Just about every Spring Training I write my annual love letter to the Royals. Every year comes with that tinge of expectation… not of victory but of bringing me to the very edge of hope and then dropping me off a cliff.

This year I didn’t write the letter. Hopes were too high. They had all the pieces in place. They had the starting pitching. They had finally figured out Wade Davis. Their bullpen was impressive. Moustakis had an incredible spring training. It was all there. It would have been so painful to write yet another love letter of hope and see THIS team crush my dreams.

But… they did not. They squeaked into the playoffs (thank you, Bud Selig) and have cruised to 8 straight wins over two heavily favored teams.

While pundits predicted a LA series, we end up with two wild cards. The Giants are simply scary because it is an even year and in 2010 and 2012 they roared into the Series and crushed opponents. This time they are almost virtually ignored because of the story the Royals have given the media. That’s what still makes the Giants scary.

But for now, the day before the Series begins, I just want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to the Royals. Just like the Chiefs making the playoffs last year (and getting spanked by the Colts after building a HUGE lead), KC was thrilled for the Chiefs. This year, no matter how this Series turns out, it is simply incredible to see the Royals right here. Right now.

They were built for the playoffs and this is exactly where they have landed.

I wear my KC cap all the time in Minneapolis. Even here there is good will toward the team. I get a thumbs up quite often walking down the street.

After a 29 year drought, it’s finally great to be a Royals fan again. Thanks, KC.