power versus mind power, but I know we win the celebration pa

PHILADELPHIA -- The Kansas City Royals won two straight American League pennants and captured the 2015 World Series behind a batting order whose motto was keep the line moving.The narrative went a lot more smoothly when the line wasnt frayed in so many places. Three months into the season, the Royals rank 14th in the American League in runs, and manager Ned Yosts lineup cards are a monument to improvisation. Mike Moustakas is out for the year with a torn knee ligament. Alex Gordon just returned from the disabled list. Lorenzo Cain just went on the disabled list. Kendrys Morales looked downright somnambulant in April and May before hitting .402 in June, and Alcides Escobars penchant for swinging at everything isnt quite as endearing as it was in the 2015 postseason.Given the circumstances, Eric Hosmer picked an optimal time to raise his game to the next level. Through Fridays 4-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, Hosmer leads Kansas City in batting average (.304), hits (93), runs (43), doubles (18), total bases (149), walks (29) and OPS. (.851), and hes tied for second on the team in home runs with 12. He even has a two-homer game against Chris Sale, a distinction that should qualify him for some kind of award.Hosmer held a lead of about 600,000 votes over Detroits Miguel Cabrera in the latest round of American League All-Star balloting, and he appears to be a lock to represent the Royals on July 12 at Petco Park in San Diego. Along with Salvador Perez and Cain, he has been one of the few constants for a Kansas City team thats trying to maintain contact with the magma-hot Cleveland Indians in the AL Central.Franchise icon George Brett consistently raved about Hosmers skill set years ago, so the events of this season havent come as a great surprise to the Royals. At 26, Hosmer is at the stage of his career where his accrued knowledge is catching up to his natural gifts.Hes got a better game plan, Royals manager Ned Yost said. Every time he steps up to the batters box, you see him adjusting to situations. His experience and success have allowed him to understand the art of hitting and be better prepared.Hosmer is doing lots of damage while seeing fastballs a mere 50.4 percent of the time (through Friday) -- the 11th lowest ratio of any hitter in the majors. Thats understandable given his gaudy numbers against hard stuff on both the inner and outer halves of the plate.Hosmers success is less a product of mechanical adjustments than an ability to think along with pitchers in given situations. He has made major advances through watching video, studying scouting reports and engaging in a running give-and-take with Royals hitting coach Dale Sveum.The numbers dont lie, Hosmer said. You learn if a guy likes to throw an 0-1 fastball, or if he likes to throw it as soon as he gets behind in the count. You kind of adjust to whos on the mound and have a game plan each and every day. When I was younger and I came up, it was kind of see ball, hit ball. Nowadays, especially with the bullpens that teams have, its too hard to go up there and do that.Sometimes its about taking chances and not being afraid to strike out. We played Boston, and I saw [David Ortiz] swing at a curveball that went 55 feet. When you see a guy like him do that, you realize you have to go up there with that game plan and try and take chances. You cant be afraid to look stupid on pitches.Its worth remembering that Hosmer logged only 1,016 at-bats in the minor leagues after signing with Kansas City out of high school as the No. 3 pick in the 2008 first-year player draft. Eight years later, Hosmer and San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey are clearly the crown jewels of that draft.This season, Kansas Citys injury issues have created an opportunity for infielders Whit Merrifield and Cheslor Cuthbert, players who werent necessarily in the mix during spring training. While Merrifield (a .315 batting average) and Cuthbert (.274 with seven homers) have responded admirably, theyve had the luxury of breaking in with a fraction of the scrutiny that Hosmer and Moustakas encountered as perceived franchise saviors a few years ago.Its a little bit tougher when guys have no track record, Yost said. Would you rather have your core group of guys? Yeah, absolutely. But sitting in this seat, its about managing change and doing your best to find players who can cover for you. Its important to keep as much stress as you can off them and have an atmosphere where they can thrive. Our players do a great job of staying loose every day.Not that the Royals are satisfied with the current state of affairs, by any means. Theyre last in the majors with 180 walks and 27th overall with 72 home runs, and their mediocre production with runners in scoring position continues to be an issue. But when the teams best player stands in the middle of the clubhouse and insists that good things are on the horizon, how can they not believe?Listen, Hosmer said. Weve been to the World Series the last two years. Were not a joke. Were confident in what we do and we know were gonna break out of it. A lot of people dont like to give us the credit, but we know how good a team we are.Every day, in the field and at the plate, Hosmer continues to do his part for the cause. With a little luck and some better health, the Royals could have a run in them yet. Nolan Ryan Jersey .Y. -- Canadas Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse have another World Cup gold medal after winning the two-women bobsled race on Saturday in Lake Placid, N. Jeurys Familia Jersey . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. http://www.baseballmetsproshop.com/mets-mike-piazza-jersey/ .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. Tug McGraw Jersey . Its sharpness matched my mind. This was no night to go to sleep. David Wright Jersey .Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker.West Indies captain Darren Sammy says his side is driven by a lack of respect from their detractors. Sammy was in bullish mood on the eve of the World Twenty20 final against England, cracking jokes throughout his press conference - but he also hit back passionately at critics of the team.The Windies boast some of T20 crickets most dangerous and experienced players and are ranked No 2 in the world, but were not rated among the favourites in India and had few high-profile advocates. Sammy and England captain Eoin Morgan share a joke Broadcaster Mark Nicholas dismissed them as being short of brains in a tournament preview, words which have fuelled them on their charge to the final.People paint us as money-grabbing cricketers because of our success in T20 cricket but still they dont respect us in this format, Sammy said.Everybody is entitled to their opinion. But whatever they say it doesnt really matter. How could you describe people with no brains. Animals (have) got brains. Were not an object.To me that particular comment really set it off for us. To describe our team, who were defending champions two years ago, as guys with no brains is really out of order.Gods dont love the ugly. Were very wonderfully, beautifully made and thats why we play exciting cricket. Having pitched his team as David versus Goliath ahead of their semi-final against India, he was asked what role they took against England. Sky Live: England v West Indies England and the West Indies will battle to become the first two-time winners of the World Twenty20 We are always David. David is a winner, he said. Even now I still think people dont give us a chance. Goliath is big and strong but David defeated him with one shot.We will always see ourselves as David. We will play like David, be smart about it, believe in ourselves in the dressing room. Watch the West Indies players celebrate in style after their World T20 semi-final win over India If we do all these things we know we could do with that belief, were going to lift the cup.dddddddddddd.The West Indies Champion dance has gained cult status since they arrived at the competition, enthusiastically aired after every victory and even in defeat alongside Afghanistan.They were also filmed performing their moves in the lobby of the team hotel following their victory over India, and Sammy is already anticipating the merriment that would follow victory on Sunday. Sammy, Dwayne Bravo and Chris Gayle perform the Champions dance Just thinking about lifting that cup tomorrow, I can almost foresee whats going to happen after. But we have a game of cricket to play first, he said.Its going to be a match-up of skill versus skill and mind power versus mind power, but I know we win the celebration part.You can watch England take on the West Indies, live on Sky Sports 2 HD from 1.30pm on Sunday.By purchasing a Sky Sports Day Pass for £6.99 or Sky Sports Week Pass for £10.99, you can enjoy access to all seven Sky Sports channels and watch on a TV with a NOW TV Box or on a range of devices. Also See: West Indies more than Gayle Sky Live: England v West Indies Player of World T20? Eng v WI: Key battles Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '