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Royals Rumblings - News for July 19, 2021
You thought you were done with me? Alas, you are not. I have the keys to the Rumblings this week once again. First up: some rather, shall we say, interesting quotes regarding Singer and his changeup after getting hammered by the second-worst team in baseball on Saturday:
“He’s going to attack with his best stuff when you get into those binds,” Matheny said. “You’re not going to want to lose or give up something with the third best pitch in that situation. He’s going to need to throw it. He’s going to develop it. But it’s going to be against hitters when he’s working in favorable counts. And he wasn’t working ahead a lot today. Didn’t give him a lot of opportunities to get to it.”
Singer added: “I had plenty of outings where I didn’t throw the changeup, but I had plus command on my fastball and slider. Tonight, ball’s in the middle of the plate. Doesn’t matter if I got a third pitch or not. It doesn’t matter at all, actually.
“It’s going to get hit. I’ve got to learn how to stay out of the middle of the plate and stay ahead.”
Keith Law discussed the American League Central’s draft, and was somewhat puzzled by the Royals’ strategy.
They rolled the dice on NC State catcher Luca Tresh (17), a potential everyday backstop who had a miserable year at the plate, and would definitely add some floor to this draft if they can sign him. The last time the Royals drafted a high school pitcher who generated more than 0.1 WAR in the majors was Jakob Junis, their 29th-round pick in 2011 and a tremendous scouting and development success story. Their switch back to high school arms after going for college pitchers or for bats the past two years is something of a surprise given that history.
The Royals have signed Frank Mozzicato. Mozzicato and Moore discussed the selection at a press conference.
“The last couple days have been amazing,” Mozzicato said. “(Royals scout) Casey (Fahy) has been taking the crew around Kansas City. It has been awesome, all the barbecue and giving us a background of the Royals and everything. I’m just super excited.”
...Royals general manager Dayton Moore cited former longtime Atlanta Braves scout and executive Roy Clark, a mentor of his, when talking about the significance of Saturday.
“He said, ‘You know he’s a big-leaguer when you sign him,’” Moore said. “And what he meant by that is you can tell by the way they respond, the way they act, the way they interact, their genuineness, their enthusiasm. You just know.
“You just know they’re a big-leaguer when you sign them, and that’s how Frankie has made us all feel. We’re just so excited that he’s going to be a part of our organization.”
Referencing 2006 is generally a bad idea in Royals circles, unfortunately, but good for Kris Bubic I guess.
According to Royals PR, Kris Bubic is the first Royal to record a relief outing of at least six innings since Todd Wellemeyer, who pitched 6 2/3 innings on Aug. 13, 2006, at Cleveland.
— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) July 18, 2021
Milwaukee could earn their first championship in half a century on Tuesday and, understandably, the Royals and Brewers game gets moved out of the spotlight.
Tuesday’s Royals-Brewers game has been moved to 3:10, so that we can all watch Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Thank you.
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) July 18, 2021
In case you missed it, the Royals have promoted Bobby Witt Jr. and Nick Pratto to Triple-A Omaha.
Bobby Witt Jr. and Nick Pratto have been promoted to Omaha (AAA). pic.twitter.com/AXJRQPH8my
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) July 19, 2021
A San Diego Padres—Washington Nationals game was suspended after a shooting outside Nationals Park.
The Mets have placed Cy Young frontrunner Jacob deGrom on the Injured List with forearm tightness.
Vladimir Gurerrero is on pace to turn in one of the five best seasons by WAR among position players 22 and under since 2012.
The White Sox extend Lance Lynn to a two-year extension worth $38 million plus a club option.
On the other side of the coin, Starling Marte rejected a $30 million extension from the Marlins and seems destined to be traded before the deadline.
The Chicago Cubs have claimed old friend Frank Schwindel off waivers from the A’s.
The first positive COVID tests for athletes in the Olympic Village are rolling in.
Question of the Day
This weekend, I saw some sort of professional cornhole being televised on one of the screens at a restaurant. It got me thinking: what is one skill of yours that you could turn pro in if there was a professional competition in that skill?
Song of the Day
Expectations (Live) by Katie Pruitt