Royals Rumblings - News for September 23, 2020

Who are some in-house candidates for KC’s closer role in 2021? Jeffrey Flanagan analyzes some and then got Mike Matheny’s thoughts:

“We’ve got guys who continue to take those next steps,” Matheny said, “pitching in higher leverages, pitching later in the games. Sometimes, pitching that eighth is harder than the ninth. We’ve had guys do that and that is usually the transition phase, where the guy who normally throws the ninth can’t go, and someone else steps in and shows what they can do.

“We’ll just give these guys opportunities. In terms of stuff, we have guys that have shown [being a closer] is something they should be considered for.”

Nicky Lopez is an enigma to Royals fans, writes Kevin O’Brien at Royals Reporter:

And this just may be the reality: Lopez just may never be a .300 hitter at the MLB level.

That being said, he may not need to be.

While Royals fans may be disappointed that Lopez may never live up to that early projection, it could be time for Royals fans to focus on a different metric when it comes to evaluating Lopez and his future in Kansas City. Instead of dwelling on batting average, which may never touch .300, Royals fans should focus on on-base percentage and BB/K ratio instead.

Because if Royals fans look at those metrics, Lopez’s future looks a lot brighter.

Mike Matheny got ejected last night. During a pitching change. On his 50th birthday!

Could Dave Dombrowski take over as Angels GM?

At ESPN, Jeff Passan gives a rundown of the final week of this weird season.

Rob Manfred wants to put fans in the seats at the new Globe Life Park for the NLCS and World Series.

Raiders coach Jon Gruden claims he has had COVID-19, but offered no details as to when, and also has previously faked being hospitalized with it to teach his team a lesson about taking it seriously, I guess? (Possibly related: AHHHH, GENE!)

With the NBA season running way past its usual portion of the calendar, it looks like the next season may start in January.

Speaking of the NBA, Billy Donovan will be the next to try to turn the terrible Bulls around.

[Content note for next three items: crashes involving serious injury, death]

Pirates prospect Oneil Cruz was involved in a traffic accident in the Dominican Republic in which three people died.

Vanessa Bryant, widow of Kobe Bryant, is suing the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department over leaks of graphic photos from the wreckage of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe and their daughter, Gigi.

Former Royals pitcher Aaron Brooks had to come home from Korea after his wife and two children were in a serious car crash.

[end of content note]

Here’s a trailer for Supernova, a movie starring Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci as a couple facing the onset of dementia.

Some lucky folks will get to stay in the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air mansion as an AirBNB.

Halloween is coming. Please do not use a costume mask as a substitute for a protective face covering, nor wear both types together.

What would you do if your boss asked you to hang out in a Zoom call during all work hours?

ALERT: THERE IS A NEW ‘HYPERBOLE AND A HALF’ CARTOON. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. Also here’s an interview with Allie Brosh about the new HAAH book!

MUSIC: a powerful downer. Sia - Chandalier.