Royals Rumblings - News for January 12, 2021

Royals Rumblings - News for January 12, 2021

Zachary Rhymer at Bleacher Report lists one breakout star for each team.

But since we’ve already sung his praises elsewhere, we’ll take this chance to go back to the Franchy Cordero hype well.

Cordero put himself on the periphery of stardom when he debuted for the San Diego Padres in 2017. He’s never been able to achieve it, however, because he’s simply been unable to stay healthy. So it went in 2020, wherein a wrist injury limited him to 16 games for the Kansas City Royals.

Yet we’re not quite ready to give up on the idea of Cordero as a dangerous power/speed threat. Not while he’s still averaging north of 90 mph on his batted balls with above-average sprint speed, anyway.

Kevin O’Brien at Royals Reporter takes a closer look at reliever Scott Barlow.

What will be interesting to pay attention to in 2021 will be how Barlow’s curve continues to develop, and if it will be an effective third pitch for him in the late innings. Another interesting tidbit about his curve ball is that it averaged a launch angle of -6 last season (a vast improvement from his 15 launch angle in 2019). Hence, not only was the pitch an effective swing and miss one for Barlow (as evidenced in the GIF below), but it was also effective in terms of generating ground balls, which is an important skill for late inning relievers, especially when they come in with runners on base. The negative launch angle of batted balls on Barlow’s curve ball last year demonstrated that he could come in with runners on and generate the groundballs necessary for either easy ground outs, or even double plays, to get out of late-inning jams.

Dayton Moore will be inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

Royals minor league pitcher Brandon Marklund is ready to go.

“There’s a lot we don’t know yet,” said Marklund. “It’s OK to be frustrated because you care. It’s natural for anyone. It’s silly to get too caught up in that frustration.

“I’d love to have a regular spring training. I’ve love a chance to go get prepared at our complex beforehand. That’s not a reality. It’s OK. I believe that the people who succeed best in these circumstances find ways to make it work instead of making excuses for why it won’t work.”

David Hill at Call to the Pen looks at the role for Khalil Lee this year.

Former Royals first baseman Kila Ka’aihue joins the coaching staff at the University of Hawai’i.

The White Sox sign closer Liam Hendriks.

D.J. LeMahieu is engaging other teams with the Yankees slow to meet his price.

The Reds are open to moving Eugenio Suarez or Mike Moustakas.

The Blue Jays are among the suitors for Kris Bryant.

Francisco Lindor is open to a long-term deal with the Mets.

Does Trevor Bauer have a case for the highest yearly salary in baseball?

Baseball will not require fans to get vaccinated to attend games next year.

Bob Nightengale reports that Padres and Fernando Tatis, Jr. have not discussed a long-term deal yet.

Rob Manfred tells teams to expect a 162-game season.

Japanese pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano says he received four offers from MLB teams, but none of them were convincing.

Manny Ramirez is cut from his Australian team before appearing in a game.

Ken Rosenthal writes why expansion is on hold for baseball.

The story of the time a pitcher injured himself biting himself in the rear.

Should MLB worry about its new deal with ESPN?

The Eagles needed to clean house, but fired coach Doug Pederson instead.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman claims the sport will lose billions of dollars.

The polar vortex is about to split in two - what does that mean?

Once a classic, A Confederacy of Dunces shows its flaws 40 years later.

Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem in talks to play Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz in Aaron Sorkin film.

Your song of the day is The Police with Man in a Suitcase.