Royals Rumblings - News for July 16, 2024

Bobby hits some dingers!

Bobby Witt Jr. fell just short to Teoscar Hernandez in the Home Run Derby finals.

“Texas-sized crowd — it was just a lot of fun to be able to do that and experience that with my brother-in-law, with my family in the stands, and being able to make it to the finals,” Witt said. “It was awesome. Teoscar put on a great show. It was so much fun to be out there with all the guys. It’s one of those feelings you don’t really ever have. That was awesome.”

Anne Rogers talks to Bobby Witt Jr. about playing in an All-Star game in front of friends and family.

“It’s a dream come true, really,” Witt Jr. said. “It’s just one of those things you work for, and I’m going to enjoy every moment and have a blast with it.”

“The entire family is so happy for him,” Witt Sr. added. “We know how hard he works, and just to be able to do this in his hometown I think makes it more special.”

Jaylon Thompson asked All-Stars about the blossoming star in Kansas City.

“I know he is like a super-talented kid, but to see how he works and to see his demeanor and how he handles himself, it was truly impressive,” New York Mets All-Star Pete Alonso said. And then, playing with him (in the World Baseball Classic) and seeing what he does, it’s really, really special.

“To see how he kind of blossomed and continues to perform on a very elite level, he is straight doing it. It’s really cool to see. He is a very special talent and Kansas City is lucky to have him. He is a phenomenal player.”

ESPN has first-half grades for each team.

Kansas City Royals: A-

It does feel like things are starting to slip away after the Royals peaked at 39-26 in early June. They’ve struggled since then, other than winning three of four against the Guardians at the end of June. It’s not exactly a two-man show, but it sometimes does seem that way with Bobby Witt Jr. having an MVP-caliber season and Seth Lugo perhaps the American League Cy Young favorite (11-2, 2.17 ERA). Salvador Perez and Vinnie Pasquantino have been big contributors, but the Royals will need more from the rest of the lineup, and adding a couple of relievers is a must. It will be fascinating to see where Witt ends up: He’s already at 5.0 WAR, giving him a shot to challenge George Brett’s single-season franchise best for a position player (9.4) in his memorable 1980 season.

Ken Rosenthal at The Athletic evaluates the Hunter Harvey trade.

The Royals seemingly did give up a lot to the Nationals for Harvey on Saturday — third baseman Cayden Wallace and their No. 39 pick in yesterday’s draft. But they believe Nick Loftin will be a better long-term third baseman than Wallace, according to sources briefed on the club’s thinking. And by moving early, they will get almost two extra weeks of Harvey, who is not simply a rental. The Royals also gained club control of him for 2025.

Rustin Dodd and Eno Sarris at The Athletic write about Seth Lugo’s arsenal.

According to Baseball Savant, Lugo throws eight different pitch types, which would tie him with Chris Bassitt and Yu Darvish for the most in baseball. Yet as Lugo listened to the list, he stopped to correct the record.

“Well, I think it’s a few more,” he said, standing in a clubhouse. “But they kind of blur them (together) a little bit.”

In baseball’s era of pitch design, Lugo, 34, has become the sport’s answer to Back to the Future’s Doc Brown, a mad scientist forever in search of the perfect pitch shape, a cerebral inventor underappreciated — until recently — in his own time. An All-Star for the first time, Lugo entered the week leading major league starters in ERA (2.21), quality starts (15), innings pitched (122), and, unofficially, in quantity of pitches.

“It’s actually 10 different pitch types,” Royals pitching coach Brian Sweeney said.

Bob Nightengale reports the Royals have trade interest in Jazz Chisholm.

The Brewers call up former Royals minor leaguer Brewer Hicklen.

Corbin Burnes will start for the AL tonight against Paul Skenes.

Both All-Star squads reveal their starting lineups for tonight’s game.

Ingrid Andress drew criticism for her rendition of the national anthem before the Home Run Derby.

Pete Alonso doesn’t want to be traded away from the Mets.

A’s closer Mason Miller is open to being a starter again.

The league batting average is near its lowest mark in 50 years.

White Sox starter Garrett Crochet could move to the bullpen to limit his innings.

Noah Syndergaard is planning a 2025 comeback.

EA Sports College Football 25 became available on Monday for those who pre-ordered the deluxe bundle.

Knicks owner James Dolan criticizes the NBA’s revenue sharing model.

Some membership clubs for the rich promise anti-aging secrets for a price.

It will soon be easier to recycle batteries.

Wiz Khalifa is arrested in Romania for smoking weed onstage.

Your song of the day is Moby with We Are All Made of Stars.