Your qualm is with the playing rules and not the manner in which the Referees must enforce them!

KANSAS CITY, Mo. Kentrell Brice Jersey . - The Kansas City Royals made one of the boldest trades in franchise history two years ago. The Oakland Athletics made a similarly aggressive move just a couple of months ago.The results of both will be in the starting spotlight Tuesday night.For the Royals, its Big Game James a€” James Shields, the centerpiece of a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays that finally pushed the long-downtrodden franchise into the post-season for the first time in 29 years. For the As, its Jon Lester a€” the post-season star of the Red Sox last season who was acquired by Oakland at the trading deadline just for this moment.The one-game AL wild-card playoff. The winner advances to face the Los Angeles Angels in the best-of-five division series Thursday. The loser trudges away into the off-season.Ive only been here for two years, Shields said Monday, but when I got traded over here, I knew the magnitude of what this organization was headed for. And when I got here, walking around the city and talking to the fans and really relishing the 29 years, its a special moment.The teams share plenty of similarities: pop-gun offences backed by strong starting pitching and two of the dominant bullpens in baseball.They also share a significant difference: Oakland has plenty of post-season experience, making it three straight years, while Kansas City has languished near the cellar for decades.Thats the biggest reason why Royals general manager Dayton Moore got Shields and shut-down reliever Wade Davis prior to last season, trading soon-to-be AL Rookie of the Year Wil Myers and pitching prospect Jake Odorizzi to Tampa Bay.Moore wanted a legitimate ace for the starting rotation, a pitcher who had tasted post-season success, and who could mould a young but rapidly learning Kansas City clubhouse what it takes to win on the games biggest stage.Shields has delivered. Hes pitching to a 2.31 ERA this September, and the Royals have won four of his starts in some high-pressure games.If you sit back and look at it, it means everything. It was the trade that got us over the hump, Royals manager Ned Yost said. Would we be in this situation without James Shields and Wade Davis? No. In my mind, the trade did exactly what we hoped it would do.While the Royals were comfortable in their staff ace, the As were still searching for their own. They already had several front-line starters, but general manager Billy Beane had been stung by post-season disappointments, and he coveted a horse for such high-leverage games.Turns out that the Red Sox were willing to trade away just that kind of guy.The move Beane made for Lester on July 31, shipping slugger Yoenis Cespedes to Boston, raised eyebrows around the league. And while the Oakland offence took a hit, Lester has done his part. He is 6-4 with a 2.35 ERA in 11 starts since he arrived in the Bay Area.Now, he gets another opportunity to pitch in the post-season.We have a great opportunity ahead of us, said Lester, who some thought should have been the MVP of last years World Series, when he went 2-0 with an 0.59 ERA against St. Louis.Tuesday night will mark Lesters 12th start and 14th post-season appearance.Were going to give it the best shot we can and hopefully at the end of the day were doing this again, he said. You never know whats going to happen. This could be my last chance.It bodes well for him that hes facing the Royals, a team that likens the left-hander to kryptonite. He went 3-0 with a 2.61 ERA against them this season, winning twice in a span of a couple weeks with Oakland. He also no-hit Kansas City in 2008.He has a lot of traits like Shields does. Hes a competitor, Royals outfielder Alex Gordon said. He battles out there. You can tell the way he carries himself ... Obviously his stuff is great, and thats why hes so great in the post-season. Hes a bulldog.The Royals were in a pennant race until the final weekend of the regular season, when Detroit sewed up the AL Central, but they were reasonably secure in their wild card. That wasnt the case for the As, who nearly had to play Seattle in a one-off just for the right to play Tuesday.All that matters now is what happens at Kauffman Stadium, between two starting pitchers who were brought to their respective teams just for this moment.All we can think about is this one game against Oakland, Shields said. We get past this we have a little breathing room. We just have to really focus on this one game and go from there. Ray Nitschke Jersey . Duhamel, from Lively, Ont., and Radford, from Balmertown, Ont., were second with 77.01 points, just behind Olympic bronze medallists Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany. The four-time world champs lead at 79. Jordy Nelson Jersey . Mako Vunipola was promoted from the reserves, with Matt Mullan called up to the bench on Thursday. "It is important that Joe is with his partner at this exciting time," England coach Stuart Lancaster said. http://www.shoptheofficialpackers.com/Elite-Blake-Martinez-Packers-Jersey/ .C. -- Marcus Paige and his North Carolina teammates have endured so many wild swings -- big wins, surprising losses, NCAA drama -- that no one can blame their Hall of Fame coach for wondering whats next.Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn.ca! Hi Kerry, Here is my qualm, which has been happening for quite some time now. When a player like John Scott clearly comes out to do damage, and targets the head of Loui Eriksson, why is Adam McQuaid awarded a penalty even though he technically did the right thing from a hockey perspective? I get that the rules are the rules, but when you were on the ice and saw something like that happen, wouldnt you rather punish the offending party rather than call a foul on McQuaid who was simply sticking up for his teammate? I am not asking you to explain the letter of the law, rather I am asking whether refs have difficulty enforcing penalties even when they know they may not be the right call. Thanks, Bagoon -- Bagoon:Your qualm is with the playing rules and not the manner in which the Referees must enforce them! Even though you dont care to accept the letter of the law you must understand that rules are in place to punish the "offending party" in all cases and to provide added player protection. Adam McQuaid is certainly a standup guy but he must also be held accountable for his decision to instigate a fight. John Scott was the initial offending party when he made a horrible decision to pick the head of Loui Eriksson with a late hit. A referee raised his arm on the play and correctly identified the infraction as a match penalty under rule 48.5 for attempting to or deliberately injuring Eriksson. The assessment of a match is the most severe penalty in the book that a referee can impose. Scott was not only expelled from the game but was automatically suspended from further competition until the Commissioner (Player Safety Committee) has ruled on the issue. John Scott wont be returning to action any time soon! The Ref did his job and the Bruins would have received the benefit of a five-minute power-play had McQuaid not intervened at this point. Please understand that when a match penalty is imposed on a play the only penalty that is dispensed with (not assessed) under the rules is the game misconduct that results from a "third man in" situation. All other player penalties (including the instigator of a fight) are to be imposed. I totally understand what Adam McQuaid did in defence of his teammate, Loui Eriksson. I can think of several other Bruin players that would have done exactly the same thing had they been on the ice at the time or were able to get to Scott before McQuaid did. While many would applaud McQuaid for his response (perhaps even some guys in stripes; albeit silently) the Referees could not turn a blind eye and allow a free pass to McQuaid for his obvious instigation of the fight. That being said, if there was any possible leeway that could have been extended to McQuaid (haad he been a little less obvious in his attack of Scott) I am most certain the Referees would have granted it. Richard Rodgers Jersey. Based on Adam McQuaids actions however the Ref was handcuffed in his ability to simply impose coincidental fighting majors or even an additional minor penalty to McQuaid for roughing instead of the instigator penalty (2 + 10). I have extended every possible courtesy to a player that came to the aid of his teammate like McQuaid did but only when afforded the opportunity to bend a rule (benefit of the doubt) without completely compromising my integrity or that of the rules. It was much easier to do back then when there was no instigator rule to impose. Adam McQuaids subsequent actions are totally and accurately described in rule 46.11; (An instigator of an altercation shall be a player who by his actions or demeanor demonstrates any/some of the following criteria; distance travelled; gloves off first; first punch thrown; menacing attitude or posture; verbal instigation or threats; conduct in retaliation to a prior game (or season) incident; obvious retribution for a previous incident in the game or season.) Perhaps you might remember from a recent column where I said that when a penalty is to be assessed the "meter keeps running." Adam McQuaid started the meter for the Bruins when he took off after John Scott. What you are really suggesting Bagoon ("right thing from a hockey perspective") is for the Referees to allow players to police themselves through vigilante rule. Believe me when I tell you I saw the effect of that far too many times during the 70s-90s! Had this type of hit occurred during some of those eras, Scott would not only have been jumped by McQuaid but the entire Bruin bench would have vaulted over the boards to get at him; followed closely behind by the Sabres to pick a partner! I have witnessed 25 minute brawls on the ice and even under the stands. I for one dont want to go back to that storied element of hockey history. Instead I want to see players punished severely and consistently for dangerous or deliberate hits to the head of an opponent to stop this madness. Hits such as these do not qualify under the banner of "tough" hockey but instead are designed to inflict punishment, deliberate injury and provide the potential to end a players career or worse yet. The Game, the League and the Referees owe every player safe protection under the playing rules and through supplementary discipline. Regardless of how Refs feel personally about a cheap shot they observe on the ice they must do their job and impose the appropriate penalties that result. Turning a blind eye to obvious infractions; negative elements within the game; or a reckless attitude demonstrated by some players is not the answer. Strict enforcement of the playing rules and suspensions are the only responsible position to take. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '