Nick & Hayden's 2014 MLB Preview: 14. Kansas City Royals

This picture comes from an article titled:
"10 Teams So Bad Their Fans are Proud of it"
Ouch...

14. Kansas City Royals
by Hayden Hughes


The Pittsburgh Pirates had to wait a long time to make it back to the post season before returning in 2013 after a twenty-year drought that dated back to 1992 - my birth year.

One might assume that the Pirates had to longest playoff-drought in history. One would be incorrect.

The last time the Kansas City Royals were in the playoffs was when they won the World Series in seven games against the St. Louis Cardinals. Their best player: George Brett. Their manager: Dick Howser. The year: 1985.

Aside from a really solid year to build off of in 2013, the Royals come in to 2014 with not only a really catchy song from a New Zealand pop star, but also the same consistent, young core of players. That core, consisting of Alex Gordon, the now-emerged Eric Hosmer, and the yet-to-emerge Mike Moustakas. All of which are a year older, meaning a year more mature - which might be exactly what this core needs.

Gordon, a multi-Gold Glove winner, will have to do nothing more than what he did in 2011 and 2012. Hosmer should continue to build on what was a near-breakout season in 2013 where he, too, won a Gold Glove. Now Moustakas - he's just a different story.

Moustakas didn't hit righties too well. He didn't hit lefties at all. He got on base at a .287 clip, and slugged a dismal .364. And if you do the math...yep, that's not a good OBP when you add those two numbers together. Ultimately, Moustakas played at below replacement level. In fact, the Royals traded OF David Lough to Baltimore for essentially a replacement level player (Sorry, Danny Valencia) in case Moustakas has another eye-cringing season in 2014.

I think Moustakas played all of 2013 with the left shoe on the right foot and the right shoe on the left foot.

The good thing about Mike Moustakas is, he's only 25 in 2014. The bad news is, by 25, if you aren't producing up to expectations you are traded by 26. Hell, Justin Upton was traded after his age 24-season. The clock is certainly ticking...

(This is where I would deviate from the struggles of Moustakas and highlight the emergence of Wil Myers in right field, but instead Royals fans have Norichika Aoki, so...Man, how 'bout them Rays, huh?)

This is Wil Myers and his awesome bat-flip with another team not named the Royals.

One smart move the Royals made was locking down an everyday second baseman in Omar Infante. At the cost of $30.25M over the next 4 years, the Royals finally addressed the historically worst position to play in baseball. Literally. Second base for the Royals has been ever-changing over the years. I feel like there's a good comparison to the Royals' second basemen and the Cleveland Browns' quarterbacks.

Just to name a few here's the players who got the majority of the innings at second base for Kansas City: Chris Getz (2013 - 2011), Mike Aviles (2010), Alberto Callaspo (2009), Mark Grudzielanek (2008 - 2006), Ruban Gotay (2005), Tony Graffanino (2004), Desi Relaford (2003), and everyone's favorite Carlos Febles (2002 - 2000).

Seriously, KC fans deserve an award for just watching this team.

The light at the end of this tunnel is two flame-throwers who are bound to make impacts at the Major League level in Kyle Zimmer and Yordano Ventura. Unfortunately, Billy Butler is still on this team, we cannot just skip Alcides Escobar in the batting order, and Wil Myers is absolutely killing it in Tampa Bay. And that's all a huge shame. I don't even know where to start...

Just, try and enjoy James Shields' final season in Royal-blue.

James Shields' reaction as Free Agency looms.

....and perhaps, maybe, their playoff drought ends in 2014. Maybe. Perhaps. Maybe. But maybe not.

 1.      Last Season and Offseason

a.       86-76 – missed playoffs

b.      Signed Jason Vargas, Bruce Chen, Omar Infante, Jon Rauch, Brad Penny, Ramon Hernandez

c.       Traded OF David Lough to BAL for 3B Danny Valencia

d.      Traded LHP Will Smith to MIL for Norichika Aoki

e.       Traded George Kottaras to CHC for $$$

2.      Lineup/Rotation

Lineup

1.       Norichika Aoki RF

2.      Omar Infante 2B

3.       Eric Hosmer 1B

4.      Billy Butler DH

5.       Alex Gordon LF

6.       Salvador Perez C

7.      Mike Moustakas 3B

8.      Lorenzo Cain CF

9.        Alcides Escobar SS

Rotation

1.        James Shields

2.      Jeremy Guthrie

3.        Jason Vargas

4.    Bruce Chen

5.      Yordano Ventura

3.      Favorite/Least Favorite

a.       Nick’s favorite – Young guys signed to extensions

b.      Hayden’s favorite – Infante Signing

c.       Nick’s Least – Jason Vargas and Bruce Chen

d.      Hayden’s Least – Left side of infield

4.      Impact Player

a.       Mike Moustakas

                                                              i.      .651 OPS

                                                            ii.      Was below replacement level in 2013

                                                          iii.      Can’t hit lefties - .196

                                                          iv.      Has to hit to keep his job.

1.      But no replacement?

5.      Impact Prospect

a.       Yordano Ventura

                                                              i.      Kyle Zimmer on the horizon

                                                            ii.      Faster velocity than Zimmer – who is fast.

                                                          iii.      11 K – 6 BB in 3 starts at MLB in 2013

6.      Midseason Status

a.       Contending with CLE and DET for first and second place

b.      Seeking replacement for Moustakas

7.      Bold Predictions

a.       86-76

b.      Will not be as competitive as they seem to be

c.       Trade 2B Adalberto Mondesi to COL for OF Michael Cuddyer

Podcast Playlist:
"Royals" - Lorde
"Wanna Be" - The Fugees