It’s the Power of the Tie

About a dozen years or so ago the Royals gave away a tie sponsored by Dodge, featuring pictures of the Avenger alternating with the Royals logo, set on a background of various shades of blue. Not the most attractive of accoutrements, and one that has had little use apart from its appearance on a couple of Opening Days.

But as my job with Missouri Bank requires a coat and tie, I decided to break it out for the 2014 post-season, and all indications are that it has magical powers. I’ve worn it almost every day this month, with the exception of Tuesday when the Royals lost Game 1 of the World Series–their only loss of the post-season. It may not leave my neck again, despite a collection of stains from chili, chicken pot pie and raspberry vinaigrette.

After the Royals win tonight in Game 3, I will likely be wearing it to sleep and to shower. The pulsating 3-2 victory at the very worst assures the Series will come back to Kansas City, as the Royals own a 2-1 edge in games played. The Royals used their regular recipe for success on Friday night–scratching out a few runs with some timely hits, playing exceptional defense and turning over the final innings to their shutdown bullpen. Tonight the Big Three (Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland) became the Big Quartet with some outstanding work by rookie Brandon Finnegan in the seventh. With his appearance Finnegan became the first player in history to appear in a College World Series and THE World Series in the same season.

Some of the pundits questioned Ned Yost’s decisions in the top of the 7th when Kelvin Herrera batted for the first time in his career, but give the Royals’ skipper some credit; he has this group unexpectedly two wins away from a World Championship.

Say those words again–the Royals are two wins away from a World Championship. I’ve lived in Kansas City for more than 50 years and have never seen the city react like this–not in 1980 or ’85 or when the Chiefs won the Super Bowl in 1969. Of course those were different eras, as those teams had been accustomed to some success before taking the top prize. This 2014 team is achieving success on the heels of many moribund seasons, but it’s more than just the winning that has caused the city to embrace it. This is indeed a special group of players, and if they should win it all the city may shut down for a week.

There’s still a long way to go, and I’m getting ahead of myself. I should just be quiet and go wash the tie, but at this point I can’t risk taking it off.