World Series 2014, Giants Vs Royals Preview And Predictions
By Hayden Kane
Key Questions – Kansas City Royals
1. Can they play from behind?
If the Royals are down two or three runs going into the sixth inning, can they find a way to win that game? The ideal formula for success for the Royals has consistently been on display, especially in the last two victories of the ALCS. Get a lead into the sixth inning, use the devastating three-headed-bullpen monster of Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis, and Greg Holland, and go home with a win.
One figures that the formula will get broken at some point in this series, especially given the shaky status of the Royals’ starting rotation beyond (and perhaps including) James Shields. A big piece of the puzzle for the Royals has been guys like Jeremy Guthrie and Jason Vargas working a clean five innings. If the Giants rough up those guys and force Ned Yost’s hand in a context other than the best case scenario, can the Royals win those games under the intense pressure of the World Series?
2. Will the Royals benefit from playing road games in a National League park?
Is any team built for the National League more than the Royals? I don’t just mean any American League team: I mean any team, period. They have speed, a versatile bench, and a great bullpen. All of the substitutions and maneuvering of National League strategy seem to play to the Royals’ strengths, with the possible exception of needing a pinch hitter late in games.
Ned Yost has turned into an unexpected star of these playoffs. The Royals’ manager will have a chance to either validate or undo that goodwill with these games at AT&T Park.
3. Does momentum matter?
Are the Giants about to run into a buzz saw? The Royals aren’t winning because of momentum; they are winning because they are a good baseball team that prevents runs as well as any team in recent memory.
That said, the bandwagon is getting crowded and it is feeling more and more like “Royal Ocktober” is something very real. If nothing else, you can bet that Kauffman Stadium will be hopping on Tuesday night, and if the Royals jump out early in this series, they could make life awfully tough for the Giants.