Sam Mellinger writes about the problem that is Yordano Ventura:

The biggest problem with Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura is that he exists in a game of failure, and nine years into a professional career, he still cannot handle his sport’s inevitable swings like an adult.

Ventura turned 25 years old last week, and he should be past these things. The Royals thought he was past these things. For whatever it’s worth, I did too. We were all wrong.

Ventura has regressed from his promising rookie season of 2014, his growing notoriety in the game clouding his decision-making and discipline. He is a mess, and an organization that has thrived with relentless loyalty is unsure what to do. The Royals need a bat, and Ventura is the piece that makes the most sense to trade, but he is also the most talented starting pitcher on a team that needs talented starting pitching.

The rub is that the Royals are two American League championships removed from the luxury of endless patience, and after Ventura was in the middle of a fourth unnecessary show of bluster in 14 months in Baltimore on Tuesday, the Royals displayed metaphorical flashing neon signs for anyone paying attention that they are flat sick of Ventura’s petulance and immaturity.

As they should be. Throwing a hard fastball at a player, even if you are aiming for the torso, is extremely dangerous. If the ball sails a bit and hits the player in the head, he could be killed. Ventura should get a very long suspension, this isn’t a first offense. It shouldn’t matter that Ventura tried to take out one of the games brightest stars in Manny Machado. Ventura needs to learn to control his rage.