Tired of Waiting for Next Year

We still have a few weeks before the beginning of Spring Training and I find myself thinking more and more about baseball and the Kansas City Royals.  I view the AL Central as a relatively weak division this season because unlike the other divisions, there really aren’t any big boys like the Yankees and Red Sox in the East, and the Rangers and Angels in the West.  At the risk of sounding like a homer, I think the Royals can compete for the division title this year.  Evidently, Dayton Moore and the Royals’ brain trust do not.

It has been a fairly quiet off season for the Royals.  They made a big splash early on during the hot stove season by trading Melky Cabrera, coming off a career year, to the Giants for starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez who suffered through a slightly sup par campaign.  Since then, the only move that has even registered was the idiotic signing of Yuniesky Betancourt as a utility infielder, because his glove is so good!  As this hot stove season begins to cool down, two free agent pitchers are still sitting around with no contracts.  One is Roy Oswalt, who I think could be signed for a 1-year, $10 million deal, plus incentives.  The other is Edwin Jackson, who is probably going to garner a 4-year, $48 million contract.  While each has his warts, both would be an improvement over some of the starters the Royals are going to run out there every five days.

Dayton Moore has hinted strongly that the Royals will not be signing either pitcher and probably won’t be pulling off anymore staggering trades between now and the start of the season.  They want to see what they have in Felipe Paulino, Danny Duffy, Mike Montgomery, Jake Odorizzi, and others.  They don’t want anyone to block the development of these young prospects. 

The question I have to ask is when will it be next year?  As a Royals fan, we have been waiting forever for a competing team.  We keep hearing about the process.  Things have to be done a certain way.  We heard 2011 was going to be the year Kansas City challenged for a Central title.  Then it was 2012.  Now, it seems to be 2013.  Why not 2012?  Why not go for it just a little bit.  Take a chance on one of those free agents pitchers and just go for it!  Now may be the time.  The problem is we probably won’t get the chance to find out.

The Royals’ recently vaunted minor league system really started to produce in 2011.  We all know the list of young bats and bullpen arms that performed very well in 2011.  Is it not possible for the offense, as a unit on the whole, to match or improve its numbers from last season?  Is it unreasonable to expect that the deep and talented bullpen can’t do the same in 2012?  If these two things happen in 2012, wouldn’t a stronger rotation only be a good thing.  Young pitchers can contribute and develop in AAA and as depth in case of injuries.  For years, this organization has rushed guys in the majors.  Is it so bad to be patient now that there is a chance for an improved MLB roster?

It is my opinion that the AL Central is ripe for the picking.  Two teams, the Twins and White Sox, while not officially rebuilding, are certainly in a big transitional stage.  Both have big questions both offensively and on the mound for 2012.  The Indians were one of these surprise teams of 2011 and they in a similar position as the Royals.  They have some young players they are counting on to be productive.  They have some talent on their pitching staff but they have numerous question marks.  The Indians could go either way in the standings; nothing is for certain in Cleveland.  The reigning Central champs are the Tigers and while they have Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera, there are several holes in the line-up.  They are really lacking at third and second and their outfield is inconsistent.  It will be difficult, if not impossible, to fully replace the bat of Victor Martinez, who is out for the season.  If the Tigers can’t fill those holes and their pitchers regress, they could be vulnerable.

Oswalt or Jackson could be just the thing to put the Royals over the top in this division.  Oswalt could offer invaluable leadership for a young staff.  He is a bulldog, ground ball pitcher who has battled injuries in recent seasons.  Still, if healthy, he would really add quality depth to the rotation.  Edwin Jackson has been inconsistent in the past but is still just 28 years old and wouldn’t be out of line with the Royals’ youth movement.  And he is durable.  I have a hard time believing he wouldn’t be an asset. 

For all we know, the Royals will take every step forward in every area and with every position and will compete on 2012.  This is not likely.  Maybe the young rotation and prospects in the minors will makes strides forward and no longer be the weak link on the club.  Maybe Moore knows exactly what he is doing and the Royals will compete for the AL Central title in 2012.  I hope so because I am tired of waiting for next year. 

(Since writing this a few days ago, the Detroit Tigers signed Prince Fielder to a 9-year contract.  I no longer think signing Oswalt or Jackson would help the Royals win the AL Central in 2012.  If things went absolutely right for Kansas City and absolutely wrong for the Tigers, it is still possible for the Royals to win.  Those are two very big ifs...)

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