Photo Courtesy: Arturo Pardavila III
In the 1985 World Series, the Kansas City Royals won Game 6 on a blown call by umpire Don Denkinger in the ninth inning that helped the Royals to score the winning run. The Royals then won Game 7 and were the World Series Champions.
In the 1986 World Series, the New York Mets won Game 6 on the infamous Bill Buckner error and later won Game 7 and the World Series.
Since then, neither team has hoisted the trophy.
The Royals play in their second straight World Series, first team to win do so since 2010 and 2011 Texas Rangers. Last year, the Royals offense was slowed by World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner. This year, the Royals must break through against three ace pitchers.
Difference from last year…
Kansas City has a deeper pitching core, even with the absence of Greg Holland. Wade Davis fills into the closer role flawlessly pitching in five games with no blown saves and no earned runs so far in the postseason. Edison Volquez gets the start in Game 1 at home just as he did in the ALCS against the Blue Jays. Volquez shut down a good Toronto offense in six innings without allowing a run.
In every World Series there is a great individual story. The Royals usual eighth inning reliever, Ryan Madson is an unexpected important piece to their puzzle. Before this year, the 35-year-old Madson had not appeared in an MLB game since 2011. His long struggles with recovery from Tommy John made him untouchable by MLB teams. In this postseason, Madson has had some bizarre splits. His 8.10 earned run average is the highest for remaining pitchers in the postseason. However, his demise in the postseason equals success for the Royals. He gave up four runs in game six versus the Astros as the Royals battled back to take the lead the next inning. He served up the game tying Bautista home run in Game 6 against Toronto, which the Royals ended up winning. Madson’s cluttered career would want nothing more than a World Series championship.
Mets and Murphy show…
It is impossible to explain the madness of the postseason for Daniel Murphy. This is a player who the Mets have no plans on bringing back next year. His seven home runs are more than half of his career high 14 homers this season. Murphy’s .421 batting average is the highest out of all remaining postseason players. Everyone is wondering when Murphy will slow down, but this is one of those postseason heroics that are replayed throughout the years.
The fire-ball pitching combinations of Harvey, deGrom and Syndergaard has been troublesome to opposing hitters. The three starters have combined for a 2.47 earned run average and have posted six wins. Opposing hitters are hitting .194 against the aces. The Royals will have to find a way to dent one or two of the Mets young ace flamethrowers.
Prediction: Mets win in seven.
For the sake of baseball fandom, please go seven games. We baseball fans don’t want to see the best plays of the night filled with alley-oops and hard football hits. Come on Mets and Royals make this thing last!
Okay so back to the series itself. The Mets pitching will carry them to the World Series Championship for the first time in nearly three decades. Expect late game timely hitting from Murphy, Wright and others to give the Mets pitching just enough to shut down the Royals hitting.
However it should be a close series. Royals have proven they know how to win games by many different ways. Their bullpen is the best in baseball and if they get late leads it is usually trouble for opposing teams. The Royals scout department is one of the best in baseball. They found leaks in David Price’s pitching and you can bet they have been searching for ways to break the Mets pitching.
Upcoming Schedule – All Central Time on FOX
Game 1: Tuesday, Oct. 27 Mets @ Royals, 7:07 pm
Game 2: Wednesday, Oct. 28 Mets @ Royals, 7:07 pm
Game 3: Friday, Oct. 30 Royals @ Mets, 7:07 pm
Game 4: Saturday, Oct. 31 Royals @ Mets, 7:07 pm
*Game 5: Sunday, Nov. 1 Royals @ Mets, 7:15 pm
*Game 6: Tuesday, Nov. 3 Mets @ Royals, 7:07 pm
*Game 7: Wednesday, Nov. 4 Mets @ Royals, 7:07 pm
*if necessary
