Baseball

In a season defined by standout performances from their biggest stars, the characteristically steady managing of Bruce Bochy and, most recently, one of the great heroic blasts in postseason history, it's not easy to pick a definitive unsung hero of the 201

The Kansas City Royals have made it all the way to the World Series by virtue of one of the most improbable runs in baseball history, but the San Francisco Giants stand between them and a championship.

Although this World Series matchup may be lacking in terms of star power, it should be intriguing nonetheless. While Kansas City hasn't won a title since 1985, San Francisco is in search of its third championship in five years.

The St. Louis Cardinals didn't lose the National League Championship Series because of Mike Matheny. But the manager didn't exactly do the greatest job of preventing his club from losing—or even of putting it in position to beat the World Series-bound San Francisco Giants.

After a short league-championship round, this year's World Series is a matchup between the San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals.

That might as well read Madison Bumgarner vs. James Shields, as no two players are more vital to their  teams' success than the two projected to start Game 1 of the Fall Classic.

Kansas City Royals pitcher Greg Holland earned a save in each of his team's four games during the American League Championship Series against the Baltimore Orioles to join Dennis Eckersley as the only pitchers with four saves in a single LCS, per MLB Stat of the Day.

After all of the twists and turns we experience throughout the 2014 MLB playoffs, it's only fitting that two wild-card teams are set to face off in the World Series. SportsCenter is spot on with this tweet:

Both the San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals have been playing extremely well in October, but which team has the upper hand in the big dance?

If we've learned anything about Major League Baseball in October, it's to expect the unexpected. After all, neither the Kansas City Royals nor the San Francisco Giants were really considered juggernauts during the regular season, but that's exactly how they played in the postseason.

The Atlanta Braves have yet to fill the vacant general manager position, so it's still unclear exactly how this offseason will unfold.

However, there are looming decisions that will need to be made by whoever fills in as GM. In looking at the roster, there is potential for many changes to help bring the Braves back to the postseason.

Change should also be expected after an embarrassing last month of the season and an overall underwhelming 2014 season.

Madison Bumgarner cannot be stopped—will not be stopped. 

Big Country did what Big Country does Thursday night, pouring six bottles of beer in and around his mouth to celebrate the San Francisco Giants' 6-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals and subsequent advancement to the World Series.

Red October has come to a crashing end. St. Louis fell short of reaching the World Series and a chance at the 12th title in franchise history. 

The Cardinals remain the model franchise of Major League Baseball, and 2014 should not be written off as a bust. The Cardinals captured their second straight division championship and advanced to their fourth consecutive league championship series.