Game One: A Rocky Royal Start

Well, that was disappointing.  I wish the Royals could have a do-over.
 
Everyone appeared significantly amped—the crowd, the Royals and certainly James Shields. Perhaps too much so. The Royals began both the ALDS and ALCS on the road, and played relaxed and confident. Before an excited home crowd, the emotions of the night may have consumed them, and in baseball, that’s not always a good thing.
 
In his career, Shields has not generally been effective with six or more days of rest, and it showed from the first batter. He did not command his change-up, usually his best pitch, and left one up to Gregor Blanco (who played in 49 unmemorable games for KC in 2010) for a leadoff single. When Shields later challenged Hunter Pence with a 3-2 fastball, it took a 421-foot one-way flight, and it was 3-0 before the Royals even came to bat.
 
At least in the early innings, the Royals were getting good swings against Madison Bumgarner, and they threatened to get back in the game when Mike Moustakas doubled to put runners on second and third with nobody out in the third. Then Alcides Escobar and Nori Aoki collectively swung at the next seven pitches—three of which were well out of the strike zone—and both struck out. Lorenzo Cain, who saw a total of 14 pitches and reached base in two excellent early at-bats, drew a walk to load the bases, but Eric Hosmer swung at Bumgarner’s first pitch and grounded out. With the exception of Cain, the Royals appeared over-anxious at the plate—another sign that they were overly amped.
 
The Giants knocked out Shields in the fourth with two more runs, while Bumgarner settled in and kept the Royals at bay over seven strong innings.  Until Sal Perez homered, Bumgarner had not allowed a run in three career World Series starts.  He’s tough, and the Royals would have to face him again in Game 5. Let’s hope they do, and that Shields can rediscover his stuff after another substandard post-season start. Also of concern is that the Royals have scored a total of only five runs in the last three games—albeit two of them victories.
 
So it was not the magical beginning we’d envisioned, but one loss is not a killer in a seven-game series. Sometimes, you just get beat. However, Game Two is critical.  The Royals lost the first two at home to the Cardinals in 1985 before rebounding to take the crown—not a strategy that I can endorse again.
 
On a selfish note, I was hoping the one-sided loss might lower prices for Game Two tickets, but that’s not been the case yet. Our fans have been incredible—still loud and proud with the team down 7-1 in the ninth inning.  And this morning, the city was still enthusiastic, optimistic and draped in blue.
 
It was also nice to see SungWoo Lee back from Korea in conversation with Paul Rudd.  And did you see the sign reading “Hunter Pence Played Marv From Home Alone”?  Great stuff.
 
Talk to you tomorrow.
 
Go Royals!