American League
Kansas City Royals (95-67) v Boston Red Sox (84-78)
Underestimate the defending Champs at one’s own peril but they know they only just made it here and are ripe for the plucking if a strong Royals unit plays anywhere near its full capabilities.
Saberhagen stares down Clemens in the opener as the Royals get a grinding 5-1 win and they go 2-0 ahead the next day as Appier pitches them to another win with the same scoreline.
KC takes an early lead in Game 3 at Fenway but the Sox claw back and draw level before the visitors score late to win it 5-3 and take a stranglehold of the series.
The Sox finally find some form behind Bruce Hurst to win Game 4 7-1 but it is a short reprieve as Saberhagen again beats Clemens and the Royals win their second AL pennant with a 4-2 win.
In a nice touch, Willie Wilson – in his 15th season at the club – wins the MVP.
National League
Pittsburgh Pirates (93-69) v San Francisco Giants (91-72)
It might sound strange coming from the mouth of the person tasked with their management but I honestly have no idea what to expect from these guys here on in.
Matters in my mind are further complicated by the fact that, for the second straight season, the Giants dominated us winning 9 of 12 regular-season games.
John Burkett moves to the BP with Mike Bielecki – dreadful this season and outward bound – missing out altogether.
Danny Darwin rides some early struggles to eventually control the game nicely as the bats give him the required support and we win it 8-3, then overcome the continued late-season struggles of Jose De Leon by posting a crooked number in the 7th and going on to a 9-5 victory.
We are soundly beaten the first game at Candlestick as Alex Fernandez shuts us out 6-0 on just 6 hits but rebound with a thrashing of our own as the bats pile on 17 hits in a 14-2 win with Smith, Dunston and Bonds the standouts.
We look to be cruising again the next day at 5-1 but a middle-innings implosion changes everything as the Giants send the series back to Pittsburgh with a wild old 11-9 win.
It’s a wild finish, too, as the series seems destined for a Game 7 before we use another big inning to get it done in 6 with a 10-5 win.
Shawon Dunston’s 10-for-27 effort earns him a deserved MVP.