Breaking down the American League Championship Series
By Sam Clancy
Oct 5, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; ; Baltimore Orioles fans celebrate after game three of the 2014 ALDS baseball playoff game at Comerica Park. The Orioles move on to the ALCS with 2-1 win over the Tigers. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
The only way you could have picked the Kansas City Royals and the Baltimore Orioles to make the American League Championship Series is if you were just picking names out of a hat. The last time the Royals were in the ALCS, they didn’t have to win an ALDS series because the ALDS didn’t exist. The last time the Orioles were in this position, Cal Ripken was playing third, not sitting in the play-by-play booth. But now, with the help of outstanding pitching and two very different offenses, the Royals and Orioles will fight for American League supremacy.
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The Royals stole each of the three games in their series with a combination of foot speed and an uncommon power surge from the line-up, while the Orioles blew the Detroit Tigers away with the pure power that they showed throughout the season. Both teams will carry and unbelievable amount of momentum into the ALCS, but which of these unexpected combatants will move on to the World Series.