All it took was a win on Friday, or a Seattle Mariners’ loss, for the Kansas City Royals to experience the team’s first playoff berth since the original Nintendo Entertainment System was sweeping the land. It was a long time ago to be sure, and I could do one of those things where I explain that like, Salvador Perez’s parents weren’t even born the last time KC made the postseason, but you’ve probably heard all of those things a million times by now, so I won’t.
Instead, I’ll just say that I’m really, really excited. I will admit, however, that it’s hard not letting my ingrained, Royals-based cynicism get in the way. The Star’s Sam Mellinger had a really long column about how “If you’re complaining about a Wild Card spot, you’re an idiot.” I guess I don’t think that’s fair because, well, I’m that idiot.
Okay, so I’m not complaining, exactly, but I’m maybe not as excited as I could be.
See, if the Royals win the division (technically possible, but it’s going to take a long shot; basically, KC can’t lose and the Detroit Tigers can’t win more than one of their last three, and even in that scenario it goes to a 163rd, one-game playoff to determine who’d go on to the ALDS and who’d go to the Wild Card game–WHEW), they’d get to start James Shields in game-one against the Baltimore Orioles. They’d be guaranteed a playoff series instead of having to play a one-game-death-match-elimination-chamber-style contest against the Oakland Athletics, w
ho would be starting Jon Lester.
And I guess this is the part where I point out that the Royals are MUCH better suited for an actual series as opposed to a single elimination game.
And I guess I’d also be remiss if I didn’t point out that Lester has absolutely DOMINATED the Royals throughout his career, both with the Boston Red Sox and now the A’s. (Against KC, he’s 9-3 in 13 career starts with a 1.84 ERA and a BAA of .196, his best numbers against any AL team by a good margin. Oh, AND included in that record is a no-hit shutout. Oh, AND in 88 innings, he’s given up a single, solitary home run.)
Don’t get me wrong, it’s unbelievably cool now to have the season extended past the 162nd game, whether it’s by one game or five. I don’t remember the last time like that happened because I was very young. My enthusiasm is tempered, though, because this really isn’t the playoffs, no matter what Sam Mellinger or anyone else says. This is one game—an extra bonus game—to decide who actually gets to go to the postseason. And it’s very exciting for sure, but unless the Royals beat the A’s, it’ll feel like just another disappointment, only on a much grander scale.
It won’t be impossible to advance. They could win this game 2-1, or 1-0 or 3-2, or… okay, maybe that’s it.
If the A’s manage to push more than three runs past S
hields, however, it’ll be a nearly insurmountable summit.
But even this anemic offense can scrape together two runs, or possibly three. And if they muster that, and Shields turns in one of his “big games,” the Royals could win this thing.
It would take a bit of magic, perhaps, but this season has been like something out of a wizard’s handbook already.
What’s one more game?
Lefty…as you get older you realize the winner of the game isn’t always the fastest..
the strongest…the smartest…its’ usually the one who works harder and is
persistent.
great watching team.
for those who were royals fans in 1985…let me reminisce.
6th game. we were at tina turner concert in a suite watching the game.
got to the later innings and you could see the suites around kemper had their
tvs on watching the game. Sold out concert. When the winning run scored
it was if everyone had iphones/ipads because the place went nuts. We didn’t
have them then but tina wondered what and why the crowd was cheering.
They told her and everyone went nuts. You can say it was a bad call…a
missed out…whatever….the game like life wasn’t always right although I
still believe he was safe.
Game 7: uncle got sick…no one used his season tickets…me and my
girlfriend got to go ….3rows from field at first base angle…
game was over pretty quickly as royals ran up the score and we were
drinking Hot Damn and hot chocolate. We stayed at the stadium til
tomas crew was done covering up the field.
Since then was depressed in l.a. when we lost the super bowl….countless
playoff games to teams like the Yankees….wasn’t old enough to drink
but got tickets thru gm to go to new Orleans and see Lenny lead them
to the “biggest super bowl win” ever.
Many football analysts say that was the most significant super bowl.
Some said the jets win was a fluke…but Kansas city totally dominating
Vikings with an 18 underdog showed the afl could play with the nfl.
These are all great times…enjoy them….seems they are few and far between.
Its a game….but despite your grumblings all season…and glazes never to be
forgotten words “ITS OVER”….this team played into the playoffs and maybe
more.
GO ROYALS….its finally great to have something to cheer about as a city.
As for glaze…he’s added a new course to his new menu on Metcalf…”DR. PEPPER
CROW”…..I’m sure he’ll enjoy his new dish! hahahahaha
I remember Harley, we called him “Thunder Drone”.
hey lefty…you’ll need oxygen tanks with those seats you have. If they get that
far…you’ll still have a blast.
Go royals
I take it all back. Last night was amazing. I cried.
Yes Brandon you are an idiot.
No – Brandon’s point is valid: our chances of overcoming the A’s in a single game are only slightly better than those of one hitting the Powerball.
That doesn’t keep me from purchasing the odd ticket, however, or rooting for the (current) Royals to do what they’ve never done. Hell, I’m in my seventh decade already – I can’t wait another 30 years.
Uh, you do know the Royals beat the A’s 6 out of 7 this season…right? I agree, beating Lester would be tough, the chances of doing so are light years better than winning the lottery.
And actually, he’s yielded three runs in each of
his two A’s starts against the Royals this season…
Look, I’m psyching myself up here.
Go for it.
Just, well…you know.
nick….wrong!!!!!!!!!!
and we hardly know you!
Its great to be in the post season. However Lefty wrote exactly how I am feeling. Though he is much more up on the numbers and the whats what. It still comes down to what I’ve said and in a way what he’s been saying. Great pitching, no argument, amazing. That’s the team. Defense is good, not great. Very good. Hitting, as Lefty pointed out, is almost nonexistent. Why? The guys who were suppose to hit, DON’T AND DIDN’T. So having last years record with better pitching then last year, well..and a wild card…well…hey its still nice, its still fun and hey I agree if this team gets to the real playoffs, look out, they could do damage, THAT PITCHING…yet if we fall behind a good team early by a few runs…likely its a game we won’t win…anyways..the Royals are in the playoffs.
quit tap dancing glaze. Your famous words “IT’S OVER” WILL LIVE
FOREVER…BECAUSE YOU GAVE UP!
I suggest you add the following items to your new menu
YELLOW BELLY BAKED SWEET POTATO
DR. PEPPER CROW (AND YOU EAT IT YOURSELF)
GIVE UP GIBLETS
BACK TRACKING BAKED POTATOE
SLAUGHTER COLE SLAW (since your bookie is killing you this year)
CRY IN MY TOMATO SOUP
GLAZE…WRONG AGAIN…AGAIN AND AGAIN…..
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
glaze wrong!!!!
and we know you~
The race isn’t always won by the swiftest and strongest. But that is where all the smart money lies.
I am concerned mainly with there being an another Yost infection breaking out.
I see the price of gasoline is falling so that is a good sign the Royals go all the way and win the Grey Cup.
A Playoff game? Brings back bad sporting memory 1968, Chiefs vs Raiders, football. As in when the dust had cleared: OAK 41 KC 6
Deja vu?
Fail.
Any long time Royals fan knows a huge dick punch is coming. Yet here we stand with our pelvises thrust forward and smiles on our faces. Because that’s the price we pay to be Royal.
Now bring on the A’s!!!!
Fooking A!
Ha! I love it.
Here’s my take on why the joy over reaching the playoffs may be less ecstatic than anticipated: The one-game wild-card playoff. You kids out there may not remember, but back in 19 and 85, only 2 teams per league made the playoffs, so even if you lost in the LCS, you played at least 4 and maybe 7 games (as the Royals and Blue Jays did) .
Now, for a wild-card loser, it’s one and out, and if that happens, there will be an inevitable feeling of “we got all excited for *that*?” And Royals fan have about 29 layers of cynicism and angst to feed that feeling. One and out is a crapshoot, no matter the teams (and for that matter so is best of 5 and best of 7 compared with 162–Toronto and St. Louis were superior teams in 85 but nobody cares now because the Royals are the ones flying the pennant), so it would be healthier for fans to focus on appreciating the season as a whole. You never know when it will happen again.
“Now, for a wild-card loser, it’s one and out, and if that happens, there will be an inevitable feeling of “we got all excited for *that*?” And Royals fan have about 29 layers of cynicism and angst to feed that feeling.”
Bingo. That’s the prevailing sentiment I’m getting from most of the people I talk to. I’m trying to remain a little more upbeat and optimistic. I mean… why not?
Brandon young man…
don’t give up ever!!!! never say its over. failure means
nothing….if you tried!!!!!
can’t wait til sunday and Monday……
I wonder how mr. hunt is feeling now that the royals are
taking all the headlines?
MLB will figure out the wild card should be best of three.
I’ve counted the Royals as done, cooked, out of it, toast, pretenders, failures, Yosted, whatever…at least 10 times this season. All with certainty. CG just wrote a piece on it. We’ve all thought it.
On paper, it looks bad with Lester on the hill.
You don’t ever count these guys out, though. That’s one thing I’ve learned this year.
It’s been fun to be a part of…and I think we will still be having fun next week.
Well said. And yes, I think the three-game-series would be a great solution. Of course that DOES then run the risk of having the World Series run well into November. Start the regular season a week earlier?
@brandon. I wouldn’t start the season a week earlier… I would make it a three game set, consecutive days in the #1 wildcard seed city. That way it’s still an incentive to get the #1 seed.
I also wouldn’t start the season a week earlier, I would try to squeeze the early season schedule of some off days (eliminating the ridiculous day off after the opener, etc…) and figure it out that way.
Yeah, that works too. I like your line of thinking.
That was one frustrating, unlikely, incredible, stupidly magnificent piece of sand-lot baseball (despite Yost’s idiocy.)
That game is why I used to own great season tickets but still occasionally bought those wonderful $5 right field GA ducats.
I mean, no way the game plays out that way, right? Right?
Man…
It’s like my buddy Walsh always says: “Forget it, Nick. It’s Baseball.”