Royals Rumblings - News for September 30, 2021

Royals Rumblings - News for September 30, 2021

Michael A. Taylor signed a two-year contract extension because he felt like Kansas City was the right place, writes Anne Rogers.

“Just an organization that’s committed to winning, an organization that’s moving in the right direction,” Taylor said. “… You want to be somewhere where you’re looking forward to showing up to work every day. And surrounded by good people. We have a team that’s going to be in contention very soon. All those things line up, and this is a place I’m looking forward to being at for a while.”

Kevin O’Brien at Royals Reporter approves of the signing.

Taylor is not a “sexy” fit in center field for Royals fans hoping for more at this position in 2022, especially fans who are hoping that Kansas City could sign Starling Marte in free agency (which honestly is a pipe dream, even with an owner in John Sherman who appears more prone to spend than David Glass). However, Taylor brings consistency, dependability, and has impressed Royals fans and management with some incredible tools in center field in 2021.

Salvy tied a franchise record for home runs in a season with his 48th of the year.

But he had to leave the game with an injury after apparently stumbling down the dugout stairs.

Lynn Worthy gives an update on Brady Singer, who landed on the Injured List after being pulled early in Tuesday’s start.

“He grimaced, I guess, would be the right word,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said of what prompted Singer’s removal from the game. “You could see that something didn’t feel right.”

After he threw a 2-1 slider to Bradley Zimmer that made the count 2-2, second baseman Whit Merrifield and catcher Salvador Perez approached the mound, apparently having noticed something. Matheny and Kenney immediately came out of the dugout and to the mound.

“But we already had a picture taken,” Matheny said after the game. “Everything came back good. It’s not the elbow or the shoulder.”

David Lesky at Inside the Crown reviews rookie reliever Dylan Coleman.

I think I’ve mentioned before that I have been on the edge of my seat waiting for Coleman since a scout told me that the Royals traded Trevor Rosenthal last year for a guy who might be better eventually. And he hasn’t disappointed so far in his three outings. He only had one whiff, but I thought the slider looked really good and his fastball was showing the kind of velocity that you hope to have in the back of a bullpen.

With Carlos Hernández pulled from the rotation to limit his innings, Craig Brown at Into the Fountains marvels on his season.

What Hernández did do this year, was establish himself as a bonafide candidate to start. His stuff was absolutely electric at times. He walked a few too many hitters and didn’t miss the number of bats you would think someone with his stuff would miss. But you can’t ignore the potential. With a little seasoning, it sure seems like he’s a guy who can be a factor in the rotation for the next several years.

Pete Grathoff points out that only the Royals, Rays, and Giants had two minor league affiliates win championships this year.

Jared Perkins at Royals Farm Report profiles second baseman Michael Massey.

Brewers reliever Devin Williams is out for the year after injuring his hand punching a wall.

Rays infielder Wander Franco extends his on-base streak to 43.

Shohei Ohtani is done pitching for the season.

How a five-team race in the American League could play out.

How the Mariners got into the Wild Card race.

Third baseman Nolan Arenado won’t opt out of his contract this off-season.

Veteran reliever Yusmeiro Petit shows the value in a deceptive pitch delivery.

The Giants are capitalizing on working ahead of the count.

Fivethirtyeight polls members of Congress on their opinions on potential baseball rule changes.

What NBA players are giving up if they go unvaccinated this season.

The Chicago Bears take another step towards moving out of Soldier Field.

What does space smell like?

A look at how the athletes that have hosted Saturday Night Live have fared.

The Korean thriller Squid Game may be Netflix’s most-popular show ever.

Your song of the day is Jonathan Richman and The Modern Lovers with Roadrunner.