How about those Royals?!?
 

Nobody expected them to be where they are and everyone expects them to fall apart, but for being near the halfway point of the season, they are playing damn good baseball.

Mike Sweeney.
And that young closer guy.

I don't know to much about the Royals, I must admit. I am really happy that Tony Pena, one of the good guys, has his team in contention.

I do know the Royals are right now beating my Indians, 3-1 in the seventh.

WOO HOO!! Royals beat the Indians (apologies, gov) and the Twins lose to the White Sox. Royals are back in FIRST place in AL Central. This is the first time they've been in 1st this late in the season for a loooooooooong time.

http://tfproject.org/tfp/showthread....ghlight=Royals

Well, you can check out this thread I started about 2 weeks into the season and see how I feel about the Royals. But, I still believe that because they play in what may be the weakest division in baseball combined with the unbalanced schedule they may be able to finish in first place. A couple of games over .500 may be all that is needed to take that division. But will they resist the temptation to trade Beltran if someon comes calling with a deal? Who knows? That's why they play the games, right?

I agree, Jadey. Since the AL Central is without question the weakest division in baseball, they do have a shot this year. I must admit, though, I'm suprised they are still doing so well since this was supposed to be a rebuilding year.

They've continued to play well even in the absence of key players such as Beltran, Sweeney and 2 of their starters.

What's up with that? I as a KC native and longtime fan and having trouble believing the Royals are playing well....Crazy!

I was in KC this weekend and tried to go to the game on Saturday. We "TRIED", becuase it was sold out. WE heard them announce on the TV broadcast at the bar we were watching it at that it was the largest non opening day crowd since 1989. Figures! We couldn't even find scalpers with tickets.

Indians swept the Royals last night in a Doubleheader...Go Tribe!

Jadey, the game on Sat. was crazy. I was lucky enough to go both Fri. and Sat. We got the Sat. tickets about 2 months ago and I traded some unused field box season tickets for them. When you do that, you get best available at your price point or lower, and we were in the upper deck.

What was really crazy about that game was that I think there were more Cardinal fans there than Royals fans. My theory is that all those Cardinal fans bought tickets early on before everyone knew the Royals were a contender and they wanted to come over and rub it in that they are so much better. Even though they took 2/3 here in KC, we took 2/3 in STL, so at least we split the series.

We did look horrible yesterday vs. the tribe, though. 4 2-run homers in game 2?!? Geez.

I'm glad to see them doing well. I remember as a kid running around with one of those little plastic batting helmets on with the KC logo.

Sen, as we were driving away from the stadium we could tell ther were a lot of Cards fans because we just saw the stands filled with red. I knew it was goign to be an awesome game after hearing the crowd goign nuts in the first inning after Edmonds and Rolen homered.

Here we are at the break and the Royals have a 7 game lead in the Central!! If you would have told me at the beginning of the year that the Royals would only be 7 games out of first place, I wouldn't have believed you.

The Royals are undoubtedly the story of the season so far. Congratulations on proving that it doesn't always take money to win. It takes guts, dedication, teamwork, and the rest of your division to be playing sub-.500 baseball :)

Seriously, great job so far, see you in the playoffs...

-Mikey

lets see if they can do better then last years team out of the central

I'm hoping they are this year's Angels. Definitely the underdogs in the playoffs, except they should be division champions.

Or, the 1990 Reds, nobody gave them a chance either coming out of the '89 season.

By the way, we just took 3/4 from Seattle and really should have swept them. We lost game 2 w/ 2 outs in the top of the 9th. We had a 2 run lead going into the 9th and couldn't hold.

They sure blew today's game. I blame the umps and the shrinking strike zone for last night's fiasco.

I hope this is not the start of their decline back into mediocirty, i'm hoping this team is this years version of the angels.

Gotta agree with ya there. I grew up with Rojas, Brett, Patek, White, Otis. I'm miss the glory days of KC Baseball...hope this season ushers it right back in.

Yep, if only they would bring back the good old powder blue jerseys. And don't forget the best closer in baseball during those glory days: Dan Quissenberry(Sp?)

Mark Gubicza. Not all that great of a pitcher (132-136) but a fun name to say.

-Mikey

Gotta love the Quiz. He was my fav. pitcher growing up.

I think we'll get through this and win the division. We should have swept Seattle, that was a tough loss. Furthermore, even though Oakland swept the 2 game set, we still played .500 ball versus 2 of the best teams in the AL.

Gametime in about 90 minutes. Here's hoping Affeldt can keep the fastball down, and keep that blister from coming up. I want another flag on the left field hill!

Damn, I always hit submit too fast. On the subject of old time Royals pitchers, how about Steve Busby? Gubizca was a performer. The Quiz was incredible. Larry Gura was also an excellent reliever back in the day.

WOO HOO!!! We continued domination of the AL Central tonight by kicking the Twins ass! 30-9 in the Central...not too shabby.

Royals go yard 5 times, Beltran 3 for 4 with a walk and a SB. Another at noon tomorrow, then it's off to baseball hell at Comerica Park in Detroit. Come the Monday off day, I hope you can post that we're 34-9 in the Central, and here's hoping that them damn ChiSox get off that streak!

The Royals still sit atop the AL Central, with 51 games to play. They've got a rubber game tonight at the ChiSox, and don't meet them again until the end of Sept. The Royals play these final 51 games against the Tigers, the Rangers, The Angels, The Indians, The Devil Rays, The Twins, the Yanks, and the ChiSox. Only the Yanks and ChiSox are a threat to KC. The Sox, on the other hand, still have games left against, the Yankees, the Red Sox, and the Blue Jays, as well as Cleveland and Minnesota, who haven't been exactly easy for Chicago this season. With the Royals leaving Chicago tonight at a minimum of a full game lead in the Central, I ponder this: With the difference in schedule, advantage Royals, can the Royals control first place and win the AL Central?

I sure hope they can hold on. I do think they will probably fall out of first by a game or 2 at least once, since they only have a .5 game lead on the ChiSox now. However, with the easier schedule that KC has, I hope they can pull it out. It will be tough, though, with the injuries to Sweeney, Lima and now Tucker. Hopefully Appier will pitch tonight like he has something to prove.

Well the fact they have trouble holding the lead against a team like TB (though they HAVE been playing damn good lately lol) is disturbing. The Angels are a tough team for them to beat - they lost every game cept one to them this year and of course there are the smaller teams who every win against them can easily spoil their chances.

White Sox now in first place.

That lasted all of about 22 hours.....

I think we'll see the Royals in post season play. Maybe not the division championship but at least the wild card game

I don't think they have a shot at the wild card w/ Boston, Oakland, etc...They'll have to win the division.

Last night was one of the most electrifying games I've ever been too. 40,400 fans and beating the Yankees 12-9!! It was unbelievable. Not only did we win, but we tied the AL record for doubles in a game w/ 11 and the game tied the MLB record for most extra base hits w/ 23 and 19 total doubles. (or something like that)

Regardless, we are now 1.5 games in first place and flying high after beating the Yanks w/ our injury ridden roster.

Here are some of the signs people were holding up at the game:

"Yankees payroll: $180 Million
Royals payroll: $40 Million
Royals beating the Yankees in the ALCS: Priceless"

"It takes $180 Million to BUY a penant, but it takes HEART to WIN one! We Believe!"

Even if the Royals don't make the playoffs--and I'm certainly not convinced that they will--they've already acheived a minor miracle. They have the fans BELIEVING that they could make the playoffs.

Before the season, that would have been laughable. It's still an insane thought. I can name more players from the starting lineup from the 1978 team than the current roster (Please don't start listing thier lineup).

They are an amazing story. I hope they hold on.

I also hope the Cubs win the World Series.

Isn't hope wonderful??

Absolutely, Joey. I'm also a big Cubs fan. How about a Royals/Cubs World Series? That would be awesome. Of course I would have to root for KC.

Tonight we layed an 11-0 ass kicking on the Yankees to take 2 out of 3 in the series. Now if only the Twins and ChiSox would lose, that would complete the evening. As I write this, Minnesota and Cleveland are still tied at 0-0 in the 13th, and ChiSox and Angels are tied 1-1 in the 7th.