Kansas City Royals Bring More Mojo Into 2014 World Series Than San Francisco Giants
By Doug LaCerte
@DLaC67
Getty Images
The Kansas City Royals proved over the last two and a half weeks that they’re the most intimidating team in baseball. After breaking a long list of records that includes becoming the first team ever to win their first eight games of the postseason, how can anyone conceive of KC playing even better ball against the San Francisco Giants in the upcoming World Series?
Despite all their heroics, the Royals struggled in numerous facets during the ALCS. A Royals rotation that often dominated in the regular season actually struggled in the first two games of this series. Big Game James Shields and the often-unhittable Yordano Ventura both gave up four earned runs without throwing six full innings. Baltimore Orioles skipper Buck Showalter deserves serious credit for pulling out all his tricks to throw a wrench in KC’s base-running strategy. Thanks to his tactical efforts, the Orioles actually out-stole the Royals 2-1 in this ALCS. Thankfully for fans of America’s Team, KC still managed to make that all irrelevant.
The power team outran the speed team, but the speed team out-homered the power team; KC had four home runs in the series to Baltimore’s two. An Orioles offense that averaged 4.35 runs per game in the regular season and seven per game in previous postseason efforts was held to a single run in consecutive games when it mattered most by the back end of KC’s rotation. The way in which KC won their latest two games makes them even more intimidating than ever before.
After showcasing a previously unknown potential for clutch home runs during Games 1 and 2 in Baltimore, KC returned to their style of play at Kauffman Stadium. Solid pitching, great defense and good, old-fashioned small ball reigned supreme when the Royals most needed to put the hammer down, and no single player on the roster better exemplified KC’s strategy than the Championship Series MVP Lorenzo Cain.
In true Royals’ fashion, despite being the hottest hitter on the team, Cain laid down the first sacrifice bunt of his career to put the game-winning run on third base in the first inning. It should go without saying that Cain will never be asked to pay for a drink in this city again. With his constantly outstanding defense and an ALCS slash line at .533/.588/.667, it should also go without saying that he’s one of many Royals who will soon incite some serious frustration in Frisco.
Doug LaCerte is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @DLaC67, “like” him on Facebook and add him to your network on Google.
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