The Chiefs start their 2014 campaign on Sunday against the dreaded Titans of Tennessee. That’s cool, and I’m excited—go football!—but to be honest, I’ll probably be mostly watching the Kansas City Royals take on the New York Yankees. (On TBS, no less!)
See, in case you missed it, the Royals are still in first place of their division this late in the season since 1985. And if you’ll recall, 1985 was the last time the Royals won a World Series… or even made the postseason, for that matter.
So this is kind of a big deal.
In fact, it’s one of those deals where, I almost don’t even feel like talking about it. Like jinxing a pitcher in the middle of a perfect game or a no-hitter, I feel like somehow, by even mentioning the postseason in relation to the Royals– and in an actual, plausible manner no less– I will curse them.
I will personally ensure—by simply posing the mere suggestion of October baseball in my fine city—that they will miss the playoffs yet again, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, que sera sera. That’s how I feel. Because I’m a Kansas City sports fan. And I am fucking cursed because of it.
Therefore, I will refrain from mentioning postseason play again. But I will lay out what they need to do to have a really, really AWESOME season… you know, maybe the best season they’ve had since 1985 or so.
Here’s what their remaining schedule looks like:
At first glance, you’ll notice a couple of things, perhaps.
– More road games than home games. (S’ok because they’re actually a bit better on the road)
– Two games on the 22nd against Cleveland. (But, well, that’s a double-header, ya’ idjit, you’re screaming right now, a fine spittle of Schlitz malt liquor spraying the screen of your Acer Desktop. But it’s NOT, I scream right back. It’s a completion of the game that was suspended on August 31st… and Cleveland is up 4-2 in the bottom of the 10th. So, yeah, that sucks.)
– One day off. That’s normal for this late in the season, but it’s a brutal stretch-run, nonetheless. (So get ready for oodles of Erik Kratz, ya’ll!)
There are three games left against the NY Yankees, who are conceivably playing for a Wild Card spot. The Yankees are pretty decent—a lot better than most people thought they’d be, at least, and this is no easy-out. They’ve got six left against the second-place Detroit Tigers, who, despite their semi-recent struggles, don’t seem willing to just go the fuck away. They host Boston for a four game series, which is nice because Boston is really pretty terrible, BUT: they make up for that cake-walk by playing four more against Cleveland, including the previously mentioned “suspension completion” which, unfortunately, looks like an automatic loss. The Royals are 7-9 against Cleveland this season, and they should be much, much better. Thankfully, they’ve got seven games left against the Chicago White Sox who are bad at baseball and playing for absolutely nothing at this juncture. (Although, doesn’t it feel like sometimes those are the teams who absolutely crush a contender’s dreams? So, yep… ending the season with four games on the Southside is making my taint sweat a bit.)
The collective win-percentage of the Royals’ remaining opponents is .495. Almost perfectly average. Because of course it is. Because nothing can come easy, because Royals. (The Tigers’ remaining opponents carry a collective win-percentage of .501, though, so SUCK IT, DETROIT. [Also worth noting, the Tigers play their only remaining out of division series against the San Francisco Giants, who are better than the Yankees and WAY better than Boston, KC’s only remaining non-divisional opponents. Somewhat surprisingly, Detroit is exactly .500 against the AL Central this season with THE SOLE EXCEPTION being the Royals, against whom they are 9-4. Ugh. When you think about it, this is THE textbook example of “they did this to themselves” if KC can’t triumph in the end.])
To do the thing that the Royals haven’t done since 1985, they’ll probably need 93 wins. (I’m shooting on the high-side here, because I’m a total pessimist and I hate myself loving this team.) To get to 93, the Royals need to win 16 more with 24 to go. (And actually, let’s go ahead and count that first Cleveland game on the 22nd as a loss. So they’ve got 23 games left.) So they need to go 16-7 in the next four weeks.
16-7.
To do they thing that they haven’t done in 30 years, they need to go 16-and-7 in the next 23 games.
Can they do it? I really believe that they CAN. I can also, however, envision a million different scenarios in which they do not. Taking one-out-of-three in New York and then getting swept by the Tigers. Or, staying in contention until they get to Cleveland before getting the holy hell stomped out of them, maybe.
Nothing would surprise me with this team.
So, if you need me, I’ll be over there in the corner rocking nervously, peeking out of my fingers only when I can be assured that the scary parts are over. (So… in October. Hopefully.)
After last night the Royals would have to go 15-7 to get to 93 wins, your high-end mark. Consider, however, that the Tigers would have to go 16-5 and the Indians 21-2. That’s far-fetched for the Tigers and impossible for the Tribe.
I think 90 wins will get it this year, Brandon. The Royals go 12-11 the rest of the way, finishing at 90-72. The Tigers go 11-10 to finish at 88-74.
Finishing up with the White Sox will be the difference.
Isn’t this fun!
Yeah, 90 certainly could get it done. And it helps when Detroit keeps looking like dog-snot. I’m just being as cautious as possible! Haha.
“The Hunt For Blue October”
Brilliant.
Full disclosure: not sure where that originated. People actually started using it on twitter last year.
You are a stud.
Even more brilliant to source the provenance.
Still brilliant.
Hoping your fantasy football team is Somewhere Over DeWayne Bowe, Brandon.
The thought of Ned Yost as Manager of the Year is a sign of the end times.
All praise harley in the new world order.
another phony writer who thinks he knows everything…lefty.
you called them “pretenders…losers….unremarkable….”
you and glaze are the same…phony and wrong. So this article
too belongs in the trash can along with all of glazes backand forth
b.s.
stick with the craigslist stories or telling us about your new
car and stop writing about sports.
hearne must be so hardup for writers he’s got you and glaze
writing about sports…both of you know nothing about sports!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cool. Thanks for reading, buddy.
Harley, your takes on sports are, as always in retrospect, therefore 100% correct.
On a week to week basis, you are, as always, with politics and sports, a coward and a shill. You’re brief ascendance as an “Author” on kcconfidential, was of course, as a coward, using a nom de plume, Harley. Panheads all over America puked rods into blocks at your pretense and hubris.
To hell with elegance, go fu888k yourself you piece of sh777t.
You once posted information with regard to my youngest daughter and her employment on the Plaza. I infered, maybe incorrectly, maybe not, that you went down there. I took serious note of that comment and still think about it.
You know who I am. I am not hard to find and populate South Kansas City on an ongoing basis as you do. You know people I know and have many, many times let me know this.
You investigate and follow me, as is evident by the comments here and on other blogs. You sneak around like a burgler or an assasain, waiting for an opportunity to expose……, what??? I don’t know.
Here is the thing you fu**ing pu***y piece of sh***t. My name, is, as everyone knows, is Chuck Fu**kin Lowe. I am easy to find.
What is your name you pu&&&sy?
You are a coward who, as many others who post on this website, IN NO WAY, HAVE THE COURAGE OF THEIR STATED CONVICTIONS.
IN FACT, THEY ARE WILLFULLY IMPERCIPIENT BEHIND THE CURTAIN OF ANONYMITY.
Here is the thing. From this point forward, no one who aspires to a kcconfidential author/writer, should be taken, in ANY way seriously unless thier name is the lede. How can their message be within a light year of the truth, wihtout the honesty of the source.
One more time Harley, you are a coward. You are afraid of me. You are terrified of me in person, face to face. Your di&k won’t get hard after you read my comments and the only thing you can tell your fat wife is that some day you “Are gonna look me up”.
Here I am bi*ch, put down the curling iron and give me a call.
One more time, how fu&ked up is Politically Correct America when people are afraid to post their actual names on a local blog?
“Hey Hearne, I have an idea for an article about quilting, but, you know I can’t actually use my real name.”
When was it, that Americans became so afraid, so terrified of a difference of opinion? Lemme think…….., oh yeah, when the NEW LIBERAL FACIST DEMOGRAPHIC, in conjunction with the 4th Estate decided that the unambiguated delivery of the news and the facts, would be superceded by an agenda driven narrative that secured sinecure and power for the now tyranical “Bread And Circus” majority that votes for a living and sucks the life’s blood out of what is left of the middle class.
Hamstrungs cut, Liberals pay homage on their knees to the narrative that even THEY fear. “What if I make a mistake? What if I say a word, that in the 24/7 MSNBC news cycle is verboten?”
Keep in mind, George Zimmerman was a dyed in the wool, true blooded liberal who made his bones again and again in the pursuit of multiculturalism and diversity.
FDR said there is “Nothing to fear, but fear itself”.
Oh for the good ole days.
There is a lot to fear. When liberal commenters, on a local blog, living in a city with a black mayor, a black police chief and a black president are afraid to present their opinions with thier names attatched, we are fu*ked.
The rule of law, replaced by the pen and the phone, scares adn terrifies Stomper, Harley and Calvin Sense.
Eric Holder, my fu&&in name is Chuck Fuc8kin Lowe.
I am a red blooded son of the American Empire and a proponent of American Exceptionalism.
Hey Harley, what is your name?
Hearne, please send Chuck my name and contact info. Chuck, I’m more than happy to meet you and let you know why I don’t use my name. Wilson knows who I am, Dwight knows who I am, Glazer knows me. Chuck, I’ve got absolutely no problem with you knowing me. Maybe meeting me might cause you to refrain, somewhat, from making your outrageous insults to all liberals. There are a plethora conservatives I consider to be good friends, whose views I respect, and with whom I enjoy respectful debate with. You don’t have any liberal friends like that?
Yep and I know their names.
Ok, so how do your liberal friends respond to your, “liberal fascist demographic”, “bread and circus”, “votes for a living”, “willfully impercipient” etc., etc., rants. Are you offended by commenters that post anonymously or is it just those who offer articles? Commenters like Dude, Orphan, Paracelsus, Expat, Kerouac, and others express interesting and rational thoughts that bring something to the discussion in my opinion. Should they stop posting without revealing their true identity. I get it that you have problems with Harley as he is over the top with his insults, but I think he is in a class by himself. Calvin Sense certainly has an obvious reason to want to keep his name private as he expresses opinions that are very much in the minority for an African-American. I’d rather learn what he has to offer anonymously than to not. His perspective, especially on his first two offerings are much more in line with yours so I’m surprised to learn that he is in your crosshairs. Chill.
Wow we got some hating go on here. First off, Harley is an up and down guy. He loves he hates you. I find him entertaining. Of course nobody can be right on sports calls all the time. Not even old Jimmy the Greek. His tv predictions on the NFL were pretty bad. But there was a period when he was on the money most of the time earlier in his life. The NFL as with baseball is never a sure thing. Nobody knows it all.
Some guys who follow it closely have a better idea or concept than just homer fans. Harley loves the Chiefs and Royals no matter what as most KC folks. Thus his attitude when you down them. Hey I loved them too but lately not so much. I’d like nothing more than to see them both do well. I was wrong about the Royals making a run. But right about the failure of their core young players to move up. Their pitching did move up and thus they are contenders with a team that seems to score 1 or 2 runs a game but wins many of those games. Credit to the Royals.
Harley doesn’t mean all that he writes, he’s just someone who gets excited and goes off. That’s all. So I forgive him. Chuck you are normal maybe you shouldn’t take him so hard, I don’t.
Thanks, CG. Can’t believe a nice piece about the Royals got high-jacked into political trash talking. Sorry Brandon.
Eh, par for the course.
Is it “Trash Talking” if it’s true?
You’re right, I did screw up the thread, I am sorry B.
I’m sick of the coward puke fu*k.
By the way, he used to go by the name “Jo Jo”.
Ain’t mad at ‘ya. I seriously can’t stand him. I just ignore him, or respond to him the same way I do when I see crazy, ranting homeless people downtown. He’s an absolutely ridiculous person.
while most people/people with a life
were out enjoying the beautiful day we had on
Saturday…there was chuckles the clown…the
hate race monger pounding his keyboartd spewing
out the usual hate language and personal attacks
that have made him the most hated commentator
here. His constant disgusting race baiting…
hate filled diatribes have become your classic
trademark and everyone sees that you have no
conscience and can take any situation and blame
it on someone else.
Even you own personal situation…which you have
descdribed…is just another excuse laden example
of someone who’s mad that life left them behind.
You can write the most horrible vile comments
on tkc…outlining your hate for everyone who doesn’t
look like you…you can use tkc to blast everything that’s
wrong with your life and try to blame it on some
single mom or someone else…but you never take
account for what you tell us is your life. Always someone
else toblame for your lot in life. Liberals/blacks/browns/moms/
innocent kids/politicians…its always an excuse for you to blame
someone else.
You drive a beater truck..work construction…and try
to make us think youre a Harvard grad when all
you do is use some of the most vicious vile horrid
links to send us to see people who hate even more
than you do.
You’re one big nothing. No life. That’s been told to
me in numerous emails I’ve received plus countless
people who have added their comments on tkc about
the disgusting vile comments that you put on there
filled with hate.
Youre not a religious man…religious people don’t
use the language you use to try and hate someone
or a group of people you’ve never met. My religion…
probably yours speaks of tolerance and love. What do you
show? hate.
You’re not a giving man. What have you done to
improve someone elses life. Me: helped raise
thouands of dollars for a local no kill animal shelter…
worked with big brothers and big sisters….work with
local charities to provide transportation to the needy
in this town….given away over 300 vehicles to
needy families across the nation thru a program I
helped set up. What have you done? anyting?
nothing!!!!!! not a thing but sit and spew your
horrific hate and vile disgusting writings on tkc.
You couldn’t put them on hearnes site…theyre
too disgusting…
as far as your daughter ….I never went to see your
daughter. Don’t know anything about the plaza…hardly been there
in the last 5 years…and when we go…its probably 2 or 3 places. Another
attempt to attack me with lies. I’ve been the biggest advocate of never
brining family into comments. When wilsons wife was
attacked I was the most vocal opponent of that type
of commentary…samevvwith glazex.
You’re not a proponenet of American exceptionalism…
you’re a racist sob. American exceptionalism was built
on the fact that all aare created equal. You hate everyone
who isn’t looking like you. You quote the most
lying/one sided people who share the same hate
and disgusting opinions you do.
How about this Debbie you linked. That story was
about as full of bull as could be about the recent
beheading that was ever written. Yet you read it..
and it ffits your hatred of everyone so you want others
to follow your vile little train of thought.
I learned long ago to never get into fights with those
who have nothing to lose. And you have nothing to
lose. You don’t have a great position in life…drive that
beater you always talk about…you have no life and
never get out because you’re always posting at
strange times….so you have nothing in your life
to lose.
I doo….so I would never confront you. I use facts from
unbiased sources which can be verified. Your sourvce
is either world news daily …mein kampf or this Debbie
broad you linked to who lied and made some of the
most despicable lies about the incident which were
nothing but right wing lies and crap.
The new liberal facists you say? where did you get
that. That’s straight out of the kkk handbook….liberl
facists….doing what. Get real chuckles…you make
me laugh and others think you’re a kook or a
nutcase who needs help.
uh…whos sucking the life out of the middle class..
not me….but you’d rather attack viciously a young
mother getting 200 dollars to feed her baby than the
walgreens/g.e.”s/the billionaires not paying their
fair tax. They’re screwing you chuckles the sad clown.
not some welfare mom getting 200 a month for milk.
You’re brain is screwed on wrong dude. You can’t
see who’s really briniging low income guys like you
down. Its not the liberals…its the rich dudes who pay
the politicians to make laws that give them all the
tax and money breaks.
I love debate. I use facts. You use innuendo and
hate to make your points.
why won’t hearne let you post the same garbage you
post on tkc on kcc?
What set ypu off like a madman?
my comments that lefty had not been consistent
in his reporting or writing about the royals?
that I disagree with him and glaze on their take
on the royas and the chiefs. You’ve got to be kidding
me that this would light your fire.
I didn’t insult leftys family…or glazes family…I just
make the statement their wrong about sports….
nothing more….and have some fun.
Dude…you’re a walking time bomb. The hate you
wrote about in your posts was utter garbage.
I would never fight you….I have too much to lose…
I have a beautiful life….an incredible family….a
ability to do what I love doing in life….I spend hundreds
of hours doing the “right thing” for others less
fortunate…and I still have time to have fun and
do my writing which I enjoy doing.
Chuck….just one time…use some facts…some real
intelligent facts to prove me wrong without the hate
and venom you spit out everyday.
Of course I know that ratio on black crime…you bring
it up everday….so what are you gonna do?
do something about it like I suggested. Lots of
kids could use a mentor.
but you’ve gone off the deep end…and its scary.
come prove me wrong with what I say…not with
some whore like that debbi (her article was wrong)
bring it on dude….I’m always right.
as far as you….show me with stats/real data that
I’m wrong. You can’t and that’s what makes you
a maniac. Harley is right. He proves his point with
real life/proven stats…..you on the other hand
spew garbage and hate as if you were a sidewalk
spinster.
I’ve been harassed…stalked…my ip addresss was given out
by someone (hint hint) so Wilson and others could try to find
out where I live. Been threatened…been called names
…just like glaze but he wantedto fight the guys who
used vile language and lies against him.
I wold never give my name out. I see people like those
who threatened and stalked me on the tv news.
You have a right to your opinion…but so does everyone
else.
hearne won’t let you post your tkc posts on here…why?
ask hearne.
my grandparents said…forgive…don’t forget.
the same hate you write was the same type of hate that started
a massive killing spree years ago.
I’ve said it many times….hate is a terrible emotion to carry in your
heart.
maybe go to your church or place of worship today. Love is incredible.
No matter who you are loving.
Deal with
the real world…and maybe stop making excuses
for why your life is less than what you may have
imagined it would be 20 or 30 years ago.
Stop blaming others…stop making excuses for
yourself…stop use the horrid language you use
in every commentary…and realize that this is
a beautiful world…with all its problems….its
a beautiful world.
bring it on dude. Lets see if all those fancy words
can let people see that your more intelligent than
you
ve let on.
I have nothing to fear…I could care less I kc’s mayor
police/president was black….makes no differenceto
me…..I look at the person and their heart.
something you might try. It will make your life
so much less stressful and you won’t have to bang
the keyboard to release your frustrations at your age.
good luck…you’re going to need it!!!!!!!!!!!!’
remember….god does not make junk.
Eat sh*t and die you gutless puke.
very classy….you just proved EVERYTHING I wrote about you
was 100% correct. I asked you to prove me wrong…you
can’t…its just the same old song of hate and intolerance.
thanks…you proved Harley is always right…and you can’t
intelligently prove me wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thanks…Harley
Harley we told you, I did, so did K, the Chiefs stink, maybe win 2…I like my 50 to 1 bet that they will have worst record, that looks good, the under 8 1/2 is over…Reid has one more year and gone..same with Dorsey…failed.
I was able to speak with an insider in the chiefs former
organization… I will be releasing the facts about this
team soon. Theres a story here…and its called “money”!!!!!!
Will this be part of harlinator’s quarterly @law4life@yahoo.com?
sorry dude…out of time.
but one surebet…when Harley speaks…people
read….may be controversial…but Harley
has the facts.
thanks for the ink….
go chiefs…go royals…go sporting kc…
kc is on a roll…lets keep it going!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Speaking of “sucKing” ~ Chiefs 0-1… TEN 26 @KC 10, and it wasn’t even that close
Next week, 0-2 @KC; 0-16 on tap?
jesus… I actually expected to read comments about the royals. how foolish of me to think that.
royals take 2 of 3 from the Yankees on the strength of pitching and defense. 4 runs wins 2 games. if our bats don’t come alive again, that Blue October will be as sunk as that fictional submarine from which this name is taken, and there’ll be no rabbit farm in Montana.
mike t I agree…I’ve not spent much tme watching or following the
chiefs…I’m watching the royals…lots of inside stuff going on there..
butler upset…but it a drama filled month for sure.
stay tuned…its gonna be a roller coaster!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
well, I haven’t seen any stats, but I’d about bet the Chiefs still outdrew the Royals on TV. what would be more interesting is to see if the Royals viewership went UP around 2 p.m. when the Chiefs were sucking eggs.
chiefs..even when loskng baddraw 300-400K
viewers…
royals…hard to tell since they’reonly on cable
99% of thetime…but they are doing well with
viewership….
chiefs will always outdraw royals until playoffs
or world series…(if they get tghere).