World Series 2014, Giants Vs Royals Preview And Predictions
By Hayden Kane
Key Questions – San Francisco Giants
1. Can they beat their opponent if their opponent doesn’t beat themselves?
The Giants are nothing if not opportunistic. Certainly it would not do justice to their current run to the World Series to say that they haven’t earned it by winning baseball games, but they have done a lot of their work by capitalizing on opponents’ mistakes. Sometimes the Giants feel like a team version of that tennis player that just always keeps the rally alive until their opponent hits it into the net.
San Francisco certainly has the talent and the experience to come through in clutch moments, something they proved in Game 5 of the NLCS. But can they consistently come through if an infield dribbler isn’t enough in key at-bats in this World Series?
2. Will the Giants benefit from playing road games in an American League park?
Adding Mike Morse as the designated hitter is an interesting wrinkle for Bruce Bochy and the Giants. The big slugger came through with the tying home run in the deciding NLCS game and figures to lengthen the Giants’ lineup when they play in Kansas City.
This is the time of year when managers don’t like to rock the boat, even a manager with a bold style like Bochy’s, but it will still be interesting to see if the Giants’ skipper uses the DH to shuffle the pieces around in his lineup. In a series where runs might be hard to come by, it would be awfully interesting to see Hunter Pence batting second instead of Joe Panik for the Giants. Either way, San Francisco certainly won’t mind the use of the DH to get Morse more at-bats.
3. Does experience matter?
Experience vs momentum, or so the narrative will be constructed. The interesting suggestion, of course, is that the Giants would somehow have less momentum even though they are also in the World Series as a Wild Card team.
Still, in a sport that is so intensely mental and against an opponent that is young by comparison, will the Giants actually benefit from their postseason and World Series experience? If it starts to feel like the moment gets away from the Royals, it could be a short series.