They don’t have much pitching, they don’t have a lot of power, but the KC Royals do hit the ball all over the ball park.

Sound Familiar? Ever hear of the 2002 Anaheim Angels?

The Royals are holding their own in the AL
Central. Starting August 11th, they play the Yankees, Twins, Rangers, and Angels exclusively for one month.

Without much starting pitching, I don’t consider an oft injured Runelvys Hernandez, Kyle Snyder, blister plagued Jeremy Affeldt, Kris Wilson, banged up Jose Lima, minor league graduate Darrell May, or rookie Jimmy Gobble a pennant winning group, the Royals should get their lunch in August.

But they have two things going for them. One, they simply have destroyed the competition head to head in the central, and two, they do have an uncanny way of scoring runs just when you think they are out of the game and the pitchers I listed above somehow keep them in the game.

Seemingly down and out last night they put up a seven spot in the sixth inning against the White Sox bull pen and voila, a neat 13-9 win to extend their lead to three games.

Who knows how it will all turn out, these are the stories that make baseball the game it is.

Click below for more!The Giants suffered another injury yesterday when Rich Aurilia went down with an appendectomy, he’s out three weeks.

Ray Durham’s hip is acting up too.

With the Rockies and Padres not available as medicine for the all of a sudden limping Giants, they ordered up three games with the Pirates instead, beginning tonight at Pac Bell.

Jason Schmidt needs to show he is completely healthy for the faithful to relax. With Schmidt, Sidney Ponson, and rookie Jerome Williams leading the way, the team should avoid any long losing streaks which would put the underachieving, yet always a threat, Diamondbacks into the race.

The A’s need to sweep the Tigers, nothing less will suffice. Teams like Detroit can already feel the finish line approaching and during August simply pack it in against the contenders. If the Pirates come at the right time for the Giants, then the Tigers are the perfect prescription for the ailing bats in Oakland.

Both Pittsburgh and the Tigers have won some games lately, but the A’s and Giants need these wins and won’t slip up.

Two different pitchers in Detroit. Nate Cornejo doesn’t strike anyone out, while Rich Harden might strike ten out tonight.

Jamie Moyer goes against the Indians and their best pitcher CC Sabathia. Seattle has won five of six from the Tribe this season, with only Freddy Garcia going down to Cleveland.

Today is the anniversary of the game when Cleveland came back from a 14-2 deficit in the seventh inning to beat the Mariners on ESPN’s Sunday night game.

Boston gets to see new acquisition Jeff Suppan at home against Anaheim in Fenway Park. The Sox are a different team at home and I think this series will be an important test for them. Boston has got to show some consistency in its pitching staff and soon, or else their wild card lead will disappear over night.

John Lackey has pitched well lately and the Angels won’t quit I’ll guarantee that, but they are done as far as this season’s playoffs are concerned.

Think the Cubs, only 5 1/2 out of the wild card, and 3 1/2 behind the Astros, are holding their breath as Mark Prior returns tonight aginst San Diego?

Over the last few years Dusty never lost to the Padres when he was with the Giants, so Prior has that going for him too.

Brad Penny gets the first start in Miami’s series with Woody Williams and St. Louis. Times are tense around the Marlins who haven’t been in contention since 1997. They have to realize that they have great pitching and it can carry them to the finish line.

I still say Minnesota will wake up one of these days and jump back into the race. Tonight they could use a good game from Kenny Rogers who faces inconsistent Jason Johnson. Former A’s first round pick Eric DuBose pitched beautifully last night in relief for the Orioles, he has a terrific changeup.

Al Leiter and Ron Villone, you wouldn’t think it would be a close game, but the Mets and Astros will battle it out tonight with the bull pen as usual telling the story.

Horacio Ramirez bears watching the rest of the way to October to see if he will be part of a big three for Atlanta (Maddux and Ortiz are the big two).

Shawn Chacon knows how to pitch in Colorado. The Rockies know how to hit in Colorado, the Phillies don’t hit anywhere. This one should be in the Colorado column when the night ends unless Brett Myers is a fast learner.

Can Tampa Bay hit or what? They may give the Mariners and A’s some fits at the end of August. Lou Piniella will settle for nothing else. Now, if they only had some pitching. All right Victor Zambrano is hot and Jermi Gonzalez seems to go deep into the game, but you know what I mean.

Some teams have to look their pursuers in the eye to get going, I thnik that is who the A’s are. Art Howe never let this team back down from a tough series when leading them into the playoffs, overcoming big odds every August. Even though Art is in NY, the boys will remember his lessons and will turn it up once they see the Sox, both White and Red beginning Friday night in Chitown.

Nothin’ like the pennant race once August comes a callin’.