[duncan_idaho]

What I know about the Giants:

They're a better team than the St. Louis Cardinals and a much more difficult matchup, in my opinion, for the Royals.

The lineup is a lot better than St. Louis, though - to be honest - it probably isn't quite as scary a lineup as the Orioles' was coming off their brutalizing of the Tigers. And it's probably not better on paper than the Angels.

I do think San Fran's offense is full of tough guys who grind at-bats, though. Buster Posey has been an amazingly effective postseason player throughout his career. Sandoval and Pence are also dangerous. Sandoval will be a key factor for the Royals... because he's a switch hitter who is more dangerous from the left side of the plate, it's a much more balanced lineup than we saw with Baltimore. Sandoval also has major postseason history.

One thing that could help KC is that the Giants don't have the extreme focus the O's had on controlling the running game. Their pitchers are a little slower to the plate, and they don't have anyone who throws as well as Caleb Joseph. So we could see that re-emerge as a factor.

I'd give the Royals the edge in defense, bullpen and call starting pitching basically a wash. Bumgarner is the best starter in the series, but I think the Royals have the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th best starters in the series (though one of those guys is sitting in the bullpen and didn't pitch in the ALCS).

I think it's going to be a close-fought, tooth and nail series... again. But I have faith the Royals pull it out.