Although the tasty traditions may always ring true, ballparks across the country are incorporating hometown hits, BBQ in our case naturally, for new flavors and sophistication. To get the most out of the game, prepare to arrive with an empty stomach and leave with even emptier pockets.
The Star's Bob Dutton answered questions about the Royals during a web chat earlier today. Catch the replay here.
The good news, if you want to look hard enough, is that implosions like the Royals experienced Wednesday night in the fifth inning are now fairly rare. Back in say, 2006, they happened all of the time. So, if you want, you can choose to look at this 5-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles as a reminder of much of what the Royals are attempting to undo.
Are changes coming to the Royals’ lineup? Manager Ned Yost hinted as much prior to Wednesday’s game against Baltimore at Camden Yards. Possibilities include shifting left fielder Alex Gordon from first to third in the lineup and increased playing time for outfielder Jarrod Dyson (pictured) and infielder Elliot Johnson.
Matt Wieters flicked a tie-breaking double to left field in the eighth inning against Luke Hochevar that provided the winning run after Tim Collins opened the inning with a leadoff walk.
A day to reflect did nothing to change manager Ned Yost’s mind that he made the correct move Monday to summon closer Greg Holland to protect a one-run lead against the White Sox at Kauffman Stadium.
Here’s the question, the one that hung over the Royals’ 2-1 loss to the White Sox in 11 innings on Monday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium: Should Royals manager Ned Yost have stuck with starter James Shields with a 1-0 lead in the ninth inning, instead of turning the game over to closer Greg Holland?
It was a replay review with no good replay angle. That is, at least, how crew chief Vic Carapazza explained his decision on upholding a foul call to White Sox manager Robin Ventura.
Bob Dutton says it’s just speculation at this point, but Chase Utley is in his last year before free agency and, therefore, projects as a likely rent-a-player candidate if the Phillies play their way out of contention. And, yes, the Royals could use Utley. But there are considerable obstacles.
Alex Gordon hit a walk-off RBI single Sunday as the Royals rallied to beat the White Sox 6-5 in the 10th inning at Kauffman Stadium. Billy Butler hit a two-run double in the ninth inning to tie the game.
Manager says the outfielder deserves early consideration for the All-Star Game.
Sam Mellinger says that there is no great and obvious fix for the Royals' recent bullpen issues. They have the right guys in the pen -- it’s just a matter of those guys performing as well as they’re capable.
Jeremy Guthrie provided the Royals, after two days of rainouts, with a game worth waiting for Saturday night by pitching the first shutout of his career in a 2-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium.
The Royals’ best player and example of what they’re trying to do was once their worst player and example of why they never won. This is easy to forget sometimes, now that Alex Gordon is a star. The story of where the Royals have been and where they might go is also Gordon’s story.
Trevor Vance is not a meteorologist, but he suggests that when planning a future outing, it’s best to see if the Royals are playing at Kauffman Stadium.
There is a breeze going through the majors this season. It’s not the cold winds that hit Kauffman Stadium this week. It’s batters around baseball swinging and missing at a prodigious rate.
Billy Butler is a designated hitter in the truest sense of the word. That’s his role and what he does. That’s what makes this season, to this point, so difficult. Too often, Butler isn’t getting the chance to perform his designated role -- even on those days when the elements permit the Royals to play.
Royals ace James Shields (pictured) and closer Greg Holland have been a big part of the team's early success. They answered fans' questions during a web chat earlier today.
There was no attempt Friday to play through the rain at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals announced a postponement at 3 p.m. The game against the Chicago White Sox, originally scheduled at 7:10 p.m., will now be played at 1:10 p.m. Monday at Kauffman Stadium.
The Royals’ longest losing streak this season is two measly games. Two. That’s not a streak as much as it’s a coincidence. By this time last year, they’d already buried the season under a 12-game losing streak. The April before that, they lost six in a row. This is the effect of a new pitching staff for the Royals. “That’s why,” manager Ned Yost says.
