Good luck tonight.

I love Art Stewart. Love him.

Because he has the luxury of using three starters out of the pen?

Oh, by the way, gblowfish, I don't think that OP for this game given the circumstances could be topped.

Fantastic way to get everyone together and even more fired up for the game!

Everybody expect the crowd to chant "LESSSSS-ter! LESSSSS-ter!" tonight the way the Pirates' fans did to Johnny Cueto?

What is the line up!??!

I recently read a feature piece on the back-stories on 20 of the more odd / puzzling American Professional Sports Franchise Logos.

By far the coolest explanation and the logo's meaning was the Trailblazers, but it also detailed the A's White Elephant logo.

For anyone who is a fan of amusing trivia and whatnot, and interested, it's here below.

John McGraw & the White Elephants
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http://phillysportshistory.com/wp-co...Picture-31.png [/IMG]


When the A’s joined the American League in its first year of existence in 1901, team owner Benjamin Shibe wasted little time in offering exorbitant contracts to star National Leaguers, in effect raiding them of their talent.

John McGraw, who had managed the Orioles in the AL but flipped over to the Giants of the National League, was disgusted by Shibe’s actions, but thought that spending so much money was going to tank the team.

And so, while speaking to a reporter in 1902, McGraw stated that Shibe had a “big white elephant” on his hands. The term, popular back then, described something that looked nice but whose upkeep made it impossible to take care of.

Connie Mack heard what McGraw had said and showing that he had an outstanding sense of humor, ordered all Athletic’s gear to carry a white elephant on it. (You can see it below on Chief Bender’s sweater. He’s talking to the Giants Chief Meyer earlier in the 1911 Series.)


By the time the 1905 World Series came around, it was obvious that the A’s were a profitable franchise. And so, in playing a practical joke on McGraw, before Game 1 of the Series, McGraw was given a statue of a white elephant (above) at Columbia Park in Philadelphia (The Park was located at 29th and Cecil B. Moore).

According to the book John McGraw, the surly manager hammed it up this time, as he “doffed his cap and made a deep bow to the hooting spectators

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http://phillysportshistory.com/wp-co...Picture-23.png
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There will be at least one guy doing it.

I can't ****ing concentrate on work today...

Welcome to my last month, brother.

Go Royals!!!!!!

There is a "Take The Crown" TV special on KCTV 5 today at 5:30 central time. Just an FYI

Here's our wild card game roster

No. Pitchers (9)

17 Wade Davis
41 Danny Duffy
27 Brandon Finnegan
54 Jason Frasor
11 Jeremy Guthrie
40 Kelvin Herrera
56 Greg Holland
33 James Shields
30 Yordano Ventura

No. Catchers (2)

19 Erik Kratz
13 Salvador Perez

No. Infielders (7)

16 Billy Butler
24 Christian Colon
2 Alcides Escobar
35 Eric Hosmer
14 Omar Infante
8 Mike Moustakas
12 Jayson Nix

No. Outfielders (7)

23 Nori Aoki
6 Lorenzo Cain
1 Jarrod Dyson
4 Alex Gordon
0 Terrance Gore
18 Raul Ibanez
7 Josh Willingham

I understand we probably wanted at least 8 pitchers, but why 9? I know we need options for if its a close game vs if we are winning a hilarious blowout, and we need arms in case its a long extra innings game, and options if Shields got hurt early, but why do we need Duffy, Ventura, and Guthrie?

I would have gone with 8 and added Giavotella.

We have to win this game to night guys this means so much to all of the fans but this game is the most important in 29 years.

We have to win this game.

Lineups are out for KC. Going with standard fare of recent games.

Escober, Aoki, Cain, Hosmer, Butler, Gordon, Salvy, Infante, Moose.

Guthrie to go long for potential extras. Duffy and Ventura in relief only.

Pretty cool road to the post season Royals piece on MLB Network just now.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>If I&#39;m the Royals, the first batter to reach first base is taking a huge lead. Jon Lester has not attempted a pickoff in 2014. Not once.</p>&mdash; Jon Roegele (@MLBPlayerAnalys) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBPlayerAnalys/status/516973643109105664">September 30, 2014</a></blockquote>
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I would switch Hos and Gordo

Not a baseball fan really but have to say Go Royals.

From Joe Posnanski's Facebook:

-- Once asked Dan Quisenberry if he missed the cheers. He said, 'Nah, I just go to the ballpark, listen to the cheers and I pretend they're for me."

-- Once heard George Brett explain that the only way to hit a home run is to try not to hit one. Royals zen!

-- Once heard John Mayberry explain his strategy for catching those tricky foul pop-ups. He would look up at the sky, gather himself, and yell at the top of his lungs, "FRANK! FRANK! FRANK!" Then Frank White would catch them.

-- Once heard Jim Sundberg say what it was like catching a young Bret Saberhagen. He said, "It was like holding up the canvas for Picasso."

-- Once heard pitcher Al Fitzmorris recount a mound conversation he had with John Mayberry on one of those impossibly hot Kansas City days, when the air was 100 degrees and the turf 120 and the players would soak their feet (spikes and all) in ice buckets between innings. Fitzmorris got in some trouble, and Mayberry wandered over from first base to settle him down. "If you don't throw strikes," Mayberry said as sweat poured off his face. "I'm going to kill you."

-- Once heard Hal McRae's response when the Yankees Cliff Johnson challenge him to a fight before a Yankees-Royals playoff game. The teams despised each other, and the series had been one collision after another, and before the game McRae and Johnson got into an argument, and finally Johnson said, "Let's settle this under the stands." McRae said: "Cliff, I don't fight extra men."

-- Once heard Brett's words to Texas' ferocious Willie Horton when, during a brawl, Brett had unwittingly torn Horton's jacket off. Horton turned to see Brett holding the tattered remains of the jacket, and Brett saw the fire in this big man's eyes, and he said, simply, "Here's your jacket Mr. Horton."

"Next thing," Brett said. "I was looking up at the sky."

-- Once heard Frank White define the best Royals teams this way: "Ninth inning, two outs, game on the line, you had eight fielders on the team and every one of them was thinking the same thing: Hit it to me."

The Kansas City Royals in the playoffs for the first time since 1985. Enjoy this moment Kansas City. And, yes, hope for more.

Holy shit. I just realized it. Today has been 16 years since the Quiz passed.

damn!

Only problem is, you have to get on base to run on his ass....

And "29" was his number.

5 hours.

Man.... it gotta be a sign.

Awesome! Got a laugh from that one.

I kind of wish Colon was starting over Moose, but that seems silly to complain about right now.

In Ned I trust.

Haven't been able to think about anything but the game all day.
It's been a hell of a ride, don't want it to be over yet that's for sure.

T-minus 4 hours.

http://www.athleticsnation.com/2014/...and-on-tuesday

Geovany Soto. That cat's weird. After every pitch he reaches down in front of him an rubs his right hand in the dirt.

I've never been more nervous in my entire life.

I should also point out that on this day, 22 years ago, George Brett got his 3,000th hit.

There's only ONE thing I've been more excited about arriving...




















....and that's a signed 8x10" from Christian Okoye.

It just doesn't make sense to start a rookie 2nd baseman today...

I understand the Moose's splits...but it's not like an inexperienced, non-third baseman righty really increases our chances offensively to risk not having Moose defensively...especially after seeing very sketchy results in limited action from Colon at 3B

Seriously. I just had diarrhea. Seriously. It's that bad.

The Royals didn't make it to the post season via clutch hitting.

Moustakas is the best defensive third baseman on the roster.

Better ****ing show up in front of the big crowd.

Hope the crowd is ape shit. I honestly believe they could get Lester off his game a bit.

I hear they are going for a decibel record tonite

LET's GO ROYALS!! Lester's due to lose!.! :clap: :thumb:

Oh, and kick ass OP!

He's a defending champion...doubt he gets rattled very easily.

2-1 Royals

I get that Lester is good but the last two times we faced him we got three runs off of him in each game. I have a feeling we will do even better than that tonight. I am super nervous but I am also very confident we win with a score of something like 4-1 or 5-2.

I am unusually confident about tonight's game.

I think it's gas

James just needs to get out of the first inning unscathed and then I'll breathe easy

Definitely. Regardless of how he does early he always seems to lock down after that so if he gets out of the first two clean it could be a very good pitching night for us.

From Royals Review:

Here's how the A's lineup:

CF Coco Crisp (S)

LF Sam Fuld (L)

3B Josh Donaldson

DH Brandon Moss (L)

RF Josh Reddick (L)

SS Jed Lowrie (S)

1B Stephen Vogt (L)


C Geovany Soto

2B Eric Sogard (L)

Interesting they are sitting slugger Adam Dunn. Sam Fuld gets the start in left-field and Brandon Moss replaces Dunn at DH, perhaps with the A's looking to improve their defense in what should be a low-scoring game. Geovany Soto gets the start at catcher as Derek Norris struggles with a sore shoulder, and Norris has had issues throwing out runners this year. Stephen Vogt is hitting .100/.211/.100 in 50 plate appearances since August 25, so its interesting they're trying to get his bat in the lineup against James Shields.

The Royals go with pretty much their regular starting lineup the last few weeks:

SS Alcides Esocbar

RF Nori Aoki (L)

CF Lorenzo Cain

1B Eric Hosmer (L)

DH Billy Butler

LF Alex Gordon (L)

C Salvador Perez

2B Omar Infante

3B Mike Moustakas (L)

Moose gets the start against the left-handed Jon Lester because Ned says Moose has been swinging the bat better against lefties.


In the last 28 days, Moustakas is hitting just .234/.277/.286. Can't imagine he is hitting LHPs any better.
— Joshua Ward (@JoshuaKWard) September 30, 2014


Okay, whatever.

We're five hours from game time. I can barely sit still. I can't imagine what the guys in that clubhouse are thinking.

Lineups
Royals
1. Alcides Escobar, SS
2. Nori Aoki, RF
3. Lorenzo Cain, CF
4. Eric Hosmer, 1B
5. Billy Butler, DH
6. Alex Gordon, LF
7. Salvador Perez, C
8. Omar Infante, 2B
9. Mike Moustakas, 3B

A's
1. Coco Crisp, CF
2. Sam Fuld, LF
3. Josh Donaldson, 3B
4. Brandon Moss, DH
5. Josh Reddick, RF
6. Jed Lowrie, SS
7. Stephen Vogt, 1B
8. Geovany Soto, C
9. Eric Sogard, 2B

The A's have been as inept offensively as we have since the AS break

Buster Olney said on 810 this morning that Brandon Moss needs hip surgery after the season and Josh Donaldson is battling a knee injury right now too.

My erection has lasted far longer than 4 hours.

Just about 3 hours away now.

I agree. But this could be a very different environment.

A 29-year-old virgin is about to uncork on him, so the results could be, um, unsettling. Never know...

After a 29 year drought since a championship, we're basically beginning the playoffs with a game 7.

There's one more. On this day 45 years ago, my Dad passed away.

So.. C'mon Royals guys. Win it tonight.

I love it.

Royals have a 3 game playoff winning streak heading into tonight. :)

I'm getting ready to head down there... I'm ****ing nervous, so you know the Boys in Blue are, as well. Hope they get it under wraps.

Lets ****ing do this

:toast:

Blessings man!

LMAO

I'm so glad you're in this thread Deez. You're the Hamas Jenkins of the Royals contingent on here.

Dangerous when pissed, hilarious when excited.

Damn right we do. And the last of those playoff victories came over a guy who owned us. Dave Stieb. Sunny singled in Sheridan. Sheridan homers. And Sunny hits that wind blown triple off the RF fence.

Yes, with that line up it is possible Hosmer would get one more at bat than Gordon, and, you never want that.

I'm just relieved that Ned is now protected from having the "feeling" of putting Crow in this game. I'm as eligible (and possibly as effective) as that brokedick.

LMAO

I hope we come out composed. Last thing I want to see is the young guys shit their pants.

Time for my rant.

I'm so excited. I called my dad, who used to take me to games when I was under 10 years old. He told me how excited he was for the Royals. I asked him where he'd be watching the game from, and he just said "Watch it? Are you kidding me? I'm too nervous to do that. I'm going to watch something mellow and check the score or I might stroke out."

I love that guy.

But seriously, tonight is the night we take center stage and, in front of the whole nation and baseball world, announce our arrival on the stage of relevance. That here, on Tuesday, September 30th, 2014, the Kansas City Royals are back and ready to shove shit all over this league.

And Oakland's just the beginning. After we take out the dumpster trash, we're gonna hop on a jet plane and in front of my own two eyes, beat the everlasting shit out of the mentally weak Los Angeles Angels of Fullertonbreairvinetustinorangecountysealbeachbuenaparklongbeachyorbalinda. And we're gonna shove them HARD.

This fapfest isn't ending until we're taking group pisses on that rotted garbage field called Dodgers Stadium at the end of this month.

Royals Baseball: The Thrill of It All, Part Deux.

Had a short day at work today. Not sure that's a good thing as now I will just sit around and nervously wait.

I can't imagine Yost doing this, but it needs to be here

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/yX39J_YyKbs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

OK boys... It's time to go in.

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14...f4ad91848f.jpg

Booze helps

Having a pre game drink to calm the nerves.

**** YES LET'S DO THIS THING.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Front of today&#39;s special Royals section in KC Star. Yes, they seem ready here <a href="http://t.co/LgUv8YVQYp">pic.twitter.com/LgUv8YVQYp</a></p>&mdash; Erik Boland (@eboland11) <a href="https://twitter.com/eboland11/status/517072720845373440">September 30, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

2 HOURS LADIES

2 hours left, I'm gonna have a stroke before it even starts

I'm just asking that we please win this game. We can get swept in the next series (ok, maybe that's not ok), if we can just win this one. I want to experience a multi-game series in the playoffs.

GOOD LUCK, KIDDOS!!! Take 'em to the woodshed! :rockon:

Kinda freaking out guys...can I not get mlb.tv for the postseason?????