A week ago, I was quite vocal about my displeasure with the fact Chris Getz was still playing everyday while Johnny Giavotella and his red hot bat languished in AAA. Since then, that situation has right itself, finally. While I still wonder why Gio wasn’t called up about two weeks earlier, I will let that go. Now, I would like to focus on the present and the future.
With Giavotella taking over at second, the Royals now sport what has to be one of the youngest starting infields of all time. Kansas City’s four infielders average less than 23 years old. This is incredible. And they all have a chance to be good. Eric Hosmer looks like the real deal, both at the plate and with the glove. Mike Moustakas seems to be slightly better than I expected in the field and has struggled mightily with the bat. I have every confidence hitting coach Kevin Seitzer will get Moose though this tough stretch. It worries me a bit that Moose has shown no power thus far but hopefully he can enjoy some success over the next two months so he can enter 2012 with a little confidence. I still don’t really care what Alcides Escobar hits. While he has made some massive improvements over the past two months at the plate, his glove is what excites me to no end. He seems to make a spectacular play every day – and he makes the routine, well, routine. Now we have Johnny Giavotella. After getting to watch him for just a few games, I really like his efficient, quick bat and his glove and range look adequate. His work in the field won’t be any worse than Getz and it looks to me Gio has even more grittiness than Getz. He won’t steal as many bases but I can live with that.
Behind the plate, Matt Treanor is hurt and the Royals are getting a brief look at 24-year old Manny Pina. Pina looks to be a servable back-up, much like Bryan Pena (29). Both are merely holding a place for 21-year old Salvador Perez, recently promoted to AAA. Salvador may be the catching version of Alcides Escobar – phenomenal with the glove and a work in progress at the plate.
Come Thursday when Melky Cabrera celebrates his birthday, the Royals’ starting outfield will all be 27. I have no issues with that at all. All three will be 27 and each has extensive major league experience. If Alex Gordon, Melky, and Jeff Francoeur are the starting outfielders next season, I won’t be mad in the least. Gordon is finally having his long anticipated breakout year. Frenchy is not only having a good year stat-wise but he is having an improved year with his peripherals. He has a chance to set career bests in walk rate, batting eye, and his lowest ground ball rate. He has already doubled his career stolen base totals and should soon top his career walk season best. These are marks of improvement. Melky is enjoying a nice breakout season himself, putting up his best power stats. Plus, these guys lead the world with 40 outfield assists. Fourth outfielder Mitch Maier is 29 and does a fine job in his role. Who knows what will happen with all these guys but the Royals do have a couple of guys knocking at the door in AAA in Lorenzo Cain and David Lough.
Kansas City’s designated hitter is 25-year old Billy Butler, who finally seems to be getting the fact that there is little value in a light hitting DH. He has picked up his power and hopefully he can sustain that level. While Butler can flat out hit, he needs to hit more doubles and homers to reach his potential and to be a mainstay in the line-up.
If you are paying attention, you will realize that outside of the DL’s Matt Treanor, no Royal position player in over 30 years old. I’m just getting started.
No pitcher in the bullpen, none of the eight, are older than 27. Five of them are 25 or younger. And there are more bullpen arms developing rapidly in the minors. The bullpen went from a disaster area over the last couple of years (not including Soria in that statement) to a major strength of this team, Soria included. They are young and sometimes get themselves in trouble with losing focus and walking too many, but these are problems that should improve with age.
Now the problem area – the rotation. Luke Hochevar and Felipe Paulino are both only 27. Paulino has been a godsend to this team. Eating innings and keeping the team in the game every time out. He has had his fair share of bad luck with a 34% hit rate but he looks to have solved his command issues. Hochevar may (or may not) have turned a corner as he has looked better of late. We have seen this before and he has not maintained it. Kansas City needs this to be real. Desperately. Twenty-two year old Danny Duffy is raw but I hope the experience he is gaining in 2011 will serve him positively next season. He has moments where he looks absolutely terrific but he really lets his pitch counts get away from him. He needs to be more consistent in his efficiency. That leaves Kyle Davies, Bruce Chen, and Jeff Francis. I doubt whether any of these guys are in town next year. Please, please, please let Davies be gone. Chen and Francis have been serviceable but they are what they are. The problem is I don’t have a clue who will fill these rotation slots in 2012. I don’t think the Royals have a clue either. The vaunted stable of arms in the minors seemed to have collectively taken a big step backwards this season. Other than Duffy, no one has pitched well enough to called up to The Show. That scares the heck out of me. As much potential as this team shows at the plate and in the pen, there is a gigantic void where a rotation should be. It is going to be a behemoth task for Dayton Moore to figure this out and I am doubtful he can do it.
As positive as it looks at times for this franchise, the lack of a rotation is going to be a thorn. With no regulars (unless you count Treanor) over 27 years old, and with no bullpen arm over 27, the present and the future is brighter than it has been for a very long time around this organization. Even now, with one of the worst records in baseball, the Royals are a very competitive team. They have a chance to win every night, unless Kyle Davies is on the mound. They scrap and fight from inning one to inning nine. I love that. I can only hope Moore figures something out or some of the prospects regain the ground lost in 2011 and the Royals can put together a good rotation for 2012. The Royals cannot seriously compete for an AL Central title until the starting rotation is fixed.
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