Playing Pepper 2009: Kansas City Royals

As the players start getting themselves ready for another season, I thought it'd be a good idea to do the same.  I contacted a blogger for each major league team and posted them five questions.  This is the result.  You can find the tentative schedule of teams here, and today's main post is right here.

The Royals, to Cardinal fans, often seem like that cousin that you just don't acknowledge that much.  They live on the other side of the state, they are in a different division, and their recent history hasn't been as stellar as St. Louis's.  Like a family reunion, you see them twice a year, and then you go your separate ways.

However, there's possibly something building in Kansas City.  I talked to Jeff of Royally Speaking and asked him about management and some of the young stars the Royals are producing.

C70: What is the general thought about ownership and management?

RS: I think most Royals fans have a generally positive view of both David Glass and Dayton Moore. People need only to look across the parking lot to see how an owner should operate—hire quality people, give them resources, and stay out of their way.

Allard Baird had to deal with a very low payroll and meddling ownership who hindered his ability to improve the team, but now Glass seems on his way to emulating the Hunt family philosophy and is giving Moore every chance to succeed. Fans have definitely noticed.

C70: Was it an indication the Royals were on the right track when they extended Zack Greinke's contract?

RS: Certainly. I think Moore sent a message to fans and the rest of the league that KC's days as a farm team are over. Couple it with Joakim Soria's contract last year, and I think Moore is letting players know that if they are productive they will get their money here. We haven't seen this in Kansas City since Ewing Kauffman was alive.

C70: Will Alex Gordon make strides toward living up to his hype this year?

RS: He actually started last season when he hit .277/.392/.496 in the second half last season. Over his last 32 games he hit .303/.405/.560. I really don't think he can sustain those numbers over a full season, but I'm expecting a .280/.375/.500 type of season with 20+ HRs and 100+ RBIs. (BTW, Alex loves Cardinal pitching—.347/.396/.633 4 HRs 11 RBIs in 12 games.)

C70: Thanks for that reminder.  What would have to happen for the Royals to contend this year?

RS: Really not as much as you think; the Central was fairly weak last year and looks to remain so for 2009. Still, for KC to contend, Gordon and Billy Butler must build on their second half success from last season. (Butler also was better after the break—.305/.341/.476).

Jose Guillen and Mike Jacobs must hit for power while keeping their OBPs above .320, another starting pitcher or two needs to step up and toss 180-200 quality innings, and the bullpen before Soria must do their jobs. Maybe I'm oversimplifying things, but I believe all this is possible.

C70: What's the shape of the rotation after Greinke and Gil Meche?

RS: It looks good on paper. Kyle Davies went 9-7 4.06 last year, Luke Hochevar was the first pick of the 2006 draft, and Brian Bannister won 12 games as a rookie in 2007. But then looking closer, you see Hochevar and Bannister's 2008 ERAs (5.51 and 5.76), and last season was the first year Davies had any kind of success.

I think Hochevar will really improve and take hold of the third spot in the rotation. Davies' ERA will go up, but if he can keep it in the mid-4's, that will be enough to keep KC in games and give them a chance to win half his starts. I'm not sure what to expect from Bannister—3.87 ERA in 2007 and 5.76 in 2008, so who knows what we will get in 2009.

And then there is Horacio Ramirez, who it appears is going be given every opportunity to win a rotation spot. If he does, it won't go well, and like Brett Tomko last year, it won't last long.

My thanks to Jeff for his time and thoughts.  It'll be interesting to see just how high the Royals can climb in that division and if they'll be able to hold on once they get there.