The Kansas City Royals are on the verge of a second trip to the World Series…
This has never happened in the history of this town.
The Chiefs were in two Super Bowls in 1970 and again (winning a title) in Super Bowl IV three years later – but never two title games in a row. Never a dynasty.
Same with the George Brett Royals.
In 1980 they got to the Series and in 1985 they won. But here we are on the verge of two championships and World Series appearances in a row. Back to back. I know we lost the first one, but we were in it until the end.
And as history shows, this may be a once in a lifetime situation for all of us here in KC. Even people who aren’t really fans are wearing the Royals hats, t-shirts and sweats. The entire city and area is under their spell. Glory. We matter.
Who can blame us?
I was in Bill Nigro‘s Westport Saloon yesterday watching the game with him. Eating a bowl of chili, I looked across the bar and saw what it’s really all about. Twenty or so guys and a few women watching the game on one of the TVs. Their eyes were glued to every pitch. All their troubles – and we all have some – were set aside by the joy of winning.
Some people may be are having trouble with a light bill, their rent, maybe they just lost their job or the old lady left and took the kids. Some are just wishing for better days. Who knows?
However, winning this series and seeing Kansas City on the national stage being talked about as a great team and a great city – that’s what really matters.
Sure there are plenty of season ticket holders who don’t have those problems. People who have followed this team for decades and are just as excited in their own way. It all matters.
Because right now the Royals are the heartbeat of this city.
Last year we were a Cinderella story. This year that young team has become a scary, great ball club. With the addition of Ben Sobrist, Morales and even Alex Rios – the big guys – they are getting it done. Wade Davis has emerged as baseball’s best reliever. The core players, Eric Hosmer, Moose, Perez, Cain, Escobar and Gordon are now all big time players. And as a group they are baseball’s best.
Because last year’s team – with the added power and experience – has made them into a team nobody wants to face.
Recently I wrote that the Royals would be world champs.
It was meant to be uplifting – not a prediction – just a statement of what seemed to be happening. Many people were upset with me for jumping the gun. I understand the concept of a jinx.
But hey, I’ve doubted this team in the recent past. Their poor September, the hitting slumps, starting pitching problems. All that has happened. Yet in the end this club came together with character, class and a love for each other and this city. That’s what matters.
I’m not trying to be right about what might or might not happen. Hey, nobody gets it right all the time. What’s most important is the feeling I see about what’s about to happen in Kansas City. We’re caught up in that feeling of glory and respect.
And it’s really as simple as that!
Very nice article Glaze.
Not sure what it is about this series with the BJ’s. I’m scared to death they are going to come back and win 3 straight. They have not played like the team that put up hundreds of runs more than anyone else during the regular season. That team can rear its ugly head at any moment. I think because they have numerous players that are so easy to despise. Whiny, cocky and arrogant SOB’s. I so want to celebrate the series on THEIR home field. Can’t think of a better way to pound salt right in their asses.
Having said all that, this Royals team is scorching HOT! At the moment, they are batting .333 as a team in the ALCS. That is a historic record. 30 hits and 22 runs in the last 2 games. Good gawg! Can they really be THAT good?
I’m used to crushing defeats as a life-long KC sports fan. Hope this ALCS doesn’t add to that list.
Let’s go Royals!!!
Nice article, Glaze!
Not to worry. There is NO WAY the BJs are going to be victorious. Just cannot happen, not the way the Royals are playing.
(Having written this I’m wondering, oh lordy, did I jinx them? Should I post??)
DAMN!!! I KNEW I should’ve kept my mouth shut!!!
nooo, not you. i’ve patently avoided watching while making sure to have a shot of Jack out of my Royals shot glass. i bring it kut every spring training and use it until they are out of the race.
broke both this afternoon, meeting the misses at a pub for other reasons, but the game was on. and missed having the ‘Royal’ shot.
sorry folks!
So YOU’RE the one!! 🙂
“Ben Sobrist . . .”
ZOBRIST, idiot.
Don’t try to blame one of your famous “typos” again. You don’t know a damn thing about this team, but you think if you drop a few names, you can fake it.
Well, at least make a half-ass attempt to get the names right.
And to be perfectly clear that this was ignorance and no typo, back on September 16, “Scribe” wrote this:
“Ben Sobrist has been great as a hitter and a decent outfielder.”
Now besides not knowing how to spell ZOBRIST, Glazer’s got another problem with this mid-September post.
Three weeks before he wrote that, when Alex Gordon came off the DL, Zobrist had taken over second base from Omar Infante, who was playing hurt.
But Glazer, not knowing any better since he doesn’t pay attention much, still thought he was an outfielder.
Zobrist is a baseball player. I thought it was an anti-anxiety medication
Hater Kelly or is it CRYSTAL, like the stuff you have up your nose. Don’t know don’t care. You are a whinny little baby. It doesn’t matter what I say or do you just want to bitch. I’m sure I don’t know you or have likely ever spoken to your brilliant ass. Just so you will know hater and I’m done with putting up my resume, I did produce 5 major sports movies including two on Ali whom I interviewed on camera and worked with for several weeks.
So CRYSTAL OR KELLY I have a bit of experience with sports. I did metro sports for two months this past summer as well on the Royals and Chiefs…with Soren Petro and Greg Hall and others…what is your background. Why are you so hateful? Just unhappy huh. If you don’t like what I write DON’T READ IT.
So which is it, Mr. Sports Expert?
Are you ignorant, lazy or stupid that you don’t even know the name of the Royals’ starting second baseman?
Or is it all three?
But hey, way to hack into Hearne’s system and learn my last name from my e-mail address that is supposed to remain private.
And excuse me, but I happen to enjoy the guilty pleasure of watching know-it-all blowhards make complete asses of themselves, then crying like babies when a “nobody” like me calls them on it.
Don’t know if any of that is true, but for you to say winning a series is what’s important over losing a home, job or family is just insanity.
just remember glaze….say “ITS OVER…IT’S OVER…IT’S OVER 10 TIMES AND
A HAIL MARY (oh sorry forgot you were atheist)…then say….OH PLEASE…OH PLEASE 3 TIMES…and maybe this is our year.
yeah…been to 4 dozen games…this team has turned this city and it’s people
around.
Nothings really changed…but we now have something to cheer about.
And that’s a good thing.
But don’t jinx us…….
here we go royals here we go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“here we go royals here we go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
– so much for cheerleaders: @BLUEJAYS 7 Royals 1
🙂
“The Chiefs were in two Super Bowls in 1970 and again (winning a title) in Super Bowl IV three years later”
– actually 1967, then three years aft, but the gist understood CG…
“- but never two title games in a row. Never a dynasty.”
– never twice in a row but a dynasty nonetheless, if an uncrowned one of no multiple, Championships… sort of like the Raiders 1967-1969, best team(s) in pro football if no Trophies to validate.
Everyone is welcome to their own opinion CG, and yours is as valid anyone’s. Mine be, there are no ‘great’ teams in MLB 2015… none. As for the Royals, they are relentless, that much is fact. Up 3-1 is better than being up 2-1 or even 2-0, but, they are on but step 4 an (at minimum) 9 step program, likely more, and so not even halfway yet the promised land.
If as the old adage proclaims ‘good pitching beats good hitting’ is true, the (it appears) NL Champion Mets have the former and the Royals latter. Perhaps as Casey Stengel said, “or vice versa” – good hitting can overcome good pitching. If it ends up being NY vs KC, we shall see. NY’s hitting is puny compared the hard-hitting Cubs & Royals as well. Yet, the Mets are dominating CHIC, who is a better power-hitting team than KC if lesser for average; speed, the two a toss-up. Mets starting pitching unquestionably better, bullpen edge to the Royals, by more than a little. ‘Team of destiny’ tag may go to the Royals moreso the Mets, though 30 years KC and 29 the Mets since winning it all is nigh on also a wash. So, it looks like a ‘pick ’em; ‘World Series’ to be, Toronto and Chicago not coming back to surprise the seeming fates.
Kerouac’s GIANTS not there, sentimental favorite the Cubs too on the brink, no A’s mine KC days in existence any longer, and my disdain my former team the Dodgers having tired (and failed) AGAIN to buy their way to the summit rather than earn it, will go with/give a slight edge the Royals.
I would not bet on them though, even were I a man so inclined.
YES you are right 67 and 70…my bad hey some haters missed that error.
Don’t let ‘the haters’ phase you, CG … one of them (the guy w’h’o usually manages to cram what should be 8-10 paragraphs into a single giant run-on mess of effluvium) is Kerouac’s new shadow, so, appears I’ll be giving you a brief break from his lunacy.
As for t’h’at nocebo we both find attached to our shoe too often, formerly carrying wood only for you, he is now firmly affixed to ankle mine, tugging at my cape and…imagining something more. As Kerouac does not ‘swing’ that way, all of his pent up angst will go for naught; good thing – otherwise – the immense ‘man’gitude my essence (as narratives same) would leave him torn asunder.
Nod Roosevelt, K blogs softly by choice but carries a big stick in reserve. As such, must remind self (nod Hai Karate commercial) – “be careful how you use it.”
🙂
Speaking of your Giants, Madison Bumgarner deserved every word of praise he got, as well as the MVP trophy.
But you know when the key moment of that game happened? Bottom of the third, 2-2. Cain on first, no outs.
Joe Panik made a diving stop of Hosmer’s smash up the middle, flipped the ball to Crawford to get Cain, and Crawford makes the pivot for the double play.
Bases empty, two down. Panik doesn’t make that play, it’s first and third, no outs.
The GIANTS ’14 Championship club was actually the weakest any theirs 2010, 2012 and 2014, but was still good and veteran enough overcome the younger upstarts, KC. As for that play, yes, courtesy the best young double-play duo baseball, SS Crawford and 2B Panik.
Royals are still young but now more experienced… they are also good, probably more opportunistic than superstar ‘great’, my opine. No Bumgarner, Posey or Pence, but a lot of good, young players. The GIANTS wrote the book on being ‘team’, Royals aren’t far from that same descript. SAN FRANCISCO succumbed to a plethora injuries in ’15; they’ll be back in ’16.
Too, it’s another even year in 2016, which appears be anything but their Superman’s kryptonite. Aft they add another starting pitcher & perhaps another position player / resign their own free agents of interest,Kerouac fully expects baseball’s finest, ‘THE’ (still) WORLD CHAMPION SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS to be right back in the thick of post season.
I don’t know what you mean by “opportunistic.” If you mean the Royals make contact and put the ball in play, much the same way that Morse did when he broke his bat on the single that plated the winning run in Game 7. then I agree. If you mean that the Royals have the defensive ability to turn hits into outs, much the same way that Panik and Crawford turned Hosmer’s hit into a double play, then I agree.
As far as injuries, well every team gets them. Don’t just look at the Royals. Look at the Cardinals. They still won 100 games. And you know, unlike the conventional wisdom that says the replacement “stepped up,” when teams overcome injuries, it’s a matter of everyone stepping up and picking up the slack. Sometimes it happens, and sometimes it doesn’t, and it’s not always a question of talent or heart. Things just happen that defy easy explanation.
Another thing that casual fans don’t always realize especially in the post-season is that the outcome isn’t just a question of how your team performs. There’s another team out there with talent and heart who wants it just as bad as your guys, or they wouldn’t be there.
And sometimes your guys run into a guy — like yesterday — who throws the game of his life. It wasn’t a question of the Royals relaxing and thinking they had this in the bag. Estrada was simply that good yesterday.
Every single Royal knew very well even after the 14-2 clubbing that they still had to win one more, and it wasn’t going to be easy. The other guys weren’t going to quit and hand over the trophy on a silver platter.
They were all pretty weak in the regular season which doesn’t really matter now, does it.
Don’t disagree with what you say, per se. Fact is, Royals really have no ‘name’ players, least not same level as those GIANTS listed, ditto compared players other teams. This is probably due their still being young for the most part, partly due their playing in KC for another; ‘opportunistic’ & ‘scrappy’ come to mind, more so than ‘fear’ factor names or image (‘The Big Red Machine’, example.) Fair or no, that the perception, mine.
Until/unless they (or any team, for that matter) wins ‘big’ as in a World Championship, such teams with veritable unknowns will be categorized differently. ‘Opportunistic’ and ‘relentless’ are words I’ve used to describe them – not a put down, just a purview. The Royals don’t bring the ‘wow’ factor, my vantage point. Despite said, the Royals are not far behind the GIANTS trailblazing concept of ‘team’ in lieu ‘names’ (think the Dodgers case the latter, example: $314+ mill payroll and all of those ‘names’ Kershaw, Grienke, Gonzalez etc. – and still no success I say with satisfaction.) By virtue SF’s success, the GIANTS may now tend to be getting into that ‘name’ category too; nonetheless, a ‘mix’ or chemistry’ theirs if you will is still more ‘team’ than ‘I’ndividual.
Perhaps KC will never become star-studded per se or be able retain said, based upon history, or perhaps ‘when’ KC gets a bit more seasoning, moreso ‘success’ the national stage a World Series triumph, sentiment will change. If they do, will be acknowledged.
I don’t know what you mean by “name” players. The Royals may be lacking in that department as far as the casual fans go, but I assure you the people paying attention know our guys’ “names” very well. And yeah, they are a) young; and b) in a small market.
I also don’t know why having “name” players is important. The Boston Red Sox are loaded with them. Where are they? The Los Angeles Angels have a lot of “name” players. Where are they? The Washington Nationals have a lot of “name” players. Where are they? The Detroit Tigers sure started this season with a lot of “name” players. Where are they?
And Buster Posey is indeed a big “name.” He’s earned it, no question. But I wouldn’t trade Salvy Perez even up to get him.
As far as the “wow” factor, they’ve been “wowing” me all season long. Solid pitching, great bullpen, great defense, and an offense that can score runs every way possible, and can and has exploded quite often for big innings.
Maybe my “wow” threshhold is lower than yours.
“I also don’t know why having “name” players is important.”
– who wins without them? The meek shall not inherit the baseball or football world (as Todd Haley saying “I can take any 22 guys off the street and win 2 games” – emphasis ‘two’ – comes to mind.
A ‘great’ team by extension has ‘name’ players, ‘name’ born result said. Championships won instead merely sniffed at the difference… Royals fall the latter category, until they prove otherwise and ‘earn’ their ‘names’, not just occupy space with 29 other also-ran MLB teams, annually.
The current swiss chiefs are an example the wrong ‘mix’ – they are (at minimum) a ‘name’ QB shy being a contender… be it ‘name’ or be it ‘great’, they have got neither. 46 years of Chiefs lack & 30 Royals same, “who needs names” the evidence, 1-5 the result.
Too many big names on the other, and you get the bloated example mine the Dodgers: too many ‘I’ndividuals, many ‘names’, too little ‘team’. The GIANTS case, outside three or four ‘name’ players, they’re nobodies, as it stands. That they have ‘enough’, as in are ‘somebodies’ via their results, indication they have the right ‘mix’.
“And Buster Posey is indeed a big “name.” He’s earned it, no question. But I wouldn’t trade Salvy Perez even up to get him.”
– if not, you are blinded by homer-ism, my opine; your prerogative. Don’t think you’d find many opinions agree with yours, outside the boundaries Kansas City.
“As far as the “wow” factor, they’ve been “wowing” me all season long.”
– some folks tilt at windmills… Kerouac does not, having followed sports since the late 1950’s, and having seen/heard it all, as it were.
“Maybe my “wow” threshhold is lower than yours.”
– as Kerouac just alluded to same, perhaps… my advice: believe as you wish, enjoy as you can, and let not the critics dissuade you. The same time, do not believe that your take is sacrosanct; others may not share it, such the reality: Royals up 3-2 the series, still miles to go.
“if not, you are blinded by homer-ism, my opine;”
Yep, three-time All Star, two-time Gold Glover before his 25th birthday and a career .279 hitter with 20 homer pop.
You’re right. Since we lack the “names” we need to win, better trade him for Big Name Buster.
Kerouac recognizes your angst re: ‘THE’ ‘WORLD CHAMPION’ SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS’ & Buster, the latter not a resident in the house, Kauffman… I am sorry.
* Posey ~ .310 career hitter, Rookie of the Year, Batting Champion, MVP, a 3-time All Star, a 3-time ‘World Champion’ by age 27, and (just for sh**s and giggles as defense is not his strongest suit, among a closet full most every kind: an .994 career fielding % as catcher… also better than Perez career mark.)
Yes, by all means, let us have Perez… shoo fly.
heh heh heh
🙂
K you can have this guy for a bit, thought it was just me…haha….take Super Pooper too. Enjoy…
But you mistake me for one of those “fans” who get all “angsty” when his guys don’t win. Not so. I tip my hat to the 2014 Giants, and have done so in this conversation. They won it, they earned it. Fair and square, no question.
But have you also heard of this thing called “chemistry”? It’s one of those intangibles that numbers don’t measure.
Salvy Perez is the heart and soul of the Royals. Buster Posey is also the heart and soul of the Giants. It is true that a team full of nice guys with no numbers goes where Durocher predicted. But you also got to fit your players together, both talent-wise and in the clubhouse, and that is a delicate business.
This is why neither general manager would make the trade. And if Dayton Moore would even suggest it for the reason you cite — that the Royals don’t have enough “name” players — then he should be fired on the spot.
Now as far as “you can’t win without ‘name’ players,” — a nebulous and ill-defined term, even a cursory check of past and recent World Series and Super Bowl champions would prove otherwise.
It would also reveal that even with a team with a couple of “name” players, it is quite often a guy with no “name” that came up big.
Note to CG: This is what a real baseball discussion between two knowledgeable fans looks like. It is not the same column repeating the same conventional wisdom in which you drop the same handful of names every time to make it look like you know something.
And it is between two guys who actually know the name of their respective team’s starting second basemen.
Another note to CG: You might take notice of how, during the whole course of this conversation, neither Kerouac nor I have tried to gloss what we say with phony “credentials” — Not even a “Well, I’ve been watching baseball for 50 years”.
We let our words stand on our own, knowing full well that they mean no more or less depending on how many radio shows we’ve been on with fading “comics” who once were on a sit-com but are now back on the strip-mall comedy club circuit.
Fake name guy, I don’t care what you think nobody does, just you. These blogs have thousands of TROLLS like you as K pointed out thats who you are a no name, no credits troll. Find an old bar to sit in and talk to the bartender he might listen if you tip him a buck or two. I’m kinda busy.
“But have you also heard of this thing called “chemistry”?”
– why no, never heard of such a thing… do tell. Only, Kerouac referenced precisely that – and more than once – in response. You say ‘chemistry’, I say ‘mix’; if you didn’t grasp that from reading my retorts, nothing else to be said.
Rejoinder terminus mine below, your proffer:
“Now as far as “you can’t win without ‘name’ players,” — a nebulous and ill-defined term, even a cursory check of past and recent World Series and Super Bowl champions would prove otherwise.”
– if one puts on their thinking cap, looks past the cursory (which is shallow comparison the profound) & is fair-minded in lieu the contentious, the nature of such an argument yours is crepe-thin, bordering superficiality.
Having previously addressed GIANTS names (and ‘mix’) 2015 & the Royals lack thereof comparison, suggest you list as many examples can/need in order ‘demonstrate’ how Superbowl and World Series winners had no or clearly too few name players in order validate your plea. Nod Tom Bodet, “we’ll leave the lights on for ya.” You clutch “nebulous”, I Missouri to say ‘Show Me’.
“It would also reveal that even with a team with a couple of “name” players, it is quite often a guy with no “name” that came up big.”
– would if it could, reveal… ‘team’ is made up 53 NFL, 25 MLB, and cursory or in-depth, research, analysis and common sense affirms no single player or even two NFL & MLB comes up big enough offset need for ‘the rest’.
This discussion is not a matter an isolated player who “came up big”, but, rather ‘name’ players in total that are or ‘are not’ the majority populace a ‘team’ made up many players. Reiterating, that right ‘mix’ (chemistry) too, Pioli’s ‘Right 53’ to put another. Reiterating, GIANTS have that, Royals do not (or at minimum have not to date; win it all 2015 and part & parcel thereof, will be able prove they found it/now do.)
Example: Patriots CB Malcolm Butler was not the ‘sole’ reason that team won the Superbowl last season, be too many Brady’s others NE, ‘names’. Ditto, case the NY Mets Daniel Murphy in their advance the WS, this season. Games are not played in a vacuum, someone or several must step up.
Fact remains, ‘name’ players are the ones do so over the course a game including ‘turning points’, far greater preponderance as well impact than the ‘stuck in my thumb & pulled out a plumb’ serendipitous types happen to be at the right place at the right time, fate and bounce of the ball as it were in their favor.
I say, if the Royals ever hope(d) to win a ‘World Series’, they’ll never have a better opportunity than this season, because the Mets are, shy wondrous starting pitching, a couple of big-time bats (Cespedes & Wright) & Roy Hobbs come to life Murphy, not especially imposing. The other, that they ‘do’ in fact have a few names an otherwise non-descript collection, makes them but a slightly different ‘mix’ or version perhaps the GIANTS, 2014.
Nothing else needs be said. In conclusion: go Mets & go Royals, to each their own and to everyone who loves one or the other.
Signed,
Blogdom as baseball’s finest, Kerouac and’ ‘THE’ ‘WORLD CHAMPION SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS’,reign supreme.
🙂
Yes, you did cite “team.” Right before you spoke of the all-importance of “names” and the “wow factor”, both of which you claim the Royals lack, and your champion Giants had in abundance.
A wee bit of cognitive dissonance, perhaps?
Perhaps; Kerouac isn’t a doctor, but based on what you present, my guess is that your comprehension skills are lacking… you’re just not very bright.
🙂