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For the Mets to win:
1. Jump out the box early against Royals' 'weak' starters
2. Be way up when the Royals bullpen comes in, or the the door will be shut
3. Cats other than Murphy, Cespedes and Duda better step up offense!
4. Can't make mistakes on D (Royals bats make contact)
For the Royals to win:
1. Keep being relentless, as they always do
2. Take advantage of Mets youth
3. Bullpen might have to come in much early in games
4. Look for umps' 'strike zones' and adjust accordingly (Cubs failed big time on that!)
For the Mets to win:
Score more runs each game than do the Royals.
For the Royals to win:
Score more runs each game than do the Mets.
It does not matter how, nor is any predicted formula likely to be manifest.
Last season, before the Series began, would anyone have written:
For the Giants to win, they need Madison Bumgarner to come up with the greatest performances of his life?
The Met starters are in for a stiffer challenge. The Cubs hitters are young and looked overmatched and the Dodgers have a lot of holes in their lineup. The Royals have much tougher outs in their lineup - no great superstar, but a lot of experienced guys who could hurt you. Their trip to the WS last year gives them an edge on the big stage.
I would love to see the Mets win, but it's a tall order. Having the better part of a week off won't help them.
If Met starters hit their spots, KC's bats will still be overmatched. No way to see how this plays out, but this 1-3 is the strongest I have ever seen on any team, including the Braves Maddux/Glavine/Smoltz. Add in a dynamite closer with a 1-3 that provides good IPs, this should be a super WS..
Status:
"Astros need a strong spring."
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Location: Suburban Dallas
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Here's my prediction: Royals in 7.
It's going to go to the wire. The Mets have better starting pitching than the Royals, but I believe that Kansas City will come out firing on all cylinders on offense to make up for their starting pitching deficiencies. Both bullpens will be good. It will, nonetheless, be a good series to watch.
I see the Mets splitting in KC: losing game 1, winning game 2. Mets will take 2 of 3 in Queens, but I'll take the Royals to win the last 2 at home. Unlike last year I don't see Collins using deGrom out of the bullpen in game 7 like Bochy did with Bumgarner last year, and that could be the difference between whether the Mets win or lose.
If Met starters hit their spots, KC's bats will still be overmatched. No way to see how this plays out, but this 1-3 is the strongest I have ever seen on any team, including the Braves Maddux/Glavine/Smoltz. Add in a dynamite closer with a 1-3 that provides good IPs, this should be a super WS..
No matter how much of a fan, I always discipline myself to judge and access my teams with neutrality. And you are correct about Mets starting pitching. Good to dominant starting pitching will give the Royals problems. What Bumgarner did last year. How Price still pitched effectively in a losing effort with Toronto. How the Royals scored a majority (something like 35+ runs) in the 7th inning and later during the playoffs. Quality starting pitching could and will expose them like how Bumgarner did.
This Royals team is a rally team. Like feeding lambs to wolves, the very moment any weakness from the Mets bullpen is put out there. Their lineup from 1 to 9 is just so strong, there are no easy outs. But, without Morales as DH for three games, and, with Zobrist considering to leave the World Series because of an expecting baby ?! (Just give birth to that baby in the dugout for crying out loud!) this will greatly effect their rhythm as a rally team. Plus, without the DH Mets pitching will have that one easy out. Which helps greatly against a rally lineup like the Royals.
Royals starting pitching is susceptible. And greatly at that. That one inconsistency. If their starting pitching can just get them to their bullpen, they'll likely win. So, I believe that this series will come down to the offensive hitting of the Mets, and the starting pitching of the Royals. And with that said, I'm very skeptical about Royals starting pitching. Will just have to hope for some lambs coming out of that Mets bullpen.
Anyone else realize that the start / opening day for the 2016 season has the Royals playing the Mets? Ridiculous. Never, should interleague play be for opening day.
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