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No Love for World Series?

October 23, 2014 Derek Dye

With nearly a week between games for both the Royals and Giants, there was plenty of time to dissect every part of the match-up. Sports writers are who they are because of sports – sporting events, not breaks in games. Some baseball writers got bored with the impasse in games and voiced their opinion on the 2014 World Series. The general consensus of the baseball world was excitement and buzz for another Fall Classic, whiles other took an alternative approach.

Multiple credible authors wrote this series off already, deeming it the “Worst World Series of All-Time” because the series lacked the “must watch” factor. Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t a team punching their 3rd World Series ticket in 5 year a big deal? The Giants are a borderline dynasty, and if they take the crown this year. Who has been better the past decade or so? They have owned the 2010’s. They have household names like Buster, Panda and MadBum. Okay, those are more like street nicknames but you knew who I was referring to.

On the other side of the diamond, you have the Royals. An organization who ended a 29-year playoff drought with a blazing 8-game winning streak. An electric city who has embraced their “lovable losers” and has become a tough, tough place to win. A team full of youth, talent and most importantly heart. Make no mistake these 2014 AL Champion Royals are must-watch TV. Their unique brand of baseball has caught not only the midwest but the nation by storm. They have been called a team of destiny, a team that caught fire at the right time, a lucky team. Maybe it’s a bit of all three. The best part of baseball is unpredictability, and the Royals give you that in bunches. Bunting in odd spots, stealing third, catching would-be gap shots time and time again. These guys can play.

Maybe it’s a preference thing. Some people like watching the same powerhouse teams battling with their $200 Millions dollar rosters, some people like stars – Trout, Kershaw, Jeter and then some people just appreciate the parity of the playoffs and enjoy the game. No one person is wrong. At the end of the day, the remote is in your hand and the decision to watch is yours. But be warned, you might just miss something you have never seen before.

Calling a World Series irrelevant before it happens is erroneous and holds zero merit. This Fall Classic, now nodded up at 1, will be another classic.

World Series Preview

October 17, 2014October 21, 2014 Derek Dye

Two weeks ago, the Royals and Giants were not sure if they would even get an opportunity to play more than one game in the 2014 Postseason. Both teams had to battle their way through their respective league’s one-game wildcard. Maybe that was the key to their runs. Maybe playing must-win games bring club’s together. It is hard to argue with the results – 9 straight wins for Kansas City and two convincing series wins for San Fran.

Some analysts are putting a David v. Goliath twist on this series because of the Giants success of the past decade with multiple trips to the Fall Classic. And then there is the Royals who are trekking into the World Series for the first time in three decades. Edge? You would probably lean towards the proven “dynasty” since they have experience. But…

This Kansas City team has made the nation believers. How can you not? 9 straight wins. Not a single blemish so far, production from top to bottom, and a 7th, 8th and 9th Inning combo that is as close to untouchable as it gets. Playoff Baseball does not cater to history, anything can happen as we have seen all postseason. From what we have seen, the Royals are playing the best baseball in the world. And the Giants are playing very, very good baseball too. Let’s check out the match-ups.

Catcher: Posey (SF) is the clear choice here. Arguably the best in the game, a hit machine and calls a good game. Perez (KC) is a top 5 catcher who has scuffled at the plate in the postseason sans the game-winner that got them into the big dance.

1st Base: Hosmer (KC) beat out Belt (SF). Eric Hosmer has been hot since returning from an injury in July and has been even hotter in the postseason. He is a free swinger with huge opposite field power and can drop singles in too. And a Gold Glove in 2013 to boot.

2nd Base: Panik (SF) has more pop in his bat than Infante (KC) but on the biggest stage, this shapes up to be too-close to call when it’s all said and done. Panik’s bat and Infante’s glove even each other out.

Shortstop: Escobar (KC) is a premier defensive SS (See a trend here with a Royals and defense?). He had some timely hits in ALCS and swiped 30 bags in the regular season. Crawford (SF) is a major league starter, a gritty player but not Escobar’s caliber.

3rd Base: Sandoval (SF) is a proven postseason performer. He has the glove, the clutch hits and the experience. Don’t overlook “Moose” from the AL squad. Moustakas (KC) has 4 long balls in 8 games and has been a key contributor from the 9-hole.

Outfield: Impossible to pick against a unit who has made zero mistakes and caught essentially everything so the Royals OF has the upper hand, or glove rather. Lorenzo Cain (KC) is showcasing his unique skill set. He is a true 5-tool player. Hunter Pence will have his moments but Gordon, Cain, Aoki is as good as it gets now.

Bench: Kansas City. When you pinch run two different guys with olympic speed, you have the edge. Stealing bases in in KC’s DNA and with Gore and Dyson, pitchers will not be comfortable in the late innings.

Starting Pitching: San Francisco, barely. Bumgarner is better than Shields, so there is +2. Ventura-Hudson? Depends which version you get. Vogelsong-Vargas? Probably Vogelsong… Probably? It’s close, but the best pitcher in the series wears black and orange so there is the edge.

Bullpen: Kansas City. Next topic. Royals’ bullpen has been as close to perfect as it gets. 97mph+ by all 3 guys, command, poise. If the Royals take a lead into the 7th, go ahead and chalk it up a Blue win. Casilla (SF) shows some signs of fatigue in Game 5, could hurt his confidence moving forward.

Manager: Bruce Bochy (SF) is a future Hall of Famer. He seems to always know who is the right guy at the right time. Proven postseason record and calm under pressure. Ned Yost (KC) had one foot out the door in the play-in game until the unthinkable happened and now he is a genius. He called for Dyson to steal third. That took some major guts, Ned knows his guys and used his bullpen well, too.

Prediction: Royals in 6. Something special is brewing in Kansas City. It’s not just a feel good story, this team is the best team in MLB. Make no mistake, these kids know how to win and will finish what they have started.

MVP: Alex Gordon will break out of his ALCS batting funk and deliver multiple clutch hits. And his defense will be stellar as always. .420, HR, 7 RBI in the WS.

And They’ll Never Be Royal(s)

October 16, 2014 Derek Dye

Sports have a funny way of messing with our sense of time. When a team is struggling, seasons seem to take years to finish, and when your team is rolling, weeks fly by. Now take that struggling scenario I mentioned and multiply it by 29. Almost three decades of forgettable campaigns. Fans always get promised that next year it would be better. We know the old sports adage, “Just wait until next year, we are so close”. These past three seasons, the one team that could legitimately believe in that statement would be the Royals.

Kansas City has been on the cusp of the postseason the past few years. Their essentially homegrown core had started to show signs of what everyone thought they could be. No longer were these Royals the doormat of the AL Central. They were competing with the best of them, and learning about who they were. Their ownership never wavered on decision making. Like any great organization – there was a goal, a path and an action plan to turn that goal into reality. Last night in front of 40,000 screaming, delirious fans who have stuck with them through it all, it all came to fruition for the Royals.

Royals fan or not, if you have watched them this month, you have to be in awe. 9 straight postseason victories. Not one loss. They have defeated the two winningest clubs in the AL via the sweep. They have ignited a flame in a city that has had sub-par sports for decades. This team is as real as it gets. A humble group of not yet stars who have put their unique skills together at the right time. The Royals play baseball unlike any team in recent memory. Stellar defense, quality starting pitching, timely hitting, sneaky power, lightning speed and the BEST bullpen we have seen in years. This team is no fluke. This is a team of destiny, built correctly, been through hell and back and finally having their day.

It’s a great story, a true underdog story that will not rest until they are on top of the podium again holding the World Series Trophy. The Royals have arrived, America. Sit back and enjoy.

MLB LCS Preview

October 8, 2014September 10, 2015 Derek Dye

One week, two sweeps and two four-game series into the MLB Postseason and we ready to advance to the League Championship Series. While the National League’s looks close to what we expected, the American offers some new characters to the reality show that is postseason baseball. Fresh off of 3-game sweeps, the Baltimore Orioles will face the Kansas City Royals in a best-of-7 set with the winner representing the AL.

In the senior circuit, October mainstays, St. Louis & San Francisco will do battle. The Cardinals clinched their 4th straight trip to the NLCS last night when they knocked out Clayton Kershaw for the second time in the series. While many have grown accustomed to late-inning heroics coming out of the STL, the Giants are have been riding some late inning magic also. The Giants show up to the NLCS with the sort of mojo Boston had last season. Sure they do not have rugged beards, but they have a lot of winning players and arguably a deeper line-up, rotation and bullpen than the presumable favorites from the midwest. Looking forward to a competitive 4-2 series win for San Fran.

Over on the AL – ALCS/NLCS Preview expect the unexpected. Both teams come into the ALCS as preseason long-shots to outlast the big names – Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, and Tigers. It is hard to argue either team is coming in with an edge as they both used some magic to close their opening series. Both fan bases are rabid and yearning for a pennant. Pitching usually trumps all in postseason series, and the Royals boast a stronger rotation and bullpen than the O’s. The Orioles hit the long balls, the Royals play small ball and rely on 2-out hitting and base running. Which club will run out of steam in the ALCS? Predicting a 4-2 series win for the Royals. A close, close series.

Play ball!