Kansas City puts together an October to remember

Anthony Reyes, Staff Writer

The year was 1985; VH-1 made its broadcasting debut, a gallon of gas cost $1.09, Back to the Future was the top grossing film in America, and The Kansas City Royals were in the World Series.

 

Fast forward to 2014, VH-1 is now 29 years old, a gallon of gas averages $3.52, Guardians of the Galaxy is the top grossing film in America and the Kansas City Royals are back in the World Series for the first time since then.

 

They snuck in as a wild card team and with the way they’ve played so far they’ve given their fans every reason to forgive them for the 29-year playoff drought they’ve endured.

 

They started out by playing a single elimination game against the Oakland Athletics and no one seemed to be giving them a chance. The Royals came back from deficits of 2-0, 7-3 and 8-7 to eventually win the game 9-8 in 12 innings. It was one of the most amazing baseball games I have ever watched. It seemed as if it was right out of a movie.

 

After winning the game and advancing to the next round, the Royals earned the daunting task of facing arguably the best team in baseball, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Once again, no one was giving the Royals a chance. They won two more extra-inning games while facing off in Anaheim and returned home to Kansas City to finish the job and complete the sweep.

 

They once again shocked the baseball world. They were four wins away from returning to the World Series and I was completely aboard their bandwagon.

 

The Royals would then go on to face the Baltimore Orioles, who made quick work of the Detroit Tigers, which has of one of the best pitching staffs in baseball. Again, no one was giving them a chance. The Royals didn’t need anyone to give them a chance. They completed a four-game sweep of the Orioles and were en route to their first World Series since 1985.

 

They became the first team in MLB history to win its first eight postseason games, and in the process manager Ned Yost became the first manager in MLB history to win his first eight postseason games.

 

What the Royals have accomplished since their 12-inning thriller to start the playoffs is truly remarkable. A team that hit the fewest home runs in the regular season has had a knack for hitting clutch home runs this postseason. They haven’t counted on the long ball, though. They have played their fair share of small ball as well.

 

They’ve racked up 15 infield hits while the other nine teams have 14 combined and they have stolen 13 bases, while the other nine teams combined have stolen 15.

 

They have had solid starting pitching and the back end of their bullpen has been absolutely lights out. Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland have pitched a combined 25 innings, have allowed just three runs and have struck out 30.

 

They go into the World Series against the San Francisco Giants without anyone giving them a chance again. The Giants were the wild card team in the National League and have also beat some of the best teams in the league, but the difference is this is the third World Series for the Giants in the last five years.

 

They have had some of the best starting pitching, their hitters look ten times more dangerous than the Royals hitters and they have a manager who seems to be a first ballot hall of famer in Bruce Bochy.

 

My answer to the critics who are doubting the Royals: haven’t you learned your lesson? This Royals playoff run has been absolutely magical, and I don’t see it ending here. In the game of baseball it doesn’t necessarily matter who has the best team with the best players, which is evident in how the postseason has gone so far. You can have the best players in the world but if they don’t produce, it doesn’t really matter.

 

The Royals have shown that they can win close games and overcome adversity. The way things have gone for them so far seems like something out of a movie script, they’re the perfect Cinderella story for everyone to root for. Although the Giants have the edge in experience, I think the lack of experience for the Royals actually helps them in this situation.

 

They don’t realize what they’ve accomplished to this point is unprecedented, they don’t care that there isn’t really anyone believing in them. All they care about is going out and playing the game. They’re just a bunch of guys going out and having fun and I think they have a great chance of taking down the Giants.

 

Now, I don’t think they will sweep the Giants and become only the second team in MLB history to not lose a single postseason game, but if it does happen, I can honestly say it wouldn’t surprise me at all.

 

It has been that kind of few weeks for the Royals.

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Twitter: @A_Reyes26