Weekend Rumblings – News from October 5, 2024

David Lesky previews the ALDS against the Yankees.

One wonders a little if Judge’s postseason struggles over the last two seasons are weighing on him. He had his struggles, going 1-for-20 in the 2017 ALDS, but bounced back with a big ALCS. And he was good in the 2019 playoffs through the ALCS, but in his last three postseason appearances, he hit a combined .143/.208/.357 in 77 plate appearances. Although he has five home runs, he also has 25 strikeouts, which corresponds to a strikeout rate of 35.7 percent. He is truly one of the greatest hitters in baseball. So you assume this is just a blip, but what happens if he goes 0-for-4 in the first game? Even the best can get inside their heads.

Gabe Lacques writes about the Royals’ amazing pitching quartet.

“JJ kind of described his plan and the team outlook,” Wacha said. “I saw that Lugo had signed there probably a week or two before me, and when I pitched with him, I knew what he had to offer.

“He really is one of the best minds I know when it comes to this sort of thing.”

Fangraphs’ Michael Rosen writes about Lucas Erceg’s insanely good change.

However, what makes Erceg’s move good seems pretty obvious to me. It’s quick and it moves big, almost like a lefty slider.

The move helps Erceg stand out from other substitutes with more limited arsenals. Against righties, he’s mostly a sinker-slider guy, throwing his two-seamer to his hands and then dropping his slider below his knees to sniff. But against lefties, he relies on his four-seater and his changeup, neutralizing lethal lefties like Henderson. The results prove this: Erceg faced roughly the same number of right-handed and left-handed hitters this season and kept both in check (.242 wOBA vs. right-handed hitters, .279 wOBA vs. left-handed hitters).

Craig Brown remembers the Royals-Yankees rivalry in the 1970s.

As a writer, er, of a certain age, I have vivid memories of the epic encounters of the Royals and Yankees in the late ’70s and early ’80s. The heartbreaking Chris Chambliss home run in 1976. The slides and swings and heartbreak of a Freddie Patek double play in 1977, the year the Royals won 102 games. George Brett hit three home runs in Game 3 against Catfish Hunter and inexplicably lost in 1978. I had Royals posters all over my room and immediately took them all down. Who could bear such pain?

Finally, the Nirvana of 1980, as Brett unleashed his fury against Goose Gossage, hitting a pennant-winning home run into the top tank.

Will Kansas Cityians favor the Royals or the Chiefs on Monday? IT’S BOTH! IT’S BOTH!

Why Patrick Mahomes is a Bobby Witt Jr. fan

Omaha manager Mike Jirschele was named International League Manager of the Year.

Kings of Kauffman’s Mike Gillespie writes about how Dayton Moore helped shape this 2024 Royals team.

The Savannah Bananas will be coming to Kauffman Stadium next year.

The refereeing team for the Divisional Series has been announced.

Bob Costas and Ron Darling will broadcast the Royals/Yankees series.

Ranking all 16 potential World Series matchups.

The weaknesses for each team remained in the playoffs.

Kodai Senga will return for the Mets’ first game after his injury.

Padres pitcher Joe Musgrove is out for the series against the Dodgers.

Japanese pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano is coming to the States.

The Rays and Mariners complete the Randy Arozarena trade.

The Twins part ways with GM Thad Levine.

The Cardinals’ fire hits coach Turner Ward.

Can the Braves bounce back next year?

Are the Astros done being a powerhouse?

NFL players want to limit media access in locker rooms.

Marina Mabrey was a spark plug for the Connecticut Sun.

Unfounded rumors and conspiracy theories about Hurricane Helene and flooded areas are circulating on social media.

Why did baby hippo Moo Deng go viral?

What’s true about the SNL premiere in Jason Reitman’s film? Saturday evening.

Your song of the day is Beastie Boys with No sleep until Brooklyn.