Royals Rumblings - News for July 17, 2024

Hey now, you’re an All-Star.

Seth Lugo enjoyed his All-Star experience, writes Jaylon Thompson.

It’s an honor that Lugo will never forget.

“You know, (I’m) a pitcher obviously, but seeing some of these other pitchers, seeing what they do on TV a lot and getting to meet them, it’s a pretty cool experience,” Lugo said.

Blair Kerkhoff recaps how the Royals contributed to an All-Star win for the American League.

Jake Mintz at Yahoo Sports has a nice long profile on Bobby Witt Jr. and his baseball origins.

But then stories started rolling in from the team’s complex in Arizona, where Witt was stationed for the summer, to the club’s rookie ball affiliate in North Carolina.

“The older [college-aged] guys that we knew in Arizona at that point are typically the later-round picks. And they hate everything,” Pasquantino said. “And when they’re talking about how a guy is totally awesome, yeah, that carries a lot of weight.

“And then you meet him, and he’s the nicest kid in the world.”

Do-Hyoung Park at MLB.com has the story of Salvador Perez befriending a viral Ugandan player.

Perez immediately whisked Kasumba out to the couches on the American League sideline during the Home Run Derby and had him take a photo with several of the players. Then, Perez took Kasumba to the tunnel, where he unzipped a bag and gave the younger catcher one of his sets of gear — mask, chest protector, shin guards — along with two bats.

David Laurila at Fangraphs talks to Lugo about pitching.

Laurila: With your ability to utilize a variety of pitches, starting seems like a natural fit.

Lugo: “Yeah. That and reading swings, and trying to get guys off certain pitches to save them for later in the game. Finding holes where I can go to them over and over. As a reliever, you’re only facing three or four guys, so they can be ambushing first pitch, or they could be taking to get a strike. It’s kind of a smaller game plan, tactic, to pitch as a reliever.

“As a starter, if a guy has a big hole you’re going to expose that hole. But if the guy is a pretty good hitter — he’s hard to get out — you’re going to show all of your pitches, and you’ve got to know where each of them fits. As I’m going over these hitters, we’re talking about where we’re going to throw each one. Some of them might not even be competitive, but I want them to look at it and think about it. I try to find a spot to throw every pitch, even if it’s a pitch they hit well. There is going to be somewhere they don’t hit it — it might be in the dirt — but we’re going to throw it.”

Kerkhoff asks pundits to weigh in on Salvador Perez’s Hall of Fame chances.

If Perez isn’t there yet, he seems to be on a Hall of Fame path. “This will be tough,” Posnanski said.

“But Salvy has some career left to achieve things, and I do believe that people will rally around his Hall of Fame case.”

Awful Announcing asks fans to rate their broadcasting teams, with the Royals’ crew coming in at #19.

Comments: The Royals score and grade stepped up from last year’s ugly showing, cracking the top 20 for the first time since 2017. Perhaps the team’s surprising 2024 season on the field is also positively impacting the booth.

Former Royals catcher Logan Porter opts out of his deal with the Giants.

Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran was named All-Star Game MVP.

Ingrid Andress says she was drunk for her national anthem performance and will get help.

Robot-umpires may be tested in spring training next year.

MLB is considering allowing players to participate in the 2028 Olympics.

Teams may be looking at Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal in a blockbuster deal.

Why aren’t there more stolen bases?

Players blast the proposed move of the A’s to Las Vegas.

Anaheim and the Angels come to a $2.75 million settlement over a failed stadium deal.

Brandon Aiyuk wants out of San Francisco, so who could land him in a trade?

Spain’s young athletes are dominating the Euros and Wimbledon.

Tech companies used YouTube videos to train their AI models, without the consent of creators.

Do you like sitting at communal tables?

Lisa Kudrow headlines a series based on the film Time Bandits.

Your song of the day is Republic Tigers with Buildings and Mountains.