Scrappy Royals resemble 2005 White Sox
Paul Konerko had a hunch about the Royals.
After watching Kansas City clinch its first postseason berth since 1985 against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field on the final weekend of the regular season, the retiring Konerko said the Royals were likely to be equally successful in October.
“They have a great makeup,” Konerko said. “That team has a lot of the same makeup of the team that we won the (2005) World Series with. With their pitching and timely hitting, I feel like they have a real good shot to go a long ways. So, good for them.”
Kansas City advanced through the wild-card game with a remarkable 9-8 win over the Oakland A's in 12 innings. Had the Royals not rallied from a 7-3 deficit, manager Ned Yost might have been fired for lifting ace starting pitcher James Shields too early and for giving up too many outs with the bunt.
But K.C. survived, and now the Royals are thriving.
After sweeping the Angels in the American League division series, the Royals advance to the ALCS against the Baltimore Orioles.
Game 1 is Friday night at Camden Yards.
Like Kansas City, the Orioles are a once feared franchise that fell on hard times and failed to make the playoffs from 1998-2011.
Under manager Buck Showalter, the Birds are back in the postseason for the second time in three years.
They are a good story, but the Royals have been ruling October.
After eliminating the Angels on Sunday at Kauffman Stadium, first baseman Eric Hosmer and several teammates invited K.C. fans to a local watering hole for a victory celebration and picked up the reported $12,000 bar tab.
Can you imagine any other pro sports team doing that?
Not only are the Royals a fun bunch off the field, they've been very entertaining through the first two rounds of the playoffs.
The wild-card win over Oakland was a classic. Kansas City stole seven bases against the A's while relatively unknown players like Hosmer, Salvador Perez, Brandon Finnegan, Lorenzo Cain and Terrance Gore proved they have what it takes to excel on baseball's biggest stage.
And like Konerko said, the Royals are similar to the 2005 World Series champion White Sox.
They have solid starting pitching headed by Shields and hard-throwing rookie Yordano Ventura, and baseball's best bullpen that features closer Greg Holland.
Kansas City ranked last in the game in home runs during the regular season, but the Royals have turned on the power in the playoffs with 4 homers in four games.
It's all coming together, and K.C. is going to have to keep it going if it hopes to beat Baltimore.
The Orioles were the best team I saw this season, and, on paper, they should handle the Royals in the ALCS.
Led by Nelson Cruz, Adam Jones, Nick Markakis and J.J. Hardy, Baltimore's offense can pound the baseball, and former Sox outfielder Alejandro De Aza has been a solid August trade acquisition.
The Orioles can also pitch, and arms like Chris Tillman, Bud Norris, Wei-Yin Chen, Andrew Miller and Zach Britton will be a challenge for Kansas City.
If you're a White Sox fan, odds are you'll be pulling for the Royals.
“We always want to win ourselves and have it on this side of town,” Konerko said. “But there is some camaraderie in your own division, so hopefully they go represent the division well.”
ALCS preview:
Kansas City Royals
They couldn't prevent the Detroit Tigers from winning the AL Central for the fourth straight season, but the Royals claimed a wild-card berth and are back in the postseason for the first time in 29 years. Kansas City ranked first in the major leagues with 153 stolen bases during the regular season and last with 95 home runs. Closer Greg Holland hasn't allowed an earned run since Aug. 31, a stretch of 12 games, including 4 in the playoffs. The right-hander saved 46 games during the regular season and he's 3-for-3 in the postseason.
Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles easily won the AL East with a 96-66 record and swept the Tigers in the ALDS. Baltimore was the opposite of Kansas City during the regular season. The Orioles led baseball with 211 home runs and were last with 44 stolen bases. Nelson Cruz has 16 playoff homers since 2010, when he was with the Texass Rangers. Baltimore is thriving even with two key players, third baseman Manny Machado (knee) and catcher Matt Wieters (elbow), out with season-ending injuries. Former Sox outfielder Alejandro De Aza was 3-for-8 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI in the ALDS.
Chicago ties
Royals: Relief pitchers Jason Frasor and Scott Downs (White Sox).
Orioles: Outfielder Alejandro De Aza (White Sox).
Scot Gregor's pick: Royals in seven