Royals Rumblings - News for April 19, 2021

Royals Rumblings - News for April 19, 2021

Lynn Worthy writes about Salvador Perez winning the game again.

Perez became the first Royal to hit go-ahead home runs in the seventh inning or later on back-to-back days, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

“Anything for a win,” Perez said. “It feels great, especially (because) in the first three innings we left a lot of guys in scoring position. I think every time we’ve got the opportunity to do something for the team, we’ve got to do it. We’ve got to get it done. We didn’t do it in the first two innings, but we got better late in the game. That’s how we play together. That’s what a team does.”

Anne Rogers also writes about Salvy’s big hits this week.

“This is a special player,” manager Mike Matheny said. “I don’t need to tell people in Kansas City that. Just to watch what he does day in, day out, we’ve talked a lot about it, but I don’t think we can talk too much. That’s what leaders do. You have to have exceptional talent, but sometimes we need somebody to step in the gap, and that’s what he’s doing right now.”

She also writes about Carlos Santana drawing his 1,000th career walk.

“That’s rare space that he’s in with that,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said Saturday. “We’ve seen it, unfortunately, from the wrong side, too many times. … Just the strike-zone awareness and trust. The fact that he prides himself in those kind of at-bats, I think was, once again, such a big point for our club this year to have somebody like that. There’s some other players that can learn from that.

“We don’t need them all up there looking walks all the time, but when they do give it to you, there’s something about taking pride in and being able to get that base. And he just does so many things for us as a team, and he’s going to continue to because he’s teaching all the time.”

At Royals Academy, Clint Scoles wonders if the Nick Heath trade says anything about what position Bobby Witt, Jr. ends up playing.

Kevin O’Brien at Royals Reporter wonders if Nicky Lopez is turning into the hitter fans wanted him to be.

Nick Heath had three hits in his debut with Arizona.

The Yankees are off to their worst start since 1997.

Shane Bieber ties a record with double-digit strikeouts in his first four starts.

Stephen Strasburg is back on the Injury List.

Anthony Rizzo livens up a pickle with Freddie Freeman.

Today’s Twins-A’s game is postponed due to COVID concerns.

Slugger Jay Bruce announces his retirement.

The case for throwing slow breaking balls.

Infielder Sean Kazmar is back in the big leagues for the first time in 12 years.

MLB salaries are down nearly five percent in two years.

Billy Beane and Brian Cashman ran teams quite differently, but they still forged a friendship.

Former top ten MLB draft pick Carter Stewart makes his professional debut in Japan.

Twelve European soccer teams will form a breakaway Super League.

In Formula One, does the car or the driver matter more?

Robinhood can’t handle the Dogecoin rally.

Climate change may be making your allergies worse.

Are late night talk shows better without audiences?

Your song of the day is Devo with Freedom of Choice.