It would be fun to play the Yankees in the playoffs again.

Of course.

But playoffs is kind of a crapshoot. Weird shit happens. Team gets hot that nobody expected and suddenly finds themselves in the World Series (see last year). Or 2014 Royals for something a little closer to home.

We’ll take either obviously, but IMO the better matchup is Houston so give me the 3rd WC if I get a choice.

As much fun as this season has been through all the ups and downs, mostly ups for a pleasant change, there is one thing that has also been fun. But before that, I don’t think it can be said enough what a remarkable turnaround this season has been over last year and other recent years of oblivion. 56 wins to 85 wins(and counting) and the brink of playoff baseball, even in the wild card era is pretty damn amazing.

But the other thing has been recent scoreboard watching! Don’t do much of it for five months, then when the playoffs loom larger it definitely becomes a “thing”, and it’s great scanning the out of town scoreboards. Tonight was great watching the Twins shit the bed against the Marlins. What a crazy, crazy game. And to answer Josh Donaldson’s **** buddy, no, my feelings about the extra innings ghost runner rule haven’t changed. It’s still queer, just like you.

What a day! And I really hope we can somehow clinch tomorrow, or at worst Saturday night. Just get this thing sealed up and get ourselves into playoff mode! Go Royals!

Bob Nightengale trying to jinx KC.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">RIP Minnesota Twins’ 2024 season.<br>The Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals are going to the playoffs!</p>&mdash; Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) <a href="https://twitter.com/BNightengale/status/1839515360992883071?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 27, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

You don't even know who the top Royals prospects are because you're not even a true baseball fan.

Orioles offense is pretty deep with so many great young hitters, although the Astros have Alvarez who is a nightmare.

The only catch is the Orioles bullpen has been shaky. That's a huge deal in the playoffs as we all know. Even if you just read Orioles fans complaining online you can tell they are worried a little bit about that bullpen. Craig Kimbrel will far and away lead the team in saves and he just got released a couple days ago.

Seranthony Dominguez is their closer now and he has a 4.26 ERA this season. The Phillies parted ways with him because they were so deep in the 'pen.

Yeah it's not like their bullpen is a disaster but it's their weakness. Meanwhile the Astros have some weapons down there plus Hader closing.

It's two different routes. Orioles then Yankees who are the two highest scoring offenses in the AL but with questions about their bullpens, or the Astros and Guardians who each have one terrifying hitter (Alvarez and Jose Ramirez) with some nasty back-end bullpen guys. Although Alvarez did get hurt the other day and they're holding him out the rest of the year. Maybe that tips the scales.

You’re right, I’m afraid I’m not keeping tabs on the updated Baseball America list for the Royals (or even the Jays for that matter).

But if naming off the top 5 prospects in each organization in the bigs is the standard for being a “true baseball fan”, I wonder how many here meet it.

I also fear Kyle Tucker with the Astros. He might have had a top 5 AL MVP voting season had he not hurt his shin.

Love reading all the speculation. Of all the seasons…. There really isn’t a true heavyweight in the AL. Every remaining team has its weaknesses. If we were at full strength, I’d say we have a legit shot at anyone, and we still might. But if it’s just strict X’s and O’s, the season has given us some evidence that we best matchup with probably Detroit, Cleveland, Houston, Baltimore and the Yankees in that order, or at least pretty close to it. Our biggest advantage however, is going to elude us in the first round; playing at home. But we had the same problem in 2014, and that didn’t seem to matter much.

Knowing Bob, I expect he actually thought they clinched

We basically have. Currently at 98% playoff odds.

I gave up on the Marlins after the top of the 11th and went to bed.

THANK YOU, MIAMI!