Kansas City Royals: The D Word

Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

I’ve never heard the ‘D’ word thrown around in Kansas City as much as I have this October.

What is the ‘D’ Word? It’s a noun. Merriam-Webster defines it as “a power that is believed to control what happens in the future”. It’s a phenomenon that is turned swept the city. Well, that and it’s the reason many national sports figures are starting to realize that the Kansas City Royals actually have a shot to win it all.

The ‘D’ word I’m talking about? Destiny.

As a college student, I’ve been hearing about this “destiny” thing since early September. They weren’t talking about the Kansas City Royals though. They were talking about the year’s most anticipated video game “Destiny”, a game developed by those that made the Halo series. Nobody around me is talking about the video game anymore. They’re talking about quite possibly the hottest team in MLB postseason history.

More from Kansas City Royals

The Royals have been breaking all sorts of records in the last three weeks. They became the first postseason team to win four extra-innings games. They are the first team to open a postseason with eight consecutive wins. They have the third longest playoff winning streak in history, only behind two Yankees streaks.

And the Royals are still playing. They still have one more series to blow our minds and do something unbelievable.

It’s mid-October. The Kansas City Royals aren’t supposed to be here. We are supposed to have forgotten about them long ago and focused on the Chiefs instead. Now, you could walk through the Plaza and talk to 10 random people, and I doubt half could name who the Chiefs play Sunday (It’s the Chargers by the way).

What does this have to do with “destiny”? Is there really a power that is really controlling this team and where they go in the future?

This team has always been an “eight year process”, and it’s finally all coming together.

It’s hard to argue that they aren’t destined. This team has been playing like super heroes. Mike Moustakas has transformed from a failed prospect to a respectable batter who makes Jeter-esque plays in the field. The team is getting on base because the ball miraculously bounces off second base, and they are scoring runs because our leadoff man kicks the ball out of the catcher’s glove. Wade Davis has gone from a below average starter to an outstanding setup man. And Greg Holland has… well I guess he’s been doing this all year.

But then again, this team’s success should be given to them and them alone. Alex Gordon has been working his tail off for years, and he still is amidst all the distractions around him. Lorenzo Cain has been one of the top defensive outfielders all year, and now his actions have made it to the national spotlight. This team has always been an “eight year process”, and it’s finally all coming together.

Do I think it’s destiny? I’ll leave you with one more argument.

Sung Woo Lee, a Royals superfan who lives in South Korea, visited Kansas City for the first time in August to watch his favorite team in person. Lee used baseball as a way to learn English as a child, and even nowadays watches Royals games live despite the tremendous time difference. During his visit, the Kansas City Royals were on a 19-4 run, including a 3-2 victory over Oakland that put the Royals in sole possession of first place. Lee is now coming back, and will be in Kansas City for Game 1 of the World Series.

Do you want to know what team the Royals played, beat, and eventually swept when Lee saw the Kansas City Royals with his own eyes for the first time?

The San Francisco Giants.

I’m a believer. Are you?

Home/Kansas City Royals