Royals Rundown

In the spring, every fan has a little time to hope and dream that this is the year the ole hometown team surprises everyone and makes a run for the division.  Of course, if you are a fan of the Kansas City Royals, those dreams are dashed quickly, as ocean waves on a rocky cliff, usually by May 1, if not sooner.  Some years, it's by the end of the first weekend.  This will probably be one of those seasons.

What is the best case scenario for the Royals?  If everything went perfectly, what is the best us loyal, heart broken fans can expect of the 2011 baseball season?  If the stars all align and hell freezes over, just what could happen?

Alex Gordon, Jeff Francoeur, and Melky Cabrera, all former prospects, all 26 or 27 years old with experience, reach their potential and become a very good outfield.  Alcides Escobar returns to the form that made him a top prospect for the Brewers just one year ago, with both the glove and the bat.  Chris Getz figures out how to get on base with some regularity and steals over forty bases.  Billy Butler learns to elevate the ball just a little and hits around 20 homers and hits into 10 less double plays.  Kila Ka’aihue matches his best years in the minors by hitting 25 round trippers with a .280 average and lots of walks.  Mike Aviles maintains his .300 average and plays a good third base.  The catchers, well, the catchers do not prove to be too much of a drain.

Luke Hochevar finally reaches the potential that made him a number one draft pick and becomes the staff ace in fact.  Jeff Francis returns to his pre-injury form and provides veteran leadership to the rotation.  Divine intervention helps Kyle Davies’ head catch up to his arm and he finally realizes he can get people out by throwing strikes down in the zone.  Vin Mazzaro continues to improve looks like a legitimate big league starter.  Sean O’Sullivan pitches very well in long relief and replaces Bruce Chen in the rotation by mid May and makes strides and keeps his ERA under 4.25.

Joakim Soria maintains his high level of consistency and effectiveness.  Robinson Tejeda grows into his role as primary set up man and cuts down his walks to give the Royals a tough one-two punch at the back of the bullpen.  The Royals start to reap the rewards of their deep minor league via young arms performing well in the bullpen. 

The Indians are as bad as they look on paper.  Detroit’s age and poor health catch up with them and they fall by the wayside by June.  Justin Morneau just can’t return to his former high level of excellence and Joe Mauer’s knees continue to drain is power and playing time.  The Royals fight and scrap their way into contention by the end of August but Chicago’s better talent and superior rotation help them pull away and Kansas City finishes in second in the Central.

This would all be possible in a world of fantasy.  We live, of course, in reality.  One of the three outfielders might reach their promised potential; the other two are traded by the end of July.  Alcides Escobar plays great defense but can’t raise his average over .260.  Chris Getz fails miserably and is replaced by June 1^st by Mike Aviles, who moves to second to make room for top prospect Mike Moustakas.  Aviles hits well but is a hinderence defensively.  Moustakas shows power but struggles for much of the season.  Billy Butler is what he is – a .300 doubles hitter who hits way too may groundballs and not enough home runs.  The scouting reports prove correct and Ka’aihue has too many holes in his big swing.  He can bang some home runs but struggles with consistency and his minor league average doesn’t translate.  The catchers, well, the catchers offer very little that is positive to the team.

Hochevar proves to be nothing more than a number four starter, and therefore a bust.  Jeff Francis emerges as the leader of a very bad rotation.  Kyle Davies just doesn’t get it and is gone before August.  Mazzaro and O’Sullivan show little in the way of improvement and Bruce Chen remains in the rotation for the whole season.

The bullpen is the lone bright spot on this team.  Soria and Robinson finish out the rare games when they inherit a lead and the young arms show promise and improve as the season goes along.

The Royals finish fourth in the division and a few of the prized prospects are promoted in August or September and they gain valuable experience going into the 2012 season.

I am a huge Royals fan (please no comments about my actual size), but I am beyond frustrated at their constant losing.  I am ready for some success.  Hopefully that success isn’t that far away.