5. Defense Against A Contact Team
When thinking about the World Series from a strategy standpoint, the first thing that comes to mind is how different a team the Royals truly are.
These guys, who’ve now won two straight AL Pennants, aren’t a power hitting team. They don’t even possess great starting pitching. In fact, it can be argued their rotation is average at best.
What they do possess is an uncanny ability to come through when the situation calls for it most. Part of the reason they come through so often has everything to do with how their lineup is constructed. These guys are a contact hitting team who puts pressure on defenses with their speed along the base-paths.
The Mets defense is the exact opposite type you want handling the Royals lineup. The defenses who handle the Lorenzo Cain’s of the world well are ones who catch the ball well up the middle. Granted, the combination of Yoenis Cespedes and Juan Lagares in centerfield is top notch, but Wilmer Flores and the hitting-god himself, Daniel Murphy, are far below-average in the middle of that infield.
There will be anxious times for Mets fans during the series when Kansas City puts massive pressure on this below average Mets infield. Terry Collins and company need to hope their young studs who start the game can pile up the strikeouts a smidge more than they already do.
Although Murph has been a straight up monster this postseason (even in the field and on the basepaths amazingly enough), he’s due for a gaffe in the field. Let’s hope the Royals don’t put too much pressure on the defense.
