The Kansas City Royals are the 2014 American League Champions (USA Today).
The Kansas City Royals defeated the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday 2-1, and win the American League pennant for the first time since 1985 and punch their ticket to the World Series. With a 4-0 series sweep against the Orioles, the Royals remain undefeated in postseason play with an 8-0 record and have not lost a postseason matchup since Game 4 of the 1985 World Series.
Pitching
Same story, same results. Throughout the regular season, and especially the postseason, the Royals have relied on their pitching to keep them in ballgames. The Royals bullpen has been excellent all season long, shutting down the opponents while giving them very few opportunities to remain in the ballgame. The starters have really stepped up the past couple of weeks. With solid starts from the entire rotation, it is safe to say there is no pitching staff in baseball that is currently more dangerous than the Royals’.
Defense
Along with the fantastic pitching the Royals have received all season long, the team’s defense has been a story of its own. Along with 2013 Gold Glove Winners Alex Gordon, Eric Hosmer, and Salvador Perez, the entire Royals’ defense has made a name for themselves in October. By now, the whole baseball world has heard of Lorenzo Cain from his great Center Field play in the playoffs, but now more people know of the stellar defense Alcides Escobar brings to the ballpark on a daily basis, as well as the strong defensive showings from Omar Infante, Nori Aoki, and Mike Moustakas as well.
The World Series
The Kansas City Royals will represent the American League in the 2014 World Series beginning on Tuesday, October 21st . Currently, the San Francisco Giants lead the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS 2-1 with Game 4 being played tonight. The Royals played very well against both these teams in the regular season by sweeping the Giants in a three game series, and taking three out of four from the Cardinals. The way the Royals have played this postseason, eliminating the American League’s best teams throughout the regular season, it does not matter who they face.
Many fans are hoping for a rematch of the 1985 I-70 series between Missouri’s two professional baseball teams. Personally, I would prefer to play the San Francisco Giants. Many references have been made to the Royals’ 1985 Championship team, but this team is its own. This is a very special ball club that has won in the most remarkable ways, and the team and the franchise deserve to be recognized for what is happening right now as the Kansas City Royals are the 2014 American League Champions.
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This article Kansas City Royals: American League Champions appeared first on isportsweb by Anthony Pluff
