Can Royals Become 1st Undefeated Champion in Modern MLB Postseason History?

As if the Kansas City Royals reaching the playoffs for the first time since 1985 wasn't enough, they're now going to the World Series with an undefeated 8-0 record in this postseason after defeating the Baltimore Orioles 2-1 in Game 4 to complete the sweep in the American League Championship Series.

Hey, if you're gonna wait that long to return to October, you might as well stay a while and make the run a special—possibly even historic—one along the way.

So now that Kansas City has advanced yet again, here's the next somewhat illogical yet somehow possible question: Can these remarkable Royals become the first team to win it all while going unbeaten during the wild-card era, dating back to 1995?

The last team to put together the perfect postseason? That would be the 1976 Cincinnati Reds, when the Big Red Machine swept the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Championship Series and the New York Yankees in the Fall Classic.

That Reds club, though, only had to win seven straight contests across two playoff rounds to complete the feat, whereas the 2014 Royals not only had to make it through the do-or-die AL Wild Card Game, but they also have three rounds to get through, one of which—the World Series itself—is still left.

Anonymous/Associated Press

In other words, what the Royals are doing—what the Royals could do—has never been done before. These days, a lossless championship run now requires as many as 12 consecutive wins, and Kansas City has the first eight already taken care of.

"Good teams find ways to win, and that's what we did," Royals left fielder Alex Gordon said afterward on the broadcast. "We're gonna keep going."

At this point, who's going to doubt that?

It's taken this franchise—count 'em—29 years to make it back to the playoffs, so it seems only fitting that the Royals at least have the opportunity to make a historic, perfect run to take the title.

Not to take anything away from other teams and players, but this has become the biggest storyline to follow this October. And that's a good thing for baseball and a great thing for Kansas City.

After all, if nothing else, this underdog, small-market, postseason-starved Royals team should provide hope for every club and fanbase that feels like it's a million years away from being competitive or even relevant.

This has now become the mantra for any down-in-the-dumps organization: If the Royals can do it, why not us?

Realize that despite the fact it was a sweep, the ALCS was anything but a blowout.

Though Kansas City trailed in just two of 37 innings, the Royals outscored the Orioles only 18-12 overall. Games 1 and 2 were decided by two runs apiece, but the last two were both 2-1 victories the Royals pulled off by playing phenomenal defense, utilizing their shutdown bullpen (1.13 ERA for the series, 1.80 for the entire postseason) and, well, getting a little lucky at just the right time.

To that end, consider how Kansas City scored the first two runs in the first inning of the clinching Game 4: a leadoff infield single by Alcides Escobar; a hit by pitch of Nori Aoki; a sacrifice bunt by Lorenzo Cain, who's the No. 3 hitter and ALCS MVP, no less; and a fielder's choice on a softly struck grounder to first by Eric Hosmer that turned into an error when O's catcher Caleb Joseph let the ball get jarred loose by a sliding Escobar, thus allowing Aoki to score too.

Just how they drew it up, right? Only the Royals.

Then consider how they managed to hold on for dear life over the final eight frames with stellar D and the usual can't-touch-this stuff from flame-throwing righty relievers Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland.

All of which brings us back around to the initial question posed: Now that they're in the World Series and haven't lost yet, can the Royals become the first team to pull off the perfect postseason during the wild-card era?

OK, so it's a bit of a rhetorical, theoretical query. Your answer, if you're going to give it, likely depends on your general outlook on things, which includes how pessimistic, optimistic or realistic you are.

Thing is, we're here in mid-October, and it's no longer rhetorical or theoretical—it's possible, maybe even realistic.

Yes: The Kansas City Royals, formerly the laughingstock franchise of Major League Baseball, actually could put together an undefeated postseason to win the World Series for the first time since 1985. Don't forget: They get to play Games 1 and 2 at home, too.

Unless you're a San Francisco Giants or St. Louis Cardinals fan, you might as well root for the Royals to win it all—and win it all without losing.

Why not? Your team could be here this time next year. Because, hey, if the Royals can do it...

Statistics are accurate through Oct. 15 and courtesy of MLB.com, Baseball-Reference and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.

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