Who Said Something About the Royals Getting to 3 Straight World Series?

We can now announce the first batsu game of the 2016 MLB season, with less than a week to go.

The defending World Series champion Kansas City Royals have officially been eliminated from playoff contention, being 5 games back of the wild card (behind 6 different teams) and being 10 1/2 back of AL Central champions Cleveland.

Tim picked the hometown Royals to get back to the World Series for the third straight year - remember, they lost it in 2014 (after a 29-year playoff absence) to San Francisco in 7 games, and won it last year over the Mets in 5 - in both sets of picks, and picked KC to win it all in his original set of picks.

Before we get to the announcement, the last team to reach three straight World Series: the New York Yankees, from 1998 to 2001 (4 straight) - and they went 3-1.

Tim, batsu game!

Mike shouldn't feel too comfortable either.  His initial pick to win it all, St. Louis, is a game back of the wild card behind Tim's adjusted winner, San Francisco.

Mike's adjusted winner, Washington, won the NL East and are in the playoffs.

In terms of picks, at the moment:

Mike's originals: 5/10
Both sets of picks for Tim: 6/10
Mike's adjusteds: 7/10

Lastly, as tradition when we talk Royals and playoffs, let's cue "Stan's dad":

And Then There Were 7...

Mike's search for a new NFL team to pull for is a slow and deliberate process requiring lots of input.

That input - mostly from a phone conversation with his brother in Oklahoma - whittled his list of potential NFL teams down from 9 to 7.

Casualty #1: New England Patriots.  One word: Cheating.

Casualty #2: Cincinnati Bengals.  Because Pittsburgh is on the short list, and Mike's family (with the exception of his late mother) have pro-Steeler leanings, it was suggested that both Cincinnati and Cleveland be dropped from the list.  Cincinnati is being dropped out of this consideration... but Cleveland remains, mainly because Mike feels for the Dawg Pounders who had the actual Art Modell to deal with (and Mike sat with the Dawg Pound during the Browns' first game back in existence, the 1999 Hall of Fame Game in nearby Canton).

So, the list of potential teams is now:

• Arizona Cardinals
• Cleveland Browns
• Green Bay Packers
• Houston Texans
• New Orleans Saints
• New York Football Giants
• Pittsburgh Steelers

We may narrow it down further on an upcoming podcast, but for now it is what it is.