Royals Rumblings - News for January 6, 2021

What’s coming next for the NLBM:

Last year was the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Negro Leagues. The celebration continues, according to Negro Leagues Baseball Museum president Bob Kendrick, with Negro Leagues 101, which coincides with the 101st anniversary of the leagues.

With renewed interest in the Negro Leagues following the addition of its stats to those of Major League Baseball, Kendrick is looking for different avenues to educate the newly engaged public. Starting Feb. 13, which is the day the Negro Leagues was born, the NLBM will roll out a national curriculum around the history of the leagues.

“It’s important that we just don’t stop at 100 and that we find meaningful and significant ways every year to celebrate the Negro Leagues,” Kendrick said. “NLBM becomes more meaningful with the news of what Major League Baseball did recently by acknowledging the Negro Leagues [stats becoming part of Major League history]. I think it becomes pertinent now that we help baseball fans understand the significance of the Negro Leagues by conveying these facts and figures. … The digital world gives us an opportunity to do that.”

Mike Gillespie at Kings of Kauffman looks at internal options like Franchy Cordero, Khalil Lee, and Nick Heath to see if they’re the bat the Royals need on the left side:

That the Padres needed Hill more than they believed they needed Cordero (and trade mate Ronald Bolaños) led to last summer’s deal. Cordero disappointed upon arrival, hitting .154 with an equally distressing .185 OBP, then found his season suddenly derailed by a broken hamate bone in early August.

Fortunately, he healed and returned for the campaign’s final week. He slammed two homers and drove in five runs in his first game back and hit .333 over the club’s last five games.

Is Cordero the answer? Perhaps, but he’ll have to rediscover the power he displayed in the minors and prove he can drive balls into Kauffman Stadium’s gaps. And he KC Royals will have to decide if they want to give him a prolonged chance or look elsewhere.

Here’s a new wrinkle in the AL Central outfield situation:

The book release for which we’ve all been waiting: Tim Tebow wrote a children’s book.

MLB is not allowing clubs to open their Spring Training facilities early, citing a lack of an agreement on health and safety protocols for 2021, as well as the lack of the full COVID testing program they will have available once Spring Training officially begins.

Ohio State has some COVID concerns that may require a postponement of the college football national title game.

Nebraska and Creighton are both in the top 15 in volleyball, the actual best college sport.

American Airlines will no longer allow emotional support animals on board their flights.

The advice column letter of the week is definitely this person who accidentally threw a sandwich at their boss’s boss.

Lifehacker seems to be attacking me, personally, with this reminder to declutter those To Watch lists on all the streaming services.

Today’s fun discussion question from Reddit: “What do you own a ridiculous amount of?”

A celebration of the important friendship between Eloise and Penelope, in Bridgerton.

A moment of a peaceful feeling, brought to you by this redpoll:

SOTD: Mipso - Louise