The The Star, Jaylon Thompson writes about Maikel Garcia’s goal for next season:
Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia has one specific goal in mind heading into the 2027 campaign: Stay healthy.
…In total, Garcia missed 67 games due to injuries…
Garcia added more weight this offseason. However, the added strength caused unforeseen problems in his lower half. It caused the hamstring issues to persist as Garcia never really felt quite like himself.
At MLB.com, Anne Rogers… wait, a second:
Scratch that. At MLB.com, Steve Schaeffer wrote that the Royals still have things to play for:
Jensen makes himself known in ROY race
Jensen is finishing his first full season in the Majors so strongly that he might be included on some Rookie of the Year ballots. After going 2-for-3 with a walk on Thursday, he has reached base in 20 consecutive games and has produced an RBI in his last seven contests.
With 24 homers, Jensen is tied with Bob Hamelin (1994) for the Royals’ rookie home run record. Eighteen of Jensen’s home runs have come from the leadoff spot, matching the club record shared by Johnny Damon (1998) and Alex Gordon (2011)…
Top thief?
Bobby Witt Jr. has led the American League in batting average, hits, doubles and triples all at some point during his five-year Major League career, and this season, he has a chance to add a stolen base crown. Witt has 42 steals and was tied for the AL lead before Tampa Bay’s Chandler Simpson passed him with a pair (44) on Thursday.
Blog Time?
At Royals Keep, Mike Gillespie names “3 Big Royals Names Who Should Not Be In Club’s 2027 Plans”:
Isaac Collins Should Not Return To The Royals
Picollo’s offseason quest to add pop to KC’s outfield corps produced Collins and Lane Thomas. Thomas is gone, dealt to Atlanta at the midsummer trade deadline, and Collins hasn’t produced enough to warrant a 2027 return. After going 0-for-2 against Houston Tuesday, he’s slashing .220/.326/.335 with six homers and 40 RBI in 135 games, and is hitting .133 this month, hardly the kind of numbers that inspire hopes of a big 2027. Yes, he walks a bit over 12% of the time, but that’s not enough for a club so lacking in big bats.
And although he’s under team control through the 2030 season, the Royals need the roster spot he’d occupy if they bring him back. Triple-A outfielders Carson Roccaforte and Gavin Cross are enjoying good seasons — through Tuesday in a campaign split between the Storm Chasers and Double-A Northwest Arkansas, Roccaforte had 35 homers, 94 RBI, 30 steals, and was slashing .259/.341/.527 with an .868 OPS, and Cross had homered 17 times, driven in 52 runs, stolen 25 bases, and was slashing .248/.307/.437 with a .744 OPS in 114 games for Omaha. KC will have to find room for Roccaforte, Cross, or both, on next season’s 26-man roster — it’s time for each to get major league shots.
Blog Roundup:
- Darin Watson at U.L.’s Toothpick: This Date In Royals History–1976 Edition: September 17 – Once again, it’s not easy, but the Royals eke out a win over Chicago
- Matthew Swigonski at KOK: Carter Jensen’s record-breaking Royals rookie season is flying under the radar
- Jeff Wayman at The Diamond Chronicles: Royals Eliminated from Postseason
This is probably be a record for the shortest Friday Rumblings ever. I could put in an MLB section, but then I’d have to write about the Dodgers winning yet another NL West crown with their infinity payroll.
My last couple of weeks have included everything from replacing a hot water heater to a work mess to pink eye. And I know I’m missing items there, but if I spent time listing even more, well, no one wants to hear that. Suffice to say, it’s been a week. Or a couple of weeks.
Today’s OT will get finished up and moved to next week and we’ll have fun with it there.
We haven’t revisited Just Shapes and Beats yet this year. We’ve done all the boss levels, but there are still some fun ones to listen to. This is probably the most chill song in the game: “The Art of War” by Chipzel.
