"Let's Be Royal" to "Let's Be Real" For the 2015 KC Royals Team
The American League Champion, Kansas City Royals, were the darlings of underdog lovers everywhere in Major League Baseball, last season. In 2014, their slogan was "Let's Be Royal!" The 2015 slogan, "Forever Royal," should probably be changed to "Let's Be Real." The Royals bring back almost the entire team, from the World Series team of 2014, but there are many things that have to happen, for them take the next step and win a World Series Ring, or to start a fever pitch every year for post season play. Major League Baseball isn't the NFL (with 16 games), or even the NBA (82 games), and it takes more than just adding/subtracting a few players to win a division, go to post season play, and definitely to win a World Series, in a 162 game season. Big market teams, such as the Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, or a team that is throwing tons of money and prospects for winning now (some for the first time, like the Padres), are usually the teams that have the depth and deep pockets to keep each season close to post season dreams. However, the Royals did it, last season, thru their farm system and patience, adding a few free agents (James Shields, notably) for prospects, and with the "Baseball God's" smiling down on them, last year. Yet, every year is a new challenge and this is what the Royals will have to do, at least this season, to continue with the "Forever Royal" theme.
Relief Pitching:
For most teams, this would be down the list of things possibly being so costly, to their team's chances. However, this is one of the Royals strongest, if not the strongest points of their whole team. Wade Davis, Kelvin Herrerra, and Greg Holland were brilliant last season. Holland and Davis are just now entering their prime, at 28, and Herrerra is only 24, so age isn't a problem. They all had WHIP's (Walks + Hits / Innings Pitched) which were inhuman, Holland .914, Davis .847, and Herrerra 1.14, making the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings virtually impossible for teams to score. However, Holland blows 4 (just making him human) and saves 42, Davis' WHIP creeps up one point (to 1.84), and Herrerra also has a slight tick up (he didn't give up a home run last season, so let's say he gives up two, this season)? This alone could lose the Royals 4 to 8 games, if they just are at All-Star levels of pitching, rather than blanking every team, the last three innings of the games Royals are leading. This does not count the regular day to day possibilities of getting a blister, having stint on the DL, or maybe something worse in the health issue department. Relief pitching has a very fine line, and the Royals have relied on it heavily for the past two seasons (especially, in 2014, in their pennant run), a slight increase in the unbelievable numbers of their top three, could make the Royals go from making the playoffs, to not going at all.Position Players:
For the Royals to repeat last seasons phenomenal run, they are going to have to produce more home runs, and runs in general. The Royals didn't have any player hit 20 home run last season. They basically got the job done with speed, "small ball," and some smoke and mirrors play. In baseball, each season teams can't count on this to happen, and most of the time it doesn't. The Royals need Eric Hosmer, Alex Gordon and Mike Moustakas to not only take the next step, offensively, but to fulfill the contracts and reasons, the Royals have built their team around them. Alex Gordon is one of the best left fielder's (defensively) in the game, hands down. However, another year with less than 20 home runs and less than 100 RBI's, is not going to be what the Royals need. Mike Moustakas, not only has to have a career year, but he can't repeat what he did last year. A starting third baseman in the major leagues isn't someone who only hits 15 home runs and 58 RBI's (while hitting a paltry .212), and there is no way he should be sent down to AAA a third of the way thru he season. Now, Moustakas was a huge part of the Royals post season, hitting for better average and also mashing 5 home runs, but this must carry over to the complete regular season. His numbers should be more like a normal, to better third baseman in the MLB, hitting .250+, 25 HR's and 80-100 RBI's. Eric Hosmer is the final, but most important piece to the Royals core puzzle. He is probably the best "looking"/"sweet swinging" player on the Royals roster. He just got a new two year contract, and the Royals are betting massively on him, to be the first baseman the team hoped he would be, coming up thru the minor leagues. Hosmer hitting only .270, 9 HR's, and 58 RBI's, was a huge disappointment. Though his defense was top of the charts in the A. L., but that isn't what the Royals need. They must have him hit .290-.310, 25-30 HR's, and over 100 RBI's for the Royals to repeat, or possibly win the division. These are three "top tier" players, as far as the Royals roster goes, but they have to perform, and live up to all the potential and what the Royals saw in their minor league careers.Salvador Perez Staying Healthy & KC Getting A Catcher To Rest Him
Salvador "Salvy" Perez caught 150 games last year. Since his call up, he has basically played every single time he was asked to come out, and it was behind the plate. He is the captain of the team, controlling the whole pitching staff, and his production at the plate (especially in the heat of the summer, with all the gear, and staying healthy) was ok, hitting a so-so .260, 17 HR's, and 70 RBI's. He is easily an All-Star, behind the dish. However, he cannot continue to catch 130-150 gams a year, without some kind of back up (which the Royals don't have now) to sit him, or DH him, Perez's catching days will be numbered and/or he will get hurt and land on the DL. Right now, Eric Kratz a 35 year old journeyman (who isn't on MLB rosters every year), and a 21 year old rookie, are his only back ups. This could be a huge problem, and the Royals need to sign either Ryan Doumit, Jose Molina, or even Chris Snyder. Just someone who has some experience, can catch 1-2 times a week, especially in the summer months down the stretch, to allow Salvy to continue to do what he does best, run the club's staff.Which Alex Rios Are the Royals Going to Get?
The Royals signed Alex Rios to a one year deal, to be able to provide some pop and also be able to play either corner outfield spot, in case the team doesn't want to play Aoki, Dyson in right, and can let Gordon takes some games at DH, to give him a day off in the field. Dyson can grab some games, to let Lorenzo Cain sit, and they won't lose the speed in center, but he doesn't have the arm, (nor does Terrance Gore) to play in right. However, Rios has numbers that look like the Rocky Mountains over his career. He had multiple years in Toronto, where he hit almost .300, with mid-20's HR's and almost 100 RBI's, and he also had multiple years where he was a .250 hitter, with low teens HR's, and 60-70 RBI's and massive K/BB ratios. Then he went to Chicago (AL) and Texas. In both places, it was the same story, he could be an A. S. worthy numbers guy, offensively, one year, then the next he was average at best. If the Royals get the 25 HR and 80-100 RBI Rios, then it will solidify the line-up significantly, will give Gordon, Hosmer, Perez, and Moustakas the protection the need in front and behind them, and will allow the Royals to score 4-6 runs a game. If the Royals can score 4-6 runs a game, they have the pitching to go back to the post season. However, if they don't, it will be another year of "small ball" and they will let the White Sox (who have stocked up in the off-season) and the aging Tigers to surpass the Royals.There are "what if's," in the Royals coming 2015 season, and there is also a lot of reason to be hopeful. Yet, if the Royals want to get to the post season, much less the World Series, again, they have to address these issues. "Royal Forever," could be a reality if the Royals play to potential, make some slight adjustments, and do not fall back on what they have done, and strive for what they can do. Also, the front office has to do more than just sign the past Royals, get an up and down Offensive outfielder to DH, and sit back and see what happens. They have to address all of the above, and still figure out what and when to bring along the younger Royals (such as Brandon Finnegan, in the starting rotation, or in the bullpen again, this year). Either way, it will be a fun ride with the Royals, because aside from the White Sox, there isn't anyone in the central that has made massive retooling efforts. The Tigers are getting older and are banged up (not to mention that Max Scherzer is a National now, so not seeing him 4-8 times this season, will be nice), and the Indians are relying on younger players and those there last year. "Be Royal," or "Be Real," all fans will see which slogan should fit the team by the All-Star break, and even then, there will be a chance for KC to make some kind of trade(s) before the deadline, if need be, as they seem to be stacked (especially in the pitching department), in the minors. Let's play some baseball in Kansas City to find out for sure, if last season was a blessing from the "Baseball God's," or will the team fall into another slogan laden and typical excuse filled season, to not be the team they should. Sphere: Related Content
