The Royals take on the Yankees at Kauffman Stadium this Wednesday and Thursday, and big hits at the plate mean big gains for local businesses.

The Kansas City Royals were knocked down in Game 1 of the American League Division Series by the New York Yankees. On Monday, the Royals responded in their own way. Led by team captain Salvador Perez, the Royals picked up a 4-2 victory at Yankee Stadium.

J.J. Picollo was mere weeks into taking over as Kansas City’s top baseball decision maker. This, he knew, he had to get right. What Picollo wanted wasn’t necessarily someone he knew or had worked with, often the case in professional baseball hirings. For Kansas City to truly transform, it had to get uncomfortable.