Royals Rumblings - News for September 9, 2024
Royals fans were ELECTRIC.
Bobby Witt Jr. was impressed by good crowds in a playoff atmosphere this weekend, writes Jaylon Thompson.
With chants of “Let’s go Royals” reverberating, the phenom absorbed the scene in every way.
“That’s what you dream of,” he said. “That’s the moment you want to be in.” So much so that he didn’t even feel like he had to suppress his adrenaline.
“Not really; just be there in the present moment,” he said. “You don’t have to do too much. It’s the same game. Maybe a little louder.”
The crowd helped fuel the comeback on Saturday.
“I actually think that might’ve been the loudest this place has been all year, to be honest,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said.
Kyle Isbel agreed.
“Usually the crowd, when you’re in the moment, gets kind of blocked out,” Isbel said. “But I heard them the whole time. It was just an incredible atmosphere. They were bringing it all night. They stood with us all night long.”
Anne Rogers writes Tommy Pham has been a sparkplug for the team.
“When you get a taste of postseason baseball, you just always want to get back,” Pham said, who has a .313 average in 31 postseason games. “I think with a team so young like this, once they get a taste of the postseason and see how different it is, it’s only going to do good for the franchise.”
She provides injury updates with Michael Lorenzen and Josh Taylor set to begin rehab assignments this week.
Cole Ragans became the fifth Royals pitcher to reach 200 strikeouts in a season.
“I play to win, but it’s always cool to reach a milestone like that,” Ragans said. “I don’t feel like it happens that often. Super cool, but just glad it came in a win, especially in a big series.”
Russell Dorsey at Yahoo writes about teams ready to make noise in October.
The Royals have a playoff-caliber rotation, and they’ve shown it all season. With the signing of veteran Seth Lugo, who has been fantastic, and the continued development of Cole Ragans, Brady Singer and Alec Marsh, Kansas City has a starting staff that can win a playoff series.
The biggest question for Kansas City throughout the year has been whether they could find enough offense to support the starting pitching. And lately, the answer has been yes. Led by Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City’s offense has given its rotation plenty of run support. Granted, the loss of first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino is huge and leaves a big hole in the middle of the Royals’ offense, but with the contributions they’ve been getting throughout the lineup, the Royals might have enough to make noise in October.
Jim Bowden of The Athletic ranks Jac Caglione 15th on his top 50 prospect list.
Who is having the more historic season - Aaron Judge or Shohei Ohtani?
Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr. is not pleased with his demotion to the bullpen.
Braves infielder Whit Merrifield fractures his foot but he could return in a week.
The Mets lose second baseman Jeff McNeil for the rest of the season with a wrist injury.
The Cardinals induct pitching coach Dave Duncan in their Hall of Fame - will he get notice from Cooperstown?
MLB clubhouses have their own fantasy football leagues.
Hall of Famer Wade Boggs announces he has prostate cancer.
Dak Prescott is now the highest-paid player in the NFL.
Jannik Sinner defeats Taylor Fritz to win the U.S. Open.
Inside the dangerous world of extreme fishing.
The dye in Doritos can make mice transparent.
Kendrick Lamar will headline the Super Bowl halftime show.
Your song of the day is Florence + The Machine with Dog Days Are Over.