Royals Rumblings - News for September 12, 2024
It’s been 24 weeks since Opening Day.
Kansas City Mag’s Hampton Stevens has a long profile on Jake Eisenberg:
As the game’s first pitch grew closer and more people started stirring on the field below, we covered other aspects of the job. Eisenberg talked about the differences between broadcasting for TV and radio. He described using chest voice instead of head voice for a richer tone. He spoke of striving for a “controlled pace” and bringing one’s personality to the fore. He mentioned his Buddha-like mantra of “Be where your feet are,” an aphorism about staying focused on the task at hand. He talked about overcoming “broadcaster voice,” the kind of cliched, exaggerated tone lovingly pilloried by the likes of Hank Azaria in Brockmire and Bob Uecker when he deliberately hammed it up for Major League.
Kevin O’Brien breaks down Seth Lugo’s dominating Tuesday outing:
What makes Lugo so tough for hitters is that he throws so many different pitches that it’s challenging to prepare for him. So many pitches look similar, which can throw off hitters who may be sitting or looking for one particular pitch to do damage against.
It’s even more challenging for hitters when Lugo floods all edges of the strike zone. Based on his Savant pitch chart and pitch description data, he did that and then some on Tuesday evening, which limited the Yankees lineup to only three hits in the contest.
Will Smith has been a valuable mentor for Lucas Erceg as he transitions to the closer role ($):
“If you can think about it that way, you can think about it as ‘I’m going out in the seventh or I’m going out the ninth and I’m going to throw strikes and get three outs,’” said Erceg, who arrived in a deadline trade with Oakland and replaced an injured Hunter Harvey as closer in August.
“It’s the same thing. Obviously, that (closing) situation is going to get the fire moving a little bit inside, with the adrenaline and all that. But (really), you’re going out there to get outs. That’s all I’ve been focusing on.”
Royals pitchers have been playing some special defense this season:
They have 25 Defensive Runs Saved from their pitchers this season. That comes from a combination of fielding balls and limiting basestealers. No other team is even close to them. The second-most Runs Saved is 10 by the Mets and Guardians.
If this sounds familiar, we wrote about it earlier this season, when we said the Royals had a staff of Zack Greinke’s. We’re bringing it up again because the Royals total is now the highest in the 22-year history of Defensive Runs Saved.
Michael Lorenzen will make one more rehab start before returning to the majors.
MLB and Diamond Sports’s RSN debacle may finally be nearing an end.
Luis Arraez has not struck out in over a month.
The Mets won yesterday after being no-hit through eight innings.
The A’s don’t know where they will play potential future playoff games.
Minnesota’s recent slump has opened the door for the third wild card.
Anthony Banda did that thing that Crash Davis specifically said not to do.
Big injury roundup:
- Atlanta right-handed pitcher Reynaldo Lopez is headed to the IL with a shoulder injury.
- Seattle right-handed pitcher Luis Castillo is headed to the IL with a hamstring injury.
- Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon is headed to the IL with an oblique injury.
- Cleveland left-handed pitcher Sam Hentges will likely be out until 2026 after undergoing shoulder surgery.
The NBA’s replay review rules are getting out of hand.
Tuesday’s presidential debate was the most watched non-Super Bowl telecast of the past four years.
The US may finally start reining in vehicle sizes.
Jon Bon Jovi talked down a person from jumping off a bridge.
Your song of the day is It’s My Life by Bon Jovi.