On Sunday night, the SF Giants finished off a four-game sweep over the Detroit Tigers to win the 2012 World Series. Without the help of some former KC Royals players, the Giants would not have been successful.

Following the World Series celebration, MLB Network analyst Kevin Millar called lefty reliever Jeremy Affeldt the MVP Game 4.

Why would a reliever be the MVP?

Well, Affeldt entered Game 4 in the 8th inning with the score tied at 3-3. He walked pinch-hitter Avisail Garcia. However, he proceeded to strike out the Tigers 3-4-5 (Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, and Delmon Young) hitters on 12 pitches. Only Fielder was a left-handed hitter.

Affeldt then struck out lefty Andy Dirks (another left-handed hitter) to lead off the 9th inning before giving up a LONG fly ball to Jhonny Peralta that chased him from the game. The ball was caught on the warning track in centerfield only because the park is HUGE and the wind knocked it down. Giants manager Bruce Bochy said after the game that when he came to take Affeldt out he said “You scared me. I have to take you out.”

So how did the Giants get to Game 4 with the help of some former Royals?

» Continue reading “Giants Win Title with Former Royals Help”

Just like the divisional series, the championship series in Major League Baseball have former KC Royals playing integral parts for their new teams. One finished in a short four-game sweep. The other in an exciting seven games.

Raul Ibanez struck again in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series. Down 4-2 with two outs in the bottom of the 9^th inning against Detroit Tigers closer Jose Valverde, Ibanez took the second splitter of the at-bat into the right field seats to tie the game up at 4-4 and send the half-empty home crowd into a frenzy. That died off quickly as the Tigers came back and won in the 12^th inning after captain Derek Jeter was lost for the rest of the postseason with a fractured ankle.

In Game 2, Ibanez went 1-for-2 with two walks in the Yankees 3-0 loss. They collected just three hits off Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez (he had one of them).

Ibanez couldn’t be the hero every night and couldn’t awake the sleeping Yankees offense. In Game 3 (the first game in Detroit), he came up with two men on base, two out, and the Yankees down 2-1. Ibanez was facing lefty Phil Coke and worked the count full. However, Coke threw a nasty offspeed pitch and struck him out to end the game. He went 0-for-4 in Game 3. Ibanez went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts in Game 4 and was pinch-hit for by Alex Rodriguez, who of course did nothing.

» Continue reading “Former Royals Help New Teams to World Series”

All four Division Series played win-or-go home Game 5’s, so every series was interesting and down to the wire.

The first team to punch their ticket to the Championship Series was the SF Giants. All four former KC Royals played integral parts to their advancement.

Lefty reliever Jeremy Affeldt pitched in just about every game. In Game 1, he walked one in 2/3 of an inning (12 pitches, five for strikes). In Game 3, he allowed one hit over two scoreless innings of relief (22 pitches, 14 for strikes). In the Game 5 clincher, he pitched another scoreless inning (the seventh). He was pulled after that one inning after a scary incident in the dugout on a foul line drive (he should be okay for the National League Championship Series).

Left fielder Gregor Blanco started every game for the Giants. In Game 1, he went 2-for-3. In Game 2’s blowout loss, he went 0-for-2, but the Giants only collected two hits. He went 0-for-1 with a run scored in Game 3. He showed off his surprise power in Game 4 with a two-run homerun in the 2^nd inning that gave the Giants the lead they would not relinquish. In the Game 5 clincher, he went 1-for-4 with a run scored in their six-run 5^th inning.

Shortstop Joaquin Arias didn’t start, but made an impact off the bench. He pinch-hit in Game 1 and picked up a single and scored a run in the bottom of the 9^th inning of the Giants 5-2 loss. He hit the eventual game-winning ground ball in the 10^th inning of Game 3’s 2-1 victory. Arias went 2-for-3 off the bench in Game 4 with two doubles and two runs scored.

Lefty reliever Jose Mijares had the worst series. In Game 2, he allowed three runs on two hits and a walk, but did not record an out. He rebounded in Game 4 and struck out the only batter he faced (Joey Votto) on five pitches in the 4^th inning.

One former Royal saw his season come to an end with the Cincinnati Reds. That was former closer and Reds setup man Jonathan Broxton. Broxton took the loss in Game 3 when a Ryan Hanigan passed ball moved base runners up in the top of the 10^th inning and Scott Rolen’s error scored the winning run. He pitched in three of the five games and allowed that unearned run on four hits over three innings. Broxton walked one while striking out four.

» Continue reading “Former Royals Help New Teams to Championship Series”

The Major League Baseball Division Series begins tonight after an exciting Wild Card Friday. One former KC Royal, Endy Chavez, moved on to tomorrow’s American League Division Series with the Baltimore Orioles. He entered Friday night’s game as a defensive replacement in right field.

Another former Royal, outfielder Carlos Beltran, moved onto the National League Division Series, as the St. Louis Cardinals controversially defeated the Atlanta Braves on Wild Card Friday. He started in right field, batted second in the order, and went 1-for-4 with a run scored in the win. Beltran and the Cardinals moved on to face the NL East champion Washington Nationals on Sunday.

With the Division Series’ kicking off today, it’s a great time to take a look at the former Royals who will be participating.

The NL West champion SF Giants have quite a few representatives. They begin play tonight at 9:30pm ET on TBS.

» Continue reading “Division Series Begin with Royals Input”

The Royals had a larger crowd for Saturday’s game than Friday night’s game and with a bus load of fans driving in from Omaha, I was expecting a sizeable crowd for the Future’s Game. Instead it seemed that most in attendance for the big league game left, though the minor league players loved the fan support (it probably was still more than they will get playing in their minor league parks). The players were actually surprised at how many people stuck around. From what I have heard, the players had a “fantastic time” (quoted from Johnny Giavotella).

To get some pitchers’ work, they decided to play 12 innings, instead of the customary nine. The Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers won 4-1 in nine innings (or 4-2 overall) over the Double-A NW Arkansas Naturals.

Mike Montgomery via John Sleezer of the Kansas City Star

Mike Montgomery, the prized lefty starter expected to reach the majors this season, pitched four hitless innings for Omaha. He struck out four and walked one. Danny Duffy, another prized left-hander, followed Montgomery and struck out five through three innings. He did give up the Naturals first hit and an unearned run.

The Naturals collected just three hits over the nine innings, while Omaha had six, two by outfielder Gregor Blanco. Blanco hit an inside-the-park homerun while David Lough hit a homerun out of the park. Eric Homser, the Royals top prospect, didn’t hit a homerun, but did play great defense at first base for Omaha. Giavotella, Omaha’s second baseman, went 1-for-3 with a double.

John Lamb started for the Naturals and allowed three hits and one run. Chris Dwyer pitched four innings of relief while allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits, though he walked three. Both Lamb and Dwyer are also left-handed starters.

Fans chanted “Moooooose” when third base prospect Mike Moustakas came to bat (he singled in his first at-bat for Omaha) and he and the other minor leaguers loved the fans enthusiasm. They all mentioned how knowledgeable the Royals fans were and that the fans knew who each of the players were.

John Lamb cannot understand why he hasn’t heard chants of “Baaaaa” when he’s on the mound. So help him out Naturals fans!

John Lamb via John Sleezer of the Kansas City Star