MLB: Cleveland's Series with Kansas City to Determine AL Best—No, Seriously

This is why it's fun to follow sports.

Before the regular season began, the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Indians were already afterthoughts. Sure, they both have some of the best young talent in all of baseball, but competing in the American League is at least a year or two away, right?

Think again.

Heading into a four-game series beginning Monday, the Royals and Indians aren't only competing for their division's top spot, but the American League's best record as well.

With a combined estimated payroll of approximately $76 million, the Royals and Indians still don't even come close to what the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are shelling out in 2011; the Red Sox's estimated payroll is $156.5 million, second only to the Yankees at $198.9 million. Fans in Boston and New York will argue this trend cannot continue, but those in Kansas City and Cleveland would beg to differ.

Now I'm not saying the Royals and Indians will continue to compete for the American League's best record all year long, but the head scratching in New York and certainly Boston will continue.

The Royals and Indians are showing that spending loads of cash isn't the only way to compete in Major League Baseball.

Their blueprint for success is much different because it has to be.

Building a team with great young talent is proving to be a much more cost-effective approach, which has the potential to yield successful results, evident in both team's hot starts.

The Kansas City Royals still have a long way to go. They haven't made the playoffs in more than 20 years, and overcoming that much losing is not an easy task, especially when you are on a tight budget.

But it looks as though they are finally on the right track.

Former top prospects Billy Butler and Alex Gordon are off to great starts. Heading into the series against Cleveland, Butler is batting .352 with two home runs and nine RBI, while Gordon is hitting .365 with a homer and 11 RBI. 

The Royals are also boasting a very talented young bullpen at a time when many teams across baseball are struggling. Joakim Soria has faltered a bit early on, but still has four saves on the year and is already one of the best closers in the game. Youngsters Aaron Crow and Tim Collins both have ERA's under 2.25, and the starting pitching has been solid. The Royals also have some of the best pitching prospects in all of baseball throughout their minor league system.

The Indians, on the other hand, have proven that spending less can still turn out successful results. Mark Shapiro and new GM Chris Antonetti are two of the best executives in the game today. All you have to do is look at how the 2011 team was put together.

The Indians are showcasing one of the best offenses in the American League, and I would argue that this will continue. For the Tribe to really make a run in the American League Central, they need consistent pitching, and so far it has been great. Indians starting pitchers are only giving up three runs or less a game, and the bullpen has been even better. There are still three pitchers in the Cleveland bullpen—Chris Perez, Rafael Perez and Tony Sipp—who still have yet to give up a run in 2011. 

Sure we are only a few weeks into the season. Eventually this has to turn around, right? Competing around the .500 mark is what you need to do to stay alive in the Central Division. Although it is early, both of these teams are showing they can do that.

Time will tell how long the Royals and Indians can compete with teams doubling or tripling them in payroll. We might as well enjoy the ride, because there is nothing better than a David vs. Goliath in professional sports.