Royals Postseason Stats

The Kansas City Royals have made the playoffs for the first time since 1985 and currently have a winning streak that dates back to the 1985 World Series. The 2014 squad is the first in the history of professional baseball to win eight consecutive playoff games. Considering this team has been somewhat of an underdog during the regular season, they have risen to dominance over the course of this year’s playoffs. With that being said, I decided to look at their stats through the course of the ALDS and ALCS en route to winning the American League pennant.

In the ALDS against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the Royals were able to compile 15 runs on 21 hits while walking 12 times and striking out 26 times and stealing five bases. This is compared to the Angels who scored six runs on 18 hits while walking nine times and striking out 25 times and stealing one base.

In the ALCS against the Baltimore Orioles, the Royals compiled 18 runs on 37 hits while walking 15 times and striking out 28 times and stealing one base. The Orioles scored 12 runs on 30 hits while walking 13 times, striking out 29 times, and stole two bases.

To compare overall postseason totals, excluding the AL Wild Card game against the Oakland Athletics, Kansas City almost doubled their opponents’ run production, 33 to 18, and stolen bases, six to three. The Royals hit slightly better than their opponents, 58 to 48, and walked a bit more, 27 to 22, but had the same number of strikeouts at 54.

Pretty good for a team that was dead last in this year’s home run totals, 95, and in walks drawn at 380. However, the Royals led in stolen bases, 153, and in the least amount of strikeouts, 985, at the end of regular season. And shockingly with the prevalence of bunting under manager Ned Yost, the Royals only rank 22nd in the league for sacrifice bunts.

With the aggressiveness and winning streak keeping its playoff sweep in tact, the Royals now have several days off before facing off against either the San Francisco Giants or the St Louis Cardinals in the 2014 World Series. Game one is slated to being on October 21st at Kauffman Stadium. Kansas City has Minnesota Twins reliever Glen Perkins to thank for that.

Screenshot from Glen Perkins’ Twitter account

Former Chukars Producing In Playoffs

As part of the Kansas City Royals farm system since 2004, the Idaho Falls Chukars have produced many major leaguers over the years with some shining bright during the 2014 MLB Playoffs. Perhaps the two former Chukars that have generated the most buzz have been Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas. Moustakas was on the 2007 team while Hosmer was a member of the 2008 squad. In game one of the ALDS against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Kansas City came away with a 3-2 victory after 11 innings. The go-ahead run hit in the 11th inning was by Mike Moustakas to give the Royals the lead and ultimately the win.

Game two was Eric Hosmer’s time to shine as he went 3-4 with 2 RBIs en route to the Royals’ 4-1 victory to put Kansas City up 2-0 in the series. Another former Chukar Greg Holland, member of the 2007 team, picked up the save striking out two Angels en route to a shutout inning to secure the win. Kansas City takes on Los Angeles at Kaufmann Stadium at approximately 6:37 p.m. CT.

Other former Chukars on the Royals’ roster include Danny Duffy (2010), Salvador Perez (2008-2009), and Billy Butler (2004). Non-active members on the roster are Aaron Brooks (2011), John Lamb (2009, 2012), Chesler Cuthbert (2010), and Lane Adams (2010) with Michael Mariot (2010) on the 60-day DL.

There are also several former Chukars among other playoff teams this year. The Detroit Tigers have Blaine Hardy from Idaho Falls’ 2008 season. However, he isn’t active on the roster.

In the National League there are two Idaho Falls representatives on the San Francisco roster in the form of Erik Cordier who played with the Chukars in 2006 but is not active on the Giants roster. Jake Peavy also pitched in two games for Idaho Falls during the 1999 season. The lone rep on the Washington Nationals is Jose Lobaton who spent the 2003 season with the Chukars. Finally, the Dodgers have J.P. Howell who played six games with the Chukars during the 2004 season.

And this concludes your Idaho Falls alumni wrap-up.