Weekend Rumblings - News for October 30, 2021

Weekend Rumblings - News for October 30, 2021

Alec Lewis of The Athletic talks to Carlos Santana about his late-season slide.

“I’m used to playing with injuries, but this one was very difficult,” Santana said. “I wasn’t able to use the back of my leg properly.”

Regardless, he kept playing. Then, when the season ended, the Royals imaged his leg and found a Grade 2 quad strain. It’s no wonder walking was difficult. The injury called for a platelet-rich plasma injection, requiring four to six weeks for recovery. That’s why Santana was speaking from Kansas City. The Royals said Santana should be ready for spring training in 2022, and Santana said he’s excited for that time to come.

“I am ready to work hard to help this team,” he said.

Paul Sporer at Fangraphs gives a fantasy baseball review of the Royals.

ON THE RISE: Kyle Isbel

It was a big catchup year for Isbel who missed a key development year in 2020 that would’ve been spent primarily at Double-A with a chance at Triple-A if he performed well. He actually broke camp with the Royals, but he was sent out after 12 games and didn’t return until mid-September. He didn’t do much in his 28 games with the Royals, but did well at Triple-A with a .269/.357/.444 line with 15 HR and 22 SB in 451 PA. He could be a nice double-double bat on the strong side of a RF platoon if he brings those Triple-A skills to the big leagues.

Sam Dykstra at MLB.com talks to Royals catcher Luca Tresh, who went from the draft to the Arizona Fall League.

Tresh gave a long thought to going back to Raleigh as his name dropped in the Draft to close out his unfinished business, but the Royals’ willingness to invest in him — a notion backed up by his AFL assignment — was too good to overlook.

“After the first couple days went by, I was really set on going back to school,” Tresh said. “Then I just fell in love with the Royals. … I really liked what they do, their values and how they treat people. That was just a given, so I really liked that and that’s what made me come here.”

Aram Leighton at Just Baseball lists his top ten Royals prospects.

Not only are Witt’s raw tools incredible, he is also lauded for his makeup, work ethic and passion for playing. The tools could be plus or better across the board when all is said and done, making Witt the rare, true five tool player. Physically, he reminds us a bit of Trevor Story, although Witt’s tools are louder and his natural feel to hit far exceeds Story’s. This is a guy who has a chance to become a perennial MVP threat in the American League. Oh yeah, and he is big league ready now.

On Fangraphs Audio, Kris Bubic talks change ups.

Kevin O’Brien at Royals Reporter writes about Nicky Lopez’s snub in Gold Glove nominations.

Jerry Edwards at Inside the Royals dreams of a blockbuster trade with the Astros.

Why Brian Snitker pulled Ian Anderson during a no-hit bid.

Jeff Passan writes that it’s time for the Braves to move away from the Tomahawk Chop.

Is the post-season too different from the regular season?

Mets owner Steve Cohen is in talks about a casino near Citi Field.

The free agents who have raised their stock in the post-season.

Albert Pujols will play winter ball in the Dominican Republic and is not ready to retire.

James Harden’s poor start may not just be about this year’s rule change.

Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirt asks for former video coach convicted sex offender Brad Aldrich to be removed from the Stanley Cup.

How did elephants and walruses get their tusks?

You can now play Sega games on Nintendo, ending their long-ago console war.

Dog Halloween costumes that dogs would find scary.

Your song of the day is Sonny Rollins with Sunny Moon for Two.