Royals Rumblings - News for October 25, 2021
Asa Lacy gets back on track in Arizona.
Royals Rumblings - News for October 25, 2021
Nick Trujilo at MLB.com has an Arizona Fall League update.
Royals: Asa Lacy, LHP (MLB No. 66), Surprise Sagueros
Lacy tossed two no-hit innings as the Saguaros’ starter, fanning five and walking one while throwing 21 of his 30 pitches for strikes. Surprise’s relievers carried the no-hitter into the seventh inning before being broken up by a Bryson Stott single. Lacy, the fourth overall pick in the 2020 Draft, struggled in his debut season with a 5.19 ERA in 52 innings, but flashed his dominance with 79 strikeouts and a 33.3% strikeout rate. The 22-year-old lowered his AFL ERA to 3.86 and has fanned 10 batters over 4 2/3 innings.
Speaking of the AFL:
#Royals Seuly Matias injured himself while jogging around the bases after hitting a monster home run for Surprise in the fifth inning. @MLBazFallLeague @MLBPipeline pic.twitter.com/aBnjIyT9Ce
— Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) October 24, 2021
Kevin O’Brien at Royals Reporter is still high on Jake Brentz, despite some late season struggles.
As Royals fans can see, Brentz has been effective with the four-seamer, as he is posting a minus-four run value on the pitch, even though his whiff rate on the four-seamer is much lower than the slider and changeup. While his slider is his best pitch on a whiff rate (43.2 percent) and K rate end (36.4 percent), he also made a lot of mistakes with the pitch that ended up hurting Brentz dearly this past season. Even though he threw his slider far less (27.9 percent) than his four-seam fastball (58.4 percent), he gave up two more home runs on his slider (4) than his four-seamer (2) in 2021.
And a big problem with his slider was consistency of command on the pitch, especially on batted balls.
Jerry Edwards at Inside the Royals continues his exploration of off-season trades for the Royals with a potential deal with the Rays.
Tampa Bay Rays Receive: CF Michael A. Taylor and (possibly) cash considerations
Kansas City Royals Receive: CF Kevin Kiermaier
Behold, one of the few outfielders in baseball who could rival Michael A. Taylor for a Gold Glove this year and one who is the most expensive player on the Rays’ roster at $12.2M next year. Kiermaier has been excellent for the Rays, as he’s been one of the league’s best defenders and provided adequate offensive support. But with only two years left on his deal and with perhaps the biggest offseason in Rays history on the horizon, Tampa Bay might be willing to ship him off for financial relief.
The Braves are back in the World Series for the first time since 1999, after upsetting the Dodgers.
How Dusty Baker and Brent Strom guided the Astros back to the World Series.
Sportsbooks have the Astros as a slight favorite in the World Series.
Braves manager Brian Snitker will be facing his brother Troy, a hitting coach with the Astros.
Tyler Matzek has had quite a comeback from being out of baseball to striking out hitters in the NLCS.
A look at how post-season games are long with a lot of down time.
The Cardinals hire bench coach Oliver Marmol to be their next manager.
The Padres will interview former Cardinals manager Mike Shildt for their open position, and could consider Brad Ausmus and Mike Scioscia as well.
Rockies pitcher Jon Gray reportedly rejects a contract extension.
On ESPN Insider, Buster Olney considers where this great crop of free agent shortstops could land.
Free agent Kyle Schwarwber is open to staying in Boston.
MLB teams participated in a league-wide effort to support bullied LGBTQ youth, but the Texas Rangers omitted reference to the LGBTQ community.
The Australian Baseball League will cancel its entire season over COVID-19 concerns.
The Chiefs get clobbered on the road against the Tennessee Titans.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer calls a 5-0 defeat to Liverpool his “darkest day” as manager of Manchested United.
Remote work is bringing the city to the suburbs.
The huge hidden cost of postponing a movie during the pandemic.
Hayden Christensen will reprise his role as Annakin Skywalker for the new Ahsoka series.
Your song of the day is Brandi Carlile with Broken Horses.