As usual in the years since the 2015 World Series win, the Royals this season were...well...the Royals.
I think more than other recent years, you could see a good team trying to break out this year. Brad Keller genuinely looks like an ace this year. Salvador Perez, Whit Merrifield and Maikel Franco are all playing beautifully. Greg Holland and Danny Duffy have had impressive returns to form. Kris Bubic and Brady Singer have had nice rookie years.
And yet...there seems to be a lot of dead space on this team. Lots of guys like Nicky Lopez, Ryan O'Hearn, Hunter Dozier, and even veterans like Matt Harvey and Alex Gordon, are just sort of taking up roster spots and waiting for better options to come along. A lot of the bullpen comes off like this as well.
It's not really the sort of team where you have to wait for a large youth movement to come up like in 2011. Bobby Witt Jr. may be a few years away, but his presence alone isn't gonna save this team. There's gonna need to be some structural changes, perhaps a lot of big trades that gain some prospects, and they we can talk about a competitive Royals team, because...I still think we have a few more years left of teams like this one, just sort of...being there, and letting the rest of the AL Central go around them.
It's sad that we're here so soon after the ring, but...it's a feeling that could be over soon if they take the necessary steps.
Coming Tonight: Speaking of youth movements, a rookie that just came up for the worst team in the league, and is doing his damndest to help them win at least a few games.
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