2014 World Series Preview

Two wildcard teams will meet in this year's world series, the San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals. In fact, with the old playoff configuration, the Giants wouldn't have even made the postseason, as the #2 NL wildcard. I'll do a position breakdown, followed by my overall prediction .

Catchers:

SF Giants: Buster Posey

Regular Season (RS): 147G/605PA, 22HR, 89RBI, 47BB/69K, .311/.364/.480

Postseason (PS): 43AB, 0HR, 5RBI, 3BB/4K, .302/.354/.302

KC Royals: Salvador Perez

RS: 150G/606PA, 17HR, 70RBI, 22BB/85K, .260/.289/.430

PS: 34AB, 1HR, 1RBI, 1BB/2K, .119/.143/.118

While Perez does have decent offensive numbers, he's known for his defense, with a 2.1dWAR and a 30% caught stealing percentage, but Posey (you could argue) is the face of the Giants. He's the overall package with offense and defense (Posey also had a 30% caught stealing rate). And unlike Perez, Posey has been batting well in the postseason.

Advantage: Posey (SF)

First Base:

SF Giants: Brandon Belt

RS: 61G/235PA, 12HR, 27RBI, 18BB/64K, .243/.306/.449

PS: 35AB, 1HR, 6RBI, 8BB/8K, .286/.409/.371

KC Royals: Eric Hosmer

RS: 131G/547PA, 9HR, 58RBI, 35BB/93K, .270/.318/.398

PS: 29AB, 2HR, 8RBI, 7BB/8K, .448/.556/.759

Both Hosmer and Belt are average when it comes to defense. Belt was incredibly limited during the regular season, while Hosmer showed potential, and has been raking during the postseason.

Advantage: Hosmer (KC)

Second Base:

SF Giants: Joe Panik

RS: 73G/287PA, 1HR, 18RBI, 16BB/33K, .305/.343/.368

PS: 46AB, 1HR, 5RBI, 2BB/1K, .239/.271/.348

KC Royals: Omar Infante

RS: 135G/575PA, 6HR, 66RBI, 33BB/68K, .252/.295/.337

PS: 29AB, 0HR, 1RBI, 4BB/9K, .207/.294/.207

This is an interesting set of players. You have Panik, who broke out in the 2nd half with the Giants, and the steady veteran with Infante. On the whole, they're fairly similar on defense. 

Advantage: Draw

Shortstop:

SF Giants: Brandon Crawford

RS: 153G/564PA, 10HR, 69RBI, 55BB/129K, .246/.324/.389

PS: 38AB, 1HR, 5RBI, 4BB/9K, .211/.279/.342

KC Royals: Alcides Escobar

RS: 162G/620PA, 3HR, 50RBI, 23BB/83K, .285/.317/.377

PS: 36AB, 1HR, 3RBI, 1BB/6K, .278/.297/.417

Crawford and Escobar are both solid SS's, but Escobar provides tremendous value on the basepaths with his ability to steal bases.

Advantage: Escobar (KC)

Third Base

SF Giants: Pablo Sandoval

RS: 157G/638PA, 16HR, 73RBI, 39BB/85K, .279/.324/.415

PS: 43AB, 0HR, 1RBI, 4BB/7K, .326/.396/.419

KC Royals: Mike Moustakas

RS: 140G/500PA, 15HR, 54RBI, 35BB/74K, .212/.271/.361

PS: 29AB, 4HR, 5RBI, 1BB/6K, .241/.267/.655

Sandoval is a slightly better defender, but provides more consistent play. Yes, Moustakas has found his power this postseason, but Sandoval is still a safer bet at the plate.

Advantage: Sandoval (SF)

Left Field

SF Giants: Travis Ishikawa

RS: 62G/119PA, 3HR, 18RBI, 9BB/34K, .252/.311/.393

PS: 26AB, 1HR, 7RBI, 3BB/5K, .269/.345/.462

KC Royals: Alex Gordon

RS: 156G/643PA, 19HR, 74RBI, 65BB/126K, .266/.351/.432

PS: 27AB, 1HR, 9RBI, 6BB/11K. .222/.400/.444

Ishikawa has made a good impression in his return to the Giants. He came to the Giants this year from the Pirates organization, and has stepped into a brand-new OF role. However, Gordon has unleashed his potential this year, both with his bat and superb defense. 

Advantage: Gordon (KC)

Center Field

SF Giants: Gregor Blanco

RS: 146G/444PA, 5HR, 38RBI, 41BB/77K, .260/.333/.374

PS: 44AB, 0HR, 3RBI, 4BB/4K, .159/.229/.182

KC Royals: Lorenzo Cain

RS: 133G/502PA, 5HR, 53RBI, 24BB /108K, .301/.339/.412

PS: 34AB, 0HR, 4RBI, 2BB/6K, .353/.378/.441

Blanco has decent base-stealing ability, but has been slightly below replacement level defensively. Cain however, as evidenced during the postseason so far, has made spectacular catch after catch. He's also had a decent bat.

Advantage: Cain (KC)

Right Field

SF Giants: Hunter Pence

RS: 162G/708PA, 20HR, 74RBI, 52BB/130K, .277/.332/.445

PS: 39AB, 0HR, 3RBI, 5BB/7K, .256/.341/.333

KC Royals: Nori Aoki

RS: 132G/549PA, 1HR, 43RBI, 43BB/49K, .285/.349/.360

PS: 27AB, 0HR, 2RBI, 3BB/1K, .259/.344/.259

Aoki brings patience at the plate and solid defense, but Hunter Pence is among the heavy hitters for SF, along with Posey and Sandoval. 

Advantage: Pence (SF)


*Designated Hitter*
SF Giants: Michael Morse

RS: 131G/482PA, 16HR, 61RBI, 31BB/121K, .279/.336/.475
PS: 4AB, 1HR, 1RBI


KC Royals: Billy Butler

RS: 151G/603PA, 9HR, 66RBI, 41BB/96K, .271/.323/.379
PS: 27AB, 0HR, 5RBI, 4BB/4K, .223/.303/.296

The assumption is that Michael Morse will DH for the Giants in Kansas City, coming off of his NLCS Game 5 HR. Oddly enough, Morse may be the better DH here. Butler really saw his power sapped this year, and Morse has been a pleasant surprise.

Advantage: Morse (SF)


(These are now the presumed pitching match-ups, based on where they pitched in their respective LCS)


SP1
SF Giants: Madison Bumgarner

RS: 18-10 (33GS), 217.1IP, 1.8BB/9, 9.1K/9, 2.98era
PS: 2-1 (4GS), 31.2IP, 7.96K/9, 1.42era


KC Royals: James Shields

RS: 14-8 (34GS), 227IP, 1.7BB/9, 7.1K/9, 3.21era
PS: 1-0 (3GS), 16IP, 8.44K/9, 5.63era

With Matt Cain out for the year, Bumgarner has really stepped into that ace role for the Giants and has taken off with it. As seen during the NL Wildcard Game, Bumgarner was just unhitable. Shields has been consistent, as he usually is, but Bumgarner provides the more upside in this matchup.

Advantage: Bumgarner (SF)


SP2
SF Giants: Jake Peavy

RS: 7-13 (32GS), 202.2IP, 2.8BB/9, 7.0K/9, 3.73era
PS: 1-0 (2GS), 9.2IP, 4.66K/9, 1.86era


KC Royals: Yordano Ventura

RS: 14-10 (30GS/31G), 183IP, 3.4BB/9, 7.8K/9, 3.20era
PS: 0-0 (2GS/3G), 13IP, 5.54K/9, 4.85era

Since being traded from Boston to San Francisco, Peavy has been steady and reliable. On the flip-side, the young Ventura has been impressive, but not without some hiccups in the postseason thus far.

Advantage: Peavy (SF)


SP3
SF Giants: Tim Hudson

RS: 9-13 (31GS), 189.1IP, 1.6BB/9, 5.7K/9, 3.57era
PS: 0-0 (2GS), 13.2IP, 8.56K/9, 3.29era


KC Royals: Jeremy Guthrie

RS: 13-11 (32GS), 202.2IP, 2.2BB/9, 5.5K/9, 4.13era
PS: 0-0 (1GS), 5IP, 3.60K/9, 1.80era

Guthrie has been surprisingly consistent this year, but Hudson is the safe bet here. He's been reliable, and has shown to be an important FA signing by San Francisco this year.

Advantage: Hudson (SF)


SP4
SF Giants: Ryan Vogelsong

RS: 8-13 (32GS), 184.2IP, 2.8BB/9, 7.4K/9, 4.00era
PS: 0-0 (2GS), 8.2IP, 5.19K/9, 5.19era


KC Royals: Jason Vargas

RS: 11-10 (30GS), 187IP, 2.0BB/9, 6.2K/9, 3.71era
PS: 1-0 (2GS), 11.1IP, 6.35K/9, 2.38era

Vogelsong has been reliable in the Giants previous WS-runs, but Vargas has been a steady addition to the Royals rotation.

Advantage: Vargas (KC)

Closer

SF Giants: Santiago Casilla

RS: 54G, 58.1IP, 19SV, 2.3BB/9, 6.9K/9, 1.70era

PS: 7G, 6.2IP, 4SV, 6.75K/9, 0.00era

KC Royals: Greg Holland

RS: 65G, 62.1IP, 46SV, 2.9BB/9, 13.0K/9, 1.44era

PS: 8G, 8IP, 6SV, 11.25K/9, 1.13era

Casilla took over the closer's role in San Francisco from Sergio Romo, and has done a good job of it. Holland has kept up his consistent streak of dominance, shutting down the 9th.

Advantage: Holland (KC)

Defense:

Both teams play pretty terrific defense, but throughout the postseason we've seen the Royals OF's make catch after catch, whether its Aoki, Gordon or Cain. The Royals get the edge here.

(Lorenzo Cain during the regular season)

Advantage: Royals 


Bench

When it comes to the bench, it's an interesting case. While the Royals don't have many (if any) power hitters sitting on the bench, its full of base-stealers, providing with tough situations for opposing pitchers late in games.

Advantage: Royals


Bullpen

The Royals BP features a shutdown trio of pitchers, but the Giants BP is fairly equally dominant with some flame-throwers of their own.

Draw.


Last year's world series saw a break from the sweeps we've seen lately, and I think this year will see the same. With the Giants' and Royals' BP's fairly even, each late move and baserunner will be important. I see this series going down to the wire.....but I like the Royals in 7.