12/21/24
October 01, 2014
Royals Steal 9-8 Win Over A's in Epic 12-Inning AL Wild Card: The Kansas City Royals entered the eighth inning down 7-3 to the Oakland A's with ace Jon Lester on the mound. Using their speed on steals and sacrifice bunts, they scored three in that inning and another in the ninth to send the game to extra innings, then came back from a one-run deficit in the 12th with a Salvador Perez single to left that scored Christian Colon, sending a franchise that had waited 29 years for postseason baseball into the ALDS.
Shields was only at 88 pitches too.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 08:25 AM on October 01, 2014
a testament to aggressive base running if there ever was one
Some people don't see it that way. Especially since Yost gave up potential runs earlier on with a painful double steal.
posted by yerfatma at 09:40 AM on October 01, 2014
Some people don't see it that way.
I think that piece is pretty accurate. The Royals had the leadoff hitter on in 9, 10, and 11, bunting him over to 2nd all three times. The cashed in a lot of free outs chasing the tying and later the winning run.
They were also extremely lucky on a couple of questionable steal calls. Dyson stealing third in the 9th with 1 out and left-handed Aoki up was a huge gamble. Watching it live, I thought the ump looked like he was going to call him out and then went with safe. The replay confirmed that it was very close (though the right call). Colon stole 2nd in the bottom of the 12th, which at least had more value to the Royals, but everyone knew it was coming, and if not for the catcher dropping the pitchout, he likely would have been thrown out.
It certainly was an exciting game, though, and I'm happy for the KC fans who, after almost 30 years, didn't get sent home after exactly 1 game.
posted by bender at 10:02 AM on October 01, 2014
... if not for the catcher dropping the pitchout, he likely would have been thrown out.
True, but that mistake is one of the arguments for speed. It puts more pressure on opponents to make plays, and they aren't always up to the task.
The one-game wild card is weird, but that one was a classic. I'm glad the KC fans get a longer party.
posted by rcade at 10:17 AM on October 01, 2014
KC hit the fewest home runs in the league this year (by 10) and had the fewest walks in the league. They're middle of the road in OBP and in the bottom third in slugging, and only San Fran (OBP) and St. Louis (SLG) are teams that are left that are worse in either category.
They stole the most bases in the league, and were tied for 1st in steal percentage in the league. In a game where it is pretty clear they are going to need to score some runs, the Royals have to press on the base paths because they don't really have the skill-sets (based on the previous 162 games' history) to do much else.
The double steal was folly (and way too much complexity to put on players who are mostly playing their first playoff game), but perhaps part of the reason Norris dropped the ball on the pitchout was he was getting torched all night and it was getting to him. Pressure cracks, and they pressed all night.
This strategy is boom or bust, but I don't really see what Yost does with his roster otherwise. 3 guys hit more than 9 home runs, and one regular has an OBP over .350. KC isn't a great team hitting their stride - they'll win because they grind it out and get a little luck.
posted by dfleming at 10:23 AM on October 01, 2014
This was the best thing about the game.
Check out that sweet handwriting.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 11:00 AM on October 01, 2014
That is awesome. Here's a look at the Win Probability Added for each KC steal.
posted by yerfatma at 02:37 PM on October 01, 2014
"They all laughed when I said I was going to calligraphy school! Who's laughing now?"
posted by rcade at 02:43 PM on October 01, 2014
That was a great game. Playoff Baseball is is usually pretty good entertainment because each play is meaningful and the fans are really into it. Happy the Royals won, but pulling Shields was a surprise, then the choice of Ventura was a shock. But that's baseball!
posted by HateTheMedia at 04:33 PM on October 01, 2014
Lester walks off the mound with a good lead in the eighth inning. Lester proceeds to wind up with a no decision in a loss. Lester says to himself, "I really thought I had been traded out of Boston." Crazy game. I guess it was a case of Kansas City not knowing that it should not have been running when behind late in the game. The series vs Angels ought to be a good one.
posted by Howard_T at 11:27 PM on October 01, 2014
An incredible game (and a testament to aggressive base running if there ever was one), but Ned Yost was insane bringing a rookie who got torched on a start on Sunday in as his first reliever out of the bullpen, to inherit two on with nobody out.
I get the Royals have a shaky pen past the big three, but I'd roll the dice on a vet like Frasor a lot earlier than a guy who's hardly ever pitched in relief, is 23, and is in his first playoff action.