2014 World Series: Good vs. Evil

Tomorrow night at 7:07pm at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, pitcher James Shields will throw the first pitch officially starting the 2014 World Series. The American League champion Kansas City Royals will take on the National League champion San Francisco Giants in what is supposed to be a matchup for the ages. There's more to this season's "Fall Classic" than determining who will win baseballs ultimate crown, it is a struggle between good and evil.

The Kansas City Royals are truly a "cinderella story". The Royals, who haven't been to the playoffs since 1985, won this years AL Wildcard by beating the Oakland Athletics in a 12-inning game that has gone down as one of the greatest games in recent baseball history. Since September 30th, the Royals have swept through the AL playoffs by defeating powerhouses the Anaheim Angels and the Baltimore Orioles.

This season's Royals have proved that the "money ball' system can successfully work. Lead by fifth-year manager Ned Yost, the Royals have put together a team combining great young talent defensively, offensively, and on the mound. With 13 stolen bases and 8 home runs through their 8 postseason games, it's safe to say these Royals can do it all. Backed by their incredible fan base, who have waited through 29 years of pain for a moment like this, it's hard to route against such and incredible team and story.

The Kansas City Royals celebrate defeating the Oakland
Athletics in walk off fashion in the 2014 AL Wildcard game
(Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

On the National League side, however, things are a little different. The San Francisco Giants beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-0 in Pittsburgh to win the 2014 NL Wildcard. Since then, the Giants have blown through the NL East champion Washington Nationals in the NLDS and the NL Central champion St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS. Even though their record may not have shown it, the 2014 San Francisco Giants are a powerhouse. With starting pitchers like Tim Lincecum, Jake Peavy, Madison Baumgarner and Matt Cain one could argue the Giants pitching staff is baseball's best.

Backed by arguably baseball's greatest (and most annoying) fan base, the San Francisco Giants won the National League qualifying it to their 3rd world series in 5 years after winning the "fall classic" in both 2010 over the Texas Rangers and in 2012 over the Detroit Tigers.

This year's World Series is more than just Major League Baseball's championship series, it determines the future of this sport. It will show us if a fan base can really carry their team to glory and it will show us if courage and good coaching can actually beat bought talent.


For More Information See:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/2014.shtml
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/KCR/2014.shtml