Please don’t get upset with me…
Yes, I still believe the Kansas City Royals will win the division. And I think they can still win the American League Pennant. But if you’re seeing what I am, the Royals are falling down on offense again and starting to look like last year’s low-scoring, very little power team that had to invent runs.
Am I wrong?
Add in the starting pitching issues and our comfort level is getting less and less.
After a close call last night, the Royals remain in first by 4 1/2 games over the Twins.
Yesterday’s win was huge, because a loss would have left KC up by just 2 1/2 games as we near the All Star break. Meaning with any more losses, the Royals could have been up by just a game or two, which is not where we want to be, right?
So what’s the real issue here? Why can’t KC dominate?
I think its clear, both on offense and pitching.
This team has not found that guy who stirs the drink so to speak.
There isn’t an Amos Otis or a Hal McRae, let alone a George Brett.
And this team has not really had an ace since Kevin Appier and Zack Greinke. Unfortunately, Zack was too short lived to matter and Kevin pitched for terrible teams.
If you’re a Brett Era fan, you can see the problem.
That team had three clutch hitters, we just named them. That team had stable star pitchers in its rotation – pitchers like like Dennis Leonard and Paul Splittorff.
The current club has the bullpen that Brett’s teams lacked. But with no clutch hitters or true ace starters you can see the problem.
Can those problems happen down the road? Of course they can. Will they? I don’t feel that coming yet, so no. This team has a wonderful energy with its core group, Sal, Eric, Moose, Cain and Gordon. Add to all that the decent bat of Kendrys Morales and hey, its a great squad of good-but-not-great hitters.
When they are on.
But when as a group they become complimentary hitters, the result is zero to 3 runs scored. We’ve seen this already in run totals this season and most of last year.
Maybe modern baseball is different beast and it’s a league of teams that don’t have that one special guy for the most part.
There are precious few Mike Trouts out there.
For younger fans who didn’t see the ’75-’85 Royals this is all they know.
Maybe I’m just not used to this type of winning for two seasons in a row. Am I wrong?
My fear is without being super hot in the post season like last year, which was not what we saw from the Royals much in the regular season, this club could exit early in the playoffs.
I just don’t get why Eric Hosmer falls off every season. He hasn’t had but one home run in two months after a nice start. If you’re like me, who is the guy you want up with the game on the line? When you need a clutch hit to save the game, the season, the series.
Who is that guy? Cain? Hosmer? Moose? Sal? You tell me.
I don’t feel much confidence in any of them right now. Again, it may come later. Hey, they are walking away with the division as of now regardless of the fact that they’re not playing much more than .500 ball.
Some ‘out of market’ perspective, via an article in the Los Angeles Times online:
http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-royals-start-all-star-game-20150706-story.html
The gist: AL players voted for NO Royals player start the All Star Game – objectivity or payback due ballot-box stuffing that artificially elevated Royals players? One must trust players are less likely than fans to vote their emotions, basing selection on merit instead of popularity.
Conclusion: Royals are a good team with some good players, but not enough (or at least not enough difference-makers) to be a Championship favorite, Kerouac’s opine.
Please! Please! Please stop talking about subjects you know nothing about.
Actually, I thought that was a pretty well thought out entry. Now it wasn’t groundbreaking in it’s view (it’s obvious to anyone with a baseball IQ above zero what the Royals’ glaring weaknesses are), but it is something that alot of the local media are glossing over in their attempts to cheer-lead the Royals.
Yeah, it wasn’t that bad.
Don’t get too hung up on stats, CG. The ONLY thing that matters is wins. Yeah, it has been a struggle for them offensively, lately. But, that is always cyclical is baseball. the Royals just aren’t built for offensive numbers. Team defense is their calling card. Even with the pitching staff in a bit of a shambles, opponents have a batting average of .242 against. That is good for 5th or 6th in all of MLB. In regards to the offense, the Royals have better numbers than STL in AVG, OBP, SLG & OPS. I don’t think any Cards fans are sweating that, though. Do you?
I realize that baseball is ALL about the numbers for a lot of people. The Royals continue to defy all those stats and win in spite of them. Enjoy the ride, Glaze!!!
I’m a guy that doesn’t think the Royals are good enough to make it back to the WS. But, I’ll be happy to be dead wrong and I’m sure as hell going to enjoy the season, regardless. 4 to 6 games up at the All-Star break? Did you even dream of that 2 or 3 years ago?
Jim,
Yes, the Cardinal fans ARE sweating the lack of offense. Of course, STL’s offensive woes can be at least partially attributed to the loss of Matt Holliday (will be returning soon) and Matt Adams to injury. Jason Heyward also had a slow start to the year, but seems to be coming around.
Guy, keep the opponent’s batting average below.200, keep MLB leading team ERA and the strike outs at a MLB best and they will be just fine. Every team wants to have pitching AND hitting, but nobody does. Great pitching and average hitting goes a long ways these days.
No question the STL pitching staff has been amazing. But jeez how long can they keep this up? They are going to need more offense at some point to win the NL and the WS.
are you crazy, StL is up 100 games on the next closest team, who in the hell is going to catch them? that’s a team I do not want to meet in the world series for sure, they’ve already kicked the crap out of the royals, but I think Houston is the team to beat in the AL this year anyways, so maybe they’ll have better luck than us.
My point was clear, yes the Royals barring a total collapse will win their division. I just feel we’d all like a ‘clutch’ hitter and an ‘ace’ pitcher to start…helps and gives everyone that much more confidence in a long run in the post as well as makes the Royals a much more dangerous and exciting team to watch…that’s all…we had it in the 75-85 run, now we don’t but you guys are right we are winning and that’s what counts.
It also bothers me to know, as do you guys who know sports and baseball, that this team will likely lose two or three major parts in the next couple years…Gordon, Hosmer, Moose, and likely a reliever or two….which would more than likely end the glory..but hey its a game of ‘right now’ and right now they are looking ROYAL.
Just enjoy the ride old man. The glass isn’t yet half empty. (pun intended)
Let Dayton Moore worry about the future.
another spot on analysis by the Hollywood Star in his own mind.
Walk off grand slam to end the game today by Orlando.
we might win our division, but we will get clobbered (again) by Houston, they are destiny’s team this year and maybe just maybe they’ll have a shot at the stupidly good cardinals.
This Royals team has many elements that past Royals teams never possessed: A true gold-glove and all-star caliber shortstop; the league’s best catcher, by far; a bulletproof bullpen (not just one closer and maybe a decent setup guy); more gold-gloves (actual or soon to be) on the field than any team in my lifetime; and parity among teams, thanks to the efforts of MLB to level the field of competition. Supestar missing? Well, where was Trout’s or Miguel Cabrera’s teams last October? Pay attention. This is the 21st Century, not the dead-ball era.
your comments suck glaze.
the royals finda way to win…and thatsall that counts.
they got tired toward the end of the first half but the bullpen can keep them in games
when they get some breaks and a guy like orlando comes thru.
We’ve heard enough of your worthless garbage for three years. STFU and leave
the predictions to the experts and those who follow the team.
Have you been to a game? probably not. Have you watched more than a few
games? probably not.
and soon we’ll hear how the royals are hurting your business again.
you know nothing and what does come out from y ou is nothing but a regurgitation
of what we’ve already heard on talk radio and tv.
please….tell us more about your hotties at woodside so we can have some fun.
til then…stay away from the royals….you are a fuking jinx when it comes to them.
Don’t jump on their bandwagon or they’ll run you over.
please again…no more predictions or comments about the royals.
You are a clown when it comes to sports so please refrain from posting any more
wrong comments or old news about the royals on kcc.
thanks.
your friend
Harley.
Hey guys thanks for all the wonderful comments as always. Again I never said they wouldn’t win the division or even win the American League title, they should. I also said its ‘new style’ baseball…mostly small ball..I was impressed the Royals jacked Tampa with a all over the road line up and scored runs…nice…they have all but clinched their division already…nobody chasing them. A .500 ending wins the division for sure…and that is likely or better…so calm down.
I DON’T KNOW SPORTS HUH..WELL SOMEONE IN THE MEDIA THINKS I DO I’M ON METRO SPORTS ALL THIS WEEK AND NEXT TALKING ROYALS AND CHEIFS…HMMMM…WITH PETRO AND BLAIR AND OTHERS…TUNE IN NEXT SPOT IS NEXT WED AT 7PM CH. 30 FOR MOST OF US…ENJOY…
glaze….your record shows you know nothing about sports…you’re just a
bandwagon rider….Harley predicted the royals in the playoffs last you..
you didn’t.
I guess every show on tv and radio is in need of someone who
thinks they know something about sports.
You only relay what others say….theres nothing original with what you say…
and besides you’ve been wrong 70% of the time….if petro needs you so be
it….he too has his downfalls when talking sports.
if you want the real story….come to Harley who has been right on in baseball/
football/politics and general information…..Harley is right again.
now…watch for chris conneally from Georgia…he is the real thing…broke
records at the nfl combine….smart kid….is a filmmaker (maybe he can
make your king of sting movie glaze)…..and he should be the #2 receiver for
chiefs this year…….
I hardly think the royals are sleepwalking when they sweep a series like they
did at the k.
another faceplant for glaze.
at this rate you’ll be falling into your mountain dew ribs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You are right Harley Royals rock and you know everything we know nothing
the main problem this year with the Royals is that Ventura has turned out to be an unreliable head case. Edinson Volquez has overperformed this year, but we still need an ace.