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**StarDust Bum** · 10-24-2015, 01:11 AM

Mets welcome time off before WSeries
October 23, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) The way the New York Mets were playing, the last thing they needed was five days off.

No choice, though. That's exactly what they got.

After completing a four-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs in the NL Championship Series on Wednesday night, Daniel Murphy and the Mets must wait until next Tuesday to start the World Series. And recent history suggests such a long layoff in October can really be detrimental.

''I don't know if every team's the same. You know, we're going to ride that pitching. And by the way, our pitching right now could use a blow because we're pushing them pretty hard,'' manager Terry Collins said Friday. ''I'm glad our starters are going to get an extra day.''

Nonetheless, baseball is about repetition and timing. So it's a fair question: Will the National League champs look rested or rusty in the upcoming Series?

They'll open at Kansas City or Toronto - the Royals led 3-2 in the best-of-seven ALCS going into Game 6 at Kauffman Stadium on Friday night.

''The pros are you can sit back and dig yourself for a couple of days, and that's always fun to know, right?'' Royals manager Ned Yost said this week. ''And the cons are, you just get anxious to go. You've got to throw maybe some simulated games in batting practice to keep guys sharp.''

New York might be best served rooting for Kansas City, the defending AL champion, to finish off the Blue Jays as quickly as possible.

The last four times a team coming off an LCS sweep faced a team that went the distance to reach the Fall Classic, the club with the extended layoff got wiped out in the World Series.

In fact, the squads with all the extra time off went a combined 2-16 in those World Series games. The last two such Series were sweeps: Boston over Colorado in 2007, and San Francisco over Detroit in 2012.

Those Tigers were managed by Jim Leyland, a longtime mentor to Collins. Leyland also piloted the 2006 Tigers, who swept Oakland in the ALCS but lost the World Series 4-1 to a St. Louis team that went seven games with the Mets in the NLCS.

That performance was particularly sloppy, with Detroit pitchers struggling over and over to make accurate throws to the bases.

''I think he had the better team at that time, but the team that's playing the best is the team that wins and we've got to get ourselves ready to play,'' Collins said. ''That's why I asked him about all the preparation and stuff and he said, `Listen, play the best players, don't ever take anything for granted, and by the way there's nothing you can do between now and when that game starts that's going to get them ready - except themselves. You can't simulate a game, you can't simulate 46,000 people in here, the flag waving, the pressure of 3-2 with the bases loaded.' So he said, `Go about your job and make sure that guys are prepared and that's all you can do.'''

Leyland even brought players up to Detroit from the Florida instructional league to scrimmage with the Tigers, Collins recalled.

''Didn't help,'' he said.

Yet he said general manager Sandy Alderson thought it was a benefit to his 1989 Oakland Athletics when they played in the Arizona instructional league during the earthquake-interrupted World Series against San Francisco.

''But they had crowds,'' Collins explained. ''So he said he thought it really helped them out.''

New York need look no further than the Cubs team it just vanquished to see the potential drawbacks of a layoff. Chicago had three days off after eliminating the rival St. Louis Cardinals in their Division Series and had won 12 of 13 overall before its young sluggers were stopped cold in the NLCS.

The tired Mets, meanwhile, had only one day to relax following a tense, five-game series against the Dodgers that required four cross-country flights in a 10-day span.

''The extra rest we're going to get right now is going to benefit us more than hurt us,'' Collins said.

Looking to stay sharp this week, the Mets held a voluntary workout Friday at Citi Field. Collins and his players proudly wore sweats and caps with World Series logos, and it appeared a little more than half the team attended.

Beginning on Saturday, the intensity will increase.

''Tomorrow it'll be a full-blown thing,'' Collins said. ''We're going to get some live pitching and some live hitting and some other things. I gave some guys the day off today. You know, we've got a couple guys that got a little banged up in Chicago, so I told them, `Listen, let's use an extra day just to make sure, to give you some extra rest so that when Saturday comes and we start the live pitching, everybody's ready.'''

Murphy, the NLCS MVP, must be eager to get back in the batter's box. He's homered in a record six straight postseason games and had seven overall in the playoffs.

But the time off could do Yoenis Cespedes some good. After exiting the NLCS finale, the slugger received a cortisone injection in his sore left shoulder Thursday and was told not to participate in baseball activities for 24 hours, Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said.

Cespedes is expected to be ready for the World Series.

''We're fortunate to have taken care of our business quick,'' reserve infielder Kelly Johnson said. ''To be honest with you, it helps guys who are banged up. It helps the rotation. I think we just take the positives and look at those.''

**StarDust Bum** · 10-24-2015, 01:13 AM

Mets OF Cespedes has cortisone shot
October 23, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes has received a cortisone injection in his sore left shoulder, and the team expects him to be ready for the World Series next week.

Cespedes left Wednesday night's NL Championship Series finale at Chicago in the second inning. The slugger had the injection on Thursday and was told not to participate in baseball activities for 24 hours, Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said. Cespedes did not attend Friday's voluntary workout at Citi Field.

Mets manager Terry Collins says: ''We've got it taken care of. The doctors, they said, look, he'll be OK, and so tomorrow we'll find out.''

Collins said he didn't ask how Cespedes got hurt. Hitting coach Kevin Long said Cespedes thought he did it doing push-ups.

''He didn't do it playing golf. He didn't have a bad sand shot or didn't get stuck in the side of a bunker,'' Collins said.

**StarDust Bum** · 10-25-2015, 10:54 PM

Tears, Trades and The Captain: Mets' wild ride to Series
October 25, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) Whether it was Wilmer Flores wiping away tears at shortstop or David Wright hitting a home run in his return from the disabled list, the New York Mets' storybook ride to the World Series this season has been marked by several seminal moments.

Here's a look back:

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MARCH 3

Wright, the team captain, reprimands prized pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard for eating lunch in the clubhouse during an intrasquad game at spring training. Veteran reliever Bobby Parnell tosses Syndergaard's plate into the trash, and the encounter becomes back-page fodder for New York newspapers. Syndergaard acknowledges an ignorant mistake, saying he should have been on the bench looking to learn something. Wright apologizes for not realizing reporters were within earshot, and speaks to the youngster twice to ensure no hard feelings. ''It wasn't about work ethic,'' manager Terry Collins said. ''It was about being a team player.'' After Syndergaard makes his major league debut in May, he earns consistent praise from Collins for eagerly soaking up new information that rapidly transforms the fireballer into a polished pitcher.

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APRIL 6

Bartolo Colon, 41, beats $210 million ace Max Scherzer as the Mets open the season with a 3-1 win at Washington, a huge favorite in the NL East. Jenrry Mejia is unavailable to close because of a tender elbow that lands him on the disabled list. Days later, Mejia draws the first of two long drug suspensions, and setup man Jeurys Familia is promoted to closer. Familia immediately earns eight saves during an 11-game winning streak and finishes with 43, equaling the club record. With a 1.85 ERA in 76 appearances, he is arguably the team MVP. Then he saves five games in eight spotless outings during the NL playoffs. ''He saved the season for us,'' Collins said.

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JULY 24

General manager Sandy Alderson starts overhauling a feeble offense. On the same day outfielder Michael Conforto gets called up from Double-A, veteran pros Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson are obtained in a trade with Atlanta. From July 25 on, the Mets lead the National League in runs, homers and slugging percentage. ''That's who shook the clubhouse up. When Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe walked in that clubhouse and guys all of a sudden realized their jobs were at stake, it changed. We got some guys swinging the bats much more aggressively with much more sense of urgency, and that's when I think we turned things around,'' Collins said.

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JULY 29

On a surreal night at Citi Field, word leaks that New York has a trade in place to send Flores and injured pitcher Zack Wheeler to Milwaukee for Carlos Gomez. Fans give the 23-year-old Flores a farewell ovation during the game, and cameras catch him crying in the dugout and wiping away tears at shortstop. The deal ultimately falls through, and Mets rooters instantly fall for Flores and his unabashed loyalty.

---

JULY 31

One day after a gut-wrenching loss to San Diego, catcher Travis d'Arnaud finally comes off the disabled list and Alderson acquires slugger Yoenis Cespedes from Detroit just 13 minutes before the trade deadline. Hours later, Flores writes a New York fairy tale. The new fan favorite hits a game-ending homer and drives in both Mets runs, prompting four standing ovations during a 12-inning win over the Nationals. ''Pretty unreal,'' pitcher Matt Harvey says. The victory sparks a three-game sweep at raucous Citi Field that erases Washington's three-game lead in the division.

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AUG. 24

Sidelined more than four months because of a strained hamstring and spinal stenosis, Wright hits a colossal homer on his first major league swing since mid-April. ''Couldn't have been any better,'' he says. New York sets franchise records with eight homers and 15 extra-base hits in a 16-7 victory at Philadelphia. The night before, Wright was in full uniform when he greeted teammates with a batch of cookies at their hotel following a long flight from Colorado.

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SEPT. 8

In the wake of a recent uproar about his innings limit, Harvey exits trailing 7-1 in Washington. But the Mets rally to win, one of three scintillating comebacks in a three-game sweep powered by Cespedes and pinch-hit homers from Johnson and Kirk Nieuwenhuis. They open a seven-game lead in the NL East. ''Biggest three games I've had in my career,'' Collins says. ''Inspirational play by every guy that was out there.''

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SEPT. 26

Lucas Duda hits a grand slam and Wright adds a three-run homer in a 10-2 victory at Cincinnati that clinches the club's sixth NL East title, putting the Mets in the playoffs for the first time since 2006. ''It's been a long time,'' Wright says. ''Too long.'' Collins and his players return to the field to celebrate with thousands of Mets fans who made the trip, slapping high-fives and spraying them with champagne in a scene that would be replicated following playoff triumphs in Los Angeles and Chicago.

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OCT. 15

Five days after shortstop Ruben Tejada breaks his right leg on a late takeout slide by Chase Utley, the Mets edge the Dodgers 3-2 behind a gritty Jacob deGrom to win their NL Division Series. Daniel Murphy alertly steals an uncovered third base on Duda's walk and hits a go-ahead homer off Zack Greinke. Murphy continues his uncharacteristic power surge against the Cubs and is selected NLCS MVP following a four-game sweep. He sets a major league record by hitting a home run in six straight postseason games. ''He's not human. He's not on this planet right now,'' teammate Tyler Clippard says. ''Another life form jumped into his body.''

**StarDust Bum** · 10-25-2015, 10:57 PM

Harvey to start WS opener for Mets
October 24, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) Matt Harvey has been picked to pitch for the New York Mets in the World Series opener at Kansas City on Tuesday night.

Mets manager Terry Collins announced his rotation Saturday, when the team worked out at Citi Field. Jacob deGrom will start Game 2 at Kauffman Stadium, followed by rookies Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz when the best-of-seven series shifts to New York.

Collins says the Mets wanted to give deGrom an extra day of rest and they like going into Kansas City with their top two starters. They also feel good about Syndergaard pitching at home, where he's been most successful.

Collins said Harvey could be available out of the bullpen in a potential Game 7.

Harvey shut down the Chicago Cubs in the NL Championship Series opener and won both his playoff starts.

Last season's NL Rookie of the Year, deGrom is 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in three postseason outings.

--------------------------

Royals' success traced to Brewers trade
October 24, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) The groundwork for back-to-back World Series runs by the Kansas City Royals began on a cold December day in 2010 when they traded perhaps the game's best pitcher.

Back then, the Royals were devoid of talent, going nowhere and doing it slowly. So general manager Dayton Moore packed off Zack Greinke to Milwaukee, swapping the Cy Young candidate for a quartet of prospects he hoped would help lead a renaissance in Kansas City.

Two of them were pitchers, Jeremy Jeffress and Jake Odorizzi.

The other two? Lorenzo Cain and Alcides Escobar.

Five years later, both are All-Stars. Cain has grown into a .300 hitter and one of the game's best center fielders. Escobar has become such a slick-fielding shortstop that the question is not whether he will capture a Gold Glove but how many.

Both of them are MVPs of the AL Championship Series, too. Cain won the award a year ago. Escobar nabbed his Friday night when he helped Kansas City beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 in Game 6 to earn the club's second straight trip to the Fall Classic.

''That's pretty good,'' said Hall of Famer George Brett, now a special assistant in the Royals front office, who has helped tutor both players the past few spring trainings.

Brett was watching from a suite in Kauffman Stadium on Friday night, and someone asked him who he thought would be MVP. Before they even announced his name, Brett replied: ''Escobar is going to win. He stood head and shoulders above everybody else.''

Indeed, Escobar set a postseason record by getting a leadoff hit in the first four games of a series. He finished 11 for 23 against the Blue Jays, joining Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox as the only hitters with at least 10 hits and five RBIs from the leadoff spot in LCS history.

''For me, it's a surprise,'' Escobar said. ''I know I'm playing really good and my team is playing really good. ... And when I heard the news, I was so happy for that.''

Royals manager Ned Yost wasn't surprised. After all, he remembers watching Cain and Escobar come up through the Brewers system when he was managing the club in Milwaukee.

''I used to bring Esky to big league spring training when he was in A-ball because I used to love to watch him play,'' Yost said. ''For him to get the MVP this year is very satisfying to me. I have always known he was an MVP-type of player in these types of situations.''

If he didn't win the award, it could have easily gone to Cain again.

He again chased down everything hit his way, and again sparked the Royals' run-run-run offense. Cain had five hits, drove in five runs and scored twice more in the six-game set against Toronto, none of the runs bigger than his last.

After the Blue Jays had knotted Game 6 at 3-all on a two-run homer by Jose Bautista in the eighth inning, and a 45-minute rain delay washed through, Cain worked a leadoff walk to put Kansas City back in business. First baseman Eric Hosmer singled deep down the right-field line, and Cain rounded second, then kept going when he reached third, sliding into home for the lead.

It was the second time Cain scored from first on a single with less than two out against the Jays. Before that, the last time it happened in the playoffs was Game 2 of the 1924 World Series.

''Once he hit it, I looked down and saw Bautista kind of playing on the line,'' Cain said. ''I felt sure that I wasn't going to score. That's why I was so shocked when I saw (third-base coach) Mike Jirschele waving me on. We needed to score there. Jirsch did his homework.''

Perhaps it was only fitting that Wade Davis closed out the win. The All-Star reliever was acquired from Tampa Bay along with James Shields in another trade a couple years ago.

Among those sent to Tampa Bay? Odorizzi, another part of that Greinke trade.

The one that set the Royals up for their run of success.

**StarDust Bum** · 10-25-2015, 10:58 PM

MLB PLAYOFF RECORD:

*****.......................................5 - 8
double plays..............................10 - 9
triple plays................................4 - 7
grand slam................................5 - 3
double grand slam......................4 - 2
total.........................................8 - 10

**StarDust Bum** · 10-25-2015, 11:00 PM

BBQ or bagels? A tasty World Series set
October 24, 2015

Yoenis Cespedes launching long drives, Lorenzo Cain dashing to catch them. Noah Syndergaard zinging 100 mph heat, Alcides Escobar trying to catch up.

The pitching-rich New York Mets, boosted by Daniel Murphy's power surge. The plucky Kansas City Royals, aiming to atone for last year's near-miss.

Served up with some BBQ and bagels, too. A tasty World Series, indeed.

The Royals set the matchup Friday night, beating Toronto 4-3 in Game 6 of AL Championship Series. The Mets were waiting, having swept the Cubs on Wednesday night in the NLCS.

''Really good team. Really good pitching over there,'' Escobar, MVP of the ALCS, said about the New Yorkers.

They start Tuesday night in Kansas City. Already, the clubs have made history - this is the first World Series between franchises born in the expansion-era 1960s.

Maybe more on deck.

Can Murphy, never a major home run threat with the Mets, extend his record by connecting in a seventh straight postseason game? How will Kendrys Morales, Escobar and KC's contact hitters fare against Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and the fresh New York aces? When will closers Jeurys Familia and Wade Davis ever give up a run?

Plus, the first World Series action at Citi Field when the scene shifts for Game 3. Then Game 4 on Halloween night, followed by Game 5 in November on the day of the New York City Marathon.

Plenty of stars on both sides - David Wright and Curtis Granderson for New York; Alex Gordon, Eric Hosmer and Salvador Perez for Kansas City - who fans can follow into the future.

In fact, consider this a preview for the 2016 season. Yep, opening day in the majors next April 4 is Mets at Royals.

This much is certain: One team wearing blue is about to end a long drought.

The Royals, who lost to San Francisco in Game 7 at Kauffman Stadium last October, haven't won the crown since George Brett and Bret Saberhagen starred in 1985. The Mets' most recent title came in 1986, led by Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden.

Over the years, the Royals and Mets did share some things. David Cone, Carlos Beltran and Saberhagen are among the guys who played for both teams.

The teams have met only nine times since interleague play began in 1997, with the Royals holding a 5-4 edge. The Mets haven't even visited Kansas City since 2004.

But not much to link this current crop of Mets and Royals to each other. Other than a pair of clubs playing real sharp ball these days.

Manager Ned Yost's Royals are known for speed, defense and their bullpen. Cain and the other fleet outfielders seem to catch everything, and young ace Yordano Ventura has made his mark with every hard fastball.

Kansas City also has loads of World Series experience and added veteran Ben Zobrist and Johnny Cueto for the pennant push.

Mets manager Terry Collins is in his first World Series, as are nearly all his players. Few of them had been in the postseason until this year.

No matter, they did just fine in the deciding Game 5 of the Division Series vs. major league ERA leader Zack Greinke at Dodger Stadium. Didn't hurt them against the big-hitting Cubs, either - the Mets never trailed for a single inning in that series.

**StarDust Bum** · 10-26-2015, 01:33 PM

Mets and Royals are a great match up
October 26, 2015

A position-by-position look at the New York Mets and Kansas City Royals going into the World Series, starting Tuesday night at Kauffman Stadium:

First Base:

Mets:

Lucas Duda. A streaky slugger with a good eye when he's going well, the quiet Duda was given an everyday job early last season over Ike Davis in a wise evaluation by the Mets. Duda has delivered on that promise of big power, with 57 homers and 165 RBIs over the past two years. He's worked hard to become a better-than-you-think fielder, and he busted out of a bad slump with a homer, two doubles and five RBIs in the NL Championship Series clincher at Wrigley Field.

Royals:

Eric Hosmer. The two-time Gold Glove winner finally became the middle-of-the-order force the Royals were hoping for when they drafted him third overall in 2008. He set career highs of 93 RBIs and 98 runs this season while raising his batting average nearly 30 points to .297. He struggled at the plate in the AL playoffs but knocked in 11 runs on 10 hits in 45 at-bats.

Edge: Even.

---

Second Base:

Mets:

Daniel Murphy. There's a new Mr. October in the Big Apple. Always a good contact hitter, Murphy worked all year on generating more power. Something started to click in the second half and he set a career high with 14 home runs. That was just the beginning, though. The 2014 All-Star, who can become a free agent next month, has homered in a record six consecutive postseason games. He batted .529 (9 for 17) against the Chicago Cubs to win NLCS MVP honors, and is hitting .421 with seven homers and 11 RBIs in nine postseason games overall. He credits his No. 3 spot in the lineup and first-year Mets hitting coaches Kevin Long and Pat Roessler. Murphy can be shaky on the bases and in the field, but his all-around performance in the playoffs was spectacular.

Royals:

Ben Zobrist. A trade-deadline acquisition from Oakland, Zobrist took over at second base down the stretch when Omar Infante went out with an oblique injury in mid-September. Zobrist has had an impressive postseason, hitting .325 through the first two rounds, including four doubles and two homers in the ALCS. He has World Series experience with Tampa Bay in 2008.

Edge: Mets. Murphy is on a roll.

---

Shortstop:

Mets:

Wilmer Flores. Nearly traded in late July, Flores became an instant fan favorite when cameras caught him crying during a game because he thought he'd been jettisoned by the only organization he's ever played for. He began the season as the starter and took over again in the playoffs when Ruben Tejada broke his leg on a late takeout slide by Chase Utley of the Dodgers. Flores had 16 homers this year and delivered several clutch hits. He's limited on defense but has been more consistent since his early-season struggles.

Royals:

Alcides Escobar. A pest in the leadoff spot and a whiz with the glove, Escobar has blossomed this October. He likes to swing early in the count, and he set a record with hits to start four straight playoff games in one series. The ALCS MVP, Escobar is the postseason hits leader with 17, one more than Murphy.

Edge: Royals. Escobar is on a roll.

---

Third Base:

Mets:

David Wright. A respected leader and the longest-tenured active player in the majors with one team, Wright has finally reached the World Series. The team captain fought through various injuries during a string of losing seasons and waited since 2006 to get back to the playoffs. Sidelined more than four months this year because of a strained hamstring and spinal stenosis, Wright hit a titanic homer in late August on his first major league swing since mid-April. He's not quite the offensive threat he once was, but remains an important piece of the puzzle for New York. After going 1 for 16 with seven strikeouts in the NLDS, he picked it up against the Cubs.

Royals:

Mike Moustakas. Like Hosmer, the 27-year-old ''Moose'' took a big step forward at the plate this season. The second overall draft pick in 2007 earned his first All-Star selection in his fifth season and set career highs in most major offensive categories, finishing with an .817 OPS. But aside from his homer in Game 6 of the ALCS, Moustakas struggled in the first two rounds.

Edge: Mets.

---

Catcher:

Mets:

Travis d'Arnaud. The injury-prone d'Arnaud has been plenty productive when healthy for the last year and a half. He was acquired from Toronto in the same trade that netted Noah Syndergaard. Throwing and game-calling are not necessarily strengths, but d'Arnaud frames pitches very well. He has power to all fields and batted .206 with three homers and six RBIs in nine playoff games.

Royals:

Salvador Perez. The big catcher earned his third straight All-Star nod and should be a favorite for his third Gold Glove in a row, too. Banged up in the first two rounds, Perez kept right on grinning and playing. And hitting balls over the fence. He had only three hits in the ALCS but two were homers. He also connected twice in the Division Series and has six RBIs overall. Remember, too, he homered off Giants ace Madison Bumgarner in the World Series opener last fall.

Edge: Royals.

---

Left Field:

Mets:

Yoenis Cespedes. Acquired from Detroit just before the July 31 trade deadline, Cespedes was a perfect fit, giving the Mets the powerful right-handed bat they desperately needed in the middle of the lineup. A legitimate five-tool player with a rocket arm, he helped New York pull away in the NL East by going on an incredible tear at the plate that even inspired some MVP talk. But the Cuban star received a cortisone shot for his sore left shoulder after exiting the NLCS finale. He says he'll be ready for Game 1.

Royals:

Alex Gordon. Played only 104 games this season because of a severe groin injury that sidelined him for two months. One of the game's best defensive outfielders, he's also a potent bat in the 8-hole for a deep Royals lineup.

Edge: Mets, if Cespedes is healthy.

---

Center Field:

Mets:

Juan Lagares. A Gold Glove winner last season, Lagares lost his everyday job because of his struggles against right-handed pitching. He was relegated to the bench and sporadic at-bats vs. lefties once Cespedes arrived. Kansas City has all right-handers in the rotation, but with the DH in play, Lagares could be a starter in the expansive outfield at Kauffman Stadium. He's done well in his platoon role this postseason, too.

Royals:

Lorenzo Cain. Showed off his speed in scoring the most important run of the ALCS - a dash home from first base on a single for the go-ahead run in the clinching Game 6 against Toronto. Cain topped last season's breakout year, adding some pop (16 homers) to a .307 average with 28 steals. The first-time All-Star hit .300, stole two bases and drove in five runs vs. the Blue Jays, all while showing off his extraordinary range in the outfield.

Edge: Royals.

---

Right Field:

Mets:

Curtis Granderson. An unsung savior for New York in his second season with the team, Granderson filled a huge hole in the leadoff spot. He hit 26 homers, scored 98 runs and drew 91 walks in finishing with a .364 on-base percentage and 70 RBIs. In the playoffs, he stole four bases, had a five-RBI game and upped his OBP to .385. The rare Mets player with World Series experience, Granderson made it in 2006 with Detroit and went 2 for 21 (.095) with seven strikeouts against St. Louis.

Royals:

Alex Rios. An offseason acquisition to replace Nori Aoki, the 34-year-old Rios is making the most of his first trip to the postseason in a 12-year career, batting .368 with a home run in the ALCS. Got caught on replay with his foot off the base on one of his pop-up slides and nearly got nabbed again during the series against Toronto.

Edge: Mets.

---

Designated Hitter:

Mets:

Michael Conforto or Kelly Johnson. Drafted just last year and called up from Double-A on July 24, the 22-year-old Conforto immediately showed he could handle big league pitching. Displaying power to all fields and advanced skills at the plate, he batted .270 with nine homers and 26 RBIs in 56 games. Now, he's on the cusp of joining Ed Vosberg and Jason Varitek as the only players to appear in the Little League World Series, the College World Series and the major league World Series, according to Little League. Conforto, who hasn't faced much left-handed pitching, went 1 for 15 with a home run in the playoffs. He could remain the starter in left field against the Royals if New York keeps Lagares on the bench. ... Johnson was acquired from Atlanta along with Juan Uribe on the same day Conforto was called up. A veteran pro at the plate, Johnson provides experience and potential sock from the left side.

Royals:

Kendrys Morales. Signed after the Royals declined their contract option on Billy Butler, Morales has been a boon for Kansas City's offense. He had 22 homers and 106 RBIs with a .290 average during the regular season and hit four more long balls during the playoffs.

Edge: Royals.

---

Starting Pitchers:

Mets:

They're young, they throw hard and they have imposing nicknames. But there's so much more to all those live arms the Mets rebuilt around. New York's fearsome foursome of Matt Harvey (The Dark Knight), Jacob deGrom (the deGrominator), Syndergaard (Thor) and Steven Matz is polished beyond their years. The steady poise and nasty stuff they've shown in the postseason has been something special. Harvey will start Game 1 in Kansas City, all that uproar about his innings limit a thing of the past. He went 13-8 with a 2.71 ERA in his first season back from Tommy John surgery. The star right-hander is a drama magnet, but he loves a big stage. He shut down the Cubs in the NLCS opener and won both his playoff starts. Last season's NL Rookie of the Year, deGrom gets Game 2. He was 14-8 with a 2.54 ERA before going 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in three postseason outings. Syndergaard (9-7, 3.24) hits 100 mph with his fastball and even made his first career relief appearance in Game 5 of the Division Series against the Dodgers. Fellow rookie Matz, the Long Island lefty who grew up a Mets fan about 50 miles from Citi Field, hasn't been asked to go very deep in his two postseason assignments. But the team thinks so highly of him, it pegged him for the October rotation after only six major league starts (4-0, 2.27). The group has combined for 147 career regular-season starts, by far the fewest for a World Series foursome, according to STATS. New York threw 5,752 pitches clocked at 95 mph or faster this season, STATS said. Kansas City ranked second with 4,315.

Royals:

The starting staff is the weakest aspect of the sound Royals. Yordano Ventura became a star during last year's postseason and was the team's opening-day starter, but the flame-thrower struggled with his control and emotions and was briefly demoted to the minors this season. He's been inconsistent in October, brilliant at times and beatable at others. Free-agent signee Edinson Volquez had his second 13-win season in a row, after one with Pittsburgh. Volquez tossed six shutout innings in the ALCS opener, then fell apart in the sixth inning of a Game 5 loss. The big trade-deadline arrival, Johnny Cueto, has been perplexing. He was 4-7 with a 4.76 ERA in 13 starts for Kansas City, then went out and was nearly untouchable in the deciding Game 5 of the Division Series vs. Houston before having one of the worst starts of his career in Game 3 of the ALCS. Chris Young, the 6-foot-10 Princeton grad, got the call in Game 4 after a long layoff and was superb for 4 2-3 innings.

Edge: Mets.

---

Bullpen:

Mets:

Promoted from setup man to closer in early April when Jenrry Mejia was handed the first of two long drug suspensions, Jeurys Familia has been invaluable in the ninth inning - and sometimes earlier. He earned 43 saves this season, matching the franchise record, and finished with a 1.85 ERA in 76 appearances. Then he saved five games in eight scoreless outings during the NL playoffs, getting six outs to protect a one-run lead in the deciding Game 5 of the Division Series at Dodger Stadium. The bridge to Familia was built with two summer trades. Seventh-inning reliever Addison Reed has been lights-out when entering with nobody on, but ineffective when inheriting runners. Experienced setup man Tyler Clippard is an accomplished All-Star, but hasn't been at his best lately. Beyond that, the Mets have hard-throwing rookie Hansel Robles and two starters in the bullpen: lefty Jonathon Niese and 42-year-old Bartolo Colon. They've been effective when called upon in October, but this isn't exactly the deepest bullpen ever seen in a World Series.

Royals:

Wade Davis showed in that nerve-racking ninth inning of ALCS Game 6 that he has the stomach and the stuff of a top closer. Previously a stellar setup man, Davis stepped in last month to replace Greg Holland, who had Tommy John surgery. And with the return of Luke Hochevar from elbow surgery and the addition of reclamation project Ryan Madson, the Royals' beast of a bullpen might be just as good as last year's crew. Kelvin Herrera, Davis and Hochevar were unscored upon against Toronto. Danny Duffy and Franklin Morales are the left-handers who could be called on to contain New York's dangerous left-handed hitters.

Edge: Royals.

---

Bench:

Mets:

Reserve infielder Juan Uribe, winner of two World Series rings, hopes to return from a chest cartilage injury that's sidelined him since late September. That would give New York more right-handed thump on the pine to go with an aging Michael Cuddyer. Johnson was 5 for 13 (.385) as a Mets pinch-hitter during the regular season, including a clutch homer at Washington off Stephen Strasburg. But in the playoffs, Johnson struck out four times in six at-bats. Tejada's injury prompted New York to call up Triple-A shortstop Matt Reynolds, who has never played in the majors. Lefty-swinging outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis has some pop. He could be replaced on the roster if Uribe is healthy.

Royals:

Kansas City sticks with its starters. The reserves had only three at-bats in the six-game ALCS. But speedy Terrance Gore and Jarrod Dyson can be late-inning game-changers on the bases. Paulo Orlando, who often spells Rios for defense in right field, is 2 for 3 this postseason.

Edge: Mets.

---

Manager:

Mets:

Terry Collins. Oldest skipper in the majors, the 66-year-old Collins is managing in the postseason for the first time. So far, he's had the perfect touch. Popular with his players and opponents alike, Collins made several gutsy and unconventional decisions that paid off in Game 5 against the Dodgers. GM Sandy Alderson called it a masterful job. Collins also turned the Mets loose on the bases during their NLCS sweep against a Cubs team that had trouble holding runners - even though New York ranked last in the league in steals this season. A baseball lifer who has managed in Japan, Venezuela and minor league towns all over the country, Collins has embraced his long-awaited opportunity this October and become a cheerful story.

Royals:

Ned Yost. Went from being criticized for some of his curious moves last season to finishing third in AL Manager of the Year voting. After reaching his first World Series as a skipper in 2014, he's been on a mission to win it all this time. The Royals are a very disciplined team, striking out the fewest times in the majors this season. They're crisp on defense and make smart decisions on the bases. Yost's biggest challenge is managing his bullpen, which could get a lot of work in the World Series.

Edge: Mets.

**StarDust Bum** · 10-26-2015, 01:36 PM

World Series ring often give to many
October 26, 2015

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Dan Uggla was long gone by the time the Giants won the World Series last fall. He'd played four games for San Francisco in late July, going 0 for 11 with six strikeouts, and made two errors at second base.

That earned him a World Series ring.

''With him struggling like he did, it opened up the door for Joe Panik, and we probably wouldn't have won the World Series without Joe Panik,'' recently retired Giants pitcher Tim Hudson said. ''So everybody who's hating on Dan should probably be glad he didn't do so well. If he had hit .240 or .250, he might have stuck around and there wouldn't have been Joe Panik.''

Brayan Villarreal got a ring with the champion Red Sox in 2013. His contribution? He got into one game for Boston - in August, he relieved with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning of a tie game at San Francisco, and walked Marco Scutaro on four pitches to force home the winning run.

Those were Villarreal's last four pitches in the majors, in fact.

Jacob deGrom, Johnny Cueto and the rest of the New York Mets and Kansas City Royals are hoping to do a lot more in the next week to clinch a crown. As for who will get a World Series ring, that's to be determined as the clubs have combined to use a total of nearly 100 players this season.

Bengie Molina and Arthur Rhodes have left little to chance in recent years. They played for both teams that made the Series in the same year.

Molina received a pair of sparkly rings for 2010, one for his time with the AL champion Texas Rangers and the other from the Series champion Giants. He began the year as the starting catcher in San Francisco before rookie Buster Posey's promotion.

From the Texas dugout five years ago, Molina watched the visiting Giants team that had traded him just four months earlier win the title. Molina was briefly frozen: His instincts told him to rush out and celebrate with his good friends from the other side, but he knew he couldn't do it.

''It was really, really tough in my heart. It was tough to play. It was tough to hit,'' Molina recalled last week. ''When they won, I was sitting down in the dugout watching them, and I didn't know if I should jump around and enjoy the win. That's how weird it was.''

Molina has both rings in a safe place at home in Gilbert, Arizona. He touched on his experiences that year in his new book, ''Molina: The Story of the Father Who Raised an Unlikely Baseball Dynasty,'' about his father raising three future major league catchers - Bengie, Yadier and Jose.

Rhodes began 2011 with Texas, was released on Aug. 8 and signed a few days later with St. Louis - which beat the Rangers in a seven-game World Series.

The Giants decided to give Uggla a World Series ring despite his brief, unproductive time. Manager Bruce Bochy rewards every player who spends even a day on a title team, and Uggla received his jewelry from general manager Bobby Evans behind the scenes before a game Aug. 14 at AT&T Park while he was on the disabled list for the Washington Nationals.

''It was a really cool thing for them to include everybody, even if it was a short few days there,'' Uggla said. ''It really goes a long way, especially with people like me, to get a ring like that. I'll tell you what, I got goosebumps when I opened it up and looked at it. It's pretty awesome.''

For Bochy, the toughest call isn't whether to gift the ring. Instead, it's which one to present - there is a fanciest version - to a bit player during a championship season.

''Maybe the type of ring, A versus B, they're all very similar,'' Bochy said. ''We talk about it. A guy who was with the club at one time, that's usually how it works in our game. I heard (Uggla) was very excited about it, which is good. Granted it was a short time, but he was here and part of our club. They've done something.''

Humor aside, Hudson figured Uggla deserves some credit.

''He was on the roster, he was on the team, he put on the uniform just like everybody else did,'' Hudson said. ''Will it be something he wears with pride? Probably not, just because he probably didn't feel like he contributed to it, (but) to show your grandkids and your kids one day that he was on that team.''

A three-time All-Star, Uggla joined the Giants after being released by Atlanta. No matter that some fans wanted to ring him up for his struggling stay in the Bay Area. He wasn't about to apologize for walking off with a World Series ring.

''I don't really care,'' he said with a smile. ''It doesn't bother me. It worked out the best. I needed to go home and regroup and do a bunch of stuff. They had some young studs coming up, like (Matt) Duffy and Panik. It was crunch time. They needed help right then, and I'm not sure I would have been able to do that for them. I'm glad to see it worked out for them, a lot of good people over there.''

''I guess you could say I got lucky,'' he said.

**StarDust Bum** · 10-27-2015, 12:11 PM

Armadillo: Tuesday's six-pack

-- Lions fired their OC and offensive line coaches, just before they headed over the pond to play the Chiefs in London Sunday. The head coach should be next.

-- Baylor QB Seth Russell (neck) will have surgery, is out for the year.

-- 5-time All-Star Torii Hunter retired; he was an excellent defensive outfielder.

-- Texans coach Bill O'Brien wanted to cut Ryan Mallett after he missed the team charter to Miami, but GM Rick Smith overruled him. Where is Hard Knocks when we really need it?

-- Purdue's best basketball recruit hasn't been cleared yet by the NCAA; he was adopted by a guy in 8th grade who is a Purdue alum. Make a decision, people; the season starts in 2.5 weeks.

-- UNLV's Chris Wood made the 76ers roster, the 10th Findlay Prep alum to make the NBA in the last five years.

**********

Armadillo: Tuesday's List of 13: Wrapping up Week 7 in NFL......

13) Jaguars 34, Bills 31-- Jax led 27-3 with 3:00 left in half, but blew lead, throwing awful pick-6 with 5:21 left to fall behind 31-27. Bortles then drove them 84 yards in 3:07 for the win, hitting Allen Hurns for the winning TD. Hurns now has a TD in his last five games-- Jacksonville is slowly getting better- they scored defensive TDs 0:07 apart in the second quarter. Buffalo screwed up trading Matt Cassel to Dallas.

12) Rams 24, Browns 6-- Cleveland had scored 26.2 ppg in its previous five games, but St Louis forced/recovered four fumbles and rode rookie RB Gurley to a win that evens their record at 3-3. Rams scored defensive TD on Browns' third play of game.

11) Chiefs 23, Steelers 13-- KC snapped five-game skid against QB making his first NFL start. Chiefs still had only two TDs on five red zone drives. Home favorites are 25-20-1 vs spread in non-divisional games this season.

10) Dolphins 44, Texans 26-- Houston backup QB Mallett "missed the plane" to game; this is same guy who didn't show up for practice the day after Hoyer was named starting QB. Tough spot; QBs are hard to come by; if they cut him, he'll get scooped up in five minutes, but he seems like a jerk who should be cut.

This game was 41-nil at half; in Week 4 at Atlanta, Texans trailed 28-0 at half. O'Brien almost has to get fired, just a matter of when. Would be second year in a row the coach on Hard Knocks gets the boot. Not good for HBO or NFL Films.

As if things couldn't get worse for Houston, Arian Foster has a torn achilles.

9) Patriots 30, Jets 23-- Nine rushes, 16 yards; that was it for the Patriots' run game; they trailed 20-16 with 12:50 left, but on their last two drives, Brady drove them on TD drives of 80-68 yards for the win. NE has now won eight of last nine series games; five of last seven were decided by 3 or less points; Jets lost last five visits here by 9-3-3-2-7 points. Jets are much-improved, but Brady is still Brady.

8) Vikings 28, Lions 19-- There were rumors all Saturday night that Adrian Peterson was sick and wouldn't play; he ran ball 19 times for 98 yards and caught three passes. If playoffs started today, Minnesota would be #6 seed in NFC. Detroit is 1-6 as they head to London for a game with Kansas City.

7) Falcons 10, Titans 7-- Tennessee lost its ninth home game in a row; three of their home losses this year are by 3 or less points. Atlanta is an unimpressive 6-1; they've trailed in 4th quarter in four of six wins and this game wasn't much better, but they are still 6-1, albeit still behind Carolina in NFC South.

6) Redskins 31, Buccaneers 30-- Greatest comeback in Washington history; trailing 24-0 in first half, Cousins led Redskins back- they scored winning TD with 0:24 left, driving 80 yards on 11 plays. Bucs' WR Evans caught eight balls for 164 yards. Skins are 3-4 and only a game out of first place in NFC East.

5) Saints 27, Colts 21-- Indy is 3-4 but still atop a horrible AFC South; their teams are 6-1 vs spread outside the division. Colt owner Irsay had harsh words with GM Grigson after this loss-- Saints led 20-nil at half. New Orleans won three of last ffour games, scoring 58 points in last two games.

4) Raiders 37, Chargers 29-- Oakland led 37-6 early in the third quarter in a stadium where it was hard to tell who the home team was. NFL needs to clear up this stadium thing; who is going to LA, who isn't. Raiders started six drives in Charger territory; all 12 San Diego drives started 80+ yards from goal line.

3) Giants 27, Cowboys 20-- Dallas was -4 in turnovers, gave up a kick return TD and still almost won; they ran ball for 233 yards, but lost to Giants for first time in last six meetings. Divisional home favorites are now 5-16-1 vs spread this season.

Not a lot of fun having only two 4:25 games; NFL is leaning on Cowboys to produce TV ratings, but they stink without Romo and he is still a month away from playing.

2) Panthers 27, Eagles 16-- Carolina is unbeaten, Eagles are 3-4 and Rams need Sam Bradford to start two more games so they can bank a 4th-round draft pick for dealing the oft-injured QB last spring. If Dick Butkus were playing today, he'd be Thomas Lewis of the Panthers; hard hitter, very, very good player.

1) Cardinals 26, Ravens 18-- If the 2016 NFL Draft were this morning, it would be weird, since it isn't 2016 yet, but Baltimore would have the first pick- all six of their losses are by 8 or less points. Carson Palmer is now 75-75 as an NFL starting QB.

**StarDust Bum** · 10-27-2015, 12:12 PM

MLB
Dunkel

World Series

NY Mets @ Kansas City

Game 901-902
October 27, 2015 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
NY Mets
(Harvey) 13.564
Kansas City
(Volquez) 15.044
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Kansas City
by 1 1/2
8 1/2
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
NY Mets
-115
7
Dunkel Pick:
Kansas City
(-105); Over

MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Tuesday, October 27

Harvey is 3-1, 2.37 in his last five starts (over 7-1-1 last nine).

Volquez is 1-2, 4.32 in his last three starts (under 4-1 last five).

Royals won four of last six games with New York, teams haven't met since a 3-game set in 2013; four of last five series games stayed under. KC last won World Series in 1985; Mets last won World Series the next year.

Mets won their last five games (under 4-1-1 last six).

Royals won six of their last eight games (over 5-3).

MLB

Tuesday, October 27

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8:07 PM
NY METS vs. KANSAS CITY
The total has gone OVER in 13 of NY Mets's last 19 games on the road
NY Mets are 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Kansas City is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing NY Mets
Kansas City is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games

**StarDust Bum** · 10-27-2015, 12:13 PM

MLB

Tuesday, October 27

Volquez to start Game 1 of the World Series for Royals

The Royals have named Edinson Volquez as their starter for Game 1 of the World Series Tuesday in Kansas City against the New York Mets.

Volquez is 1-2 with a 4.32 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in three playoff starts for the Royals this postseason.

Meanwhile, Harvey is 2-0 with a 2.92 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in two playoff starts for the Mets.

The Royals opened at the -102 with the Mets on the board at -106. The total opened at 7.0.

**StarDust Bum** · 10-27-2015, 12:13 PM

MLB

Tuesday, October 27

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
World Series Game 1 betting preview: Mets at Royals
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Mets and Royals begin the 2015 Fall Classic Tuesday night, with the Mets slight faves to take Game 1.

New York Mets at Kansas City Royals (-101, 7.0)

The Kansas City Royals made it to the seventh game of the World Series last season and enter the 2015 edition planning to come out on top. The Royals will get some stiff competition when Daniel Murphy, Matt Harvey and the New York Mets visit for Game 1 on Tuesday.

The New York pitching staff used its power stuff to dominate the Chicago Cubs in a four-game sweep of the National League Championship Series, surrendering a total of eight runs in the four games, while Murphy ran his record streak to six straight postseason games with a home run in the clincher. The Mets will have to hope that momentum carries over after having five full days off between rounds. The Royals needed six games to dispatch the Toronto Blue Jays and have a lineup ready for New York’s staff after posting the fewest strikeouts in the majors during the regular season. “We play in a big park, which is not conducive to power,” Kansas City manager Ned Yost told reporters. “We don't swing for the fences. We have power, we can hit homers, but for the most part we just try to stay short and quick and drive the gaps, and our guys do a good job with that.”

TV: 8:07 p.m. ET, FOX

LINE HISTORY: The Royals opened Game 1 as very slight -102 home dogs and have moved just barely to -101. The total has held steady at its opening number of 7.0.

INJURY REPORT:

Mets - RF C. Granderson (probable Tuesday, thumb), SP M. Harvey (probable Tuesday, tricep), LF Y. Cespedes (probable Tuesday, shoulder).

Royals - N/A.

WEATHER REPORT: There is a chance the start of Game 1 gets delayed due to rain. There is a 71 percent of rain expected at the 8:07 p.m. ET start time, but the system is expected to pass as the night moves on. Temperatures will be in the low 50's with a very slight three mile per hour wind blowing in from left center field.

WHAT CAPPERS SAY: "The Mets have the starting pitching edge, but Kansas City has the deeper bullpen. The Royals have also been a deeper offensive team this postseason as the Mets have relied heavily on Daniel Murphy." - Covers Expert Steve Merril

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Matt Harvey (2-0, 2.84 ERA) vs. Royals RH Edinson Volquez (1-2, 4.32)

Harvey will take the ball on nine days’ rest after striking out nine and allowing two runs on four hits and a pair of walks over 7 2/3 innings to win Game 1 of the NLCS. The 26-year-old endured plenty of questions about his workload down the stretch but has so far only been needed for 12 2/3 innings in the postseason. Harvey is making his first career start against Kansas City and is 3-1 with a 0.93 ERA in eight career interleague outings.

Volquez picked up his first career postseason win in five starts when he held the Blue Jays scoreless over six innings in Game 1 of the ALCS. The Dominican Republic native was ripped for five runs in as many innings in Game 5 but has seen his velocity tick up in the postseason and will be on regular rest for Game 1. Volquez is 2-5 with a 5.70 ERA in nine career starts against New York and has issued 12 walks in 16 2/3 innings during the postseason.

TRENDS:

* Mets are 5-0 in their last five games overall.
* Royals are 5-0 in their last five home playoff games.
* Over is 5-0 in Mets last five interleague road games.
* Under is 5-0-1 in Royals last six interleague games.

CONSENSUS: The public is split down the middle for Game 1, with 50.70 percent of wagers giving the Mets the slightest of edges.

SERIES PRICE: The Mets are the slight -108 favorites to win this edition of the Fall Classic. The Royals are on the board at -102.

MVP ODDS: Mets 2B Daniel Murphy is the early favorite to win the World Series MVP at +450. He is followed by teammate Yoenis Cespedes at +700 and then the Royals Ben Zobrist, Edinson Volquez and Eric Hosmer are all on the board at +1,000.

**StarDust Bum** · 10-27-2015, 12:14 PM

MLB
Short Sheet

Tuesday, October 27

NY Mets at Kansas City, 8:05 PM ET
New York: 51-76 SU after 3 straight games without giving up a stolen base
Kansas City: 18-8 SU in playoff games

**StarDust Bum** · 10-27-2015, 12:16 PM

Handicapping the World Series
October 27, 2015

World Series Wagering Edges: Pitching and Defense

October memories glare the brightest in baseball lore. Bobby Thompson's 1951 home run, Don Larsen's perfect game in Game 5 of the '56 Series, Bob Gibson’s 17-strikeouts in Game 1 '68, Carlton Fisk's home run in '75, Kirk Gibson's blast in '88, Joe Carter's Series ending three-run homer in 1993. While home runs mostly dot the top of the memorial landscape, October baseball can also feature memorable defensive plays and great pitching performances from starters and relievers.

The Cubs had a remarkable second half run keyed by their pitching and defense. That had a stretch beginning in late September where they went 9-2-1 run under the total, then shut out the Cardinals in their first playoff game, 4-0, sailing under the total of just 6.5. The top pitching teams in baseball as far as ERA were the Cardinals, Pirates, Cubs, Mets, Dodgers and Astros -- all made the postseason.

For all the accolades the Toronto Blue Jays had with their top-ranked offense don't forget the pitching staff ranked 12th in ERA. Just ahead of them was Kansas City, ranked 10th, the defending AL champs. Kansas City was also in the Top 10 this season in fielding, making few errors, as were the Dodgers and Astros.

Last year's champs, the amazing Giants, had a top 10 team in ERA. The year before Boston road a strong defense and pitching staff to a worst-to-first title, but slipped to last place last season with a team ERA ranked 23rd and bottomed out again in 2015 with awful pitching and worse defense in the field.

The Big Four who reached the 2013 League Champion Series were no flukes during the regular season. The Red Sox, Tigers, Cardinals and Dodgers all had star power on offense and some dominant aces on the mound to help anchor the pitching staffs and end losing skids. Pitching and defense shine in October. You need both to get here and managers are more inclined to go with their best arms, which isn’t always the case during the long regular season.

The Giants won the World Series in 2012 and the final scores of the last three games against Detroit: 2-0, 2-0 and 4-3 in ten innings. The Cardinals stunned the Texas Rangers in October of 2012 with a miracle comeback in Game 6, a 10-9 thriller. But 5 of those 7 World Series games went under the total with scores of 3-2, 2-1, 4-0 and 6-2.

The 2010 Giants were a poor hitting team all season, ranked 17th in runs and 19th in on base percentage, yet won it all. Taking a content analysis of the last 16 years of the World Series, you'll notice that pitching and defense shine a bit more on the October stage than offense. Over that time there have been 59 unders, 24 overs and 2 pushes in World Series play.

Is this a fluke? Or are there reasons for more low scoring games? Since the World Series is the last battle of the season, managers aren’t going to go with their worst pitchers, but the best of their best. This is why you see three and four man rotations in the World Series, whereas in the regular season teams employ a five and sometimes six-man rotation. Simply put, the No. 4, 5 and 6 starters during the regular season aren't going to see much (if any) important action in late October. The same is true for relief pitchers: A team generally has two or three quality relievers and three or four marginal/below average arms. Naturally, a manager is going to use his best often and go to his weakest arms only if necessary.

Teams constructed solely around offense are built for the regular season. Teams stocked with a balanced lineups and excess pitching, both starting and in the bullpen, are built for October.

In addition, defense is a subtle, often overlooked aspect of baseball. There's an old adage that teams win with pitching, hitting and defense, and that's true. This is why you often see teams with outstanding center fielders, shortstops and catchers in the World Series because a team needs to be strong up the middle. Good defense helps your pitchers, turning double plays and keeping the other team from scoring.

Finally, the weather is far colder in October than in July and August, and it's tougher to hit a baseball when it's cold. When the World Series takes place in northern cities (Boston, New York, Cleveland, Detroit) it can be very cold in late October and early November.

Last year the Giants won 3 of the final 4 World Series games, with one 5-0 shutout and a 3-2 win in Game 7, both going under the total. In 2013 the final three games went under the total between the Cardinals and Red Sox, 4-2 under overall. In 2006 the A's and Tigers hooked up for Game 3 in Detroit. It was 42 degrees at game time, the lowest for a postseason game since it was 38 in Cleveland at the 1997 World Series. The final score? 3-0 Tigers, way under the total. Fans were bundled in parkas and blankets in Philly during the World Series in recent years. So don't be surprised if pitching and defense shine a bit more than offense as temperatures dip -- along with batting averages.

Announcement

The Bum's 2015 Major League Baseball World Series Picks - Trends - News !!

The Bum's 2015 Major League Baseball World Series Picks - Trends - News !!

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