The Royals have finished in 4rth or 5th place in the AL Central for seven consecutive years. The chances are very good that the Royals will finish at the bottom or near the bottom once again. There is a slight chance, however, that the Royals may be a surprise team in 2011. If this young team is going to make noise though, they are going to have to play significantly better.
This offseason, the Royals let the star pitcher Zack Greinke go. The organization sent Greinke to the Milwaukee Brewers for shortstop Alcides Escobar, center fielder Lorenzo Cain, and top prospect Jake Odorizzi. Escobar has played three seasons with the Brewers and has a career batting average of .250 with only five career home runs, 52 RBI, and 14 steals. Escobar has definitely under performed so far in his career, but the hope for the Royals organization is that Escobar would do better with a change of scenery. Escobar, after all, was considered of the Brewers top prospects just a few years ago. Cain, a former draft pick of the Brewers, played in 43 games for them last season. He hit .306 with one home run, 13 RBI, and seven steals. Cain should be battling for an everyday spot the Royals’ outfield. Jake Odorizzi, a first round draft pick of the Brewers in 2008, finish the 2010 season with a 7-3 record and an ERA of 3.43 in just over 120 innings. Odorizzi may have an outside shot at the Royals’ rotation in 2011.
Another trade that the Royals made in the offseason was sending long-time Royal David DeJesus to Oakland for pitcher Vin Mazzaro. Mazzaro was part of the young and talented A’s rotation in 2010. He finished the season with a 6-8 record and an ERA of 4.27 in just over 122 innings. Unlike Odorizzi, Mazzaro has a better chance of making the Royals rotation in 2011.
The rest of the Royals rotation looks like this: Luke Hochevar, former Rockies’ pitcher Jeff Francis, Sean O’Sullivan, and Kyle Davies. Including Francis’ stats with Colorado, the Royals’ rotation combined for 36 no decisions. This alarming stat means that the Royals’ pitchers need to receive more run support if the team is going to be successful in 2011.
The Royals’ hitting last year was serviceable last season. The team ranked second in the American League with a .274 batting average. A major reason why the team did so well in the batting average department was the fact that they struck out the least amount of times in the American League. Unfortunately for the Royals last season, the high batting average and low strikeout totals did not translate into a lot of run production. The Royals finished 10th in the American League with 640 RBI and 12th with 121 home runs. The team’s star hitter, Billy Butler, had a relatively good year in 2010. Although Butler hit few home runs and RBI in 2010 than he did in 2009, he hit for a high average, walked more, and struck out less. This year, Butler figures to increase his run production totals. During the offseason, the Royals added outfielders Jeff Francoeur and Melky Cabrera. Francoeur spent last season with both the Mets and the Rangers. He hit .249 with 13 home runs and 65 RBI in 139 games. Cabrera spent last season in Atlanta and did not do well. Cabrera hit .255 with just four home runs and 42 RBI in 147 games. These two acquisitions will serve as the veterans in the lineup.
The team also has in-house candidates who can have immediate impact to the lineup. First baseman, Kia Ka’aihue, will have a chance to play every day in 2011. The 26-year old Hawaiian native hit only .217 but had 15 extra base hits in 180 at bats. In 94 minor league games last season, Ka’aihue hit .319 with 24 home runs and 78 RBI. He also posted an on-base percentage of .463 and drew 88 walks while striking out 69 times. Infielder Mike Aviles will open the season as the starting third baseman for the Royals. Aviles played in 110 games last season and hit .304 with eight home runs, 32 RBI, and 42 steals. If Aviles is able to stay healthy for an entire season, he should be able to hit over 10 home runs and steal over 20 bases.
In the near future, the Royals will see a couple of prospects that will hopefully turn things around in Kansas City. Third baseman Mike Moustakas and first baseman Eric Hosmer should be in a Royals uniform sometime this season or next season. So far in spring training, Moustakas has hit .227 with a home run and six RBI. The third baseman combined to hit .322 with 36 home runs and 124 RBI between Double-A and Triple-A last season. Hosmer has hit .450 with two home runs and eight RBI during spring training this season. Between Single-A and Double-A last season, Hosmer hit .338 with 20 home runs and 86 RBI in 137 games. The organization has wisely held on to these prospects and should definitely reap the benefits within the next couple of seasons.
The Royals are not a lock for the postseason this season by any stretch of the imagination. But, if the team wants to be in the wild card hunt this season, the starting pitchers need to go deeper into games, and the hitters need to hit for more power and produce more runs. Chances are the Royals will fall short once again this season, but next season figures to be a fun summer with the eventual emergence of both Moustakas and Hosmer.
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