KANSAS CITY, Miss.—You
could have tried to analyze what has occurred this postseason, manipulate your
favorite statistics and show how lackluster power would turn into offensive
juggernauts, threatening to take the American League pennant and possibly the
World Series. You were probably unsuccessful.
Welcome to the story of the Kansas City Royals, the dark horse team
dominating the 2014 Major League Baseball Postseason, stealing away the hearts
of America.
Admit it. The last time you fell for someone like this was
freshman year of high school at the school dance. You squeaked and squealed
then and you are doing it now for the Royals as they play Lorde’s hit song “Royals”
along the way.
The Royals went into Camden Yards like bullies on the
playground. After a 10-inning 8-6 win in Game one, they took Game two in
similar fashion with a 6-4 win in the ninth inning, sending them back home with
a 2-0 series lead against Baltimore.
The road was rather slippery for the Royals along the
way. They went into the last game of the regular season unsure as to whether
they would actually make the playoffs or not. They finally clinched a spot
after the Seattle Mariners lost their final game. It was all but over when they
trailed the Oakland A’s 7-3 in the eighth inning of the one-game wild card
playoff. Seven stolen bases later, the team walked off to “Royals” once again.
Kansas City nine, Oakland eight.
Then they shut down Mike Trout and the team with
the best record in baseball in the Angels with a three game sweep. The Angels’ three best
players (Pujols, Hamilton and Trout) batted a combined three for 37 (.081
Batting Average).
And don’t forget the Royals’ sudden high power offense.
The Royals have more runs, doubles, triples and stolen
bases than any other postseason team. They have eight home runs and 61 hits—
both good for second place. They have become extra inning masterminds, winning
four extra-inning games so far.
In contrast, the Royals hit the fewest home runs in the
big leagues during the season. The San Diego Padres, who play at Petco Park
(the biggest ballpark dimensions-wise) with a pitcher batting once out of every
nine at-bats, hit 14 more home runs than them. The last-place Red Sox beat them
six out of seven times during the regular season.
To put it into perspective, Third baseman Mike Moustakas
ended the year with one home run in his final 163 at-bats. So far he has four
in 22 at-bats this postseason.
Energy. Want.
Two of the greatest and unquantifiable characteristics that show up during
October baseball.
Out of the dark depths have come three emerging stars in
Eric Hosmer, Alex Gordon, and Lorenzo Cain. Eric Hosmer, the under-performing
first baseman who had rumors surface around his release all season, was the
winning run against the A’s. He has batted .435 so far this postseason with 10
hits and 5 runs, along with 2 home runs and 7 runs batted in. Gordon, who was
hit in the back of the neck by Orioles reliever Andrew Miller with a 97-mph
fastball has strived ever since. He has one home run, eight runs batted in and
three doubles throughout the postseason. Fan favorite and late bloomer Lorenzo
Cain has been stellar on both sides of the ball. Along with his great defense
that has single-handedly decided multiple games, is batting .370 with eight
runs.
It is impossible to measure the effect of having every
game, every pitch count no matter what people say. Just believe what the games
show us— baseball players don’t necessarily play the way their regular
season statistics suggest. The Kansas City Royals look great this October. They
run-wild, never give up and play well on both sides of the ball. Now in Kansas
City, everyone knows who they are.
So
let “Royals” fill those streets and party like its 1985, Kansas City.
