Dein erstes Forum » quarter, and failed. Later, Koch got off

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- For two decades, finishing at .500 would have given the Royals reason to celebrate.Two trips to the World Series changes perspective.The Royals spent the first day after the regular season Monday ruing how a season full of promise went awry. There were devastating injuries, key acquisitions failed to live up to big contracts and an offense predicated on manufacturing runs was too often rendered out-of-order.We expected to perform much better and it just didnt happen, general manager Dayton Moore said. Its sad that it ended the way it did. We obviously wish we were still playing. But weve got work to do, as every offseason demands, and well go to work starting tomorrow in Arizona.Not all is lost. Not by a long shot.The Royals return most of their core from last years championship team next year, and are primed for one more run at the postseason. Their window to reach another World Series could close afterward as stars such as Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain and Danny Duffy reach free agency in 2018.Thats something we discuss constantly, Moore said. We wont be able to sign them all, as you know. Thats a tough question and thats something well have to figure out.There is still plenty of work to do before next season, though. Here are the story lines that will dominate the offseason, which came far too early for fans in Kansas City.GETTING HEALTHYMoustakas should be ready for spring after surgery to repair his ACL, and others dealt with nagging injuries that limited them down the stretch: Sal Perez had hamstring and knee trouble, Hosmer had a wrist injury, Cain was dealing with a sprained hand. More than anything else, the Royals simply need to get to full strength by spring.STARTING ROTATIONThe Royals struggled all season to find a fifth starter, finally getting left-hander Jason Vargas back from Tommy John surgery in the waning weeks of the regular season. He should be ready to go for spring, but there are still holes in the rotation.Edinson Volquez has a mutual option for next season, though it is hardly a foregone conclusion either side will exercise it. Volquez may want to shoot for a multiyear deal while the Royals may be reticent to pay him $10 million after he went 10-11 with a 5.37 ERA.Duffy, Vargas, Yordano Ventura and Ian Kennedy still should give the Royals three solid starters. But they could be in the market again for that fifth arm.Were living above our means, Moore admitted, when asked about taking on another big contract. This payroll was put together to go deep into the postseason, and Im accountable for that. Its not going to look very good on the spreadsheet and thats not going to look very good when the bill comes due.SPEAKING OF MONEYThe Royals will have to decide whether to exercise a $10 million option on All-Star closer Wade Davis and a $6.5 million option on light-hitting shortstop Alcides Escobar. Davis is a relative easy one. Despite dealing with injuries, he had a 1.87 ERA with 27 saves.Escobar is a bit trickier. The Royals could pay a $500,000 buyout and give the job to upcoming prospect Raul Mondesi Jr., using the savings to address other issues.Im working hard and just waiting for my time, Mondesi said. Offseason, Im going to work. Next year, come focused and concentrate and do my job.THOSE OTHER ISSUESOne of the priorities will likely be retaining designated hitter Kendrys Morales, who will be looking for a multiyear deal after hitting .263 with 30 homers and 93 RBI. The reason he was invaluable was that Kansas City struggled to score runs, and he was one of the only power bats in the lineup. Along with bringing him back, the Royals will be looking for another impact bat in the outfield from a relatively week free-agent class.WINDOW CLOSINGHosmer, Cain, Duffy and several others are under club control through next season, but that doesnt mean Moore will wait for them to hit free agency. There is a good chance he begins the difficult negotiations on long-term deals to retain what they view as their core.Im really proud of these players. Theyre my kind of guys, said manager Ned Yost, who will also be back next season. They play hard and they never quit. That makes it fun. Air Force 1 Sale . The Barrie Colts defenceman, who impressed many with his play for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship, is the top-ranked skater in the February rankings. He has 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in 45 games with the Colts this season. Discount Nmd Shoes .J. -- Marshawn Lynch said Thursday it will be good to get back to football after the Seattle quiet talking running back wrapped up his final mandatory media session of Super Bowl week. http://www.cheapairmaxchinawholesale.com/jordan-1-outlet.html . -- Aldon Smith believes he is on the path to being sober for good. Balenciaga Wholesale . Now that hes hitting streaking teammates with pin-point passes for easy layups, Love is asserting himself as one of the true superstars in the league. Yeezy Boost 350 Cheap . Howard Ganz, an MLB lawyer, said in a letter to U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos that Rodriguezs claims do not come "remotely close" to what is needed to overturn an arbitration decision in federal court. BALTIMORE -- The Washington Redskins abandoned their usual formula for victory -- the passing of Kirk Cousins -- to extend their winning streak to three.Washington used an 85-yard punt return by Jamison Crowder and an uncharacteristically strong performance by its defense to beat the Baltimore Ravens 16-10 on Sunday.The Redskins (3-2) allowed 108 points in their first four games and came in with the leagues 29th-ranked defense. In this one, Washington gave up a touchdown on the games opening drive and smothered the Ravens (3-2) the rest of the way.The defense stepped up, coach Jay Gruden said. The first drive was a little scary. Here we go again. But we came back, took it personal and played well.The game wasnt decided until the final minute, when an apparent 23-yard touchdown catch by Baltimores Breshad Perriman was overturned by replay. Perriman got his right foot down in the end zone, but his left foot was out of bounds.That put an appropriate end to a miserable day for the Ravens offense, which was limited to 125 yards after halftime.We cant play like that and win, coach John Harbaugh said. We have to be better than we were today.Crowder scored Washingtons first TD with a sensational run through the middle of the Baltimore punt return team in the second quarter.The Redskins went ahead 13-10 in the third quarter with a 50-yard drive following a wind-shortened punt by Sam Koch. Cousins connected with Crowder for 23 yards before lofting a 21-yard pass to Pierre Garcon, who got behind Jimmy Smith and caught the ball in the left side of the end zone.The definitive momentum shift occurred minutes later. With the Redskins operating from near their own 3, Ravens linebacker C.J. Mosley intercepted a pass by Cousins at the 13, but lost control of the football while reaching for the end zone. The ball rolled out of bounds in the end zone for a touchback, and the Redskins subsequently moved 72 yards for a field goal and a 16-10 lead.Cousins went 29 for 41 for 260 yards. But it was the defense that won the game for the Redskins.Washington repeatedly frustrated Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco, who was 30 for 46 for 210 yards and sacked tthree times.ddddddddddddThe Ravens have lost two in a row -- both at home -- after opening with three straight wins. All of their games have been decided by six points or fewer.Baltimore scored a touchdown on its opening possession for the first time this season, on a 7-yard pass from Flacco to tight end Crockett Gillmore.Crowder responded with the Redskins first punt return for a touchdown since 2008. But the conversion attempt clanged off the left upright.A field goal by Justin Tucker made it 10-6 in the second quarter. The Ravens had a chance to add to the lead after recovering a fumble by Matt Jones at the Washington 15, but a fake field-goal attempt went awry.WINDBLOWNPlaying in a stiff wind, neither team got much from its kicking game. Dustin Hopkins missed an extra point for Washington and came up short on a 56-yard field goal try.Baltimore opted to try a fake field goal in the second quarter, and failed. Later, Koch got off a 36-yard punt that didnt rise more than 20 feet off the ground.INJURIESRedskins: CB Josh Norman missed part of the second quarter with an undisclosed injury. OT Morgan Moses was taken out with a head injury that was not deemed to be a concussion.Ravens: Baltimore played most of the game without receiver Steve Smith, who sprained an ankle late in the first quarter. The Ravens also lost OT Rick Wagner (thigh) and endured a second straight game without rookie tackle Ronnie Stanley (foot).INACTIVESRedskins: Top draft picks Josh Doctson (Achilles) and Sua Cravens (concussion) were on the inactive list. Also inactive: starting CB Bashaud Breeland (ankle).Ravens: CB Shareece Wright was inactive. He started the first four games, but struggled in the last three. Ravens say Wright had back spasms recently, but he practiced all week.RUNNING MENRedskins: Jones ran for 31 yards on 14 carries and lost a fumble for the first time this season.Ravens: Terrance West peeled off a 35-yard run on the opening possession, Baltimores longest of the year. He finished with 95 yards on 11 carries. ' ' '