Royals Rumblings - News for August 20, 2021

Royals Rumblings - News for August 20, 2021

Nicky Lopez talks about his first home run of the season with Anne Rogers.

“I don’t know, was it a wall-scraper?” Lopez said, following his team’s 6-3, 10-inning loss to the Astros. “I just put my head down and ran because I’m not really used to [hitting homers].”

He also is pleased with the way the Royals took the series against a good Astros club, writes Pete Grathoff.

“This is one of those that you kind of write down and it shows that we can compete with the best teams in the league, and it also shows ... there is more in there than we may have been showing,” Lopez said.

“Just to be able to compete and see that we’re battling each and every game is definitely encouraging and just shows that the future is bright here.”

David Lesky at Inside the Crown writes about how the Royals have played well against good teams.

It’s a small sample, but it shows that they at least can hang with the big boys. Does it mean anything? As far as something predictive, I don’t think it does, but as far as what it can do for a mentality, I think it actually does mean something. I didn’t used to believe a lot of this, but it’s important for young players to learn how to win at the big league level against the best of the best. Of those 29 games, 19 have been started by pitchers 26 or younger. That’s not nothing.

Adalberto Mondesi will resume his rehab assignment with Omaha. Ronald Bolaños will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A.

Alec Lewis writes about Brady Singer’s efforts to develop a change up.

“It’s extremely tough (to develop a pitch midseason at the big-league level),” Singer said recently. “But it’s something you’ve got to do. Going down (to Triple-A Omaha) was huge for me.”...

Still, any pitch with a velocity difference should benefit Singer. That he knows it is the first step. The next is reps with it … in big-league games.

“The confidence is going to come from throwing it,” Matheny said. “Not throwing it in the bullpen; it’s throwing it in a game.”

Colby Wilson at Into the Fountain gives his thoughts on Michael Taylor.

His defense has been spectacular—entering Wednesday, he was leading all outfielders and second among all players, period, in Defensive Runs Saved and, as has become custom, chased down a ball it seems like only a handful of guys would have gotten to behind Brady Singer that night. That his defense has been so good that it’s outweighed his absolutely atrocious offense has been one of the season’s highlights. They still should have traded him in July; since he’s the sort of guy a contender loves to have in the postseason, only no team can give him the 400 at-bats necessary to make sure he’s ready for a postseason role without also taking a pretty large gamble that their own October calendar won’t suddenly be free, they could do the, “Sign him cheap, play him a ton, trade him for a lottery ticket,” routine for a couple of more seasons, until perhaps he was part of a playoff team in Kansas City. The Michael A. Taylor Experience has something for everyone, and I can’t decide if I want another year of it or if I’d rather scoop my own eyes out of my head with a rusty melonballer.

Tess Taruskin at Fangraphs writes about MJ Melendez.

While his K-rate did eventually surpass his walk-rate, he still drew free passes in 12.4% of his plate appearances at Double-A NW Arkansas. And that impressive 18% strikeout percentage only crept up slightly (to 21.9%) as the sample increased, a rate that also is still several ticks lower than his K-rate in any of his previous seasons. By the time he earned his mid-August promotion, he was slashing .285/.372/.628 with a 157 wRC+. So far he is 8-for-28 with three home runs in his first seven games at Triple-A, which may provide a well-timed boost to the org’s confidence in Melendez, as he is Rule 5 eligible this coming offseason.

Jordan Foote at Inside the Royals thinks it's time for prospect Seuly Matias to produce.

Six Royals make MLB Pipeline’s updated top 100 prospect list.

Tigers great Bill Freehan dies at age 79.

The Cardinals are talking contract extension with catcher Yadier Molina.

Starling Marte is showing newfound plate discipline.

David Fletcher may be the most anonymous good player in the league.

Who is the National League Cy Young frontrunner?

MLB and the MLBPA ditch Topps for an exclusive trading card deal with Fanatics.

A judge rescinds the restraining order placed against Trevor Bauer.

Stan Kroenke, who moved the Rams out of St. Louis, wants the city’s suit against him moved out of local court.

The city of Glendale, Arizona cuts ties with the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes.

OnlyFans will begin banning sexually explicit content in October.

Facebook unveils a virtual reality videoconference app.

Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry is finally getting a biopic.

Your song of the day is Mike and The Mechanics with All I Need Is A Miracle.