Royals Rumblings - News for May 8, 2024

The Royals supported closer James McArthur after he blew a save on Tuesday night.

“I think it’s just (going to) talk with the pitching coaches and talk about things where maybe I am falling into bad habits,” McArthur said. “Maybe I’m falling into bad patterns. Just need to get back to getting ahead of hitters and putting guys away.”

McArthur’s teammates will support him along the way. Royals starter Seth Lugo, who allowed three runs in 6 ⅔ innings against the Brewers, has experienced a similar transition operating as a reliever in a bullpen.

“I know what it’s like to have a rough outing or two out of the ‘pen,” Lugo said. “To be able to flush that and move forward, it’s something you learn how to do as you get older. A lot of the times, it’s not necessarily easy to do alone. As a team, we are going to have his back and we are going to pull for him.”

Willy Adames called his shot last night.

With two outs and a pair of runners aboard, Adames found himself standing in the on-deck circle with the game on the line.

“They told me they wanted me to hit a three-run homer,” Adames would say later, “and I was like, ‘I got you.’”

Craig Brown is pretty impressed by the turnaround in the pitching staff.

As a longtime follower of this franchise, I didn’t think we would see this kind of turnaround, this fast. We’re not even at the quarter point of this season, so it’s far too premature to make any declarations as to the permanence of such things, but it has to be said again and again…credit to John Sherman for allowing his general manager to dip his toes in the trade and free agent markets, and credit to JJ Picollo for those signings and deals and engineering a five-plus-week stretch that sees the Royals relevant in May for the first time in eight years.

It’s only five weeks in a long season, but it sure as hell beats the familiar alternative.

David Lesky reacts to the Luis Arraez trade rumor.

I was told that the idea was to DH Arraez most days and hit him at the top of the lineup with Garcia sliding to the middle of the order, likely sixth. I think it’s worth mentioning that offense is down in general this year. Last year through May 6, the league line was .247/.321/.406. This year, it’s .239/.312/.383. I think it’s sometimes tough to calibrate year to year, but the context does matter. Still, any way you slice it, the Royals offense has too many guys who shouldn’t be playing every day.

That’s why I appreciate the idea here even if Arraez is a little difficult to properly value to his high reliance on batting average. It makes me wonder who else they might target. I’ve heard from a few people that the Royals have interest in Taylor Ward from the Angels. We’ll see him this weekend.

Bill Mitchell at Baseball America writes about adjustments made by pitcher Ben Kudrna.

Kudrna modified his repertoire this season. He added a sinker to his four-seam fastball, slider and changeup. His fastball was sitting in the mid 90s and touching 96 mph. His velocity could tick up as the weather warms.

Even more important is that Kudrna has become a smarter pitcher instead of just being a hard-thrower.

“The power pitching is still always going to be there, that’s a natural gift I have, always being able to throw hard,” Kudrna said. “Having developed a better changeup now and a better slider, the pitchability is definitely taking a giant leap.”

Jared Perkins at Farm to Fountains has his take on the Arraez trade talk.

Mike Gillespie at Kings of Kauffman wonders if Tommy Pham would be a fit for the Royals.

Naturals broadcaster Shawn Murnin talked about getting the call to the big leagues to do a Royals game.

Shota Imanaga continues to roll for the Cubs.

Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras will miss 6-8 weeks with a forearm injury.

The Nationals designate reliever Matt Barnes for assignment.

How are teams using pitchers this year?

MLB has sent a warning to clubs about encouraging players to withdraw from high school baseball to become eligible to sign as international players.

The A’s still don’t know where a ballpark would sit in Las Vegas.

Former MLB outfielder and local athlete Monte Harrison will play football at Arkansas.

A look at hot dog prices around the league.

Which NFL teams deserve more prime time games?

Gregg Doyel won’t be covering Caitlin Clark this year after his awkward comments to her.

Sperm whales may have their own alphabet.

The greatest diss tracks of all time.

Inside the world of Hollywood prop collecting.

Your song of the day is Fleetwood Mac with I Don’t Want to Know.