Weekend Rumblings - News for August 3, 2024
Bobby Witt Jr. is your July Royals Player of the Month.
Bobby Witt Jr. and Brady Singer were named Royals Player and Pitcher of the Month.
Witt is generating MVP buzz, writes Jaylon Thompson.
“He is just a game changer every night,” Singer said. “He has been absolutely incredible this year. You talk about the MVP, obviously, I think he should be at the top of that list. He’s huge for our team and is a show to watch every night.”
Witt has entered the AL MVP conversation alongside New York Yankees stars Aaron Judge and Juan Soto and Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson.
David Laurila at Fangraphs talks to Matt Quatraro about his surprising season.
Laurila: What about the process behind the results? Is the improvement due to more than just the natural growth of young players?
Quatraro: “I don’t know just how measurable it is, but we did some things in the offseason as far as making sure that people were aware of goals and values. I don’t think we avoided those things the year before, but we might have been more intentional about it this offseason and into the spring. And everybody we added through free agency or trade was someone who had postseason experience and knows what it takes to get there. This was intentional on [general manager J.J. Picollo’s] part.”
David Lesky writes about the summer of Seth Lugo.
The only concern that anyone should have is the fact that he set his career-high in innings pitched last night. He threw 146.1 last season in 26 starts, and now he’s four innings past that in three starts fewer. There are some questions about wear and tear. I mentioned the decrease in velocity. Even with yesterday’s great start, he has a 3.93 ERA with a 16.4 percent strikeout rate in his last five starts. There is nothing wrong with a 3.93 ERA, but two of his three starts this year where he’s allowed five or more runs have come in the last four starts for him.
The one thing that separates Lugo from other second-year starters is that he has the benefit of also understanding that most in their second year don’t. He knows how to navigate a full big league season, which he’s done so many times.
Caleb Moody at Just Baseball reviews what the Royals did at the trade deadline.
As already touched upon, the Royals outfield has been one of the worst in baseball this season. And with reports saying they were in the group of finalists trying to land now-Yankee Jazz Chisholm Jr. from the Marlins, and other names being floated around them, like now-Pirates outfielder Bryan De La Cruz, the fact that they weren’t able to re-enforce that area is disappointing.
But outfield aside, the Royals did a solid job ensuring that they have the potential to stay ahead of the teams currently sitting behind them, who were also buyers at the deadline.
The Marlins claimed pitcher John McMillon off waivers from the Royals.
Preston Farr at Farm to Fountains writes about the “Bridge League” where Jac Caglianone is beginning his pro career.
Kevin O’Brien at Royals Reporter looks at Royals hitters through a new metric called Process+.
Former Royals manager Mike Matheny talks about nearly dying from a brain hemorrhage last winter.
Blake Snell no-hits the Reds.
The Tigers will retire the jersey of former manager Jim Leyland tonight.
Aaron Judge’s 40th home run of the year is a 477-foot moonshot.
Mariners pitcher George Kirby honors Tim Wakefield by throwing a knuckleball.
Max Scherzer lands on the Injured List and Walter Pennington is called up for the Rangers.
Gerrit Cole will return to the mound Sunday for the Yankees.
Justin Verlander’s 2025 option will not vest.
Mike Trout will miss the rest of the season.
Eric Longenhagen at Fangraphs ranks the prospects traded at the deadline.
The bus for the Sioux City Explorers in the independent American Association catches fire.
The NFL unveils its new kickoff rules.
The U.S. Men’s soccer team gets routed 4-0 by Morocco to get bounced out of the Olympics.
Meta is offering Hollywood stars millions for AI voice projects.
Why two astronauts are stuck in space.
The stories behind six iconic album covers.
Your song of the day is Jackson Browne with Running on Empty.