Wednesday, January 30, 2008
With the power and depth of the American League Central on the rise, the Kansas City Royals may be a team to add to this force in 2008.
The Kansas City Royals want to build off its 69-93 record from last year and become one of the stories that have been ever so prominent in the vast array of teams in their division. One of the teams the Royals is trying to chase down is also a team it is trying to resemble.
The Detroit Tigers finished the 2005 season with a record of 71-91. The following year, the youth they had been developing came through with key offseason additions as the Tigers went 95-67. This was a feel-good story that would soon be overshadowed.
The Cleveland Indians finished 2006 with a record of 78-84. The following season the Indians went on a tear and finished 96-66.
This was all following a World Series Championship victory by the Chicago White Sox in 2005, in which the White Sox posted a record of 99-63, bettering its record the year before at 83-79. Catch my optimism? While this may not be the formula that the Kansas City Royals will use to win an ALCS title in 2008, it is a reason for Royals fans to get excited and back their team.
Another reason is the Royals’ increase in the payroll. The Royals are spending more money and acquiring bigger name players. One of the most notable for 2008 is outfielder Jose Guillen.
Guillen joins the Royals from Seattle where he had a .290 average and 23 home runs. This is the pop the Royals have been seeking from the corner outfield position. Joining Guillen in the outfield will be Mark Teahen and David DeJesus. With Teahen’s bat and arm and DeJesus’ range, the 2008 edition of the Royals outfield may be the best in recent history.
The Royals’ 2008 infield will feature some bright young stars and the possibility of a breakout season. Two of those players are third baseman Alex Gordon and designated hitter and first baseman Billy Butler. While Gordon struggled early in 2007, he showed toward the end of the year the reason the Royals drafted him so high.
Butler, meanwhile, came up hitting the ball very well, but his fielding blunders limited his play. The Royals will look to use these two as cornerstones as it continues to develop young players on the rise, such as Tony Pena Jr., Joey Gathright, Luke Hochevar and Zach Greinke. These are some players that Royals fans should get familiar with, because these players will decide the Royals’ future during and after the upcoming season.
The pieces are starting to fall into place and the road ahead is still a steep one. For Royals fans who are sick of the dismal outcomes of past seasons, it is OK to have excitement as the year approaches. In all indications, it’s our turn, right?
—Edited by Matt Hirschfeld
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Passmore: Royals’ turn to right the past
Think how excited we would be if we played in the NL Central and didn't have to contend with the Tigers, Indians, Twins and White Sox. Dayton Moore is putting the pieces in place, but it will take time. We need a number youngsters to have break out seasons. If Butler, Gordan, Grienke and others take the next step it could be a fun Summer.
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