HNGN's sports writers weigh in with their predictions for Game 7 of the 2014 World Series:
Brandon-
I love the classic line from "The Sandlot" where Babe Ruth tells Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez that "Heroes get remembered, but legends never die."
Well Game 7 of the World Series is where legends are born.
Since 1979, the home team has won nine straight Game 7s in the World Series. Teams with home-field advantage have won 23 of the last 28 World Series championships. The Kansas City Royals will be the home team tonight.
The San Francisco Giants have come up short in each of the four World Series Game 7s they have appeared in. Tim Hudson, 39, will be the oldest player ever to start a Game 7.
It just seems like the historic deck is stacked against the Giants and those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
Royals win 5-3 in legendary fashion.
Jordan-
San Francisco wins their third World Series title in five years. They got blown out Tuesday night, but it's not like they haven't won a game in Kansas City. Tim Hudson will start, but no way does Madison Bumgarner not see some time on the mound if the Giants need it.
Kansas City had an amazing postseason run, but San Francisco snakes by with 4-2 win. Yes, the odds are stacked against San Francisco. But watch them become the team that puts an end to the nine-game streak of the home team winning Game 7's in the World Series.
I think Hudson turns in a solid five innings, Bumgarner closes it out and the Giants' offense strings together enough RBIs to win Game 7.
Cal-
I think the Kansas City Royals walk away from tonight's Game 7, World Series winners.
Why?
Well, largely because I want them to. They're the upstart underdogs nobody believed in and nobody thought would make it this far. They play the game tough. They play the game with grit. They bunt and steal and play strong defense - they had to win a single game playoff to even make the postseason.
No flash, no pizzazz, all heart.
Sure, Madison Bumgarner is awesome and he chugs beer like a...well, like a champ (pun sort of intended but not really cuz I'm not picking the Giants). And giving Tim Hudson the start is usually a safe choice.
But I think the Royals, who uncharacteristically went off for 10 runs last night, will eke out a victory in a taught affair that will see Jeremy Guthrie pitch six quality innings, the bullpen close strong one final time, and yet another no-name, unsung hero emerge for Kansas City.
The Royals haven't played October baseball in 29 years. 29 years!
If there is a team, or a city, that deserves a championship, it's them.
Thomas-
It is indeed pretty electrifying at Kauffman Stadium. I expect the place to be erupting tonight, especially after last night's 10-0 win for the Royals. But I need to stick with the Giants because they were my original pick when they got past the Washington Nationals.
Bruce Bochy and San Francisco are also much more experienced when it comes to this situation, having won the World Series on the road in both 2010 and 2012. And I know what you're going to say: "But Tom! The home team hasn't lost a Game 7 in the World Series since 1979!" And I'll say, "But guy, I don't care!" San Francisco will be sending Tim Hudson to the mound tonight and this was the first season in his 16-year career that he advanced past the division series. He's had a decent postseason, posting a 3.72 ERA and 15 strikeouts in three starts, but if tonight doesn't go too well then the Giants will probably use Madison Bumgarner out of the bullpen. Do I even need to mention Bumgarner's statistics? I'm giving an edge to the pitching because the teams' postseason offensive stats are pretty much the same:
Royals - .257 batting average, .316 OBP, 67 runs, 27 doubles, 11 home runs
Giants - .257 batting average, .328 OBP, 68 runs, 22 doubles, 7 home runs
Giants win 6-4.