Weekend Rumblings - News for August 1, 2020

Weekend Rumblings - News for August 1, 2020

Jeffrey Flanagan writes about Kris Bubic’s Major League debut.

“A little bit amped up,” Bubic said. “My fastball command throughout the night wasn’t what I wanted. I was able to fall back on the changeup.

“It’s good to get the first start out of the way. But down the road, I need to have better fastball command and get in better counts. Overall, it was a positive experience.”

Royals players love that the club is being aggressive about promotions.

“I love seeing it,” Merrifield said. “As a player, it shows what the front office’s view is. It’s not about service-time manipulation. It’s all about who gives us the best chance to win. It’s super refreshing to see that. It’s why we love [general manager] Dayton [Moore].”

Vahe Gregorian writes about the home opener that didn’t feel like a home opener.

For the peculiar home opener like no other on Friday at Kauffman Stadium, the pomp largely was absent because of the circumstance — the surging COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

“Honestly, there’s no extra juice for today …,” versatile star Whit Merrifield said before the game, noting the void without fans on hand. “It’s kind of business as usual today. It’s like a July 31st game, frankly.”

Only less so, really.

Gregorian also writes about the ethical implications of sports returning while a pandemic still rages on.

Clint Scoles at Royals Academy writes about Royals hitters being overly aggressive.

It shouldn’t surprise anyone that the Royals have drawn just 11 walks in the team’s first seven games. Along with that, we’ve seen some outright disgusting swings from hitters while using that aggression. The poster boy for aggression and ugly swings has been Salvador Perez, who ended the Tuesday night loss with one of the worst swings I’ve ever seen before nearly topping it last night in his final at-bat. The lineup additions of Maikel Franco and Frenchy Cordero enhance that aggressive approach.

Commissioner Rob Manfred threatens to shut down the season if players don’t do a better job managing the coronavirus.

Whit Merrifield had thoughts.

George Brett is pumped for Patrick Mahomes to join the ownership team.

Mike Gillespie at Kings of Kauffman writes that the bullpen reclamation projects are paying off for the Royals.

Astros owner Jim Crane has some cringe-inducing quotes about sign-stealing and firing Assistant GM Brandon Taubman.

Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle likely needs Tommy John surgery.’

The Orioles trade reliever Richard Bleier to the Marlins.

Mookie Betts has an amazing arm.

Brian Dozier calls the Padres dishonest after they let him go.

MLB will have new disciplinary measures to prohibit sign-stealing.

Mike DeCourcy writes that it may be too late to save the MLB season.

Should the Marlins lose draft picks for mismanaging the coronavirus?

A look at all the future salary obligations for all 30 teams.

The Mariners make major cuts in their scouting department.

Exploring the variation in the drag coefficient of the baseball.

How plausible are the Air Bud movies?

ESPN tabs a new Monday Night Football broadcast team.

Zombie cicadas with a mind-controlling fungus are back!

The mastermind behind the big Twitter hack that hit several major celebrities was a 17-year old Florida kid.

Netflix will let you watch shows faster or slower with new playback options.

Your song of the day is Charles Mingus with Gunslinging Bird.