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A Crown Fit For a King

Derek Dye

Championship Collectibles –> Official Royals Memorabilia

Congratulations to the 2015 Kansas City Royals on their World Series Championship.  The small market, big hearted KC club outlasted the New York Mets to win the World Series in 5 games.  Kansas City showed zero quit in all four of their wins coming back from a deficit in each.  They just seem to have a perfect roster with the perfect no quit personality.  This young team was led by their heralded farm system of the late 2000’s including All Stars: Salvador Perez, Eric Hosmer, Alex Gordon, Lorenzo Cain, Alcides Escobar, Mike Moustakas and many more.

We have added over 15 new championship products to honor these Royals.  The link is on the top and bottom of the page. We offer the lowest prices on Championship framed photos and coins.  These items are timeless and will remind you of the amazing, improbable 2015 Kansas City Royals!

#TakeTheCrown —> THEY DID.

Bummed Out

Derek Dye

We love baseball because you will see a play or a situation you have never seen every single game you watch.  Game 7 proved that once again. You could write multiple novels on everything we have witnessed in the past month of October baseball.  Some would be heartbreaking tales, some triumph and another a tale of excellence.  Madison Bumgarner could play many roles in this story – the villian, the savior, the machine.  Bumgarner cemented his legacy with three appearances that will never be duplicated.  Out after out, he picked apart a pesky Royals bunch.

Game 7 lived up to its billing.  Often described as the best night in sports because every pitch, every swing can change the fate of a city.  There is no tomorrow and managers will use every ounce of energy these ballplayers have left.  The Royals miraculous run through October ended last night – 90 feet away from tying the game.  You knew they would not go quietly with the resilience they showed all October. The Royals gave not only Kansas City a month to remember but an entire nation seemed to be pulling for the underdogs.  Of course a World Series would have been the perfect storybook ending but it was not in the cards this time.

Although the build up of the World Series was not as big as years pasts, this Fall Classic delivered wonderfully. These teams battled to seven games which happens about once a decade. And we got to see history with Bumgarner’s numbers.  Writers predicted it to be the “Worst World Series of All-Time” but it was far from that.  It was a well played, well managed and fun series all around.  The only problem with the series is that they are done playing. Couldn’t we get a Best of 9 going for a series this close?  Another great postseason in the books, congrats to the San Francisco Giants!

Weekend Rehash

Derek Dye

Another exciting weekend full of NFL Football, NCAA Football and World Series action.  Don’t worry if you didn’t catch it all, here is a recap of the weekend of October 24-26.

  1. Madison Bumgarner shuts out Kansas City to take a pivotal Game 5 in World Series. SF leads 3-2.
  2. Lions, Vikings, Bengals, Seahawks win in wild fashion.
  3. Saints remain unbeaten at home over the past 2 seasons with win over GB.
  4. LSU topples #3 Mississippi State which leads to a Top 10 shake up.
  5. Joe Maddon opts out of contract with Tampa Bay Rays.
  6. Ben Roethlisberger throws for 522 yards and 6 TD in rout over Colts.
  7. TCU scores 82 point to trounce Texas Tech.
  8. NBA Preseason ends, season will start on Tuesday.
  9. Arizona Cardinals move to 6-1 with big win over Philly.
  10. Highly touted St. Louis Cardinals prospect, Oscar Taveras is killed in auto accident in Dominican Republic.

Plenty went down in the world of sports and more will come next week, stay tuned for all sports updates!

No Love for World Series?

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

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.