Royals Rumblings - News for November 4, 2020

[Programming note: as with yesterday, political discussion has a home over here. The Rumblings will remain politics-free. Thank you!]

Alex Gordon won his 8th Gold Glove! That ties Frank White for most all-time by a Royal.

“It was never a goal of mine to win awards,” Gordon said in a Zoom call with reporters. “That is just is icing on the cake for all the work you put in.

“But Frank White was my first coach in Double-A in 2006, and it’s something I’ll cherish to share that honor with him.”

Gordon, who retired after this past season following a 14-year career (all with Kansas City), finished with 102 outfield assists, the most in MLB from 2010-20.

Gordon said winning another Gold Glove doesn’t mean he regrets retiring.

“Maybe, maybe not,” Gordon said. “It’s definitely a nice going-away present. I didn’t think I’d win it. I got a late call this year — usually it’s a little earlier, so I didn’t think I’d won.

“It was great news. It was more of a surprise than in other years.”

On the progress of Royals 2019 top draft pick Bobby Witt, Jr., from Alec Lewis at The Athletic:

Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story, a two-time All-Star, had also returned to Texas, and he wanted live action as well. So did former Philadelphia Phillies catcher Cameron Rupp, longtime big-leaguers Jonathan Lucroy and Chris Davis, among many others. They needed pitchers, and fortunately Toronto Blue Jays starter Chase Anderson and Pittsburgh Pirates lefty Derek Holland were available.

They would meet up at local fields, take batting practice and play intrasquad games. Around the batter’s box and in the field, Witt Jr. would ask them questions about life in the majors and the preparation necessary to play at that level, to which they would answer honestly and in detail. The games would become a mini-season of sorts, so by the time MLB was ready to return and the young right-handed hitter was invited to compete in the Royals’ summer training camp in Kansas City, Witt Jr. was more than ready.

Royals officials noticed it immediately. On July 3, the first day of camp, Royals manager Mike Matheny watched Witt Jr. work a 12-pitch at-bat against Royals veteran Mike Montgomery. He battled with two strikes before lining a double to the right-field corner.

“That just made me giggle a little, I guess,” Matheny said afterward.

At MLB Trade Rumors, Tim Dierkes evaluates possible trade partners for the Cubs and Kris Bryant, and categorizes the Royals as “Probably Can’t Afford Him.”

The Internet Baseball Writers Association of America named Kevin Cash (AL) and Don Mattingly (NL) as Managers of the Year.

Marc Normandin wrote about how the MLBPA can still file a grievance against MLB for only scheduling 60 games in 2020.

Catcher Andrew Susac was VERY briefly an Omaha Storm Chaser before missing most of 2019 with a hand injury, so it definitely needs to be shared here that the Pirates re-signed him.

Minda Haas Kuhlmann

Wisconsin football’s COVID outbreak is up to 27 cases, and the Badgers had to cancel their game against Purdue.

Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves lost his mother to COVID-19, and spoke about that nightmare in a new video.

Mark Cuban shared an update on Delonte West, whose mental health journey has been rocky in his post-NBA life.

The 76ers covet James Harden, reportedly, bu the Rockets say ‘nah.’

PUPPY CART!

At Ask a Manager, Alison put out a call for stories of kindness in the workplace. There are hundreds of really nice replies, ranging from tiny gestures to huge ones.

How to tell if you’re grinding your teeth. Related, maybe, are these 17 soothing videos if for some reason you find yourself needing to be soothed.

Reddit discussion question of the day: Adults [of Royals Review], what is something every teenager needs to know?

Nicaragua is in trouble as Hurricane Eta has made landfall..

SOTD: Fenix TX - A Song for Everyone.