The Royals head into their 5th season under GM knucklebones and their 2nd in new home Kansas City. The city is buzzing with the new additions to the team and are unified by the total lack of respect given by the league, including their own GM, who also did not vote for them in the polls.
The Royals do expect to make the playoffs in spite of no votes. I think its clear to everyone the Slobs are a favorite to repeat and San Diego, Arizona won't be pushovers either. That being said Gm knucklebones thinks the pieces are here for a run at the playoffs which is according to plan.
New additions to the team are Sidney Kotsay,Oswaldo Fernandez,Louie Rodriguez,Aramis Figureoa, & Al Uribe, aquired through free agency and Dallas Payton,Hector Campbell, Tuck Buck, & Miguel Owen aquired via trades. Ralph Harvey,Travis Borkowski,Fernando Gonzalez, & Ozzie Biddle were also aquired in the Rule 5. The major losses for the team Include Hume, Ontiveros, & Wood in the Tuck Buck trade, and also a couple of prospect pitchers to aquire Campbell & Payton. If nothing else the offense will provide fireworks and Tuck Buck will provide season long fodder for the chat board. Here are your Season 9 Royals:
Catchers - Hector Campbell will start, provide excellent defense and pitch selection while swinging a decent bat. The Royals will use long time NY'er Aramis Figureoa as a backup and he should provide a decent bat and pitch calling when needed.
Firstbase - Art Peters will start against righties and Thomas Schmidt against lefties. The tandem should combine for an all star like .300 avg 35+ hrs & 100 Rbis/Rs.
Secondbase - Spud Hoyt will no doubt man 2b for seasons to come. He came into his own last season as the lone All Star representive for the Royals. They expect more of the same and more this season as he comes into his prime years. Hoyt is also the team Captain.
Thirdbase - Future starting SS and Rookie of the year candidate Charlie Stone will man the hot corner and move over to SS for probably his career next season. The Royals are counting on big things out of Stone.
Shortstop - The Royals signed FA Oswaldo Fernandez to play shortstop this season. Hes an excellent on base guy and could get 40 or 50 steals to go with 100 Rs, while providing a better than average glove at the position.
Leftfielder - Long sought for Dallas Payton finally landed in KC after numerous trade offers over the last couple of seasons. Payton is an MVP candidate and will provide the monster middle of the lineup bat the Royals were always missing. Barring injury theres no question he'll be in the running for MVP once again.
Centerfield - Big FA signee Sidney Kotsay will patrol centerfield for the Royals and should provide All star numbers at the position.
Rightfield - This was a toss up, but we're giving the edge and the starting job to Charles Kashmir. If he maintains his normal production he should provide consistency and pop at the postition and may even be in the running for an All Star spot.
DH - John Bang is the full time DH and possibly a future Hall of Famer. The Royals like the solid numbers he puts up and would like to see him retire in a Royals uniform.
Starting Pitching - Marcus Wood, Tuck Buck,Rico Dali, & Victor Guzman should be a solid if unspectacular Rotation. The Royals are expecting 10 wins plus out of all of them with sub 5.00 eras.
Bullpen - The pen will be anchored by vet Bill Roth coming off a solid season 8, & the Closer will be Miguel Owen. A gang of guys will fight for the middle inning spots and two of the following will probably be let go sometime during the season - Ozzie Biddle,Fernando Gonzalez,Orlando Delgado,Frank Kim,Carlos Armas,Travis Borkowski, & ,Ralph Harvey.
Significant bench guys Al Uribe & Louie Rodriguez should provide great insurance and rest for the starters.
The Royals expect to be one of the top offenses in the league and have solid, veteran, pitching. Anything short of the wild card would be a huge disappointment for gm knucklebones & the Royals.
Prediction - 2nd place/wildcard
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