Hi-De-Ho Rene,

Somehow the Kansas City Royals continue to stay in the hunt for the AL Central title. Their starting pitching rotation now includes only one of the original starters (the surprising Darrell May), three late-season acquisitions (Paul Abbott, Brian Anderson, Jamey Wright), and an on-again, off-again rookie with an unfortunate moniker (Jimmy Gobble).

They've slid out of first place, certainly, but it's incredible that they've stayed within striking distance. The ChiSox and Twinkies are tied atop the division and are playing each other in a four-game series this week. Despite my growing disdain for the Sox's entitlement attitude, I must root for them, because the Royals are done playing the Twins, whose remaining schedule is pretty easy. Kansas City still has seven games left against Chicago, including a four-game set at Kauffman Stadium to close out the season. If everything works out, the Royals could control their destiny.

When your team is in a race, there's nothing that can beat baseball. I love the energy and mob frenzy of a football game, but there's something more constantly invigorating about a pennant race. Every single day, something happens to raise your hopes or rip your heart out.

My senior circuit favorites, the Cardinals (sorry, Dodger-fan Rene), are in a similar scratch-and-claw brawl in the NL Central. It's hard to work up as much antipathy toward the hard-luck Cubs and the bland Astros as I have against the White Sox and Twins, but I'm trying.

(I know, I know... How can I root for the Royals AND Cardinals? The same way I root for K-State AND KU, that's how. Wildcats over Jayhawks? Every time. But Jayhawks over everybody else.)

Tony Pena should get Manager of the Year honors, no matter what happens during the final 20 games of the season. Nobody gave our boys in blue a chance, but we're 3 ½ games out with 20 games left, despite using 15 different starting pitchers, losing Mike Sweeney for 50 games, and having only four hitters with positive RCAA (runs created above average)/RAP (runs above position). Tony: Yo creo!

Later,
Kari