dc.

I don't think that had to do with missing Matt so much as other terms that changed too. Pitching found its slot, Hunter got benched as closer, Pearce found his bat, etc. I don't think we went from a good glove defense and 20hr to... Not... And got better

Beating Shields was always going to be the toughest game. We could and should have win last night - really we win if Pearce makes the pick of the JJ play in the royals big inning. That's the runs right there. But we should have a much better time against the rest of their starters. Burt is those last three in the pen that will always be trouble. But we prices last night, if we get to anyone but their main three - we can hit them. And we hit Holland too. Much hope

Nick has an option this year, so it could be a one year extend. I agree that Buck made some magic this year- but theme again the same could be said for performance last year and 2012. So maybe he just know what he's doing. And a lot of God teams are actually filled with some pretty average no names. But even more than all that - next year we have Manny and Matt back, at least. That's two no names already replaced with two names at no cost and no long risk. So you've got Nick, Matt, Manny, Adam, JJ all locked in for another year at least - I think most teams would be happy with that as a 1-5 or 2-6. That's not a window closed. Yet.

But the goal is not to just reset but to extend the window. You can see no reason, but everyone else sees a reason to have a decent As for a few years, especially while the rest of the division is weak. Whatever though. There's no right answer. Maybe in three years you'll have been right. Or maybe you'll have misjudged again. Either way, three years isn't a big deal in the grand scheme - allows for lots of flexibility

Davis is not on the ALCS roster because he wouldn't be available until Game 6 - if it gets that far - but would take up the roster spot and we'd be playing with a short bench the whole series. If we get there, even if we get there in 4 games, I bet he is on the WS roster. Buck said he would welcome him back but he would also let the team vote. I don't think his teammates are against him at all. And he's a huge value - especially in a line-up missing out on a LHB that can hit for power. I like our chances. I worry most about the Royals running game and hitting their SP - not because their SP are so good, but because we struggle so much sometimes in random ways. At the same time, I was reading a great article on how Buck has really turned this team into one you cannot run on - Tillman only allowed 2 SB all year, which is wild. He used to be pretty awful at holding runners. Their bullpen is also pretty impressive - Wade Davis might have been the best reliever in the league this year.

I'm assuming that's a joke. But the question wasn't... you need to replace a decent avg, generally solid power and outstanding defense... for the foreseeable future, given that we have no legitimate replacement coming up... who's out there that really fills that void?

I'm just waiting for your alternative.

Not sure I remember any "dirt"... I remember him saying, "I'm going public..." which I just took to mean he would put up a fight about it and not shut up. He definitely hasn't kept that promise, but maybe he will when he is free of ESPN. I don't doubt that his numbers at ESPN are down... but I think that they don't really promote him in a way that would attract beyond his niche. His niche, though, is incredibly loyal. 538 has been a bust though. Nate Silver needs to go back to politics - his writing and analysis there were crazy.

But ... JJ isn't Tex. His contract isn't Tex's - or anything close. It's not close in length and it's not close in annual payout. So, no... we couldn't afford to have a Tex contract fail. But we don't have one yet. Here's what I don't entirely get, Papa... earlier this year you were not only saying the O's don't really have the stuff to get to the playoffs, but also saying that their window was pretty small. I don't know that many people disagreed with the latter. But there's not a lot of options to extend it except to pursue some kind of free agent. Hardy could slide. Any player could slide. But if you need a SS - and you want to extend your window while some other players develop - what is your suggested alternative? Play the market for Asdrubal Cabrera is a popular alternative I've heard... similar to Hardy, but younger... but in a competitive market he'll cost as much or more. Or a stop-gap in between? Schoop or Flaherty? Another young'n? Not sure I buy that as really being possible if the goal is to keep winning games. Your usual complaints are about length and size of contract. I don't really see either complaint here being valid. When it comes to predicting performance, it's all up in the air... so, what's the real complaint?

Could. It clearly had more effect this year on his bat than his defense. Three years simply seems a reasonable amount of time for a guy his age. There's no perfect solution there that I can see.

He's had injury issues for a while. In not opposed to the move because it's only three years. I care more about his defense than his bat really.

Cruz is ninth on all time post season hr list - passed Ruth tonight. Still 13 behind Manny for 1st. But fastest to 16 in history (fewest games)

Just awesome. Just awesome. Have tickets for Saturday but can't go... Must go Friday!

I'll gladly play KC, in spite of their impressive run suddenly.

We got a few favors today from blue... Not complaining. Great job by Norris. Let's go, pen. O'Day and Britton will face some real bats.

Yeah - baby life has me posting more from my phone; no chance to use two hands! I think we shellack Price today and go storming forward... would love to play KC instead of LAA - but not the way KC is suddenly playing. We'd have a whole week off almost if we win today.

Not worried. Not because I'm sure we'll win today, but pretty sure we can win one in three... And I feel the Rogers are better described as beaten already. Not sure I could muster much life in their position after Friday.

Just plain wow!

Max Scherzer, David Price, Anibal Sanchez and Justin Verlander... don't scare you? Verlander and Price have had down years... and are still better than your average pitcher. And arguably still easily better than our entire staff.

I don't disagree. Or even just driving the way they described ... A vehicle is a weapon.

Phelps gets his second DUI to round out a trifecta of sorts heroes on the city getting taken down a notch. I grew up with Mike. Stupid decisions, though - repeated. I'm thinking this ends his comeback.

Yeah, I'm not sure why the winners of the WC games affects start times because it won't affect the home team for the first two games in any series. Whether the angels play Oakland or KC, they play in Anaheim. We play here. So what's the 30 minutes?

Crav - absolutely. Though, at Camden Yards it's not in the batters eyes - its the shadowing across the field. Famously at Camden Yards, the sun through the stands and lighting stands creates weird shadowing between the pitcher and the batter - they say they can "see the ball, then not, then see it again" Spen - absolutely. I hope it is a 3:00 game. Noon and I have no shot at watching most of the game - can't watch while teaching! But 3:00... I can be home by 3:15 or so if I really try. Apparently it's based on which NL team wins their wild card game... so... whoever needs to win that... GO THEM!

We've struggled against them recently, but that was also way back in the season. We're the better team now - or we were a month ago! Hope we can rekindle that. Interesting to note... the Thursday game will be at either 5:30 or 6:00... and the Friday game will be either Noon or 3:00. I'm not opposed in either case, but we never play that early! Adam Jones is the best day-game hitter in the league, though...

Oh come on, just having some fun with you. It was great you were wrong today.