CINCINNATI
Much like before any Royals game, bench coach Don Wakamatsu crafted an ornate, freehand lineup card. When he finished, he no doubt fretted over the microscopic bleeding of pens that no one else would notice.
Meanwhile, Royals clubhouse men attended to logistics in the inner sanctum, where as usual Lorenzo Cain and Mike Moustakas’ lockers were alongside each other, just like those of Alcides Escobar and Salvador Perez.
Same as ever, the shrill, exuberant voice of Rusty Kuntz, the first base and outfield coach, resounded even across a room blaring with music. Reliever Wade Davis went to a side room to get some space, and fellow reliever Kelvin Herrera conducted some interviews with Spanish-speaking media outlets.