{"id":107974,"date":"2024-09-28T15:26:51","date_gmt":"2024-09-28T08:26:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=107974"},"modified":"2024-09-28T15:26:51","modified_gmt":"2024-09-28T08:26:51","slug":"royals-clinch-al-wild-card-1st-playoff-appearance-since-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=107974","title":{"rendered":"Royals clinch AL wild card, 1st playoff appearance since 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-meta\"><span class=\"timestamp \">Sep 27, 2024, 11:23 PM ET<\/span><\/div>\n<p>ATLANTA &#8212; The <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"11a5df00-0945-35a5-66fe-a3a107975558\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/kc\/kansas-city-royals\">Kansas City Royals<\/a> completed one of the most remarkable turnarounds in major league history Friday night, clinching an American League wild card despite a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/recap?gameId=401570858\">3-0<\/a> loss to the <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"122673a3-bf06-4432-6950-b8a32e52ac2e\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/atl\/atlanta-braves\">Atlanta Braves<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>A year ago, the Royals matched a franchise record with 106 losses. Now, they are headed to the postseason for the first time since winning the 2015 World Series.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re just so proud of everyone,&#8221; said shortstop <a data-player-guid=\"953a1c30-3f92-3387-bc26-c4ad94124e87\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/42403\/bobby-witt-jr\">Bobby Witt Jr<\/a>., the face of the revitalized franchise. &#8220;This is just the beginning of something special.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The celebration was delayed by a masterful performance from Atlanta pitcher <a data-player-guid=\"00ce805c-4c3d-c1c9-ab93-a6410f947e7b\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/32685\/max-fried\">Max Fried<\/a>. But the Royals finally popped the champagne corks in the visitors&#8217; clubhouse at Truist Park when the <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"a6e97b3f-4244-98be-79a2-f4b33f3365e6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/min\/minnesota-twins\">Minnesota Twins<\/a> were eliminated with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/recap?gameId=401570854\">7-2<\/a> loss to the <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"9ca473b8-e73e-a33d-8ea0-b4d160be4be7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/bal\/baltimore-orioles\">Baltimore Orioles<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This isn&#8217;t how we ideally wanted it,&#8221; Witt said. &#8220;But we&#8217;re here. We did it. We&#8217;re so proud of each other. We can&#8217;t let one game control our season.&#8221;<\/p>\n<aside class=\"inline editorial float-r\" data-behavior=\"article_related\">\n<h2 class=\"editorial-title\">Editor&#8217;s Picks<\/h2>\n<p>2 Related<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Led by second-year manager Matt Quatraro, Kansas City is the first team in baseball history to make the playoffs after posting such a dismal mark the previous season.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, since the start of the expansion era in 1961, the Royals are just the third team to advance to the postseason after losing at least 100 games the previous year.<\/p>\n<p>The Twins earned a wild card in 2017 after going 59-103 a year earlier, and the 2020 Florida Marlins qualified for a wild card during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign coming off a 57-105 debacle.<\/p>\n<p>The Royals quickly fell on hard times after claiming back-to-back AL pennants in 2014 and 2015 and their first World Series title in 30 years. They had not recorded a winning season since their championship run, losing at least 100 games in three of the past six, and were a laughingstock just a year ago.<\/p>\n<p>That all changed this season with a team led by Witt, who became the first shortstop in major league history with multiple seasons of at least 30 homers and 30 steals.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You can&#8217;t help but be proud,&#8221; general manager J.J. Picollo said. &#8220;It was a battle all year long. We overcame a lot of odds.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The Royals have struggled down the stretch, enduring a pair of seven-game losing streaks.<\/p>\n<p>It didn&#8217;t stop them in the end.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We had some adversity here the last month of the season,&#8221; Picollo said. &#8220;But this is a tough, resilient group and we got through and here we are celebrating this moment.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Witt tops the majors with 210 hits and a .332 batting average, to go along with 32 homers, 109 RBIs and 31 stolen bases.<\/p>\n<p>Veteran catcher <a data-player-guid=\"7e10b059-be78-960b-bc8d-c18c8057c297\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/31127\/salvador-perez\">Salvador Perez<\/a> also is having a huge offensive season with 27 homers and 104 RBIs. The Royals made the playoffs even after losing first baseman <a data-player-guid=\"1504857a-3703-3a40-95e4-f56bcf111a37\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/4109109\/vinnie-pasquantino\">Vinnie Pasquantino<\/a>, who had 97 RBIs before breaking his right thumb and undergoing surgery.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"inline inline-photo full\">\n<figure><picture><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/a1.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2024%2F0928%2Fr1392888_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=570&amp;format=jpg, https:\/\/a1.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2024%2F0928%2Fr1392888_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=1140&amp;cquality=40&amp;format=jpg 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 376px)\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/a1.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2024%2F0928%2Fr1392888_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=375, https:\/\/a1.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2024%2F0928%2Fr1392888_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;cquality=40&amp;format=jpg 2x\" media=\"(max-width: 375px)\"><img class=\" lazyload lazyload\" data-image-container=\".inline-photo\" height=\"320\" width=\"570\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/picture><figcaption class=\"photoCaption\">Hall of Fame Royals infielder George Brett, left, celebrates with pitcher Michael Lorenzen, right, in the locker room after Kansas City clinched an AL wild-card berth Friday night, one year removed from the franchise losing 106 games.\u00a0<cite>Jason Allen\/AP<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/aside>\n<p>There is a chance Pasquantino could return during the playoffs if the Royals make an extended run.<\/p>\n<p>Amazingly, Picollo didn&#8217;t have to break the bank to build a small-market winner.<\/p>\n<p>The players who have led Kansas City to heights not seen in nearly a decade were either on the team last year and just needed a little more time to grow or were free agent signings and trade acquisitions who underscored Picollo&#8217;s baseball savvy.<\/p>\n<p>Just check out the rotation.<\/p>\n<p><a data-player-guid=\"701f498a-81c2-4742-4511-0c17889754e4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/34873\/seth-lugo\">Seth Lugo<\/a>, who is 16-9 with a 3.03 ERA, signed a modest three-year, $45 million free agent deal. <a data-player-guid=\"a6551440-b17b-3fc1-60b7-5dbce0a5bda7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/32640\/michael-wacha\">Michael Wacha<\/a> signed a similar two-year, $32 million deal and is 13-8 with a 3.35 ERA.<\/p>\n<p><a data-player-guid=\"5b245474-0b1d-854e-10eb-1f70b7902e6e\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/41054\/cole-ragans\">Cole Ragans<\/a> has contributed 11 wins with 223 strikeouts after being acquired from the <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"4fa2cf46-09fc-255f-74a1-2a8857b0e671\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/tex\/texas-rangers\">Texas Rangers<\/a> in a trade last season. <a data-player-guid=\"73c04a1b-9b6e-338c-6967-fb1cd8ad0dcb\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/41172\/brady-singer\">Brady Singer<\/a> bounced back from a disappointing 2023, and <a data-player-guid=\"af49246e-0b32-95d5-a10f-5e425be5ca7a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/33252\/michael-lorenzen\">Michael Lorenzen<\/a> is 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in six starts since his arrival just before the trade deadline.<\/p>\n<p>The bullpen has been entirely rebuilt, too, with <a data-player-guid=\"2f2681ee-988a-0fc1-c607-3ef310d5e4a0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/36618\/lucas-erceg\">Lucas Erceg<\/a> earning 11 saves since the Royals landed him in a trade with Milwaukee.<\/p>\n<p>Owner John Sherman said he was thrilled that the fans of Kansas City have a winning team to cheer for again.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I remember we talked about this a lot, maybe in spring training, that all we want to do is play meaningful baseball in August and September and have a chance to play in October,&#8221; Sherman said. &#8220;Here we are.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Nobody seems to be having more fun than Witt, who has put together a historic season after signing an 11-year deal worth $288.7 million to serve as the cornerstone of the franchise.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"pull-quote\"><p>&#8220;I remember we talked about this a lot, maybe in spring training, that all we want to do is play meaningful baseball in August and September and have a chance to play in October. Here we are.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite><\/p>\n<div class=\"img-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" data-lazyload=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=\/i\/teamlogos\/mlb\/500\/kc.png&amp;w=110&amp;h=110\"\/><\/div>\n<p>Royals owner John Sherman<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The son of longtime big league pitcher Bobby Witt is the first player in major league history with multiple 30-30 seasons in his first three years in the majors. Advanced metrics grade him as not only one of baseball&#8217;s best defenders but also one of its fastest players.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s the best player in baseball,&#8221; Ragans said recently. &#8220;A special talent, a special human being.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>While fans in Kansas City have seen Witt&#8217;s stardom blossoming for several seasons, his coming-out party might have come this summer during the Home Run Derby at Globe Life Field in Arlington, not far from where he grew up in Colleyville, Texas.<\/p>\n<p>Witt reached the finals before losing 14-13 to <a data-player-guid=\"b36b2389-f8ea-858f-b985-6a7fa715c3c3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/33377\/teoscar-hernandez\">Teoscar Hernandez<\/a> of the Dodgers in a dramatic showdown that came down to the final swings.<\/p>\n<p>Now, Witt can look forward to an even bigger stage.<\/p>\n<p>The postseason.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1660802\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/story\/_\/id\/41482931\/kansas-city-royals-clinch-american-league-wild-card-berth\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sep 27, 2024, 11:23 PM ET ATLANTA &#8212; The Kansas City Royals completed one of the most remarkable turnarounds in major league history Friday night, clinching an American League wild &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=107974\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-107974","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sports","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107974","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=107974"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107974\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=107974"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=107974"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=107974"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}