ALCS- Kansas City Royals vs Toronto Blue Jays

They won because of their offensive balance, ten guys on the roster at 87 or higher ops+, including six at 120-130 in Cain, Moustakas, Hosmer, Gordon, Morales and Zobrist. That leaves Escobar (Mvp for the series), Perez and Rios, all three of them former All-Stars. And Escobar in two seasons in the playoffs already has 36 hits in 26 games...not bad for your seventh or eighth best hitter.

The last two ALCS mvps in Greinke and Escobar came for Greinke, by the way, along with Odorizzi. That's good scouting. The Odorizzi was packaged with Myers for Shields and Wade Davis.

They had just enough starting pitching in key moments, and then Herrera and Davis covering for Holland's absence.

Other than that, it's all about speed, defense, execution and persistence in the face of adversity.

Edited October 24, 201510 yr by caulfield12