Royals are All-In! What's in Store for Rest of the Week?

I didn't think they'd do it. I thought the Royals could very well end up with a rental from the Reds this year, I just thought it'd be Mike Leake. Behold for the first time in my life, the Royals are going all in. I love the move, it shows the fans the front office is aware that the window for the first Royals division and World Series Championship in 30 years is as open as it is ever going to be. The Royals had to give up fan favorite and 1st round draft pick from 2014 Brandon Finnegan, Omaha Storm Chasers pitcher and AAA All-Star John Lamb, and  rising pitcher Cody Reed. This trade makes tons of sense for both teams. The Reds get to unload Cueto and actually get some pieces that could contribute in the future, two of which in the probable near future. Would anyone be surprised to see Lamb and Finnegan playing regularly in Cincinnati if the Reds move Leake and possibly Chapman? This move is just as good for Lamb and Finnegan as it is for the Royals. No longer will Finnegan get jerked between starter and reliever and switching uniforms almost weekly. Lamb can see an opportunity open up quite soon to be the 4th or 5th starter for a Major League team. Reed is having a great season, and has gotten some accolades for his performance, but he is still a work in progress and probably wouldn't be in a Reds uniform before September of 2016 at the earliest.

Enough about those guys, they don't play for the Royals anymore, they have gone the way of Johnny Giavotella. I'll remember them when they are inexplicably producing on a good team in the Majors. Seriously though, how has Giavotella become the starting 2nd basemen on the AL West's best team? ANYWAY....  The Royals finally have a legit ace to head their staff into the stretch run. Royals fans are absolutely giddy for a guy that's going to make 11 starts and then depart for a $200M contract. The excitement is deserved, it's completely new territory. We all know adding a major piece around the trade deadline doesn't always lead to glory (Oakland 2014) but at least the Royals are putting their best foot forward and why not? Dayton Moore is on a roll, the James Shields trade actually ended up working out, the Royals made the World Series. Shields himself stunk in the post-season, but the point of getting him was partially to win those games down the stretch during a race. Which he did brilliantly last year. The 1-0 win in Yankee Stadium in early September is the game that still stands out to me as one of the games that got KC to the playoffs. His next start vs Detroit he won 3-0, they don't win the Wild Card without James. So Moore knows the importance of having that guy on the mound that you don't have to worry about being overwhelmed by the moment. He also knows the situation the Royals are currently facing. Alex Gordon is a free agent after 2015, Hosmer, Moustakas, Davis are close behind in 2016. This is a team that has all the belief that they can win the World Series so now it's time to provide the team with the necessary tools. Cueto is the first and most important piece to be added to that toolbox.

I could go on and on about the impact of Cueto and what this all means, but Rany Jazayerli covers it perfectly for Grantland. I actually wanted to shift focus to my thoughts of what will we see as this progresses towards the trade deadline Friday afternoon.  The Angels were no doubt going to be adding, They were in need of a corner OF because they shipped Josh Hamilton off for peanuts. I was just surprised that ended up being Shane Victorino. Maybe they are thinking they need a guy who can hit lead off. They've been rolling with Johnny Giavotella at that spot and he's not exactly your prototypical lead off hitter. Maybe the price for Jay Bruce and Carlos Gomez was just too high for the Angels to go get one of them. Even then, I'd think Gerardo Parra would have been a solid fit. Maybe there are more moves to be made from the Angels. They are a team that is a legit contender with the best player on the planet. They will be active this week.

I think Toronto is going to add at least one pitcher. They just flipped Reyes for Tulo because apparently they didn't have enough right-handed power bats. Their problem isn't scoring, it's stopping other teams from scoring. I fully expect the Blue Jays to add a Jeff Samardzija or a Yovanni Gallardo type of pitcher here before Friday. You don't trade for Tulowitzki and think that's going to get you the wild card. The Blue Jays also need bullpen help, Papelbon could be a target. They could be the most active team leading into the deadline. Thanks to the Royals the Blue Jays now have the longest post-season drought in baseball, they are desperate to end that streak.

What's happening with Detroit? I think they are going to move some pieces. They can't pitch at all, they have David Price and 4 bad pitchers as a starting rotation right now. It's gotten to the point where every time Shane Greene trots out there you're just waiting until the inevitable blow up inning. It might not be the 1st inning, or the 2nd, but you know it's coming eventually. If you're the Tigers you have to get something back for David Price. He was the contingency plan for Max Scherzer leaving, and he's still an elite pitcher. The problem is Justin Verlander is 28M a year replacement level player. Who could have seen this coming, a workhorse pitcher with a ton of innings on his arm gets past 30 years old then falls apart. Does that sound familiar CC Sabathia?

Speaking of the Yankees, they are pulling away in the AL East. On paper they really shouldn't be good, but A-Rod has "injected" some life back into his game. Ellsbury, Gardner, and Mark Texiera are healthy. The Yankees also boast what is widely considered the second best bullpen in baseball behind the Royals. What they really lack is starting pitching. Tanaka's elbow is hanging on by a thread, and has been for almost a year. He will eventually need Tommy John surgery, and everyone knows that (think Luke Hochevar Royals fans), The Yankees aren't a team that's been ballyhooed in many trade rumors, but I expect them to add at least a starting pitcher. I wouldn't be surprised if they made a serious run at David Price. Mike Leake, Samardzija, and Gallardo are all options as well, but I'd think they'd like to make a big splash as they continue to grow their lead in the East.

The Dodgers are going to do something, because the Dodgers are basically what the Yankees were 10 years ago. They don't care about spending that luxury tax, they are going to make a big run at Hamels. Especially with the fact that Zack Greinke will opt out at the end of this season. They can just move the money Greinke would pass on to Hamels' remaining on his contract. The Dodgers could go Kershaw, Greinke, Hamels in a playoff series. That doesn't automatically lead to wins, but it does put your team in a pretty good position. The Dodgers have like 6 outfielders on their team and have some pieces to move, and really must move some pieces to stop the logjam. Also just to allow for more of a "set" lineup. Don Mattingly is like Ned Yost of 5 years ago, with just way more talent, he cannot decide on a lineup and seems to be just picking names out of a hat at times.

It'll be interesting to see what the Cubs do, you know Theo Epstein is going to try to make a big splash as his rebuilding effort seems to be a year ahead of schedule and why wait?

I feel like one team that won't do much is the Washington Nationals. With Rendon, Werth, and Zimmerman coming back from injury it's finally the team they envisioned having from the start of the year. Their starting rotation is the best in baseball, they have been preparing for this run since last winter when they signed Max Scherzer, when healthy this team doesn't have many holes. If Ian Desmond continues his recent hot hitting and gets back to being the player he's been the past 3 years. They might be the favorites in October.

Finally, I'll finish where I started the Royals. I think there might be another move coming. They are in the massive race for Ben Zobrist. Ned Yost loves the utility man, Zobrist can fill in for Alex Gordon while he is out, then can move about the field to fill in for Omar Infante and Alex Rios mostly, but also could provide off days at virtually any other position as well. The problem is, it seems like everyone wants Zobrist, including the Yankees. Billy Beane is creating a bidding war and I am not sure it's one the Royals will win. I still like the Gerardo Parra idea, but really the Royals are playing just fine without Gordon, and bringing in someone who is strictly an OF without the versatility of a Zobrist might not be in the team's best interest. I have already been surprised by the Royals aggressive approach so I wouldn't bet against them making another big move.

Either way, this year's trade deadline already promises to bring more excitement, and in a lot ways already has, in comparison to the 2014 deadline where Oakland's moves were the only to move the needle. These next three and a half days should be fun, like T.O. once said, "get yer popcorn ready."

A Month of Baseball, A Season's Worth of Ejections

The Royals defense of the their AL Championship has started as well as anyone could have imagined. Winners of their first 7 games had everyone writing articles that could be summed up best by

The Royals have since gone 9-9, and we all realize this rotation isn't going to be confused for a top unit in baseball in any shape. However, the Royals defense and bullpen are still among the best in baseball and continues to make a pretty average starting five look better than they should, and is a huge reason the Royals are off to this start. 

The season started with a sweep of the White Sox at home, and that's where the season of tension started. There was a multitude of bean balls in that series. It started with Jeff Samarzdija going all Shark on us and hitting Lo Cain on purpose (probably) because he was getting shelled. The next two games had a lot of hit batters and stare downs, but nothing really came of it. Then Oakland came to town 10 days later and Kansas City now has their new most hated player since AJ Pierzynski left Chicago, and it's a tattooed Canadian who has yet to reach his lofty promise as a Major League player.. BRETT LAWRIE! 

The entire Lawrie deal has been over-analyzed, but I am going to throw in my two cents anyway. The slide was bad, I appreciate a guy playing hard, and I keep hearing all the "There was no way they were turning two" stuff, and as a fan it's easy to say that, but in the moment a player most likely isn't processing that. The slide was a bit excessive and retaliation was well deserved. So when Ventura buried a pitch into Lawrie the next day and he put his head down and headed to 1st that should have been it. 

But, that's just not how Yordano is rolling in 2015. First he had that whole thing with Mike Trout where he took exception to the best hitter in baseball hitting a liner in the same area code of the mound. That was not a good look for Ventura, but I think he could have really redeemed himself if he just plunked Lawrie and acted like nothing had happened and walked off the field. Instead he walks towards Lawrie, who is not even acknowledging him and staring him down. In this video Salvador Perez is basically saying "Dude what are you doing?" Then just when we thought, ok that's gotta be it, he quick pitches Adam Eaton in his next start in Chicago, then swears at him after Eaton got all mad because he was about to be replaced by JB Shuck in the starting lineup, and we had an old fashioned brew-ha-ha, which wasn't the Royals fault at all. The problem with Ventura is that he's basically Scrappy Doo, he doesn't care, he'll fight everyone and I guess that makes Salvador Perez Scooby Doo? Ventura was handed down a 7 game (1 start) suspension, maybe he should spend that time drinking water so he doesn't leave a 3rd game due to of cramping.  

Let me get back to the A's situation. The whole thing should have ended after Lawrie was hit on Saturday, but Kazmir had to hit Cain in the leg on Sunday, and this apparently got Kelvin Herrera into a murderous rampage. He missed Lawrie twice with 100 mph fastballs, the 2nd pitch going behind his back. Even I thought that was a little much. What I find crazy is the pure vitriol Royals fans have for Lawrie, he is such a hot button among Royals fans that he has the most- bleeding heart save the trees, and kittens, and love each other - types wishing a horrible fate upon him. I don't blame Lawrie for being pissed. He took one upper 90s pitch already, now you got a guy throwing 100 above the letters behind you. I would have to run to the locker-room and change my pants before finishing that game. There were ample opportunities to end this saga and no one did, so I fully expect a Royal to get hit in June. Maybe it will be Alex Gordon, and he'll just write it off as a normal at bat. 

Other than that whole fiasco the season has started off better than anyone could have imagined. After splitting this weekend series with Detroit, KC is at 16-9.  The offense has slowed a little bit from the torrid start they were on, but there are a lot of positives. The team is leading the Majors in AVG at .296, which is 18 points North of Detroit. The have the least amount of strikeouts in the league (not surprisingly) and they even have 19 HRs way ahead of the pace that resulted in 95 whole HRs last year.  Mike Moustakas apparently read my spring training blog and took my advice on trying to hit the ball to the opposite field (yeah I know he didn't but let me have this). He hasn't quite eliminated the shift against him, because Detroit is stubborn, but he is no longer pulling outside pitches into weak ground outs. His BABIP is going way up as a result and just looks more confident at the plate, and makes it next to impossible for Ned Yost to sit him regardless of pitcher. Lorenzo Cain has become a producer in the middle of the lineup, Sal Perez is absolutely crushing lefties, and still isn't getting any time off, which isn't surprising as KC is definitely in win now mode. Eric Hosmer is quietly off to the best start of his career and Alex Gordon has begun to hit in the last couple of weeks. Kendrys Morales has been an RBI machine as of late in the middle of that Royals order from either side of the plate.   

The thing that is most impressive is the Royals almost seemingly defiant attitude about losing. It's as if they are still in playoff mode thus far this season, never saying die and fighting to win every game, it was on display just yesterday as they were getting "perfect gamed" by Sanchez and were down 6-0, still had a legit shot to tie the game in the 9th inning. As a Royals fan, this is something I can't recall witnessing in Aprils of the past. The 2015 Royals are playing like a team with something to prove. The previous two seasons the team had disappointing 1st halves, but played with their hair on fire in the 2nd half to finish with winning records. This new attitude of "protecting our pennant" is going to do wonders in the 2nd half of 2015 if they get to July 10+ games over .500. The Royals are flashing the middle finger at all the preseason prognosticators and even the opposing teams, or in Yordano's case, just directly yelling "Fuck you" to everyone.  

Royals Spring Training 2015: It's Something to Talk About

February is the worst month of the year, the Super Bowl never has my favorite team in it, so it's basically just a day for me to eat too much and get depressed, mostly due to the commercials about kids dying. It's always the worst weather of the year for those of us in the Midwest. College basketball in February is pretty dull, it's like the calm before the March Madness storm that we all love. Even though we know if your favorite team is not Kentucky, Virginia, Duke, or Wisconsin you're just hoping for a good showing in the NCAA tourney, or you're praying to beat office pool aficionado "Chad" in your work place bracket challenge. Binge watching TV shows on Netflix only gets you so far. Seriously, how many times can Hank Moody make the same mistake in "Californication" before his friends and family just give up on him? Unless you're getting hired to be an NFL scout, you shouldn't be watching the combine. The one February constant that brings hope and the promise of warmth, hot dogs, nine dollar domestics, and girls in sundresses is the beginning of spring training!

The Kansas City Royals have officially reported to Surprise, Arizona to start the 2015 season. Usually the beginning of spring training for us Royals fans is full of false hope, at least it had been for the previous 29 seasons. This year the Royals enter the spring as the reigning AL Champions, and now possess a fan-base expecting, yes expecting, a return to the post-season. Spring training is a six week process to get everyone ready for a six month marathon, to find answers to the questions that remain after free agency, to give younger prospects shots to shine against everyday players, and to build team chemistry. Here are a few things I am keeping an eye on this spring.

Bullpen

The Kansas City Royals rode their bullpen to the World Series. Greg Holland and Wade Davis put up historically great seasons. Kelvin Herrera is a fire-throwing 7th inning guy, the acquisition of Jason Frasor late last season proved to be important as well. Even a guy who pitched in the College World Series in June of 2014, Brandon Finnegan, played a major role as a strong lefty out of the pen down the stretch run.

This season Ned Yost has the core of the bullpen back, Holland, Davis, Herrera, and Frasor are ready to re-claim their roles from 2014. Rule 5 flame-thrower Jandel Gustave is slotted for a bullpen spot as well as the Royals hope to strike gold in the same way they did with Joakim Soria. Luke Hochevar is working his way back from Tommy John surgery 11 months ago. He's throwing off the mound and hopes to be ready by opening day. Hochevar was one of the best 8th inning guys in 2013 when he posted a 1.92 ERA, 82 Ks, and an opponent average of .169 in 70 1/3 innings. Hochevar, even if ready by opening day, would probably not pitch in back to back games for at least the early part of the season. Even in a limited role, Hochevar is a massive addition to an already dominant bullpen.

Here is where things get interesting, the Royals have a decision to make with Finnegan, do they continue to develop him out of the pen, or start stretching him out as a starter? I fully expect Finnegan to start the season in the minors as a starter, you don't use first-round draft picks on middle relief. Tim Collins had a hiccup in 2014, but has shown he is capable of being an effective left-handed reliever. I expect him to take the seventh spot in the bullpen to start the season.

A lot has been made of the Royals possibly going with an eight man bullpen, this could change if Hochevar starts the season in Omaha, but the idea itself makes sense in terms of the restrictions Hochevar will most likely have as well as the Royals willingness, or lack thereof, to throw Gustave in high-leverage situations. Who will emerge as that hypothetical 8th man? I think it comes down to Mike Mariot and Louis Coleman, and I think Coleman wins the spot. In 2013 Coleman had good numbers for KC out of the pen: 32 Ks, opponents hit .186, and only 6 walks in 29 2/3rd innings. Last season in 34 innings Coleman posted only 24 Ks, opponents his .291, and he walked 18. Mariot made his Major League debut last year and allowed opponents to hit .298 while walking 12 in only 25 innings. Coleman is more deceptive pitcher and the KC coaching staff knows he can be successful. I feel he'll get the first shot at filling the eighth spot in the rotation, if KC goes in that direction.

Duffy and Ventura

The five starting pitchers for KC isn't going to be question. If the Royals avoid injury, and I admit is a huge 'if", the starters will be Ventura, Duffy, Volquez, Vargas, and Guthrie, in no particular order... though I like my order.  This spring training I will be watching to see if Duffy 100% healthy, he left a game in Yankee stadium after 1 pitch in August, was slow to come back, and was pretty much non-existent in the playoffs. Is that shoulder 100%, after all of the Kyle Zimmer shoulder issues that lasted throughout the summer and fall of 2014, I'd hate to see Duffy have the same fate. There is good reason for concern with Duffy, he has had Tommy John and he's never thrown even 150 innings in one season. Getting him ready for a full-season is paramount to Kansas City's success in 2015. One positive skill that Duffy has honed is he became a pitcher last year, and not just a thrower, He posted his lowest K per 9 ever, but also his lowest walks per 9. Duffy has learned to let KC's great defense do the work for him, while at the same time, lowered the amount of stressful pitches he had to throw. For KC to make it back to the playoffs, Duffy is going to have to be a mainstay in rotation, no one wants to see anymore Aaron Brooks or (gasp!) Joe Blanton.

Ventura is a guy that everyone in baseball got to see shine in the World Series. Ventura threw 183 regular-season innings last year, the most in his career, and added 25 innings in the post-season. For someone who had never approached 140 innings in calendar year that is impressive. This spring will be Ventura's first chance to show he can be the ace. He's already the early favorite to start Opening Day for the Royals, but is he ready to be THAT guy? He's only 23 with one full season under his belt, Royals fans hope he his up for the task, mainly because who else is capable? I worry too about Ventura's longevity, he's awfully small and seemingly puts his entire being into each pitch. Maybe, I just worry too much.

Mike Moustakas

I am just really excited about spring because I know Moustakas will put up ridiculous numbers. He loves March in Arizona. The last 2 springs he's hitting a combined .409 with 9 HRs, 34 RBIs, 16 BB, and slugging over .700. Then it just all comes to a screeching halt when when April rolls around. This article is about spring training though, so I hope he puts up those ridiculous numbers again. Maybe this spring though, he will get some of his hits to the opposite field,  just a thought.

Salvador Perez

Perez had a terrible offensive 2nd half last year, mostly because his approach at the plate got worse as the season wore on. It could have been because he was getting 1 day off every two weeks, who knows? This spring, it would be great to see Perez take his time at the plate, get in hitter's counts, and attack balls actually inside the strike zone. The season ended with Perez swinging at pitches out of the strike zone, because he wanted to be the hero. It didn't help he had the game winning hit vs Oakland on a ball low and outside that he somehow pulled past Josh Donaldson at 3rd. Hopefully this off-season allow Sal some time to refine his hitting process. The Royals need Salvador to be a guy who can drive in 75 or more runs.

Alex Gordon

Alex just needs to get healthy this spring from wrist surgery. He's a veteran, the reps for him are more about timing than anything at this point of his career. Wrist and hand injuries are always scary for hitters, they often lead to decreased power numbers in many players, and the Royals don't have the luxury of having power in the first place. Just get healthy, that's all that matters.


The Royals are entering the spring of 2015 in a much different fashion than previous years. The roster doesn't have many spots up for grabs. This spring will be more about refining skills for many veterans and the younger players getting a trial run in hopes to be one of the first to be called on when KC needs a body during the summer. It may be -8 degrees this morning where I live, but at least spring has finally started somewhere. Royals fans everywhere are hoping today starts another eight and a half month journey to the World Series. After all isn't that half the fun of spring training, hope?

My first anti-Brian Kelly blog ever, hopefully the last.

The last two weeks of college football have been an absolute mess for my personal fanhood. My two schools Nebraska and Notre Dame have had their seasons crumble from promise to secondary bowl game bids at best. I am not going to talk about how bad Nebraska played because all of my friends and family told me to not even watch the DVR'ed game. What I am going to talk about is the Notre Dame/Northwestern game I witnessed first hand in Notre Dame stadium yesterday. On the surface it shouldn't surprise me, since my time as a graduate student at Notre Dame I have personally seen the Irish lose many heartbreaking games in that stadium. From overtime losses to Michigan St, Pittsburgh, and Navy, ridiculous losses to Syracuse, UConn, and Tulsa, to the "Bush-Push" vs USC. In my opinion yesterday's loss is the worst of all of those because I put it squarely on Brian Kelly. Over the years I have become a bit more realistic about my expectations for the Notre Dame football, I no longer hold on to those childhood fantasies of Notre Dame going undefeated like so many others. The fact is before the season started, everyone knew the defense was young and the players returning such as Matthais Farley were not more talented than the younger players. In fact, ND has 1 SR listed number one on the depth chart, Cody Riggs, and he's been on campus for 5 months only after transferring from Florida as a 5th year. Notre Dame has 10 underclassmen getting significant playing time, so the early season success was a mirage. The problem with the loss against Northwestern was the abysmal play-calling of Brian Kelly.

Notre Dame has 3 talented runningbacks and it has become pretty apparent that Tarean Folston is Brian Kelly's favorite. Northwestern is 71st in the NCAA in rushing defense, and 52nd against the pass, so Notre Dame obviously is going to come out running the ball.. right? Oh no let's start chucking it on 3 straight plays. Luckily ND picked up a 3rd and 10. ND ran a read option that Golson took 61 yards.. maybe that'll get them running the ball again. Nope, Notre Dame continued to throw the ball at an alarming rate. The best drive the Irish had all game was in the 2nd quarter where they ran the ball 6 consecutive plays and ended the drive with a TD pass to a wide open Will Fuller.

The complete lack of adjustments from Brian Kelly is probably where I have the biggest issue. Golson started the game 5-13 passing with an INT. In this offense that is predicated on timing routes that's pathetic, and it was clear to everyone watching that game that Golson didn't have it. In baseball, if your pitcher is getting his curveball hit all over the place after 2 innings, you sure as hell don't keep throwing curveballs. Yet Kelly kept with his "throw the ball at all costs" attitude when Folston was averaging 5 yards a carry and ND's defense struggling. I am still baffled that Greg Bryant doesn't see the field at all. I feel like he must be terrible in practice or something for Kelly to trust running the ball with Chris Brown as much as he does with a top recruit like Bryant. In the last 5 games Greg Bryant has 6 carries. I am not saying he needs 15 a game, but the fact he's getting less than 2 a game is absurd. Especially when the other running back getting any carries is Cam McDaniel who might as well be a 1980s Big Ten RB, 3 yards and cloud of rubber pellets via field turf. You know what they say about Cam McDaniel, if you need 3 yards, he'll get you 3 yards, if you need 5 yards, he'll get you 3 yards. Bryant can be the change of pace back for Folston, but he seems to be in the Brian Kelly doghouse to the demise of the offense.  If Bryant isn't your guy, then put Carlisle back there, he is a natural runningback, and it's not like anyone is throwing him the ball. He's had 8 catches in the last 9 games, and 1 TD which was on a blown coverage by ASU where no one was within 10 yards of him. At the end of the night, ND had run 40 times (including Golson none designed scrambles) and thrown 40 times, only completing 21. That run/pass number should have been more like 30/50 if the correct adjustments were made.

Then there were the "what just happened" moments from Brian Kelly. Such as running a jet sweep with Chris Brown from inside the 10, in which he was so excited he might be able to score for only the 3rd time in his career (also known as Saturday for Will Fuller) he dropped the ball and cost ND at least 3 points, with the caveat being Brindza being able to actually make a FG or a holder getting the ball correctly. You really feel like putting the ball in Chris Brown's hands on a running play is the best option? Really Brian? Then the fact Notre Dame called a timeout on an extra point up 11 (a TD, a 2 point conversion, and FG lead) to go for 2 instead of making it a 12 point game where the opponent has to score 2 TDs to have any chance, is some next level Les Miles idiocy. The fact that even in the post-game press conference he didn't really get why it was horrible makes me think someone slipped him an ambien pre-game. Seriously did Mike Greenberg get to him?

I'll finish my anti-Brian Kelly rant with this, I like Brian Kelly, I wanted Notre Dame to hire him before they did, I was sick of the Davie-Willingham-Weis era of Notre Dame football where we were hiring coaches with very little to no track record of head coaching. This is why watching that game on Saturday made me so angry, because I supported this guy through all of the problems, and there were quite a bit if you remember 2010 and 2011. I am not going to be one of these unrealistic fans that wants Brian Kelly and VanGorder fired like the miserable 55 year old next me at the game on Saturday. I just want our coaches to hold themselves just as accountable for their decision making as they do their players. This defense is young, inexperienced, and getting worn down, they are asking a lot out of so many 18-20 year olds. It's on the offense and Brian Kelly in particular to skew his game-plan around protecting that defense. If he doesn't this team will be 7-5. Go Irish. 

November 8th, 2014 Running Diary

I have absolutely nothing to do today, so I thought "It'd be fun to document today's action as it's happening in my blog." This will be updated numerous times during the day, and it might get kind of R-rated, because that's just the kind of person I am.

Noon et

I have Iowa at Minnesota on currently. Iowa takes no time at all to march down the field on the Golden Gophers and get a TD on a 3rd down run by Weisman. This is a monster game for both teams to keep pace in the West Division. However, don't tell Minnesota's #31 that, as he seems to have no interest in chiming in on this tackle.

Minnesota takes no time in counter-punching and we are tied at 7. This game is setting up to be a back and forth battle. Someone is gonna have to earn that ugly ass trophy of a pig.

Baylor going on 4th down, OU runs 2 really fat slow people off the field. If this was last year, Baylor would have been allowed to go at their pace. That was a perfect example of how this "allowed to substitute" rule has really hampered teams that play with pace. Timeout Baylor as a result.

We come back from commercial and Joey Harrington immediately annoys everyone with his commentary. WOW, then Oklahoma gets an illegal substitution... HOW?!?! It was after a timeout.

On 3rd down, Bryce Petty shit his pants and gets sacked by 5 guys at once. FG is good.. Baylor doesn't kick FGs.

Trevor Knight going airborne, and every OU fan's hearts stopped for a half a second.

And OU capitalizes with a TD. 7-3 Boomer Sooners.

Back to Minnesota, and they are knocking on the door in teh 2nd quarter to go up on Iowa. Well, nevermind they do take a 14-7 lead because somehow this is a TD, even after review.

OU gets another 3rd down TD from Knight. Baylor down 14-3 and getting pressured. Why hasn't anyone realized before now that pressuring Petty and jamming WRs is the way to go versus this offense.

Wow, absolutely great catch by Minnesota to keep the drive alive and almost into Iowa territory.

Minnesota strikes again, and Iowa is on the ropes. 21-7.

Why the hell is Ole Miss playing Prysbeterian? Get the F out of here SEC and your stupid ass Nov. non-conference cupcakes.

Great play by Baylor to get a pick and almost a #picksix as ESPN likes to put it. I think he was in, but under review. This game is going to be played in the 40s at least. If Joey Harrington wasn't the color guy for this game, I'd be loving it. Momentum swinging every which way. Call stands 1st and G for Baylor at the 1, easy TD, we got 31 points in 20 minutes. We are staring at 90!!! Keep scoring fools!

This is a Minnesota ass whooping... DID NOT SEE THIS COMING. I thought they could win, but how is this game so one-sided?

About to just keep the channel on Fox Sports 1 because Oklahoma is already in the redzone. Trevor Knight is crying for a penalty already. Dude don't run if you don't want to get hit.

Joey Harrington explaining the hard count.. because it's our first game we've ever watched.

FG is no good for Oklahoma and Baylor is looking to seize control here in the 2nd quarter, killer for Boomer Sooner.

I really hope Nebraska and Tim Beck's moron ass is taking notes on how to beat the Iowa defense.. Minnesota is killing Iowa on the edge. Now on Black Friday when Nebraska runs between the tackles 12 plays in a row, maybe people will think, "Maybe he isn't the best O-coordinator"

With that being said, Nebraska is going to have to tackle on the edges with their DBs vs this Minnesota team in 2 weeks
What the hell is up with Jerry Kill's face?

Minnesota is just taking Iowa to the woodshed... This game is becoming unwatchable. 35-7.

Oklahoma is back to playing soft on Baylor WRs... this is why Petty is just marching them down the field. Baylor's slants might as well be hand-offs, they can do this all day. 

Baylor punches it in again, 24-14, This is nowhere near over.. buckle up. 

2:12pm et

Iowa really just should walk that stupid bronze pig over to the other sideline now. 42-7. Thanks for visiting Minneapolis. 

These early games are getting ridiculous... I might as well get mentally ready for the ND v ASU at this point. If Oklahoma gives a TD here to Baylor to go down 24, you can put a nail in their coffin. 

BALL EFFING GAME Baylor

330pm et

Well the morning games sucked. Now to my main course of the day, ND at Arizona St. 

ND defense gets a stop, then has a great drive going, before the 18th blitz in a row gets to Golson, who on cue on the first drive fumbles, luckily no one seems to have seen the ball and ND gets it back. Kyle Brindza who, I swear, is better from outside 40 than he is from inside of it, nails a 45 yarder by a day and a half. 3-0 Notre Dame. I think I am going to need to start boozing now. 

I'd get excited about A&M being up 14 if I thought there was any chance it would last. 

I am going to fucking punch Spielman in the fucking face, this assclown hasn't said one nice thing about ND's defense, apparently every play they make is bad, or ASU just messed up. Buckeye homo. 

LOL Sheldon Day makes a huge stop, Spielman doesn't say a fucking word. Assclown I tell you. 

Golson is fucking headache inducing, I am sick of this shit every game, he's the reason why this offense works, but he's also the reason we have struggled more than need be in 2014.  ASU scores immediately 10-3. WAKE UP. 

asd;lkfjads;klfj adsk;lfj adslk;jljg as;ldkgjas;dl 2 straight turnovers, is Golson the worst QB in the nation? Bring in Zaire. 

Got them right where we want them... this wine is delicious at least. 

If someone doesn't block, this is game is gonna be over real soon.

Well, that first quarter was HORRIBLE. Let's hope ND decides to play real football now. 

Football is hard when your QB basically hands the other team 21 points. This is fucking pathetic for a 4th year player. Embarrassing. 

Well, at least ASU has to drive from out of their on territory this time... 

Sheldon Day is the only guy playing today, the kid is a stud. 

I am real close to watching shitty SEC game that's not Bama at LSU. FUCK MY LIFE

Odds of VanGorder killing someone: 3 to 1 right now.

Notre Dame's secondary is fucking slow, they are getting so fucking exposed, FSU didn't expose them this badly. WOW.

I will say if Notre Dame had beaten FSU, this would hurt so much fucking more.

OMFG we scored a TD. Will Fuller is a playmaker, good for him, but this game is so over it's stupid. ND needs a miracle, 2012 Pittsburgh game style.

2nd half is upcoming.. I'm so excited.. I'm so excited... I'm so scared.......

Seriously what the fuck was that ABC? some shitty fake party with a 39 year old DJ?

It's obvious ND has abandoned the run, because Cam is better in pass blocking. This is horrible.
Will Fuller is the man, he's been the man all year. The guy just understands how to be a playmaker. Love him.
\
Done with Golson, he is an absolute joke, is this 2011 again with red zone turnover tommy.

Maybe this asshole Ben Koyack could try to block someone? I don't know, seems prudent.

Notre Dame's defense has stepped up in the 2nd half, now can we do anything offensively?

I like how people were talking about how ND would adjust to the hot weather, pretty sure there have been like 8 more ASU guys dying on the field this game.

PUNCH IT IN YOU DIPSHITS

SNEAK THE FUCKING BALL!

Reach the ball out Cam, what the hell is that?

If they overturn this, I am going to break my TV.

Notre Dame is only down 10 with half a quarter left.. Golson magic one more time?? VanGorder is a genius.

This is amazing having Cam in the game to block the blitz.

OH MY GOD.  I JUST GOT LIGHT HEADED YELLING SO HARD!!!

Hey Taylor Kelly, you scared right now????

What is Redfield doing?

JUST FUCKING HEARTBREAKING.

Honestly, where was this all game? We could eat ASU's middle all day.

wow, that was pathetic.............. FUCK\

I admire ND's fight, but you can't turn the ball over like they did, they deserved to lose this.

I will say this ND fans, anyone being realistic saw 10-2 at best this season, we are too young on defense and most of our playmakers are coming back. It hurts now, but look big picture.
8pm et

Alright I haven't pulled a Brittany Maynard, let's geaux Tigers!

Boom LSU forces a punt #GeauxTigers

Oh give it to LSU. Great catch.

A Wild Card Game Fitting for a Team of Wild Cards

I haven't blogged since late July, for one I have been extremely busy, between work and traveling, but also because I was just kind of enjoying the ride the Royals were taking us on. In my season preview, I predicted the AL Central winner wouldn't top 94 wins and KC would finish 2 games behind Detroit and win a wild card. For everything about that article that was wrong, you know like saying the Royals could get 95 combined HRs from Moustakas, Gordon, Hosmer, Perez, and Butler. The entire effing team hit 95 HRs. But even after all of that, I did pretty well with the top 2 teams.

Needless to say, the 2014 roller coaster was ridiculous. I count 3 times I pretty much quit on this team: the slump in May, getting swept by Boston right after the All-Star break, and losing the first 2 at home vs Boston during the playoff stretch. Yet every time I quit on the Royals they found a way to go on a hot streak of some sort and sneak some hope back into us fans. I was watching the game in Chicago on my phone at a bar in Morristown, NJ with my girlfriend (it's cool she knows I loved the Royals first) and before the last out was recorded I didn't know how'd I react. At first I thought that what's the big deal? I have been watching these play-in Wild Card games since they started and I have never been too excited for the teams in them. It's still just game 163 and not a series. Then when Salvador Perez caught the pop foul and it was over, my mood instantly changed. It was like my entire life I was unable to appreciate the MLB playoffs because I can't remember the Royals being a part of it. I have seen countless teams celebrate, but this was something different. I felt actually proud to be a Royals fan for the first time in my adult life. I was fixated on the Royals celebration, and thank you mlb.tv premium app for carrying the entire thing. 

So comes last night, the Royals hosting an elimination game in KC for the first time since Game 7 of the 1985 World Series. My nerves were through the roof unlike anything I had experienced in my baseball loving life. For as many ups and downs Royals fans experienced over 162 games in 2014, what happened over 12 innings last night was the equivalent of doing it all being all messed up on speedballs the entire time Ken Caminiti-style. What took place last night was the most ridiculous baseball game since the David Freese walkoff to force game 7 against Josh Hamilton and the Rangers, except this was do or die for both teams. The Royals stumbling out the gate and being down early vs Jon Lester who has befuddled this team all year, but the Royals were clutch city delivering 3 2-out RBIs to take a 3-2 and James Shields seemingly settling in. Then in the top of the 6th James puts the first 2 on and... "wait the fuck is this? Yost is going to... Yordano Ventura?" Three pitches later Moss puts one in the batter's eye and KC is down 5-3.. then suddenly 7-3. #Yosted one last time. 2014 is over, and for the 4th time this year I had given up on the Royals. Lester was starting to get grounders and strikeouts. "Are Salvador's eyes even open tonight?" I thought. Then KC did what they do better than anyone else in baseball.. get fast. They stole 4 bags in the 8th on the way to a 3 run inning, almost makes you forget Perez looked horrible yet again at the plate. 7-6 in the 9th, Dyson on 2nd and he does this. Aoki sac-fly gets him home and we're playing extras. "Finnegan looks amazing!" Jason Frasor gives up the go-ahead and those of us in the eastern time zone are thinking "Shit I could have been in bed 3 innings ago, tomorrow at work is going to suck." Hosmer hits one almost out oppo, and ends up with a 1 out triple. Colon tops one into the ground and this game is tied again. "I am so glad I stayed up for this, but for the love of God win now, I really have too much to do at work tomorrow." Colon steals on a pitch-out that Norris can't catch. "Too bad Perez can't help but swing at every... OH MY GOD HE HIT IT!! WE WIN!!!!" 

Last night was something we as Royals fans have all waited for since 1985 and it didn't disappoint. No matter what happens I will always remember last night's game. I have never been more exhausted just watching a game. At certain points it was pure torture and disappointment, at others it was pure joy and happiness, not unlike the entire Royals season. If the post-season ends anything last night's game for KC, it will be forever Blue October! Go Royals.

23 Days Later

With 22 games in the next 23 days including seven against the best team in baseball, the Oakland Athletics, as well as five games in NL ballparks, it's safe to say the Royals playoff hopes rely on success in the next three-plus weeks. As we currently stand on July 29th, the Royals sit 2.5 games back of the second wild card, in a jumbled mess with the Yankees, Mariners, Cleveland, and Tampa Bay all within 5 games of the Toronto Blue Jays.

This year's 2nd wildcard chase is different than that of the past 2 years where 91 wins was the minimum to get your team in the conversation. With Oakland and the Angels of Orange County Los Angeles (whatever they are) both on pace for 100 and 97 wins respectively, and the fact that the rest of the AL outside of those two teams has been pretty much a pile of similar teams, (8 teams within 7 games of the 3rd best record in the AL) this wildcard race could come down to a "first to 88 wins" scenario.

For the Royals to get to 88 wins, they'd have to play the rest of their season at 35-23. Not exactly easy, but it's not impossible, the Rays have played 13 games over .500 since June 28th and that was with a four day all-star break thrown in there. The issue comes in when you look at who the Royals have on the upcoming schedule. The aforementioned 7 vs the A's, but there is also 3 vs the Giants, 3 at Arizona, and 2 at Colorado. Now most people would see Arizona and Colorado and think, big deal, they are bad teams. This is very true, but it's not easy for KC to go into a NL park and lose Butler's bat (assuming Hosmer is healthy) from an already below average offense.

The next three-plus weeks will most likely define the Royals faithful's plans for September. Either it will be spent on the edge of our seats at home (or hopefully at The K) with every pitch, or it'll be spent tinkering with our fantasy football lineups and checking out new fall shows on network TV. Thus making the upcoming 3 game set at home against the struggling Minnesota Twins extremely important. The Twins boast what is the worst starting pitching in MLB, the Royals get Kyle Gibson, Phil Hughes, and Kevin Correia all of whom have struggled this year. I don't like to put too much emphasis on a single series, but anything less than a sweep here seems like a disappointment. Especially going into the weekend where the Royals travel to Oakland to face Sonny Gray, Scott Kazmir, and Jesse Chavez. The worst pitcher of that group is Jesse Chavez with his 3.44 ERA and 8.5 K per 9 (better numbers than James Shields). It is imperative the Royals gain some offensive confidence against the Twins early in the week.

After the trip to Oakland, the Royals get their 1 off day of the stretch as they travel to the desert to the play the team with the worst home record in the NL, the Diamondbacks. Then KC comes home for a weekend series with the Giants (29-20 on the road currently) followed by a 4 game set with the Athletics. Those 7 games against the bay area will undoubtedly make that week the biggest home stand of the season for the Royals, provided they get through the previous 9 games without a major downswing. Then it's back on the road for 6 match ups against pitching optional Minnesota (4) and Colorado (2).

I'd love to sit here and predict what I think is going to happen, but after watching this team in 2014 one thing is clear, predictions are pointless. I cannot remember a Royals team that has endured so many peaks and valleys. In chronological order in this season already: Won 5, Lost 5, Lost 7 of 9, Won 10, Lost 7 of 9, Lost 10 of 13, Won 5. The most recent streak just ended with their loss on Sunday to the Indians. I like to think KC has the ability to turn the current roll into a won 8 of 9 after this Twins series, but they could just as easily turn it into a lose 6 of 7 by Monday. If the Royals get to the August 21st off day at 66-60 it'd be a great sign, if they are under .500 on August 21st it might be too late.