Kansas City Star — KC ExplorersIf you are a fan of either (or both), don’t get all excited that somebody (namely me) is going to start writing about them. I will probably touch base a few times – especially with the T-Bones since their season is longer. But, most of the reason I bring the two teams up is because part of my job is to be aware of them and there are bound to be a few interesting factoids I can pass along. Both are at interesting points in the season and both made their respective championship games last year.read more...
Kansas City Star — The Royals wasted another fine performance from a starting pitcher Thursday night _ that makes three in a row -- in a 4-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium....
Kansas City Star — •WHITE SOX FOURTH: Nix led off and homered to left. White Sox 1, Royals 0. •WHITE SOX SEVENTH: Thome led off and doubled to left. Konerko singled to right, Thome to third. Pierzynski hit into a double play, Thome scored, Konerko out. White Sox 2, Royals 0....
Kansas City Star — There is a growing belief around the Royals that the three surest attendance boosts are, in no particular order: giving away T-shirts before the game, having Zack Greinke pitch during the game or setting off fireworks after the game. Tonight, the Royals will have two of the three, with Greinke going for his 11th win of the season and a contracted pyrotechnics company setting off the biggest fireworks show of the season to help celebrate Independence Day....
Kansas City Star — Don’t look for catcher Miguel Olivo to surrender playing time, at least initially, when John Buck rejoins the Royals from the disabled list. Olivo took advantage of regular playing time in June to produce one of the best months of his career — batting .295 with club-leading totals of eight homers and 17 RBIs. His .692 slugging percentage was the highest among any American League player with at least 30 at-bats....
Kansas City Star — One thing you can say about these Royals: They are reliable. I went out Thursday night with the tentative idea of writing about the remarkably bad base running they have exhibited this year. And it has been legendarily bad. But here’s the thing about choosing a column topic before the game — the game has a knack of killing early ideas. I mean: If you go out to write about how well a team is pitching, the starter probably will give up nine runs. If you go out to write about how well a team is fielding, they’ll make three errors. It’s just how things work....
Kansas City Star — More of the same. The Royals wasted another fine performance from a starting pitcher Thursday night — that makes three in a row — in a 4-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium....
Kansas City Star — Don't look for catcher Miguel Olivo to surrender playing time, at least initially, when John Buck rejoins the Royals from the disabled list....
Kansas City Star — CF PreviewAs I mentioned in my What’s coming up? post, I purchased four major college preseason football publications: Athlon, Sporting News, Phil Steel and Lindy’s. Even though I feel like I put out a lot of material, I’m just amazed at how much is involved in these previews. Of course, for all I know, they have 50 people doing it. In any event, there is no way I can compete by virtue of my own analysis, but what I can do is to take what they have done and analyze that.read more...
Kansas City Star — •TWINS SECOND: Cuddyer led off and homered to left. Twins 1, Royals 0. •TWINS THIRD: With one out, Mauer singled to center. Morneau grounded out to pitcher, Mauer to second. Cuddyer walked. Crede safe at first on Callaspo’s error, Mauer scored. Twins 2, Royals 0....