Enjoy retirement, Gene. He's basically been there ever since I started following the Yankees. As I started in 1969, when I was 4, I wasn't to aware of trainers.
I don't get that RAB theory about Brett. It makes no sense to me. Who cares how many throws he's drawing? Ricky used to draw throws like crazy. If pitchers are getting that distracted, good.
[17] From RAB comments:
I saw a video a few months back, where Ichiro was talking about his philosophy about stealing bases, and he specifically talked about his leads. He says that when he takes a huge lead, he has trouble stealing bases, because he was too focused on sliding back to first in case the pitcher tried to pick him off. He then said he is actually most comfortable stealing bases when he has a smaller lead– then he isn’t focused on sliding back to first, but more focused on getting a good jump and straight up sprinting to second/third.
[21] Maybe, but if that's what's happening, I want him to keep taking the big leads and drawing the throws. As long as he doesn't get picked off, it's a plus.
Gene Monahan has been a Yankee constant since Frank Crosetti coached third. I remember when he was "the young trainer" (the name of the head trainer at the time escapes me) trotting out in his shorts and Yankee golf shirt to spray the cold aerosol juice for every bump and scrap.
He always was praised by the players and they seemed to genuinely love him. I hope he completely regains his health and enjoys his retirement.
It seems that all connections to the Yankee teams of '50s'60s and '70s whose coaches at the time might have known Babe and Lou are fading.
I heard this cliche a lot this year especially from Charles Barkley, but Father Time IS undefeated.
[58]Really? How old is he? Think of the book of memoirs he could write..Old YS, Billy & Reggie, the crazy Stein years or revoloving managers, the dynasty..
[61] Sterling (I was driving for about twenty minutes during the game) said, he's seen everything but he'll say nothing. Suzyn agreed: "Oh, the stories that he'll never tell!"
[67] You know, I think Torre deserved a helluva lot more criticism for that book...just saying.
I use Tiger Balm on my bad back, the thought of using extra-strength balm on the family jewels..well, we knew Clemens was a bit "off"..
[82] I really didn't think they looked all that bad. A-Rod comes off as a weirdo, but a well meaning one, and lets be honest, its not like A-Rod of the mid 2000s was doing much to hide being a weirdo from the general public.
Those empty seast up front are so sad..will they ever let people move down if they're empty past the 5th inning? Really reflects poorly on Yankee management..
I notice I'm not as worried as much about Burnett with men on base these days. I know that's not really a current event, I just didn't have a chance to say that before. Done.
What changed so much in this game that we go in one inning from Mariano to ... this guy? What - because it's extra innings, who gives a shit what happens?
As bad as is this was, and it is the most painful game of the year to date by my count, at least we got to watch it together. Banter rules even when the Yanks lose.
[407] I should think the Tigers will be there in the end. They have enough pitching and the best hitter in the Major Leagues. Ordonez is not finished yet. A-Jax will improve.
Wow, Gene Monahan. He's been the trainer for my entire life. So I guess that means almost every Banterer's entire life. Wow.
Up in Toronto, Jose Iglesias starts at SS for the Sox. Scutaro hurt, Lowry has the flu.
I'll take me some Score Truck.
Doing anything for 49 years in a row is pretty hard for me to grasp. There will never be another one like Geno.
Hmmmmm.
This is not what I was expecting.
Gene Monahan. God, he's been there since I was a kid.
One more link to my childhood crumbles.
Sigh, the way of all flesh...
Forty-nine years.
Wow.
Just, wow.
He's not going for FIFTY years? That would be very cool.
It's been a very, very weird year for the Yanks. MANY surprises.
He dropped the baseball.
RAB has a very interesting post on Gardner.
I think it's correct,
http://riveraveblues.com/2011/05/are-brett-gardners-leads-too-big-47949/
Damn! ARod Jetered it.
[9] Interesting theory.
[11] Did you read what Ichiro said. I think that nails it.
How did ARod go from SOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOT to sooooooooo cold, in the blink of an eye?
Sigh...here we go...
[12] No, didn't catch that...looking...
Enjoy retirement, Gene. He's basically been there ever since I started following the Yankees. As I started in 1969, when I was 4, I wasn't to aware of trainers.
This is more like what I was expecting.
I don't get that RAB theory about Brett. It makes no sense to me. Who cares how many throws he's drawing? Ricky used to draw throws like crazy. If pitchers are getting that distracted, good.
God, that happened to Swish last night.
Another ball hitting the wall yielding only a single.
Too hard, Rob!
That's right, it did happen to Swish. Good bounce of the wall, is part of it.
[17] If pitchers are getting that distracted, good for hitters, not necessarily for runners.
[17] From RAB comments:
I saw a video a few months back, where Ichiro was talking about his philosophy about stealing bases, and he specifically talked about his leads. He says that when he takes a huge lead, he has trouble stealing bases, because he was too focused on sliding back to first in case the pitcher tried to pick him off. He then said he is actually most comfortable stealing bases when he has a smaller lead– then he isn’t focused on sliding back to first, but more focused on getting a good jump and straight up sprinting to second/third.
[21] Maybe, but if that's what's happening, I want him to keep taking the big leads and drawing the throws. As long as he doesn't get picked off, it's a plus.
Nice.
Now what happens?
[22] Possible.
But keep in mind that Ichiro is nuts.
[22] That makes a great deal of sense to me.
Poor Jorge. We need to get him a fluffer for between innings.
God, Robbie shouldn't have gone.
Damn, that was too close.
Yes!
[25] Nuts like a squirrel. Crazy like a Fox. I think Ichiro is very smart. And funny. (Ever read the story about his All-Star pre-game pep talks?)
Robinson can slide, too. Yay, Rob!
[30] Smart and nuts are compatible.
"Fuck!"
I don't know about the serifs in the comment section here.
[34] Serif? Don't like it! Rock the Casbah...
Ugh, gotta go get a kid. I'll be getting the next inning from John and Suzyn.
WHAT THE FUCK with our pitchers not PICKING UP THE BASEBALL!!!!
[36] Never ends, does it?
Man, that thing carried.
How does that skinny little guy hit that ball so hard?!?!?
But is he that much better then AJax?
Christ! He is missing everything.
God, nothing prettier than that swing. Man, Robinson Cano can swing a baseball bat.
And Melky has an absolute cannon of an arm.
Dammit. Things were going so well on the radio.
Oooh, Lackey spit the bit.
Crap.
Two singles, a walk, a homer, one run.
Why the hell is Willie Wilson in the ballpark?
Ok, that's sweet.
Good for his family.
Boom.
Their kid just hit his first homerun in Yankee Stadium.
That's really touching.
Awful lot of deep flyballs this inning.
That was a scary inning
Very cool that the kid hit a home run in his first game.
But jeez, enough with the scary flyball pitcher stuff already.
Love Curtis.
[54] Not his first game
Gene Monahan has been a Yankee constant since Frank Crosetti coached third. I remember when he was "the young trainer" (the name of the head trainer at the time escapes me) trotting out in his shorts and Yankee golf shirt to spray the cold aerosol juice for every bump and scrap.
He always was praised by the players and they seemed to genuinely love him. I hope he completely regains his health and enjoys his retirement.
It seems that all connections to the Yankee teams of '50s'60s and '70s whose coaches at the time might have known Babe and Lou are fading.
I heard this cliche a lot this year especially from Charles Barkley, but Father Time IS undefeated.
[57] He was the trainer pre-Steinbrenner. Pre-CBS!
Happy, weeping?
Hmm.
[58]Really? How old is he? Think of the book of memoirs he could write..Old YS, Billy & Reggie, the crazy Stein years or revoloving managers, the dynasty..
[61] Sterling (I was driving for about twenty minutes during the game) said, he's seen everything but he'll say nothing. Suzyn agreed: "Oh, the stories that he'll never tell!"
Fucking plays, by the way. Goddam fucking plays. Just what we need, beating the crap out of the pitcher, so for sure put on plays.
Its amazing that I really have to think long and hard about whether or not Lackey is the ugliest guy on the Red Sox.
[64] Have you ever heard him speak? It's hysterical. He sounds like a muppet.
[65] Makes sense, he acts like Ms. Piggy on the mound
[62] In the Torre/Verducci book, the story of Clemmons hot liniment pre-game ritual administered by Monahan was horrific.
Where is the score truck?
Burnett games are not fun to watch. Even when he's pitching well, not good baseball entertainment.
Also, this just in: Adrian Gonzales, very good at baseball, especially the hitting part.
Ah Melky, if only.
[67] I didn't realize that Monahan performed the "ritual."
I look forward to Farnswoth on Old Timer's Day getting bombed and walking the ballpark. He seemed a nice enough guy who didn't like the 1,2,3 innings.
[67] You know, I think Torre deserved a helluva lot more criticism for that book...just saying.
I use Tiger Balm on my bad back, the thought of using extra-strength balm on the family jewels..well, we knew Clemens was a bit "off"..
2 runs out of 6 hits + 4 walks in 4 innings? Not inspiring confidence.
Alex is going yard here.
A-Gon and Ortiz back to back solos.
Dammit.
[73] I actually thought he got way too much flak. I think the only guy that came off really badly in the book was Cashman.
[59] Ducked out there for few...what am I happy about?
Oh fuck. Yikes!
Oh my God.
Oh God...
[78] I don't think Arod and Wells were pleased either.
No way they keep him in. Why the fuck bother?
Oh no..
There's the smile. Whew.
[79] Brett bunted for a hit.
That was scary, even if Bubbles was smiling.
Oh Crap, its like a double whammy. No Cano and Nunez in he field.
[85] Oh, yeah, I caught that! It was nice. Too bad the man can't steal a base to save his life.
In slo-mo that ball just seemed to keep rising and rising..surely not intentional?
[88] Too bad Girardi insists on sending him every time anyway.
[76] RIYank, mlb.com had Jays up 4-1..are they way behind?
[82] I really didn't think they looked all that bad. A-Rod comes off as a weirdo, but a well meaning one, and lets be honest, its not like A-Rod of the mid 2000s was doing much to hide being a weirdo from the general public.
Wells is Wells.
If Gardner can't steal bases, then why is taking up a power hitter slot in the field? He's starting to get tiresome.
[91] No, still up 4-3.
Frenchy is impersonating a decent player this year.
Good Boy AJ
Eye for an eye? Frenchy was the correct one to get, but I hate it.
A.J. is losing it.
Seems like an odd time to retaliate. Up one run with the tying run already on base.
Uh-oh, the dangerous Wilson "Bones" Betemit..
Every time I see Wilson Betemit I think "Wilson Betemit, defensive replacement"
[99] Maybe Burnett is as bored by this crappy game as everyone else.
Great job getting out of it.
This is the ugliest one-hitter I've ever seen.
[101] That's funny. I think of Bibendum, the Michelin Man.
Jose Iglesias now has 3 PA. His OBP is 0. He has not reached on a FC, he has not reached on an Error. But he has scored 2 Runs.
HOW CAN THIS BE???
[106] pinch runner?
[107] Cigar!
I've never seen so many meetings at once in a baseball game.
Must. Score.
Still correct to have had Brett swing away.
Argh.
Lackey walks in a run. 5-3.
Those empty seast up front are so sad..will they ever let people move down if they're empty past the 5th inning? Really reflects poorly on Yankee management..
McDonald doubles in two more runs.
I thank the Lord that Cash never went after Lackey.
I was wrong about the Heat. The Celtics sleep with the fishes...
Lebron scored Miami's last 10 pernts. Onions.
[116] Really? Great!! I am totally pro-Heat, think it's great those guys hooked up and are going for the rings together.
Exactly, Flash. A one-hitter rings hollow with all those walks.
[117] Yeah, it was as much the Celtics choking, honestly. A pile of turnovers in the last minutes.
Lackey on the hook for nine earned runs tonight. I can't believe we don't get to face him.
[121] Well, at least we don't risk turning to stone looking at that face.
[122] Hear, hear.
John Lackey started the night with an ERA of 7.16, and he raised it.
(Now it's over 8.)
He now has three starts in which he's given up at least 8 runs... and he only has seven starts so far.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the agony and ecstasy of AJ Burnett.
Well, good AJ. Still not fun to watch.
[114] I doubt it. Not with the free food and other privileges.
That's why I like spring training and minor league games. Much less hassle.
Nice 'do, Nance!
I'm very pleased Lackey is shitting the bed. He deserves to suck.
Any Inning Guy up in the pen.
[130] No more Logan?
[131] I knew you'd be disappointed.
WE WANT BOONE.
WE WANT BOONE.
Huh.
Who needs Rob?
[132] Are those the Royals fans chanting?
Geez. Nunez batting .400.
[134] Red Sox fans.
Lackey is that bad.
[136] That's also his fielding percentage
[135] I mean
Now what happens?
Little Bingo, Russell. Let's go.
Why is it so hard to get a single?
This game has Joba blown save written all over it.
[139] That.
"Is it *that* hard, to make us look cool?"
[142] You think Joba will pitch?
This is the kind of game, where I have to agree with my wife that I am watching too much baseball. There had better be a positive outcome...
Sox lose.
Fuck, I have a bad feeling about Melky here, for some reason...
Why on earth wouldn't you want your coach to say you're going to win the Super Bowl?
What should he say? "Well, I hope we win 7 games. That would be a winner of a year!"
[146] A less diplomatic term might be "boring as shit"
[148] Soured Melky Outlook?
Don't overuse Joba.
[151] Ohhhh, god...
Oh, Dave.
Terrible.
[150] Heehee! Look who's here!
I ask this in the most heterosexual manner possible.
Does Robertson have an unusually large ass for someone with his frame?
That's more like it.
[157] The only truly heterosexual way to ask that question involves your being a woman.
Oh boy.
[153]Sorry, I'm glazed and delirious watching this game.
Oh boy.
[160] = [162]
Bad Dave, good Dave, bad Dave, good Dave.
[159] Tell me you don't notice it now
[161] :)
[165] I think pitchers tend to have big asses, actually.
{Make up own Colon joke here}
Of course.
Of fucking course.
Obviously.
Poor AJ.
What an aggravating game this is.
No, Kay, that's not what wasted AJ's performance, it's an offense that went 1-12 or whatever with RISP.
Bad Dave. :-(
Where's the atrocious Betemit that we saw in NY?
Don't walk the fucking lead off guy. God damn fucking bollocks!
Melky and Betemit Yankee Killers?
Oh mother of fuck.
Well... this is what happens when yuz guyz talk about Robertson's ass.
There ya go, Mattpat!
Was Boone Logan entering to For Whom the Bell Tolls?
[177] I stand by my statement. He's 180 pounds with child bearing hips.
Hit by pitch. Walk. Or hit?
Saw that coming.
But that looked fat, not on the corner...
Pfew.
Donde esta' el camion de runs?
Never looks easy, those pop ups for Alex, do they?
The worst part about Boone Logan is he has a good outing every once in a while that buys us another month of Boone Logan.
[167]Power comes from the legs and rump, don't it? Or is that Sumo?
185) They is coming, just late.
[180] The bulk is just his Depends he needs for the situations he puts himself in.
That was good to see. Now score some Modamn runs.
A friend of mine used to say Andy Pettitte had hips and lips like a girl.
[186] He despises pop ups.
Umm, no, Flash...trusting Brett Gardner to try to steal is not an option.
This talk of man parts must stop!
[192] Andy was just a big, thick guy. Big back, huge legs. Robertson has more of that pear shape
NO GODDAM PLAYS.
Meh!
Good LORD!!!!
God, I'm fucking SICK!
Can you believe this HORSESHIT?
yoynh uy7.bgtvf4.okp0;l'/[}
:,olpk
This team fucking sucks!
Oh, good. A play. Great.
At some point you'd think the manager would noticed THAT NO ONE ON THE FUCKING TEAM CAN BUNT.
Boooooooooooooooooooooo
Pathetic...
You have got to be kidding me.
Christ.
I'm going to go get a drink. Or three.
Whadda bunch of malarky.
I noticed that Girardi seems to favor the bunt over, let's say other options, like hit and run.
[209] He'll occasionally run the hit and run, but Jorge Posada has to be involved so its doomed to fail and we can say the hit and run doesn't work.
Uh Oh
God, that was gorgeous.
Mo, what happened to the socks??
You can really see the explosive cut from that angle...
Dyson sucks.
Mo is Dirty Deity.
[213] Probably got bored again
Well done, Team. Nice hands, Derek.
[210] Poor Posada. He has his offensive flaws. Cluelessness comes to mind.
Well... I guess we'll just have to Win this one with a HR. Fuck RISP!
Lead off hit. We're doomed.
Ok...
I notice I'm not as worried as much about Burnett with men on base these days. I know that's not really a current event, I just didn't have a chance to say that before. Done.
Being a fan is hard.
IF he can bunt...
[218] Well, and he's slow as hell and strikes out alot.
Alex missed his pitch.
ARod is pulling off every pitch.
Way to fight that shit off.
If Nunez squares to bunt I might be forced to take drastic action
Damn it.
No. No Plays. Even if Alex walks.
Lost.
oh boy...
Yeah, I'm thirty seconds behind. Damn.
I didn't see A Rod adjusting to the count in that at bat
Sigh.
[225] And of course, double plays. One can't forget those.
Well, its not a double play
This game sucks.
Pitch to hit for Swish...
Can't tell. Could have been on the transfer, sure.
Please, Yanks, end this. I gotta go to work early tomorrow.
OK... now an error and then a PB...
Up.
The.
Middle.
Short mother-humping swing, Swish.
Easy-peasy...
Jesus hell this is boring
Get a hit. Pretty please. Ferfuck's sake!
Insult to Jorge. Wow. Make 'em pay, pops.
WTF.
Talking about Posada.
Interesting.
Probably a neutral move, not particularly good, not bad. (The IBB I mean.)
Let's go piss hands!
Let's go, Jorgie...
(Umm, I'm sorry, Kay, a buck fifty-two is, by definition, an automatic out.)
Goes back to the soft stuff now...
Gotta give Kay credit, he built up this AB nicely
Man, Kay must have been the antagonist as a kid, and still, in bars: "He stepped on your new Air Jordans, you gonna take that from him?"
2-2, this is it, man....c'mon!
Agita'.
I hope Jeter retires while he still has some hair.
OHHHH, GOD!!
It'll be a breaking ball...
AAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!
Injury to insult.
Ohferfucksake
Oh God, this awful game has to continue.
Time for Makers Mark.
Can I curse now?
Oy.
Oh, Jorge. ; (
This is just a game that they seem destined to lose. Been that way all night.
Course they CAN still win. But with Soria lurking...oy.
[265] By god I wish I had some!
Oh, Jorgie.
Buddy Carlise. Sounds like a bad lounge act.
We are in trouble.
Good ole Buddy. He can give them innings, may I fall asleep long before that. Me no like this game.
[269] Well, not like they can hit anyone else, so maybe Soria will give it up.
Lead off walk. I hate Melky.
What changed so much in this game that we go in one inning from Mariano to ... this guy? What - because it's extra innings, who gives a shit what happens?
Did Nunez take an unusually long time getting to second?
Get well soon, Cano.
8-9-1 next inning, so this could go on a while
Well then
Give it away, give it away, give it away now
I really can't take losing to Francouer or Betemit.
Wow... over the head of the guy sitting in the second row..
He hit the bull.
Okay, Buddy, One...more...out, Chiefy.
Jinx
Not Frenchie, anyone but this Yokel.
I really can't believe I'm still watching this game. It's the proverbial car wreck
[287]Betemit is worse
I feel like the chances are very good Francouer fruices one
How is Failcoeur OPSing .913?
@#$@$@$@$@@$@@$#@#
Of fucking course.
I want Lance Pendleton back.
At least the game is going to fucking end
Seriously what plan is it that sees Mo one inning then this slop the next?
Fuckin Frenchy,
Funkin Kitty's grandson couldn't get it done.
Just put us out of our misery.
What a waste of an evening. Talk about giving the game away.
Calling Scranton Wilkes-Barre. Please pick up the courtesy phone.
Bugs Bunny voice..."Agony, agony, agony."
Lazy by Martin, but he's probably tired.
Soria or no Soria, I smell a walk off win.
It's hard to Win when your cleanup hitter is an automatuic out.
[301] I don't know how anybody catches an inning, let alone nine innings, four, five times a week for six months.
Walks will haunt!
(I hope.)
Ok, well I'd say that's a promising start...
Oh god. dont bunt
DON'T BUNT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No bunting, Brett...no bunting...
He SHOWED BUNT!!!!!!!!
Please dont bunt.
STOP TRYING TO FUCKING BUNT
FUCKING A HUNDRED FEET IN THE AIRRRRRR!!!!!!!
GOD, I CAN'T TAKE ITTTTTT!!!!!!!
KILL ME NOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
[313] I think I'm just exhausted, but I found this hilarious
Can you believe this shit?
Can you BELIEVE this shit?
stupidstupidstupid
I don't know. This game is confounding.
stupidstupidstupid
stupidstupidstupid
stupidstupidstupid
Is it Gardy who decided to bunt, or was that Girardi's call?
Brett is pretty good at fighting off tough pitches...why not try for the walk? Just spoil pitches until he walks you?
WHAT A SURPRISE! A weak grounder to SS!
Up to you Grandy.
Bunting on 3-1 is stupid. My Peruvian husband thought it was stupid and he's Peruvian.
C'mon, Curtis, you can do it!
323) LOL
I normally support Girardi, BUT THAT WAS A SHIT PLAY!
The guy can't find the plate.
Curtis, Curtis, Curtis!
Atta baby!
Fucking Curtis is THE MAN!
YAYAYYYYYYY, Curtisssss!!
Aw Curtis
[319] If its on his own, you make it clear that he needs to stop after the first 47 attempts.
CURTIS!!!!!!!!!!!! SUPERFLY!!!!!!!!
RISPRISPRISPRISPRISPRISP!
(Where are my meds?)
[323] Hahahah!
Oh, MAN, he missed it!
It figures Soria's the only guy we hit
Please, Joba, where are you? No more Buddy
Oh good lord, the game continues.
[295] Sigh.
Who's pitching next? Robert Goulet?
This game should be shown at Gitmo to get more information.
Teixeira was peeing.
[341] Swish!
[341] That would be quite the feat.
[342] Or play this game in Gitmo instead of water boarding.
This game is trying to do me in...
Isn't it Nova's throw day?
Where the hell did we find this guy?
JESUS.
H.
CHRIST.
[348] Colon
[346] I CONFESS, I CONFESSSSSS!
It must be somebody's throw day!!!!!!
My gameday is broken. It says Carlyle is still pitching.
Swisher to the BP!
Ned Yost, the catcher?
Frying pan... meet fire.
Chinese Water Torture
If you told me this morning that this game would be on past the Daily Show it may have ruined my day.
No pressure. Right from the dl. Lovely.
Well... at least we have only given up 10 walks.
Jesus... Buddy threw 36 pitches.
Agony...
Frenchie now this motherfucker.
I hate this.
I hate it all.
you just KNOW Melky is going to drive in a run here.
This is mind numbing.
Ohhhhhhhhhhhh
Trouble.
Back in the fourth inning, 400 years ago.
His ball IS moving a lot...
Bad feelings...
Go offspeed....
Aggggggghhhh!
Ayala's gonna balk.
Hey! Another trip to the mound. Go Figure.
[375] He did look funny before, didn't he?
Ed Rapuano looks as bored as me.
Don't throw that again.
GO OFFSPEED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SHITE.
Chazerai... Hosmer
Oh no. The Yankees are going to lose this terrible game.
[380] Indeed.
This torture is approved by Dick Cheney
Nice KC production. 4 Hits, 4 Runs.
Chazerai. Love that!
C'mon Alex
Man, leave that weak shit alone, bro.
Ya think the Yankees will be well rested for the Boston series?
Better swing for Alex, but no dice.
Hitting is a bitch. And this game fucking sucks.
Nice cut, Nunez..relax.
Four and half hours of our collective lives wasted. Shame.
Where's William?
Scrubbiest loss of the year.
It's mind blowing thinking about how many good pitching performances this offense has pissed down the tubes. Oi!
Merciful heavens, that's it.
394) Being sensible somewhere.
I think that was pretty easily the worst game of the year. Any objections?
12 hits, 3 runs. Frack that!
As bad as is this was, and it is the most painful game of the year to date by my count, at least we got to watch it together. Banter rules even when the Yanks lose.
[401] Sniff...thanks for making me feel better.
[400] Holy cow. Yanks got 12 hits, Royals got 4. But they won.
Anyone know what the deal is with Cano? Just being careful? No Concussion, I pray.
[403] Well, the Royals did get eleven walks.
[404] Girardi said they sent him to get a cat scan. Just precautionary.
[405] Yeek. That's pretty bad. But we got 8.
Jeez. Is the Central for real? Never expected to see the Royals and Indians battling for first place this year.
[407] I should think the Tigers will be there in the end. They have enough pitching and the best hitter in the Major Leagues. Ordonez is not finished yet. A-Jax will improve.