R’s: Clinchin’
(As I prefer to focus on the many positives, I’ll save my thoughts on the Royals’ September and prospects for October until next week.) I had a bit of a rough weekend. Some stomach issues. A couple late nights and early mornings. Mid-day naps to counter those. Everything felt a bit off. And I guess it all started Thursday night,…
R’s: Crazy Times
(Note: I wrote this last night while watching the Royals play Detroit. The R’s were up 4–2, Edinson Volquez was cruising along, and a sweep of the Tigers seemed imminent. Then an infield single, a walk, and another infield single to open the top of the 8th launched a 4-run Tigers rally that helped them salvage the final game of…
R’s: Some Week
Some week for Your Kansas City Royals! Let’s review. Last Sunday they acquired Johnny Cueto from Cincinnati then went out and beat Houston ace Dallas Keuchel to get a series win against a possible playoff opponent. Monday they flew to Cleveland and pounded the Indians in game one. Tuesday they made another trade, grabbing Ben Zobrist from the A’s. That…
Johnny Friggin’ Cueto!
Holy shit! Normally this time of year, Royals fans are begging general manager Dayton Moore to sell off the team’s most valuable free-agent-to-be to bring in more prospects for the future. Two years ago, it was Ervin Santana. The Royals kept him and went on a tear through August and September that saw them fall just short of making the…
R’s: Oh No
Each of the past two Augusts, I’ve written about a Royals series against contending teams that came in front of big, loud crowds and wondered if that would be the high point of the season. It likely was in 2013. Last year, though, things got about a kazillion times better over the next two months. I mention that because I…
Hot Sports Takes
Takes almost as hot as the weather here in central Indiana.[1] A-Rod Wow, the Yankees have made Alex Rodriguez a sympathetic figure, something that seemed impossible. I love to hate A-Rod, but I also admire his comeback. It would have been easy after his last injury and suspension to just retire and disappear into the void. He could say goodbye…
Summer 2015 Cap
Lost in the early baseball season rush, I’ve forgotten to share something very important with you: my summer 2015 cap choice. Frankly, I’m a little surprised I haven’t received angry emails demanding I reveal my pick. Allow me to rectify. I found myself in a bit of a quandary this year. Last year’s cap is still in decent shape. And…
Game Balls
I haven’t kept many mementos from my childhood sports days. There are a few stats sheets and participation patches hidden away in a box in the basement. But all my trophies were tossed out long ago. Nor are there any old uniforms or hats crammed into a cedar chest somewhere as reminders of my pre-high school sports glory days. Among…
R’s: Stuff And Nonsense
In the bad old days, I would think the Royals were cursed. How else to explain getting off to a hot start – they’re currently tied for the second-best record in the bigs – yet still looking up at Detroit? The baseball gods hate the Royals, right? But these aren’t the bad old days. This is the brave new world…
Baseball Links
As promised, a whole mess of baseball links in honor of Opening Day. Let’s go to the oldest piece first. The Deadspin Stacks reprinted Robert Ward’s legendary article about Reggie Jackson published in Sport[1] magazine in 1977. It, in many ways, defined how Reggie was perceived for the rest of his career. Not unfairly, I should add. Be sure to…