Editor's note: The above video is from Ned Yost's postgame press conference following Game 7 of the 2014 World Series on Oct. 29.
Ned Yost has made a habit of citing hypothetical championship scenarios. As the defending-champion Royals arrived in Arizona for spring training, their manager assessed the challenge before them with a look into the past.
“We were 90 feet away from going for a three-peat this year,” Yost told reporters.
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SIGN UP HERE The Giants won the 2014 World Series, however, stranding the tying run on third base when Madison Bumgarner got Salvador Perez to pop out.
Yost has lamented what could have been before.
"It hurts," he said immediately after Game 7 ended in a 3-2 Giants win. "To come as close as we came in a one-run game. ... To end up losing the ballgame by 90 feet is tough."
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Giants leading 3-2, Alex Gordon's shot to left-center field skipped past Gregor Blanco. Juan Perez kicked the ball while picking it up off the wall, allowing Gordon to round third base, where he remained.
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Yost, however, has been staunch in his stance that third-base coach Mike Jirschele made the right call holding Gordon.
"I'm not suicidal, alright," Yost said at an MLB event last February. "And that would have been suicide to send Gordy."
One year ago, Yost was postulating that the Royals would have won the 2014 World Series except for the existence of Madison Bumgarner.
[REWIND: Royals manager Yost: 'Without Madison, we would be champions']
"I think without Madison we would be champions. But we're not, because of what he did. What he did is just amazing."
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