Royal Blue Grit

The Kansas City Royals will end their 2008 season today after an absolutely stunning bout of September baseball. The Royals are on a five game winning streak and have come away as the victors in 13 of their last 15 games. Kansas City also has an eight game road winning streak - that's the most for the Royals since 1977. An 18-7 September record for the 2008 Royals matches a mark set by the 1985 World Series Champions.

Royals teams from the late-1970s into the mid-1980s were personified by George Brett. The epitome of an all-out gritty ballplayer. Brett would take on anyone, even the New York Yankees (i.e. the pine tar game). I'm also proud to say that George Brett, like me, was born in the great state of West Virginia.

Why do I bring up George Brett? Again, it's attitude. During Brett's prime the small-market Royals would battle the evil empire of the New York Yankees almost every year in the playoffs. The Royals weren't intimated, they didn't back down. The 2008 Royals are lead by players like David DeJesus and Mark Teahen and they aren't backing down either. They're leading by example and playing the game the right way. The Result... the Royals beating up on the big boys in their division and for nothing more than pride. I love it!

Hopefully this is a sign of Trey Hillman, the Royals first-year manager, finally putting his brand of gritty, energetic baseball on the field.

Royals fans (like this one) should be proud.