Hearne: World Series Grab Bag – Everything You Need to Know & More

ALCS - Baltimore Orioles v Kansas City Royals - Game FourMaybe you’ve got hours to kill running down anything and everything Royals...

I’m betting though that you don’t – even if you have World Series fever – and who doesn’t these days? – you’ve still got a life, right?

Example: I totally would’ve have watched  Game 2 Wednesday, but was in transit to Chicago and lucky to catch the key parts of the 6th inning in the bar at Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab moments before I was whisked to my table.

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   Did the Wall Street Journal Really Call Ned Yost a ‘Dunce’

Of course not.

While I’ve been fairly observant, I confess that I missed the Wall Street Journal’s tongue-in-cheek headline diss of Royals manager Ned Yost – the one that seemingly referring to him as “a dunce.”

However, this is one of many examples of people pulling things out of context to try and make a point – or make something sound sexy -which often as not, is not that simple in the game of journalism.

Because nowhere in WSJ writer Brian Costa‘s story comparing Yost and Orioles skipper Buck Showalter did Costa come close to calling Yost a dunce. Overall the piece was actually pretty flattering.

But dunce? No way!

In actuality, Costa used the word genius to describe Yost.

Sam Mellinger

Sam Mellinger

Yet Star sports scribe Sam Mellinger reported today that the Journal called Yost “a dunce.”

Sam knows better, for two reasons…

First, because he undoubtedly read the story and recognized that Costa was doing the same thing many sportswriters have been doing lately; setting Yost up by outlining what his critics have said, and then noting what a remarkable job of managing the Royals he’s done despite that.

Second, Sam knows that lowly copy editors – not reporters and columnists – are the ones who write most headlines, so this was not a case where the Journal had made some sort of editorial statement criticizing Yost. It was merely a low-wage copy clerk trying to be sarcastic funny and provocative.

And that’s how the game is played oftentimes.

The bottom line: Nobody at the Wall Street Journal called Ned Yost a dunce.

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                                                   Smarmy but Wilde

rs_560x415-141023161441-1024-olivia-wilde-jason-sudekis.ls.102314_copyThere are a few other fun stories out there…

Like US Magazine’s in depth investigation, resulting in the headline, “Olivia Wilde Kisses Jason Sudeikis After Kansas City Royals World Series Game 2 Win.”

Sudeikis, you recall, is the actor/comic who hails from KC and laid a baby – but not a wedding ring – on Hollywood hottie Wilde this past year.

The reporting is a little on the smarmy side, but check it out:

“Well, these lovebirds made it to first base! Olivia Wilde and her fiance Jason Sudeikis celebrated the Kansas City Royals’ victory over the San Francisco Giants in Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday, Oct. 22, with a big juicy kiss.

“Wilde, 30, shared a snap on Twitter, inside the Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., moments before the game ended with the Royals leading 7 to 2. ‘GO ROYALS,’ the mom to 4-month-old baby Otis wrote alongside the photo of her leaning in and locking lips with her man.

“For the sporting event, Kansas native Sudeikis wore a white and blue Royals jersey and baseball cap. The SNL alum, 39, has long been a fan of the baseball team and is also a diehard Kansas University basketball fan. Both he and Wilde have attended Kansas-related sporting events together, and it appears that he’s converted the NYC native from whatever teams she rooted for previously.

“The first-time parents could eventually influence their son’s future sports preferences, too. In June, Wilde updated Us on her growing family, calling it ‘the best feeling in the world.’ She mused: ‘It’s such a joy to watch them laughing and smiling together… I look forward to when Jason can start reading to Otis because then, the best thing ever, is when your dad is reading to you and does all the characters from the books.’ ”

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                                                              Royal Trendsetters

Former Star sports columnist Joe Posnanski is in full swoon over the Royals and the way the team’s been playing in the World Series appears to be unshackled from having to write mostly about larger market sports teams rather than his homies.

JoPo’s NBC Sports latest: a piece about the Royals triple threat reliever core.

itemf1lrg“You know the story of the T-formation in pro football, right?,” Posnanski writes. “In 1940, just about every team in the NFL was using some variation of the single wing, where the ball would be snapped to different players and the key was getting a double team for somebody to run behind. It was almost exclusively a running offense.

The Chicago Bears, though, ran the T-formation, which relied much more on a savvy quarterback who could handle all the fakes and throws the offense demanded. Most people around the league thought that offense was a mess. Then the Bears beat Washington, 73-0, in the 1940 championship game, and most teams decided they might want to give the T-formation a try.

“Well, baseball might be at one of those breakthrough moments too. You never can tell, of course, because Baseball shifts dramatically and quickly. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, teams were scoring more runs and hitting more homers than ever before – people worried that offense would wreck the game. In 2014, teams are scoring fewer runs than at any point since American League executives freaked out and added the designated hitter. There’s no telling what the next five years will bring…

“It is jolting to see the Royals at the head of this multiple closer trend. The Royals are hardly the first team to put together a dominant bullpen. The 1990 Reds won the World Series largely behind a commanding bullpen called ‘The Nasty Boys.’ Other teams had great bullpens.

“But this idea of three closers – one for the seventh, one for the eighth, one for the ninth – is something a little bit different. It has been building for a few years but it really came into focus this year. Teams are winning a higher percentage of games they lead going into the seventh and eighth innings. And the Royals are almost invincible in those games.”

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                    San Fran Newspaper Makes an ‘Ouch’ Sound

1b965a3b45a7c9722dd6dbcb66675773While the Kansas City Star sports staff has been kicking butt and taking names throughout the Royals playoffs run, it’s always fun to hear how the guys writing for the other team – the losing team – are handling matters.

“Somewhere, in the residue of Game 3, a pile of theories caught fire. As it simmered, the advantage of National League rules turned to ashes, right along with the Giants’ mastery of a pitching staff and the inspirational qualities of a wildly enthusiastic crowd,” San Francisco Chronicle sportswriter Bruce Jenkins anguished after last night’s loss.

“As little as anyone really knows about Game 4 and beyond, there is one dead-solid lock: Don’t be trailing this Kansas City team late in the game. The Giants fully realized that going in, but to actually step up against Kelvin HerreraWade Davis and Greg Holland — frightening.

“The cruelty of postseason baseball is that when a perfectly logical move doesn’t work, it becomes foolhardy, complete with sweeping generalizations. Are you really buying the theory that Ned Yost ‘out-managed’ Bruce Bochy? Couldn’t you imagine everything turning back in the Giants’ favor in Game 4?”

On the Royals catcher nailing a Giant trying to swipe second, Jenkins writes, “Glove to glove — his to the infielder’s — Royals catcher Salvador Perez has been timed at 1.8 seconds on steal-attempt throws to second. If that sounds implausible, you didn’t see Perez gun down Hunter Pence in the second.”

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                                             To Scalp or Not to Scalp?

kansascityroyalsticket*304xx1010-674-38-0Chronicle sportswriter Ann Killion touched on a touchy subject that has not escaped the attention of a number of Kansas Citians fortunate enough to land series tickets.

And that’s that rather than attend the games, everyday average fans have turned to scalping.

“The mood at the sold-out ballpark was reserved through those early innings,” Killon writes. “You could blame that on the inability of the home team to produce runs. Or it could be that regular fans sold their World Series tickets for top dollar in order to finance next year’s season tickets, or maybe their property taxes. Clearly there were a lot of new fans in the park, judging by the confusion some had in exiting the ballpark after the game.”

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                                                               Photo Magic!

David Block royals game TThere’s been no shortage of fun photos popping up in the postseason.

For starters check out this pic of Block & Company head honcho David Block on Yahoo Sports.

With front row seats, nobody short of a handful of Royals players have gotten more face time on TV than Block. At every home game, there he is, right in the thick of things, wearing shirts with ultra large letters for all to see.

“You probably saw David Block and his wife Vicki in the background while watching Game 3 of the American League Championship Series,” writes Yahoo’s Nick Bromberg.

The eye candy magnet that drew Yahoo to beaming businessman Block: 

A Royal blue sweatshirt that read: “29 Years, 1 Wife, 3 Kids, 9 Dogs, 0 Series

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Joe Montanan at 2014 world series game 3The days of Joe Montana getting pulled over in a certain state and let off by KC cops are long over. As is his famous Hanes underwear autograph session that drew thousands of women and his reportedly unhappy relationship with former Big Chief Carl Peterson.

These days Montana appears to have settled down some and in-between leading cheers for the San Francisco Giants during the team’s playoff’s run, the dying embers of his ties to KC appear all but extinguished. As evidenced by his expression while watching his Giants take a beating courtesy of the Royals. Poor baby.

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alex Gordon HC dollAny of you who have kids know, there’s this insidious claw machine game at restaurants and grocery stores, that parents blow several dollars in quarters in while the kids try in vain to drop a weak-as-a-kitten claw onto a pile of toys and stuffed animals, pick something up and drop it down a chute where they get keep it.

Ninety-nine times out of 100 the claw falls limply onto the toy, failing to as much as move it an inch. But every once in a blue moon – when the stars align and the spirits are friendly – it can be done.

Such was the case in August when for the first time in forever, the Royals took 1st place in their division. On that very date, I spotted this goofy-looking Alex Gordon doll looking oh so vulnerable at a Dillon’s store in Lawrence. So I went for it and won on a single 50 cent try.

And as the Royals fortunes grew, I made a late night, mid-game deal with Brandon Leftridge that if the team prevailed that night, I would give him the doll. So I did.

Now I don’t know exactly what Brandon’s been up to with Alex, but were I a betting man I’d probably wager he either sleeps with it, pats its butt before every game or both.

Far be it from me to ask him though…

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Mr & Mrs Brett "The happy couple"

Mr & Mrs Brett
“The happy couple”

Everybody’s favorite comedy club owner and sports prognosticator Craig Glazer mentioned the other day how it was weird that he never saw George Brett‘s wife Leslie with him at any of the games. You know, on the TV coverage.

It did seem odd. Were they still together? Or perhaps leading separate lives?

Well, Craig’s question was somewhat answered last night via this pic.

Although it hardly appears to be a romantic outing.

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brett peterson & ? at ALCSAnd what photo essay would be complete without a Mystery Photo?

So concentrate real hard and try and tell me who the third dude is in this photo of Carl Peterson and Mr. X kissing up to Sir George the other night?

Hint: neither Brandon nor the Scribe could ID the dude.

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18 Responses to Hearne: World Series Grab Bag – Everything You Need to Know & More

  1. Mysterious J says:

    Wow, the lede having you too busy to watch the game because you had to go out to dinner in Chicago is brilliant!

  2. Kerouac says:

    Hold the presses and Championship procession: Royals humiliated by GIANTS 11-4

    🙂

  3. balbonis moleskine says:

    The tension on the claw machine is set by the operator. So the key is making sure you are playing one with a tight claw, not some loosey goosey Lisa Ann claw. If it is tight claw, then play.

    Stuffed animals, like real animals are to be picked up by the neck and head.

    The stuff in the jewel style boxes are usually a sucker bet. But if you want them go for the whole box not the handle or keychain part.

    My picks for the week:

    MP3 flash player -7 over My Little Pony

    teased with

    Fuzzy Handcuffs +5 over Casio digital calculator watch

    • admin says:

      Good one, balbonis…

      I actually watched the dude refill one and place all the stuffed animals about sa year ago. Interviewed him as he did it.

      He talked about how people knew how to win and did. And how at some of his stops people there knew when he would come and jumped on the machine ASAP after he was done.

      But I think that’s because only a few are placed in a position where you can successfully grasp them.
      Nothing about “claw tension.” Although it’s pretty much universally fairly weak.

      When I nabbed Gordon he was ripe for the picking. Meaning, after however many people had blown money on getting him almost into the right position.

      Still got one 11 year-old, so I’m still in the game…and a goofy game it is!

  4. paulwilsonkc says:

    Leslie is busy opening up a flower shop next door to Hi Hat where you can occasionally find me, but most certainly George. He has coffee there every morning he’s in town, out on the patio.
    If things were at odds she sure wouldn’t be doing that, so close to his fav hang out.

    • admin says:

      I read about her shop and that George was the co-owner.

      He’s been holding court and having coffee next-door for years.

      Wrote about it at the Star ages ago.

      • paulwilsonkc says:

        Actually, its not George thats her partner…. there was a lovers spat downtown and the outsted “partner” is joining forces with her….

  5. harley says:

    great shirt david…both of you looking good. Liked vickys big furry hat.
    Harley

  6. harley says:

    joe Montana: loved kc…wanted to live here…Jennifer said no.
    ask the glaze man about some juicy Montana stories!!!!hahahahaha!
    Joe was seen out in kc with some hotties. Including walking into
    the levee during tim grunhards show which caught some unbelieving
    eyes. Got a lot of good stories to tell. I turn to glaze for his input.
    carl Peterson; where’s his wife! Maybe in L.A.?
    Hi Hat: didn’t know shoedog hanged there. Me and the “mayor” had
    coffee there several times….not sly…the mayor/tennis pro. Was there the
    day the police showed up.
    scalping tickets: you’re right about that. The scalpers made big jack
    during the series…but san fran tickets at at and t were even harder for us to find.
    It’sa shame…but money talks now.
    Discovered the best steak in kc….makers mark in p and l. Have been to
    the others many times but during game Friday night that steakwas the
    best we everr had. Plus p and l has done an incredible job of marketing
    themselves for the crowds over the last 6 months.
    Hopefully they can pull out of the hole .
    Hearne…been to the cowboy bar? PBR (think that’s the name) love the
    waitresses outfits. Makes twin peaks look like a convent.

    • admin says:

      BTW, I’m hearing from your pal the Glaze that Twin Peaks is dying down.

      • harley says:

        was there one time..
        girls hot…food marginal.
        that’s why glaze needs good food.
        if he replicated the old standford from Westport’s food
        he’d could buy out the bank.
        But we were out south Saturday night…so many
        restaurants and bars out south. Another 3 are opening..
        810 zone moving to 135…two more on 135th…
        theres only so many places that will make it.
        but now that baseball is over Wednesday nite (with
        hopefully royals win)…glaze is upping the talent
        list and should do big time.
        You can tell the games have hurt the local night
        business….but t shirt vendors and sporting goods
        stores have been packed.
        as far as twin peaks I could see it slowing down…
        if you like young hotties it’s fine…but the owners
        better keep the food up or out they go.
        Glaze..how bout hooters at 435 and Metcalf…hows
        itdoing….loved tht place…ate there from day one…

        • admin says:

          I ate at Hooters a time or two when I was trapped in Topeka for three months, two years ago and…

          The food was AMAZINGLY bad.

          Except for the boneless, hot wings.

          Tried the ribs and a burger and couldn’t even bring myself to let the dog have any of it.

          Shockingly bad food.

  7. harley says:

    oh and hearne..I get one shoedog comment per day as per your “short leash”…
    According to hearne, shoedog “fantasized” (exact words from hearne’s comment)
    that Harley and Hearne were the same people.
    I’m not a medical doctor but my advice to shoedog is lay off the Viagra. Popping
    one every time a commercial comes on during WS can do some serious mind
    tricks.
    No Harley and hearne are nothing alike.
    Thank god for that. Although I wouldn’t mind have hearne’s trust fund money!!!!!!!!

    • admin says:

      One shoe dog per column, unless he fires back or you are attacked by someone else. So not just one.

      But not a dozen in a row – over and over and over – just because the juices are flowing.
      Too much of a good (and the same) thing.

      I think that’s fair.

  8. Harry Balczak says:

    I watched the game- if you can call it that-last night. I knew it was over when Ned brought in Tim Collins as sacrificial lamb. Collins is a bum.

  9. admin says:

    Come on, you guys…

    Who is the dude with Carl Peterson kissing up to George Brett?

  10. admin says:

    Oh and I just noticed that Jason Sudeikis was basically wearing a Royals uniform to the game…

    But he’s a comedian, right?

    Anybody see which Royal’s player’s name was on the back of his jersey?

    Wonder if he wore that same getup to any of the Giant’s games.

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