Weekend Rumblings - News for August 24, 2024
Salvador Perez is a baseball treasure.
David Lesky looks at the daunting schedule ahead for the Royals.
So that’s it. That’s the next 20 days for the Kansas City Royals. They play five different teams in six series, and every single one of those teams is currently in a playoff position. The Royals are 15 games over .500 and hold a 3.5 game lead in the Wild Card race. That gives them some breathing room but not a lot of breathing room. Their main (only?) competitor for the Wild Card is Boston, and they face the Diamondbacks, Blue Jays, Tigers, Mets, White Sox and Orioles in this stretch. Only the White Sox are pushovers, but their schedule is notably more manageable.
Craig Brown applauds how the trade deadline acquisitions have fared.
No, Picollo’s deadline acquisitions weren’t like Johnny Cueto and Ben Zobrist in 2015, but they are players who have value to a manager like Quatraro, who looks to get the best out of his team as he’s rotating guys in and out of the lineup and roles in the bullpen. Although I think we can safely say Erceg is the official ninth inning guy…for the most part.
While the upcoming three weeks of baseball will no doubt be difficult, the team is better equipped for this moment than they were back in June.
Vahe Gregorian makes the case for Matt Quatraro being named Manager of the Year.
While there are varying schools of thought on how many games managers directly win or lose, they also are responsible for a tone and attitude that are their own living, breathing part of any team.
“He’s the same guy every single day, and that’s super-important,” said Pasquantino, whose 95 RBIs rank third in the AL.
He added, “It allows us to know who we can be.”
Pete Grathoff wrote about how Salvador Perez surprised kids by showing up to their backyard wiffle ball game.
Perez pulled his car over, jumped out and asked, “Hey guys, can I play?”
The kids were initially puzzled but then 9-year-old Cameron Lard yelled out: “Guys, that’s Salvy!”
One of the boys called his father and Cameron ran inside and cried out: “Salvy freaking Perez is in the backyard.”
Salvy becomes the fourth hitter in Royals history to reach 900 career RBI.
Bobby Witt Jr. could become the first player in 88 years to get 220 hits and score 140 runs.
The Dodgers designate veteran Jason Heyward for assignment.
What if all fences in ballparks were the same distance (Bobby Witt Jr. would benefit!)
The Mariners hire Hall of Famer Edgar Martinez to be hitting coach.
Danny Jansen will become the first player to play for both teams in the same game on Monday.
Max Scherzer is scratched from a planned rehab start.
Michael Wacha is one of many players with contract options to consider this off-season.
Nationals top outfield prospect Dylan Crews will be called up to make his MLB debut next week.
Could the Diamondbacks be the best team in baseball?
Which bad teams from this season could turn things around next year?
UConn is in talks to join the Big 12.
Will Caitlin Clark join the new WNBA offseason 3x3 basketball league?
A study finds sports betting is lowering credit scores and increasing bankruptcies.
How plants go through puberty.
A Canadian wins the 2024 Air Guitar World Championship.
Your song of the day is Emerson, Lake & Palmer with Lucky Man.