Weekend Rumblings - News for September 16, 2023

Jeremy Guthrie and Mike Sweeney will fill in as color analysts on TV for the next two series.

“I think it’s an ideal situation for them because they’ve been building up to this all season,” Lefebvre said. “They’ve done analysis on radio all season long. They’ve been on the pre and postgame show on television all year long, and they’ve been popping in and out of the TV booth all season long. I hope they feel like they’re prepared for it and ready for it. But there’s a big difference between doing two or three innings on TV and doing all nine innings. I’m excited to see how they do. It’s going to be fun.”

David Lesky at Inside the Crown writes that improvement in walk rates from Royals pitchers may allow them more flexibility this off-season.

I don’t think the Royals are going to be going after Blake Snell and I don’t love the profile on the kind of free agent deal he’s likely going to want, but think about guys like him. He has a 31.4 percent strikeout rate but a 13.4 percent walk rate. Lucas Giolito may have priced himself into the Royals range, especially on a short-term deal where he can rebuild some value. He doesn’t walk a lot of batters, but he’s at 8.6 percent and could improve there.

My point is that by getting the current staff under control, pun totally intended, it opens up a lot more options when looking to build out next year’s club. And that’s a good thing because while they’re not walking guys, they aren’t striking nearly enough batters out. Their defense has helped some, but a strikeout is (almost) always an out. Batted balls can be fickle. Find some guys who give up fewer batted balls.

Jacob Milham at Kings of Kauffman talks to Royals prospect Javier Vaz.

Josh Duggan writes about former Royals third baseman Gary Gaetti.

The Kansas City Monarchs are in the American Association finals.

Former Royals pitcher Anthony Misiewicz is hospitalized after a line drive to the head.

Adam Jones officially retires with the Orioles.

Amidst a disappointing season, questions arise about the Padres’ lack of leadership.

Who could be candidates for the Red Sox general manager job?

A look at this winter’s centerfielder free agent market.

Is John Mozeliak up to the task of turning the Cardinals around?

It might take more than one year to turn around the White Sox.

One year after minor league players unionized, the benefits are being enjoyed.

Could automatically ejecting pitchers for hitting batters lead to fewer strikeouts?

Sixty years ago, the Alou brothers all played in the same outfield together, but it almost didn’t happen.

A look at the origin of term “an old fashioned pitcher’s duel.”

Japan’s Hanshin Tigers win their first Central League pennant since 2005.

Chris Jones and Travis Kelce are expected to play this Sunday against the Jaguars.

The U.S. Soccer Federation will build a headquarters and training facility in Atlanta.

Do men think about the Roman Empire often?

Reddit is now mainstream, but not quite normal.

Frasier is back drinking beer in Boston in a reboot.

Your song of the day is The Temptations with Get Ready.