If this World Series doesn’t raise those widely discussed baseball ratings, than I don’t know what will. We have two great teams: both are supremely talented, both are the best of their respective leagues, no question. So, who has the edge and where? Here’s our position-by-position guide.
First base
In Game 3 of the ALCS, Eric Hosmer got hit with a ball that bounced off of his foot and straight into his mouth. He spit out a bit of blood, gripped his bat and was good to go. Hosmer is a hard man, but one with soft hands: he owns two gold gloves despite owning a -4.9 career defensive WAR rating. His bat was better than ever in 2015, rediscovering the pop that abandoned him a season ago. Hosmer has yet to put it all together in the playoffs, but he did have the base hit that scored Lorenzo Cain from first base, and it was his wide turn at first that figured in Jose Bautista’s decision to throw to second base rather than home, a base-running move that helped KC win the ALCS.
For the Mets, Lucas Duda is at first base. The obvious question is, ‘which Duda will we see?’ There’s the incredible slumping Duda, who couldn’t – and please pardon the cliché – hit water if he fell out of a boat: the player prone to seemingly never-ending batting slumps. Then there is Duda the terror, the player who hit a long three-run heart-breaking home run against the Chicago Cubs in the top of the first inning of NLCS Game 4. If the latter shows up, the Mets get the edge, but the jury is out so let’s call it even.
Second base
Here’s another Jekyll & Hyde scenario for the Mets: if the white-hot Daniel Murphy reappears for New York, there’s no way that Ben Zobrist can keep up, at least offensively, which is obvious: that’s a bit like saying Félix Millan couldn’t keep up with Joe Morgan.
Let’s just say for argument’s sake that Murphy returns to being the solid, professional hitter that he is. That would give Kansas City the edge because Zobrist is a better defender and slightly better hitter over the course of his career. Come to think of it, these players are a lot alike. Both play multiple positions (Zobrist plays right field, shortstop, second base and first base, Murphy plays third base, second base and first base and has also played out on left field) and both have similar hitting numbers, although Zobrist benefits from more patience at the plate. Except, until now, Zobrist, who could miss a game in the World Series because his wife is expecting, was beloved as a multi-faceted player and Murphy was, well, seen as a DH playing in the NL. Let’s count on Murphy not being all-galaxy because baseball rules say this cannot continue and give KC a slight advantage.
Shortstop
First Wilmer Flores wasn’t even supposed to be on the Mets, then he wasn’t even supposed to play much in the playoffs. His well documented, tear-infused would be trade-deadline deal to the Brewers never happened, and until Chase Utley transformed into a bowling ball and mauled Ruben Tejada, Flores was buried on the bench relegated to a pinch hitting role. So not only is he on the cusp of becoming a World Series champion on a team he wasn’t even supposed to be on, he’s actually starting, and will do for the entirety of the series.
This is the clearest edge for the Royals because unlike the defensively-challenged Flores, Alcides Escobar is one fine shortstop, a gold glover who was so good against Toronto they called him ALCS MVP. He runs, he fields and in these playoffs at least, he hits, going 11-23 against the Jays in the leadoff spot. Hint, don’t throw him a hittable fastball on the first pitch.
Third base
Have you ever seen a guy as happy as David Wright in your entire life? I haven’t, and you probably haven’t either. To say that the Mets captain played through some of the leanest years in franchise history is a massive understatement, and now that he’s survived a case of threatening spinal stenosis (for now) and made it ot the World Series, Wright looks like he’s going to savor every single moment. As far as playing, Wright was able to snap out of a slump towards the end of the Cubs series, in addition to providing above-average defense.
Meanwhile, KC’s Mike Moustakas, forever linked to Eric Hosmer because the duo disappointed together and now their delighting together, has also struggled during these playoffs (allegedly), much like his corner in-fielding buddy. That is of course, with the exception of the “home run” in Game 6 of the ALCS that got Canada really mad. “Moose” is one of a several Royals players who aren’t superstars but are of extremely high quality, a core that make KC who they are, and that’s why the Royals have a slight edge here.
Catcher
Is there anything not to like about Salvador Perez? Anything at all? Watch this and then tell me you don’t love the Venezuelan catcher.
I could watch it all day. And there’s more to him than just endless harassment of Lorenzo Cain. He’s a tremendous catcher, one KC wrapped up for five years at $7m … total! He’s kept himself busy by squeezing the best out of the Royals rotation and helping the bullpen continue its dominance. His career numbers are trending somewhat downwards, however, that’s probably because manager Ned Yost runs him into the ground. Still, at age 25, he’s already a three-time All-Star.
Travis d’Arnaud is no slouch either, known defensively for an uncanny ability to frame pitches and fool (OK, call it convince) umpires into favorable calls. With the bat, if he can find a way to stay healthy, we’re talking about a player capable of putting up Buster Posey-type numbers. Still, here and now, in this series, I’d prefer to have Perez, so the Royals have the edge at catcher.
Left field
Having a player of Alex Gordon’s calibre in the eighth slot gives you a good sense of just how deep these Royals are. Gordon, a three-time All-Star, missed close to 60 games this year, most of which came via a groin injury. Still, the time off means he’s been fresh for October where he’s been solid if not spectacular.
Yoenis Cespedes, however, when you really get down to the nuts and bolts of all this, is more-or-less the reason New York are in this position. If he’s streaking, as he did shortly after his arrival in late July, when he hit 17 homers in 29 games, he’s carrying the team. If he’s sitting there getting beat in the box by every pitcher he faces, his mere presence still helps his teammates see better pitches. If you don’t believe me, just ask members of the 2014 Oakland A’s, who saw their offense completely collapse after his departure at the deadline - and that was a lineup that included future would-be AL MVP Josh Donaldson. You can also check in with Daniel Murphy, who has made it clear that Cespedes’ presence in the lineup has made a major difference for him. If you’re looking at his on-base percentage and other more advanced saber-stats and still being critical of the player, you’re just not paying attention. Cespedes, who said on Monday that his ailing shoulder is 110% (which is actually impossible) has also been playing in center field, usually when Michael Conforto is playing in left field – wherever he is, he’s vital. Clear advantage Mets.
Center field
Lorenzo Cain. Every team would love to have a Lorenzo Cain. A beautiful player and one who is getting better and better each year. This season Cain compiled a WAR of 7.2, over two wins better than a season ago. His base running in Game 6 of the ALCS is indicative of all things Royals: he is the face of the franchise, and deservedly so. On top of that, he seems to put up with Salvador Perez fairly easily. There’s a major edge here over the Mets, who with the DH, who could run out Juan Lagares to roam the spacey confines of Kauffman Stadium. Lagares has a golden glove, but his defense has suffered in 2015 with an alleged ligament tear in his elbow. Still, he was great off the bench against the Dodgers in the NLDS, and serviceable against the Cubs in the NLCS.
Right field
While going through stretches when scoring three runs felt like scoring seven, Curtis Granderson was the glue to the Mets’ meek lineup. Although he struggled against lefties, to the point where Mets fans wondered how much longer manager Terry Collins could stick with him, New Yorkers finally saw the player they thought they were getting when he signed for the 2014 season. Granderson was tremendous against the Dodgers, working Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke hard, but struggled offensively against Chicago, though he did rob Chris Coghlan of a home run in Game 2 while scoring twice. His ability to set the table against the Royals will set the tone for the lineup in the series. Veteran Alex Rios, on the other hand, is without question the weakest, most un-Royal-like link on the field for the KC, so score one for the Mets here.
Designated hitter
Kendrys Morales put up his best numbers since his 2009 season and fit in well with KC’s lineup, where he hit 22 home runs and posted an OPS of .847. The Mets can put up wunderkind Michael Conforto, who thrived against right-handed pitching in his rookie season while being insulated from southpaws, or Kelly Johnson, who actually compiled 15 home runs this year in Atlanta and New York and is the choice for Game 1.
So, it’s an advantage for the Royals in Kansas City where the Mets will likely play Kelly Johnson at DH, and a disadvantage for the Royals when the series shifts to New York and Morales likely sits. Because Morales has been important this season for the Royals, and they have home field advantage, let’s give the Royals a slight advantage.
Bench
Conforto, Johnson, Kirk Nieuwehuis, Michael Cuddyer, and Juan Uribe, out since 25 September, who was added to the roster at the last possible minute. The Royals have Drew Butera, Christian Colon, Jarod Dyson and Paulo Orlando, the second Brazilian position player to play in the bigs. Terrance Gore was replaced by infielder Raul Mondesi, the 20-year-old son of that Raul Mondesi, who amazingly could make his Major League debut in the World Series. There’s some speed on the KC bench, but the Mets have depth and experience, giving them the edge in this department.
Starting pitchers
Nothing to see here folks, just power pitching: Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndegaard and even Steven Matz are the toast of baseball right now. That’s the order in which they’ll line up against KC, while the Royals start off with Edinson Volquez, before giving the ball to Johnny Cueto, Yordano Venura and then Chris Young, who spent time in Queens with the Mets in 2011 and 2012. Advantage Mets.
Bullpen
The Royals renowned bullpen have the clear edge here, although Mets closer Jeurys Familia could easily fit in with KC’s group of Luke Hochevar, Kelvin Herrera, Ryan Madson and closer Wade Davis. The Mets don’t have a secure bridge to Familia as the Royals to do Davis, and that’s the main difference here. It’s up to KC’s lineup to get to the bullpen and expose that weakness. Advantage Kansas City.
Managers
About Ned Yost, the Guardian’s Sean Keeler writes:
A case will be made – several cases, probably – that the 2015 American League pennant was a triumph over the skipper’s poor hunches as much as it was over Joey Bautista and his running mates. Which also overlooks one critical thing: this team trusts him, believes in him, even if you don’t.
Meanwhile, Terry Collins, a skipper once seen as a temporary solution, gets set to manage his first World Series game in a baseball career spanning 45 years. Throughout all the losing he’s seen as Mets manager, he’s never once lost the team, and that’s saying something. Critics will believe that Yost is more likely to cost his team a game than Collins, but he’s in the World Series for the second consecutive season while critics are eating pizzas and sucking down slurpees. This one is dead even.
Celebrity fans
Chris Rock once told Rolling Stone movie critic Peter Travers that he loved the Mets since he drew his first breath. He’s not alone: Jerry Seinfeld, Jon Stewart, Tim Robbins, Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Matthew Broderick and of course Jimmy Kimmel, are just a few celebs who root for the Mets.
The Royals have Kansas City native Paul Rudd and a few others. This one is easy: advantage Mets.
Prediction
Royals in seven, epic, extremely watchable games.
