After the Oct. 14 close win, the Kansas City Royals took a three game lead over the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Championship Series (ALCS). Coming into the series, it was expected to be a speed vs. power matchup. The first two games have proved baseball fans the same ol’ lesson we have heard for years: throw away anything that happened in the regular season come October. Both games have been thrilling and went down to the wire. In the end, the Royals have jumped out to a 3-0 lead, winning both games in Baltimore and the first contest in Kansas City. That is an impressive task in its own, but the way they have done it is even more noteworthy. Here are the three keys to victory in the American League Championship Series:
Speed Kills
The Royals literally stole their way into the playoffs and lead the league with the most steals this season, where the Orioles came in last in stolen bases. Speed is dangerous, especially in the playoffs. A walk can turn into -what is known in baseball jargon- a ‘walking double.’ That has made a difference in the ALCS because the Orioles’ pitchers have seemed rattled with guys on base. However, one may argue that Buck Showalter’s O’s have dealt with their speed well. They managed to throw out Royals speedster Jarrod Dyson in both Games One & Two, but the attention of the base runners have been the x-factor of this series so far. The Baltimore starting pitchers have not been able to finish innings, and their pitch counts have not allowed them to stay late in games. It seems they are afraid to let the Royals hit a good pitch when a guy is on base, which leads to longer at-bats, which leads to the Orioles tapping into their bullpen far too early to put themselves in a winning position.
Power
Coming into the series the Orioles led the league in long balls. With a whopping 212 home runs, the O’s lineup averages six runs per game. Yet, in Game One, the Royals hit three home runs and the O’s failed to hit any. Adam Jones got a hold of one in Game Two, but four key extra base hits, including a bomb by Kansas City third baseman Mike Moustakas, won the game for the Royals. This left Camden Yards silent and all of baseball on watch because it seems the Kansas City Royals are more than just a hot team; they are on fire.
Bullpen
One can argue that both teams had the best bullpens in all of baseball. It is a major reason these teams are playing for a chance to represent the American League in the World Series this year. A good bullpen wins games and more importantly wins playoff games. Both pens have given up runs thus far but the Royals won both games on the back-end of the Orioles. Shutdown closer Zach Britton walked the bases loaded in the ninth in Game One and then gave up a double to Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar in Game Two that brought in the winning run. Britton’s struggles have taken out the Orioles’ best strength. Their winning formula is six innings from the starter, one from left-hander Andrew Miller, one from righty Darren O’Day and finish it with Britton. Well the starter can’t get out of the fourth inning, which has led to O’Day pitching too long and Britton coming in to an unusual situation. In other words, they’re uncomfortable and it shows.
When a team is used to playing a certain way all season long and it all of a sudden has not gone as planned, it seems nothing can go right. If the Orioles have any chance at coming back in this series, they have to jump out to an early lead to relieve stress off their starter. They need production in the end of the order so the big guns in Cruz and Jones have more pitches to hit. If nobody else in the order can produce, the Royals will pitch around them for the rest of the series and will walk into the World Series.
James Belluscio can be reached at james.belluscio@spartans.ut.edu.