasma to help out however we can.”

Lynn Worthy writes about the first Royals workout at Kauffman Stadium with some new safety precautions.

“It’s like learning what’s the new normal, where we eat lunch or breakfast, what other new procedures we’ve got to do outside of just throwing a live (batting practice),” Kennedy said. “That was more on my mind than throwing the actual live (session).

“You kind of expect that you’re going to go right into throwing live. You’ve got to get right back into it really quick. I think we all planned in our programs leading up to this point, what that would look like.”

He also writes that Hunter Dozier is confident players can get through the season despite the pandemic.

Dozier, who has his wife Amanda and their two children in the Kansas City area with him for the season, echoed sentiments expressed by both Moore and manager Mike Matheny last week about players and staff accepting individual responsibility.

“It falls on the individual,” Dozier said. “You just have to be responsible. It might suck. It might be tough, but when it comes down to it, you have that responsibility to wear a face mask, to maybe not go out to eat, to try to keep yourself in your house because we don’t want this thing to blow up. We want to be able to start the season and finish the season. It’s on us.”

Vahe Gregorian writes about how the Royals are navigating this season.

It’s about not fearing the virus but respecting it. And shrugging off, or even embracing, the potential nuisances like the mask mandates for all when inside. The “toughest teams,” Matheny said, will be the ones who don’t let that stuff turn into distractions … and thus excuses.

Toward that end, Matheny said he already has gotten so used to the mask even in this context that he forgets he has it on from time to time.

“It’s not that big a deal,” he said. “And … I think it’s also time to put the rubber to the road. Because (we all) talked about, ‘Hey, we will do whatever we’ve got to do to get back out on the field.’

“You know, that’s easy to say. Let’s get in here and prove it.”

Flanagan writes that Bobby Witt, Jr. is already impressing Royals coaches.

“I watched Bobby Witt Jr. take his first Major League camp live at-bat today,” Matheny said. “And it was a 12-pitch at-bat that ended with a one-hopper off the right-field wall. That just made me giggle a little.”

In a Baseball America chat, Kyle Glaser would be very surprised to see Asa Lacy pitch in the Majors this year.

Mike Gillespie at Kings of Kauffman looks at whether Brett Phillips’ defense will keep him on the roster.

Dodgers pitcher David Price and Braves pitcher Felix Hernandez opt out of the season due to coronavirus concerns.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman tests positive and is suffering from a high fever.

With his wife expecting, Mike Trout is unsure if he’ll play this year.

Cubs pitcher Jose Quintana cuts his hand while washing the dishes and will need surgery.

Masahiro Tanaka takes a line drive to the head off the bat of Giancarlo Stanton in a workout.

The Cleveland Indians say they will look into possibly changing their name.

The Detroit Tigers become the first MLB team to have an official gaming partner.

Six players looking to bounce back this season.

Being on the 60-man club pool will mean a pay bump for some minor leaguers.

Are there unmarked graves buried under Tropicana Field?

MLS postpones the Dallas FC vs. Vancouver match due to a number of positive coronavirus tests.

How will college football return this fall?

Experts give advice on the evel of risk for things you can do this summer during a pandemic.

Hummingbirds can see colors we can’t even imagine.

A racetrack in England is trying to become the first dedicated socially-distancing music venue.

Your song of the day is Harvey Danger with Save it For Later.