Royals Rumblings - News for June 7, 2021

Royals Rumblings - News for June 7, 2021

Alec Lewis writes how improvement with Jackson Kowar’s curveball helped get him to the big leagues.

Knowing Kowar could already spin the curveball, Gibson and the Royals’ pitching staff at the alternate site focused on Kowar’s release point.

“The rotational nature of his delivery was causing challenges early on,” Gibson said. “(We wanted it) to land it correctly and get it to come out of the same slot as his fastball.”

Anne Rogers writes that the Royals still don’t know when to expect Adalberto Mondesi back after he was placed on the Injured List.

There’s no timeline yet for that return, though, as Mondesi will continue to rest before ramping back up baseball activities.

“It’s progressing, but not to the point where we’re comfortable putting him on the field at the Major League level and the speed of the Major Leagues,” manager Mike Matheny said. “He’s getting closer, but every day we wait, we’re short on our bench, and if you’re pushing him when his body isn’t ready to be pushed.”

Mike Minor talks about the two-run home run by Miguel Sano on Saturday to win it for the Twins.

“I think that at-bat before we threw the same get-me-over slider. Strike one. Curveball, strike two. Then changeup. Strike three. Walk back to the dugout,” Minor said. “Then that time, get-me-over slider and he hit it and was probably pretty happy with actually making solid contact for once. He hit a long way. It was a two-run home run and killed us right there.”

Kevin O’Brien at Royals Reporter thinks the Royals are progressing defensively, but there are still holes.

MLB will roll out new policies to crack down on foreign substances.

Minor league baseball playoffs, which were not scheduled to happen this year, may take place after all.

Triple-A pitcher Tyler Zombro, who was hospitalized after a line drive hit him in the head, is now walking around.

Tony LaRussa passes John McGraw to move into second on the all-time managerial wins list.

A big home run by Todd Frazier helps USA Baseball qualify for the Olympics.

Matt Snyder at CBS Sports looks at who should start for the All-Star Game, with Salvy listed at catcher.

Hitters are attacking the first pitch more than ever this year.

There are advantages to having a rangy first baseman.

A look at the best player on each team to never make an All-Star team.

Sam Dykstra at milb.com has a primer on how to read minor league statistics.

Travis Sawchick experiments with sticky stuff to get grip the ball.

Cleveland narrows down their list for a new name to 1,200 candidates.

Who are the winners and losers in the Julio Jones trade to Tennessee?

It will be an off-season of tough questions for the Lakers following their post-season exit.

NASA’s Juno probe will get close to Jupiter’s moon Ganymede today.

Plant-based cheese still has a ways to go.

Apple TV has a new documentary out about Peanuts creator Charles Schultz.

Your song of the day is Flo Rida with Good Feeling.