Kansas City Royals color October blue

The Kansas City Royals are in a position to do something for the first time in 29 years: Beat the St. Louis Cardinals in an I-70 World Series.

Sure, that potential opportunity is still about a month away. And who knows if the Cardinals are really good enough to win the National League title.

As for the Royals’ chances, though, did you see that dramatic, amazing, (insert superlative here) 9-8 comeback victory over the Oakland A’s Tuesday night? After that, anything’s possible.

The task starts tonight when the underdog Royals try to get by the Los Angeles Angels — owners of the best record in Major League Baseball in 2014 — in a best-of-five American League Division Series. After that could come the AL Championship Series and the World Series, both best-of-seven affairs.

In short, 11 more victories and Kansas City fans will be even happier than they are today, tough as that is to believe.

These non-bashing Royals hit the fewest home runs in Major League Baseball this year. But they steal bases, dump doubles down the line and, yes, bunt way too often for any Royals fan except manager Ned Yost.

Terrance Gore and Jarrod Dyson are speedsters on the base paths. Alex Gordon and Salvador Perez are struggling at the plate but still solid fielders. And who can’t love the super-composed Brandon Finnegan, the 21-year-old, just-out-of-college relief pitcher.

Throw in a trio of masterful relief hurlers — Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland — and a World Series spot for the Royals is not a pipe dream.

Bring on October baseball. Finally.

This story was originally published October 1, 2014 at 5:30 PM with the headline "Kansas City Royals color October blue."