Royals 3rd base coach: 'Believe me, I wanted to send Gordon. I couldn't do it'
The Royals were down to their final out.
Down 3-2 in Game 7 with two outs in the ninth, Alex Gordon was Kansas City's last hope. Facing eventual World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner, Gordon went up swinging. He fouled off the first pitch for strike one, and sent Bumgarner's second offering into center field for a single. And Gregor Blanco booted it.
(Courtesy MLB.com)
The ball rolled all the way to the ball, where Juan Perez fumbled it. Could Royals magic continue?
Gordon wasn't busting out of the box. You can't blame him - he thought he hit a single. And he's self aware enough to know he doesn't have jets.
Alex Gordon, on his 9th-inning liner to center: "I'm not as fast as Jarrod Dyson. If I was, I probably would have scored." #Royals
— Alden Gonzalez (@Alden_Gonzalez) October 30, 2014
After the game, the "What If?" police were out in full force. What if Gordon got the wave? What if he was sent home?
Royals 3B coach Mike Jirschele on his decision not to send Alex Gordon: “Believe me, I wanted to send him. I couldn't do it."
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 30, 2014
It was the right call. As you can see in the video above, Gordon was on third base when Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford got the relay throw from the outfield.
As sad an ending as it was for Royals fans, watching Buster Posey waiting to tag Gordon out at the plate to end the World Series would have been that much sadder.