Who needs football? Full day of baseball today

[malkusm]

Time to scout the opposition!

Tigers at Royals - 1:05

Phillies at A's - 4:05

OK, I'm still watching the O's at 7 though. I'm not subjecting myself to Mariners at Astros :laughlol:

[OFFNY]

o

DETROIT TIGERS

Ian Kinsler - 2B

Torii Hunter - RF

Miguel Cabrera - 1B

Victor Martinez - DH

J.D. Martinez - LF

Nick Castellanos - 3B

Eugenio Suarez - SS

Bryan Holaday - C

Rajai Davis - CF

Maxwell M. Scherzer - RHP (16-5, 3.26 ERA)

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

Alcides Escobar - SS

Nori Aoki - RF

Josh Willingham - DH

Alex Gordon - LF

Salvador Perez - C

Eric Hosmer - 1B

Omar Infante - 2B

Mike Moustakas - 3B

Jarrod Dyson - CF

"Big Game" James Shields -RHP (14-7, 3.15 ERA)

http://www.baseballpress.com/lineups

[malkusm]

Pulling for KC. I think we match up better with them in the playoffs. Particularly, I think Gonzalez and Norris match up really well against them pitching-wise, and I don't want to gamble against Price/Scherzer/Verlander picking up their game in a short playoff series.

KC's bullpen is downright scary, but then again, Yost doesn't know how to manage a bullpen nearly as well as Buck does.

[malkusm]

Ned Yost's bunt decisions have been terrible...I will elaborate later but geez

[malkusm]

Kinsler is a terrible defensive 2B. He's personally responsible for both KC runs so far

[notyourbuddy]

Dude didn't retouch 3B. So bad.

[malkusm]

...Actually, looks like he's bailed out by a baserunning mistake. Still tied.

[notyourbuddy]

More incompetent: Kinsler, the runner on third, or these godawful umps? This should have been overturned like 10 minutes ago.

[malkusm]

I think the confusion lies in the fact that an out was never recorded on the field (in other words, the Tigers never threw to 3B to appeal nor tagged Perez at home or thereafter). The umpires probably hesitated on that point, though isn't there a rule about leaving the field of play as a baserunner?

[malkusm]

OK never mind, the Tigers did appeal. I agree, umps should have overturned that in about 20 seconds.

[weams]

Kansas City does not want to go to the playoffs.

[malkusm]

Shields was clearly out of rhythm there, and yet, not only did they fail to relieve him, the pitching coach didn't come out to visit, neither did the catcher.

[JR Oriole]

Poor KC is going to miss the playoffs outright.....they have been awful against Detroit this year and are losing again today.....big brother showing little brother that they aren't quite ready yet.

Going to come down to Oakland, Seattle, and New York for 2 wild card spots (I don't count Cleveland). The Blue Jays are basically useless now, but they have 4 games at home against Seattle and if they win 3 of the 4, then that opens things up for the others.

[malkusm]

I think it's Oakland and Seattle for the Wild Card game. A riveting* 2-1 duel between King Felix and Lester

* - If you enjoy offensive futility

[malkusm]

If you're going to bunt with guys on 2B early in the game with Aoki at the plate and Willingham behind him, why wouldn't you bunt with Dyson up and a man on 1B with a 3 for 3 Escobar behind him? Makes zero sense