RSS
Home
In time of panic, Kansas City, please remain calm
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
.jpg)
The fireworks show at Kauffman Stadium Friday night was about all worth watching for Royals fans in attendance (AP Photo: Charlie Riedel)
Stop me if you have heard this recipe before. Decent starting pitching, no clutch hitting, no speed threat, no long-ball threat, a couple of crucial errors and a shaky bullpen again spell doom for the Royals. Kansas Citians inclined to listen to the AM sports dial have heard this all-too-familiar saga repeatedly since the middle of May. A trend such as that ways heavily on players, management, media and fans alike.
None-the-less it is in these trying times that everyone involved needs to take note of the situation from their own unique standpoint. Players play, coaches coach, media talk about it, and fans cheer, or jeer as the case was last night at Kauffman Stadium.
As I drove home late last night, I decided yet again to pay a listen to the local radio station and their Royals post-game show. Fifteen minutes later, my speakers wore down by callers droning on about possible solutions to the Royals poor performance that has landed KC a worse record at this stage of the season than last, I made up my mind I was through analyzing and ready to tell it how it is. So listen up Royals fan and be sure to read these few simple rules before you declare to have the answer to changing the losing fate of an entire sports franchise.
First, understand one thing; there is a reason I do not play under the lights at “The K”. Yes, hard as it is to swallow, yet another year has gone by and I still have not heard from Royals General Manager Dayton Moore about the possibility of me coming in to solve their middle infield woes. I say this not because I don’t have faith in my left-handed stroke, ability to drag bunt, or slick glove in the field; but because I would not make a formidable professional baseball player. Period. All the great coaching, motivational talk, and media scrutiny would not change the fact it is still me.
Therefore, Joe Public, please stop with the calls about why hitting coach Kevin Seitzer can’t get Tony Pena Jr. to hit or that all manager Trey Hillman needs to do is light a fire under Luis Hernandez or Mitch Maier. Stop calling to question why Tug Hulett and his .071 batting average was not pinch hitting for the aforementioned Pena Jr. in the eighth inning down 5-0 last night - true call believe that or not. I will shoot it to you straight - there are some players on this roster that could not make any other team right now. This is not to say that the entire roster does not feature, for the most part, quality players with big league talent; however, this is to say that the Royals employ several that do not.
Second, please understand Moore sees what you see. That is his job. Moore will undoubtedly look to alter the back end of this current Royals roster through upcoming trades and players ascending through the minor league system. That is his job. He will not, however, make any moves without capable major league ready players to step in to those vacated roles. Hence, he watches the progress of his young players while keeping an eye on other organization’s players to do what is best for Kansas City. That is his job. Moore also likes his job and its ability to provide comfortably for him and his family. Therefore, he will be doing anything possible to outline a plan that will secure his job, or even a better one, for years to come.
The constant calls demanding Moore’s head are extremely abrupt and suggest a way of business that is counterproductive to success. When Moore first came to Kansas City he spoke of changing this team through the draft, an improved minor league system, and taking a vested interest to scout and sign foreign born talent. This plan takes time to breathe and fertilize. This is not professional football where players produce right out of college and the salary cap keeps each losing team within a mere free agent signing of the playoffs. Baseball takes time to develop.
Minor league systems cannot be built overnight and we have not even seen Moore’s biggest acquisitions in Kansas City yet. Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas are widely considered two of the top 30 prospects in all of baseball. Meanwhile, South Korean native Shin Jin-ho, Nicaraguan prospect Cheslor Cuthbert and Luis Villegas of Venezuela head a strong group of international free agents signed by the Royals in the past several months considered to be as good as any team’s overseas heist of talented ball players this year.
Lastly, pick up a phone and call your radio station, hunt-and-peck your Blackberry until your fingers bleed or email your local media outlet on company time. Without input from fans this business takes on a much duller tune. Just remember in your time of panic to remain calm and recall a few steadfast ideas provided to you by your favorite sports writer. Uh, that's me.
For more info: Royals International Signings 610 Sports Homepage Top MLB Prospects: Minor Leagues
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
