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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. Wholesale Celtics Jerseys .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. Cheap Celtics Jerseys . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. Jaylen Brown Jersey . Already owning gold from competition in Vancouver in 2010, Loch posted a combined four-run time of 3:27.526. That included a track-record third run of 51. http://www.cheapcelticsjerseys.com/ . Down by seven with 90 seconds left in regulation, thats where they looked comfortable. The matchup Monday night between the Carolina Panthers and host Washington Redskins has playoff implications with three games to go in the regular season.Yet theres another topic that naturally has been making the rounds leading up to the game in Landover, Md. (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).Thats the role of Redskins cornerback Josh Norman, who played with the Panthers and was the focal point of the secondary until he wasnt retained in the spring.Now Norman goes against his former team. At least the Panthers dont expect any surprises from the often-flamboyant and talkative defensive back.I think the guys know what to expect from Josh, Carolina coach Ron Rivera said. Thats the beauty of it.The Redskins dont want Norman or anything else to be a distraction because its a critical time for them as they try to stay in line for an NFC wild card spot. Close games have become part of the process for Washington (7-5-1).With the parity in the NFL, we keep grinding it out and its what we expect, Redskins coach Jay Gruden said.The Panthers have been complimentary of Norman, noting that he became a high-level player with them the past couple of years.He listened and he learned and he grew, Rivera said of Norman said. Those long arms of his come into play. ... The way he practiced improved the level of play around him. He brought a swagger to us. Guys feed off of that and thats what happened.Carolina quarterback Cam Newton said he cant become consumed with Normans actions.Its not a game about him vs. us, Newton said. We just need to win this game.Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins consulted with Norman months ago about some of what to expect from Carolinas defense.It really goes back to the spring, Cousins said. We talked some about the coverages and stuff, but at the end of the day its about executing.Cousins was in the same pre-draft training group a few years ago with Norman, so they had a connection prior to become teammates.What Ive always loved about him is that hes a worker, Cousins said. Winning matters to him. He has been a part of a winning team. He knows what that looks like.Cousins looks like a different quarterback at times as he continues to develop and might be directing a playoff-bound team.I see him building his confidence, Rivera said. I see him making good decisions. I see why they like who he is. To me, it all starts with Kirk Cousins. He has really come along. ... Theyve got play makers and thats what you have to be aware of. Bill Russell Jersey. Carolina ripped the Redskins in a 44-16 home victory last season. That included the defense forcing five turnovers.Hopefully, we dont turn it over five times, Cousins said. Youd like to think were a more mature team ... and you protect the ball better.Cousins said there are lots of similarities with the Panthers defense to what the Redskins had to face a year ago.I remember Carolina being one of the better defenses we played all year, Cousins said. A lot of the same players are back. I do think their defense is still very good and smart players.With Norman now on the opposing team, the Redskins have been keen on praising the Panthers secondary this week. That includes rookie cornerbacks James Bradberry and Daryl Worley.Its hard to come into this league and play right away, Cousins said of Carolinas rookie cornerbacks.Cousins has been praised for his poise and precision at times as the Redskins have hung tough in the NFC East. The offense has become more difficult to defend.No matter whos on the field, we spread it around, Cousins said. Youre building that chemistry on knowing where guys should be.Its unclear if Cousins will have to contend with Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, who has missed three games because of a concussion. Kuechly was cleared from the NFLs concussion protocol on Saturday but Rivera did not commit to playing him.The Redskins were glad to have extra time because of the Monday night game. That might give linebackers Sua Cravens (elbow) and Will Compton (knee sprain) time to recover from ailments, while special teams player Mack Brown entered the concussion protocol based on a hit last week against Philadelphia.The Panthers (5-8) have to win their final three games and receive quite a bit of help to land in the playoffs. Its a complicated path to the postseason even for a team that has won four of its last seven games.There is no room for error and we have to rely on certain other things happening, Rivera said. At the end of the day, our concern is our next game. We play the Redskins on Monday night and I believe our guys are going to prep and get ready. ... Our intention is to win them all.Washington holds a 7-5 edge in the all-time series with the Panthers, whove won the past four meetings. 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