Royals Rumblings - News for August 28, 2020

Royals Rumblings - News for August 28, 2020

Royals Assistant GM Scott Sharp comments on the Brett Phillips-for-Lucius Fox deal.

“We talked to Tampa about Fox for quite some time, not necessarily about Brett Phillips,” Royals assistant general manager Scott Sharp said on a Zoom call. “[Fox] is just a really interesting athlete. He has three options left. He is using one this year.”...

While the Trade Deadline is Monday, the Royals don’t appear on the verge of making any blockbuster deals.

Said Sharp, “We believe in the team we have. We want to make sure we’re not subtracting from the team we have in any potential deals.”

Clint Scoles at Royals Academy has his take on the Phillips trade.

As far as the player the Royals are getting, I compare Fox to Kevin Merrill, the shortstop they acquired last year from the A’s. A light-hitting athletic middle infielder who can probably play centerfield. As usual, much of his value is via his speed, defense and is a project with the bat. For a 23-year-old from a non-baseball centric country (Bahamas) to be a late bloomer wouldn’t be shocking, but when I say that, I’m geared more towards him ending up the best case as a Paulo Orlando type more than a real difference-maker. That said, you’re not going to get a real difference-maker for a player that was on the cusp of getting cut.

Alec Lewis has 30 random thoughts on the first half of the season.

Explaining Mondesi’s struggles at the plate is complex because the reasons are aplenty.

Mondesi ranks 11th in baseball in whiff percentage (37.6 percent), while his strikeout percentage (30.8 percent) ranks 19th in baseball. Interestingly, prorated to a 162-game season, Mondesi is actually striking out less than he did last season. Still, the swing-and-miss rates are concerning as it relates to Mondesi’s future.

There’s this truth, too, in terms of the struggles: Mondesi is in his first season back from left shoulder surgery, which he underwent last fall.

“There’s a psychological barrier everybody deals with when they’re coming back from a severe injury,” Moore said.

Mike Matheny praised Adalberto Mondesi’s relay throw on Wednesday’s game.

Seven more games were postponed Thursday as a player protest.

Inside baseball’s mixed response to the social justice movement.

The Blue Jays acquire pitcher Taijuan Walker from the Mariners.

The Brewers release infielder Brock Holt.

Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen rescinds his accusation towards Commission Rob Manfred of orchestrating a staged walk out.

The Dodgers look like a superteam.

Miami has a realistic path to the playoffs.

The Cubs are cutting their player development and scouting staff.

Is it time for Mike Trout to be less patient?

Dodgers announcer Vin Scully will auction memorabilia from his 67-year career.

Chiefs President Mark Donovan takes up questions about the big increase in ticket prices.

NBA players decide to resume the playoffs.

The biggest announcements from Gamescom Opening Night Live.

Walmart is teaming up with Microsoft in an effort to buy TikTok.

Michael Crichton’s novel Sphere may be developed into an HBO series.

Your song of the day is Bob Dylan with The Times They Are Changin’.