Opinion

Losers of two straight games, the Kansas City Royals turn to staff ace James Shields to get back on the winning track against his former team, the Tampa Bay Rays, Tuesday night at Kauffman Stadium.

The story of the Major League Baseball closer is not unlike the story of man. It's an evolutionary saga.

A few years back, an asteroid fell to earth. When it cracked open, humanoid apes crawled out and populated the land. Then there was a monolith. Then there was a mound, high heat, wicked sliders and goofy facial hair.

And that's how closers came to be. The short version of the tale, anyway.

Coming into the 2013 season, Cincinnati Reds fans expected Johnny Cueto, not Mat Latos, to contend for the National League Cy Young. With an injury to the ace, things have changed in a hurry.

The American League East division was expected to be turned upside down in 2013. The Toronto Blue Jays were written in as the favorites to win the division while the New York Yankees were expected to struggle mightily.

While you were sleeping Monday, there were two Major League Baseball games being played deep into the night between the New York Mets and Miami Marlins and the Los Angeles Angels and Oakland Athletics. 

The Mets and Marlins had the benefit of starting at 7:05 p.m. ET, so even though they played 15 innings and over 5.5 hours, that contest ended around 12:30 a.m. on the east coast. 

The Detroit Tigers brought outfielder Torii Hunter on board for the 2013 season for two reasons: To help stabilize the top of the batting order to set up Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder and give a veteran voice in the clubhouse.

If April is any indication of what Hunter brings to the table at the plate, then the mission has been accomplished.

When the Tampa Bay Rays signed veteran catcher Jose Molina to a two-year deal worth $3.3 million following the 2011 season, they actually got much more than what the 37-year-old's numbers show.

Sometimes in life you just have to toss a perfectly good pie in your face.

Brandon Moss was exhausted; everybody was. The A's had just taken on the Angels through 19 innings, leaving the announcers weary, the fans yawning and the players ready to hit the showers.

Not so fast, because we have some pie throwing and sports-drink tossing to get to before you leave the stadium.

Through the first month of the 2013 season, the New York Yankees have defined themselves as the team that overcomes setbacks.

They knew coming into the regular season that the first month would be a challenge.  With Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira all expected to be out until May 1, the club's prognosis was grim.