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 Besides waiting nearly three decades to return to postseason
baseball, the Cinderella crew will have cooled their heels for five
days since extending a record unbeaten playoffs streak to 8-0 by
sweeping the American League Championship Series.
"This city's been waiting for this for a long time," Kansas City's
Game One starter James Shields said on the eve of the best-of-seven
series. "It's definitely a special moment for us."
The city has gone Royals-mad, with one craze creating big business
at barbershops where fans have flocked to get "The Hos" haircut, a
modified Mohawk style worn by hard-hitting first baseman Eric
Hosmer.
As eager as the young, exuberant Royals are to resume their magical
ride in front of an adoring Kauffman Stadium home crowd, that magic
will be tested by San Francisco's left-handed ace Madison Bumgarner
in the opener.
The 25-year-old Bumgarner has become a postseason master with five
wins and a 2.67 career earned run average going back to the Giants'
charge to World Series wins in 2010 and 2012.
This postseason he has pitched 31-2/3 innings, nearly triple the
innings of the next closest Giants starter, and posted a 2-1 record
and 1.42 earned run average.
The long grind of another postseason run has not ruffled the
unflappable Bumgarner, who has set a record 26-2/3 consecutive
scoreless postseason innings on the road.
"Honestly, I feel the best I've felt all year for the last probably
two months," said Bumgarner, who was 19-8 this season. "I feel
really good."
Giants manager Bruce Bochy said having Bumgarner on his side was a
comfort.
"This guy has a lot of experience pitching on this stage and
pitching in big games," said Bochy, who has steered his team to nine
consecutive postseason series wins. "The good ones are the ones that
are able to handle themselves and even raise their level of playing
in games like this."
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While the wild card Royals and Giants made quick work of their
respective league championship series, they both had to battle
through tight games.
Kansas City have relied on brilliant defense and blazing speed,
while the resourceful Giants have taken advantage of miscues with
clutch hitting and sound fundamental baseball.
Both teams liberally utilize bench players and get contributions
from unlikely sources.
Leading the Giants in postseason RBIs is not former National League
MVP Buster Posey or 2012 World Series MVP Pablo Sandoval but
journeyman Travis Ishikawa, who was rescued from the minors late
this season.
The bullpens on both teams have been virtually unbeatable, putting a
premium on seizing an early lead.
"I can't think of a team that reminds me of the Royals," said Bochy,
whose team was swept by Kansas City in a three-game series this
season. "I think we're similar in the way both teams keep fighting
and play with a lot of heart.
"The way all this has come down, they remind me of us a little bit.
A little different style of game, but how they've come together at
the right time and how much they fight."
(Writing by Larry Fine in New York; Editing by Frank Pingue)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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