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A memorable World Series sweep, plus other Fall Classic notes

October 23, 2014, 9:26am

Watching the World Series from Kansas City, I thought of a friend from high school whose story has to be told. John Martin grew up on a farm outside of Bryant in eastern South Dakota, near my hometown. He had bushy dark hair with thick eyebrows and a crooked smile. He had a bear-trap handshake, molded from years of never-ending chores. He loved sports, especially baseball, but it was easy to see that his best sport was football. John often joked about his baseball ability, but that never...

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Answering questions about the Giants-Royals World Series

October 20, 2014, 9:00am

Nationals Orioles

Answering questions about the Giants-Royals World Series

The World Series opens Tuesday in Kansas City with two wild card teams, the Royals and Giants, playing for the title. Wasn't the new one-game wild card format supposed to make it tougher for a second-place team to make it to the World Series? The Royals, who have won eight consecutive games in this postseason, are playing in their first World Series since 1985, the year they beat the Cardinals. The Giants are in their third World Series in five seasons after beating the Rangers in 2010 and the...

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Recipe of aggressive play has served Royals well in ALCS

October 13, 2014, 5:06am

Nationals Orioles

Recipe of aggressive play has served Royals well in ALCS

After watching the Kansas City Royals take a 2-0 lead in the American League Championship Series, there's one question that's gone unanswered: How did this team go 6-13 versus Detroit and lose the American League Central? "We're playing our best baseball,'' Royals manager Ned Yost says. The Orioles know. The Royals, who have won six consecutive postseason games, will try to move a win closer to win the American League pennant when they host Game 3 of the American League Championship...

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Yost, Cain on Royals taking 2-0 lead in ALCS

October 11, 2014, 5:20pm

Orioles

Yost, Cain on Royals taking 2-0 lead in ALCS

While the Royals didn't predict it, they didn't rule out the notion of leaving Camden Yards with a two games to none lead in the American League Championship Series with three games in front of their home fans waiting. Outfielder Lorenzo Cain had a ton to do with the latest victory, going 4-for-5 with two runs, an RBI and two spectacular catches - one of which robbed J.J. Hardy of extra bases to start the sixth. Along with showing his impressive range and glove, Cain is batting .750 with two...

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Opposite dugout: Royals ride pitching, speed, defense into ALCS

October 10, 2014, 12:25pm

Orioles

Opposite dugout: Royals ride pitching, speed, defense into ALCS

Manager: Ned Yost, fifth year Record: 89-73 ALDS result: 3-0 over Angels Postseason stats: 1B Eric Hosmer (.500/.632/1.143, 2 HR, 5 RBIs, 5 R); 3B Mike Moustakas (.286/.333/.714, 2 HR, 2 RBIs); LHP Jason Vargas (0-0, 3.00 ERA, 0.67 WHIP); RHP James Shields (1-0, 4.91 ERA, 1.36 WHIP) Season series vs. O's: 4-3, 26 runs scored, 18 runs allowed Pitching probables Game 1, Oct. 10: James Shields vs. Chris Tillman, 8 p.m., TBS Game 2, Oct. 11: Yordano Ventura vs. Wei-Yin Chen/Bud Norris, 4 p.m.,...

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Matusz added to ALCS roster (with K.C. roster)

October 10, 2014, 6:59am

Orioles

Matusz added to ALCS roster (with K.C. roster)

Orioles manager Buck Showalter made a small adjustment to his roster for the American League Championship Series. Showalter is keeping 11 pitchers. The only change is the addition of left-hander Brian Matusz and the removal of right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez. Left-hander T.J. McFarland has been excluded again, with Showalter choosing to add only one southpaw to his bullpen. The position players remain the same. Jimmy Paredes and Kelly Johnson stay on the roster. Infielders/Outfielders (12) Cruz,...

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Jeremy Guthrie could see O's building a winner, plus other Royals notes

October 09, 2014, 10:26am

Orioles

Jeremy Guthrie could see O's building a winner, plus other Royals notes

Former Orioles pitcher Jeremy Guthrie never got to play on a winning team in Baltimore. He missed it by one year. His last season was 2011 and the Orioles returned to the playoffs the following season. Back at Camden Yards today with the Kansas City Royals, Guthrie said he could sense something good was coming for the Orioles, even though he was not around to see it to completion. "Yeah, I always said that and there weren't many people that agreed," Guthrie said during a Royals interview...

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Checking in with a Kansas City reporter for a scouting report and a bullpen comparison

October 08, 2014, 4:46pm

Orioles

Checking in with a Kansas City reporter for a scouting report and a bullpen comparison

From 1969 to 1980, the Orioles and Kansas City Royals were well represented in the American League Championship Series. One of those two teams played in the ALCS in 10 of those 12 years, with the Orioles playing six times and the Royals four. But they never played each other, as they will starting tomorrow night in Baltimore. I had a chance to get a Royals scouting report from Josh Vernier, the Royals insider for flagship radio station KCSP-AM/610 Sports Radio, who also reports for FOX Sports...

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An early look at the Orioles-Royals matchup in the ALCS

October 06, 2014, 8:53am

Orioles

When the Orioles open the American League Championship Series Friday night at home versus the Kansas City Royals, both teams will have the underdog mentality that will make them each a version of "America's Team." Each is in need of a title. The Orioles last won the World Series in 1983, the Royals in 1985. But at least the Orioles have been to the postseason since 1983, playing in October in 1996, 1997 and 2012. The Royals beat St. Louis in the 1985 World Series. Since then, they've had...

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Opposite dugout: Royals' arms present O's with another mound of challenges

May 15, 2014, 4:48am

Orioles

Opposite dugout: Royals' arms present O's with another mound of challenges

Manager: Ned Yost, fifth year Record: 20-19 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: C Salvador Perez (.275/.333/.449, 4 HR, 12 RBIs); 1B Eric Hosmer (.304/.343/.418, 15 doubles, 18 RBIs); RHP Yordano Ventura (2-2, 2.34 ERA, 1.11 WHIP); RHP James Shields (5-3, 2.54 ERA, 1.08 WHIP) Season series vs. O's: 2-1, 16 runs scored, 6 runs allowed Pitching probables May 15: Yordano Ventura vs. Wei-Yin Chen, 8 p.m., MASN HD May 16: Jeremy Guthrie vs. Chris Tillman, 8 p.m., MASN2 HD May 17: Danny Duffy vs. Bud...

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Opposite dugout: Kansas City makes royal visit to Camden Yards

April 24, 2014, 11:30am

Orioles

Opposite dugout: Kansas City makes royal visit to Camden Yards

Manager: Ned Yost, fifth year Record: 10-11 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 1B Eric Hosmer (.301/.348/.373, 6 doubles, 6 RBIs); LF Alex Gordon (.275/.314/.413, 9 XBH, 11 RBIs); RHP James Shields (2-2, 1.91 ERA, 35 K); RHP Yordano Ventura (1-1, 2.65 ERA, .190 BAA) Season series vs. O's (2013): 4-3, 28 runs scored, 26 runs allowed Pitching probables April 25: Yordano Ventura vs. Ubaldo Jimenez, 7 p.m., MASN HD April 26: Jeremy Guthrie vs. Wei-Yin Chen, 7 p.m., MASN HD April 27: James Shields...

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Werth in Nats lineup as designated hitter

August 25, 2013, 8:28am

Nationals

Werth in Nats lineup as designated hitter

Jayson Werth missed yesterday's game with an infection in his right foot, but the Nationals' hottest hitter is back in the lineup today, serving as the designated hitter. Werth is batting a ridiculous .384/.481/.661 since the All-Star break, so the Nationals will be plenty happy to have him back in the cleanup spot today. Tyler Moore will get his third straight start in left field, and Anthony Rendon is back playing second base today. Dan Haren (4-0 with a 1.32 ERA in his last six games)...

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Werth, Rendon out of Nats lineup

August 24, 2013, 12:37pm

Nationals

Ian Desmond is in the Nationals lineup despite a stiff back and what manager Davey Johnson said after yesterday's game was a tight hamstring. Jayson Werth and Anthony Rendon, however, are not in the lineup for tonight's game against the Royals. Werth served as the designated hitter yesterday, but Ryan Zimmerman will fill that role tonight. Bryce Harper will play right field for a second straight day, Tyler Moore will again play left and Steve Lombardozzi will play second with Rendon...

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Desmond returns, Werth DHing

August 23, 2013, 1:30pm

Nationals

After getting double-switched out of Wednesday's game in the fifth inning and missing yesterday's game due to back stiffness, Ian Desmond is back in the Nationals' lineup for tonight's game against the Royals. Yesterday marked just the third game that Desmond has missed all season. His back originally tightened up on him during batting practice Wednesday. Jayson Werth will serve as the designated hitter for the Nats tonight in their interleague matchup against Kansas City. Bryce Harper...

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Gonzalez endures shortest outing of season, "felt a little flat"

July 19, 2012, 1:26pm

Nationals

Gonzalez endures shortest outing of season, "felt a little flat"

That was a rare experience to see Gio Gonzalez not get to the fifth inning in a start for the Nationals. Coming into Thursday's assignment against the Mets, Gonzalez had gone at least five frames in 16 of his initial 18 starts in a Nationals uniform. There was June 3 when he lasted only 4 2/3 innings in a loss against the Braves. You had to go back to the opening week and his Nationals debut to see a shorter stint, just 3 2/3 innings in a no-decision April 7 at the Cubs. But Gonzalez lasted...