KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Are the Royals becoming the new America's Team? Maybe so.
On Monday, Royals skipper Ned Yost talked about how he sensed fans all over the nation are pulling for his team now.
"Ratings are up," Yost said, "and people are falling in love with this team."
ESPN.com asked fans nationwide Tuesday whom they'd be rooting for between the Royals and the Baltimore Orioles, their American League Championship Series opponent.
The result showed 67 percent would be rooting for the Royals. And the state-by-state map was almost entirely blue, except, of course, for a small patch of red for Maryland.
Seriously, it looked like the electoral map of the Richard Nixon landslide win over George McGovern in 1972.
Yost reiterated his thoughts on America's newest darling Wednesday.
"The Midwest knew this team and how exciting it was," Yost said. "I don't think anybody in the rest of the country knew.
"From what the rest of the country has seen the last couple of (games), I think the nation has fallen in love with this team, their energy, the way they play the game. They make the game fun. This club is playing hard for each other, they enjoy each other's successes.
"They play the game in a daring way. That's appealing to everybody."
Asked why the nation is falling for the Royals, right-hander Jeremy Guthrie said jokingly: "Sympathy. We haven't been to the playoffs in 29 years and they feel sorry for us."
George Brett agreed somewhat, saying, "What's the saying about absence makes the heart grow fonder? They haven't seen us for 29 years.
"I think if we were in the playoffs every year, it would just be ho-hum. But I'm sure we're a curiosity to everyone."
And the Royals do make for good TV. Their 9-8, extra-inning Wild Card Game win over Oakland might have been the most thrilling game played in recent memory.
And the Royals followed that with two more tense, extra-inning wins.
Watch the Boulevard Royals Live postgame show on FOX Sports Kansas City after every Kansas City Royals postseason game.
"We're the underdog," Brett said. "People root for that, too."
The Royals also play a rather exciting brand of ball, often showing off their athleticism with breathtaking defensive plays and daring baserunning.
"I think it's an exciting team to watch," first baseman Eric Hosmer said. "We kind of go after teams on the bases and in the field. We're aggressive.
"And we never give in and never quit. People saw that in the (Wild Card) win. It's got to be fun to watch."
You can follow Jeffrey Flanagan on Twitter at @jflanagankc or email him at jeffreyflanagan6@gmail.com.
