Well, let me explain.
How many of you have been to Kauffman Stadium? I know that rmt has.
It's a beautiful ballpark, and when I've been there over the years (six multi-game visits from 1998 through 2002 with the Yankees), bearing witness to awful Royals teams, I've envisioned past relevance. I could see George Brett going yard, Dan Quisenberry whipping the ball sidearmed, Willie Wilson legging out an inside-the-park home run.
Kansas City is also an underrated city, IMHO. I love the Plaza area, and Westport. I'm embarrassed to say that I still have to make it to the Negro Leagues Museum and, very close, the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum.
All of this explains why I would love, someday, for the Royals to make the playoffs again. It's not something that keeps me up at night, or anything. And it wouldn't impact my reporting, if the Royals ever became a bigger story.
I guess the best way to put it, since I've enjoyed surveying you for your favorite player, or favorite ghost, or your best game ever, is that the Royals are my favorite underdog. I think the good people of Kansas City deserve a winner, to go along with their positive memories of the '70s and '80s.
And there is hope in KC. They have a sharp general manager in Dayton Moore, and Moore made a great hire in manager Trey Hillman, who seems happy to be in his new home yesterday, prior to the Royals' victory over the Yankees.
Perhaps you have a favorite underdog. The Pirates? The Rangers? The Knicks? Please don't hesitate to share with the rest of the class.
Comments (13)
Unfortunately the good people of KC do not deserve their owner David Glass. The club waited far too long to change senior management, the board is infested with Glass family members and also spent years pocketing revenue sharing money and funds from the general fund.
Definitely go to the Conutry Club Plaza for food and Westport for jazz!
KC is a great town. Good hotels. Good restaurants. Great stadium to watch a ball game. Nice place in the summer. Clean town. Relaxing. Nice people.
At least Cashman has the excuse of signing Kyle Farnsworth after a brilliant year (2.19 ERA, 87/27 SO/BB), but what's Omar's excuse for signing Scott Schoeneweis long term? He's always been average at best, and outside of a decent short stint with the Reds in 2006, he got pulverized as a Blue Jay the year before signing.
You say that Farnsworth had a "brilliant year" in '05, baileywalk, but it ended with him blowing a five-run lead in the playoffs. I was at that game. Just brutal.
But yeah, you're right on Schoeneweis.
Yeah, Ken, I was watching that game and Farnsworth sucked a big one. But guess what? Your season isn't determined by one game. It's the entire year, and Farnsworth was brilliant -- as good as any reliever in baseball. Just look at his numbers.
He only gave up 44 hits in 70 IP. 27/87 SO/BB. 2.19 ERA. 1.14 WHIP.
And they were signing him as a setup man. Not a closer. So he would never be brought into a game early to wrap it up the way Cox used him in that game in Houston.
Farnsworth also has great stuff. Schoeneweis does not.
I think both signing were a huge mistake. Just like I think signing Hawkins when you have fifteen minor-league options is a mistake. I just don't get what Omar was thinking when he looked at Schoeneweis' track record and thought he could be an effective middle reliever.
You and I are disagreeing only by a little bit here, but I have to say, after that playoff game in '05, I thought Cashman was out of his mind to sign Farnsworth. While I'm not a big believer in "clutch play," I think Farnsworth is a guy who gets absolutely terrified in big situations, whether he's setting up or closing.
I still think I'm right on this prediction, as documented by the "High and Tight" blog:
http://highandtight.blogspot.com/2006/01/ken-davidoff-is-seer.html
During that spring training game against the Pirates, Billy Crystal originally wanted to pitch the sixth inning and call his appearance "Comic Relief", but Farnsworth had already patented the phrase.
Ken, one of my first memories as a kid is watching George Brett kill the Yankees only to lose in the playoffs.
I also remember Doug Drabek and Tim Wakefield dominate the Braves only to lose in 7.
Unfortunately until things change its doubtful we will ever see either team in the playoffs again or until they get new management. Or until they get lucky and all these prospects become great players before they turn 25.
The Royals are starting to spend money, but $55 million for Gil Meche didn't seem all that wise (though not as dumb as many think).
I share the same feelings toward the Royals -- I've always enjoyed Kauffman Stadium. It's one of the most underated stadiums in baseball.
However, I'm not a huge fan of KC, although I always made a point of hitting Arthur Bryant's for lunch when I was there. (http://www.arthurbryantsbbq.com/).
There's another steakhouse there I liked, one that had a great steak soup, but the name escapes me now.
How about Rays-Royals ALCS?
Hey Baumback get your own blog!!! Just kidding.
I like staying at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in KC and eating in the Peppercorn Duck Club upstairs in that same hotel. I don't like duck, but like lots of other things on that menu. This is a great hotel that unfortunately had tragedy strike 25+ years ago when the fourth floor walkway collapsed into the lobby/atrium and more than 100 people died. The Skies restaurant in the same hotel offers great views of the open expanse but the food is only mediocre.
Most Yankee fans moaned when the team signed Farnsworth after his 2005 post-season collapse. I know I did.
Besides the 2005 playoff game, Farnsworth also got lit up in the "Steve Bartman" game in 2003. Just the kind of performance to get Brian Cashman to open up the Yankee checkbook. Cashman has made some good moves as Yankee GM but also some real stupid ones.
Never been to KC, but the Kansas City ribs at Bluesmoke in NYC are the best I've ever had.