KC Royals: Alex Gordon Should Have Been Sent Home
By Paul York
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
I’ve purposely avoided this topic, as the wounds of the KC Royals‘ World Series defeat were too fresh. In some ways, they always will be. Of course I’m talking about whether Alex Gordon should have been sent home.
In case you’ve forgotten how it played out (please don’t ever tell me you’ve forgotten how it played out, or I’ll seriously question your Kansas City Royals loyalty and fanhood, and probably mock you mercilessly), I’ll re-construct the scene.
Before I do though, I’ve just re-watched “the play” about a half-dozen times, and nearly vomited about a half-dozen times, and may or may not have gotten all watery-eyed two or three times. I wish I was joking.
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The scene: After Eric Hosmer struck out swinging, and Billy Butler fouled out to begin the bottom of the 9th, up came Alex Gordon. Gordon dug into the batters box, preparing to take on Madison Bumgarner.
Bumgarner quickly got ahead in the count, 0-1 to Gordon, but then hung what appeared to be a slider moving away from Gordon. Gordon put a good swing on the pitch and laced what appeared to be a routine single to left-center field. What happened next is what still hurts the heart.
Not sure whether to attempt a diving catch to end the World Series, or just keep the ball in front of him, Gregor Blanco misplayed the ball, allowing it to skip past him, and roll all the way to the wall in left-center, some 385 feet from home plate.
“Holy crap!”, said all of Kansas City as the ball rolled to the fence. The only doubt at this point was whether there would even be a play at third base, or if Gordon would stroll in standing up.
But wait, there’s more!
Next: More Heartbreak