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SPORTS Friday 23 august 2024
A 106-loss laughingstock a year ago, the Royals find themselves in

a push to make the playoffs

By DAVE SKRETTA Brady Singer has bounced
AP Sports Writer back from a disappointing
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — 2023, and Michael Loren-
J.J. Picollo was sitting in zen has a 1.99 ERA in four
the Royals’ dugout hours starts since his arrival in a
before a game against trade last month.
the Angels this week, talk- The bullpen has been en-
ing about what has been tirely rebuilt, too. John Sch-
one of the most remark- reiber and Kris Bubic have
able turnarounds in major been revelations in relief,
league history. The conver- while Lucas Erceg has al-
sation meandered toward lowed four hits, no runs and
Picollo’s wife, Nicole, and struck out 14 in 10 1/3 in-
the Royals general man- nings since the Royals ac-
ager pointed to the upper quired him in a trade with
deck down the third-base Milwaukee.
line. Picollo has been just as suc-
“She likes to sit up there,” he cessful filling holes in the
said with a smile. “She likes lineup. The trade for Paul
to be out with the fans.” DeJong from the White Sox
Just feigning interest up late last month barely mer-
there, so high above the ited a footnote, but he’s hit-
action? ting .286 with three homers
“Oh no,” Picollo said. “It’s Kansas City Royals’ Vinnie Pasquantino (9) celebrates with teammates after their baseball game and eight RBIs in 14 games
not like she’s bringing a against the Los Angeles Angels Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. in Kansas City.
book. She’s very into it.” Associated Press “It’s given me a lot of life
That goes for a lot of people zation that burned as bright pulled all the right strings a decade were either on to be able to come here
in Kansas City these days. as a Roman candle in 2014 since taking over for Day- the team last year and just every day and compete
The Royals, who matched and ‘15, winning back-to- ton Moore less than two needed a little more time with these guys,” he said.
a franchise record with 106 back AL pennants and its years ago. “I try not to look to grow or were free-agent “They’ve had their culture
losses last season, found first World Series title in 30 at other scores until we signings and trade acqui- all year and they’ve been
themselves with a day off years, then fizzled just as get a win, because if we sitions that underscored doing well, but for me it just
Thursday in the fight for fast. The Royals have not win, we’re not losing any Picollo’s baseball savvy. makes coming to the ball-
the playoffs. With only 35 had a winning season in ground, and that’s the way Start with the rotation. park a lot more fun.”
games remaining in the eight years, losing at least we’ve got to look at it. But Cole Ragans, who was fifth Nobody seems to be hav-
regular season, they were 100 games in three of the yeah, as soon as our game in the majors with 183 strike- ing more fun than Witt, the
2 1/2 back of Guardians in past six, and were a laugh- ended yesterday, I flipped outs in 152 1/3 innings, was 24-year-old wunderkind
the AL Central and three ingstock as recently as last right over to the Twins picked up in a trade with who is putting together a
games behind the Yankees year. But as shortstop Bob- game to see them tied up the Rangers last season. historic year months after
for the best record in the by Witt Jr., the new face of and lose it. So yeah, that’s Seth Lugo, who was tied signing an 11-year deal
American League. the franchise, likes to say: natural. And that’s excit- for the big league lead worth $288.7 million to serve
Equally as important, they “The boys are playin’ some ing.” Picollo didn’t break with 14 wins, signed a mod- as the cornerstone of the
were a full three games ball.” the bank to build a winner. est three-year, $45 million franchise.
ahead of the Red Sox for “Once you get past Aug. In fact, he barely even took free-agent deal. Michael Witt leads the majors with
the last wild-card spot. 1, it’s hard not to look at out a loan. The players that Wacha signed a similar a .352 average, nearly 20
It’s been a remarkable the scoreboard,” acknowl- have led Kansas City to two-year, $32 million deal, points better than the Yan-
about-face for an organi- edged Picollo, who has heights not seen in nearly and is 10-6 with a 3.33 ERA. kees’ Aaron Judge. q

Seattle Mariners fire manager Scott Servais in midst of midseason

collapse, according to report

SEATTLE (AP) — The Se- The decision to move on vided optimism there will
attle Mariners reportedly from Servais during his ninth be a turnaround over the
fired manager Scott Ser- season in charge came on final five weeks of the regu-
vais on Thursday with the the heels of a disastrous lar season.
team in the midst a two- 1-8 road trip that dropped Servais arrived in Seattle
month long collapse hav- the Mariners back to 64-64 before the 2016 season,
ing blown a 10-game lead after sitting 13 games over brought on in lockstep with
in the division and tumbling .500 at one point in mid- executive vice president of
to the fringes of playoff June. baseball operations Jerry
contention in the Ameri- The Mariners trail Houston Dipoto. Servais was 680-
can League. by five games in the AL 642 during his time with
The Athletic reported the West and are 7 1/2 back Seattle, going through a
decision by the Mariners, in the wild-card standings. significant rebuild midway Seattle Mariners’ Randy Arozarena (56) celebrates with manager
citing unnamed sources. But nothing in the way through his tenure that ulti- Scott Servais, left, after scoring on a double by Justin Turner
The report said former Seattle has played since mately made the Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York
catcher Dan Wilson would leading the division by 10 competitive but not good Mets, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Seattle.
be taking over. games on June 18 has pro- enough.q Associated Press