Preface: If you have read any of my posts in the past, you know I’m a Cardinal fan living in Royal land. Long about the end of September/October, people start to leave me alone, giving me guff about rooting for the wrong team, yada yada. The Royals haven’t even made the playoffs since 1985. Yes, yes, “the call” I-70 World Series. Since then, there has been little hope as far as making the post season. I will be the big girl here and admit, I have been sitting around, drinking my “Haterade” living in “Haterville” when it comes to the Royals. I didn’t think they would make the top of any division again within my lifetime. Well, times are a-changing, my friends.
Just last night, the Royals took the top spot in the AL Central. Yes, they took it away from the Tigers, in Detroit, with a pretty convincing 11-4 win over the team that really likes to spend the season at the top of their division. Then today, they won again, making it 10 straight wins over such teams as the Yankees (the Royals took 2 of 3 in Kansas City), Indians, White Sox and Tigers. The Royals have won 13 of their last 15 and have a 1.5 game lead over the Tigers in that AL Central.
How the heck has this happened?! The team who gives it the ol’ college try to not get 100 losses in a season?! Their bats. It’s all about their bats. Looking at the “heavy hitters” (pun totally intended) and who is usually in the line up for Coach Ned Yost, Here’s what we have in the last 7 games (why did I put it at 7? Because that’s the number I could find.):
Alcides Escobar-short-.458 BA with 11 hits (3 doubles) and 2 RBIs; Billy Butler-DH-.455 BA with 10 hits (2 doubles, 1 home run) and 8 RBIs; Jarrod Dyson-Centerfield-. 385 BA with 5 hits and 3 RBIs; Omar Infante-2B-.385 with 10 hits (1 home run) and 9 RBIs; Salvador Perez-Catcher-.375 with 9 hits (2 doubles and 1 home run) and 4 RBIs; Mike Moustakas-3B-.318 with 7 hits (1 double and 2 home runs) and 4 RBIs; Nori Aoki-Right-.316 with 6 hits (2 doubles); Alex Gordon-Left-.296 with 8 hits (3 doubles and 1 home run) and 3 RBIs; Lorenzo Cain-splits time in Center with Dyson-.286 with 6 hits (2 doubles) and 5 RBIs; and Eric Hosmer-1B-.269 with 7 hits (1 double and 1 home run) and 6 RBIs.
So, what does this mean to you, a Cardinals fan? It means that there may just be a pretty decent rivalry starting to heat back up. They are knocking on the door and we can hear them loud and clear.
Baseball is starting to mean something again in Kansas City, and I like it. I will always proudly wear my red around, but these guys are giving me hope that the I-70 series will begin to mean something again. I may even attend more than my usual “Cardinals are in town, so I’m going to Kauffman today” games. You know, Pujols, Freese, and the Angels will be in KC this weekend…
And, I’m totally aware that I probably just jinxed them.
As always…Go Cards!
Photo: mlb.si.com
