Optimism

The Royals made their final cuts yesterday, solidifying the 2005 roster. While this year's edition of the Men In Blue won't evoke images of last year's Red Sox, they will bring to mind the beginnings of some other successful clubs who were able to build a foundation of success on youth. The most recent Twins squads, the 90's versions (as well as this year's version) of Cleveland's ballclubs and the infamously ransacked rosters of the 90's Expos all built competitive teams using young talent and patience. The Royals are looking to duplicate this pattern as they employ no fewer than eight players with 2 years big league experience or less on Opening Day. Let's take a look at who will be helping this once-proud franchise dig itself out of the quagmire its been mired in for so long:

INFIELD

This infield has probably seen less major league games in person than I have. Behind the plate, John Buck has just over 250 major league plate appearances. At first base/DH, Calvin Pickering has about 280 career PA. Second baseman Ruben Gotay has chalked up 160 PA in the bigs, while third baseman Mark Teahen's next major league at bat will be his first. That leaves the shortstop, Angel Berroa, as the “seasoned veteran” with 1,300 trips to the plate, a total that eclipses the combined totals of his fellow infielders.

While this lack of experience may not be pretty to watch this year, it certainly will be better than watching the feeble crew that “entertained” us last year. No, there won't be an abundance of veteran mediocrity (or worse) with the likes of Joe Randa, Desi Relaford, Ken Harvey and Tony Graffanino either gone or saddled with reduced playing time and injury. And even if it's ugly, we can at least dream about what the future holds. Pickering might be able to get enough at-bats to threaten Steve Balboni's pathetic club record for homeruns of 36. Gotay could continue his covert ascension through the ranks and show some plate discipline and power that not many middle infielders his age possess. Teahen may play a respectable third base while honing his line drive stroke. Buck could show more pop than any Royals catcher since Mike Macfarlane and he's already earned brownie points for his ability to “handle the pitching staff.” And Berroa could return to his Rookie of the Year level of play, hitting the occasional homerun and showing good range in the field. And as long as we're being optimistic, team captain Mike Sweeney might shrug off back problems and log 500 All-Star -quality at bats. Or they all might struggle mightily, get injured and form the nucleus of a club that challenges last year's historic futility. Even if the latter happens, I'd rather watch young guys develop than old guys go through the motions.

OUTFIELD

This group is nearly as exciting as the Sunnyvale Retirement Village Pinochle Championship. The lone exception is centerfielder David DeJesus. DeJesus already possesses major league-ready plate discipline and can cover the gaps in center. Unfortunately, the gaps in center field may be quite large with the likes of Terrence Long, Matt Stairs and Emil Brown flanking him. Eli Marrero is an acceptable fielder; hopefully his bat will be properly utilized in some sort of platoon situation with the wholly uninspiring Long. The best part of seeing Terrence Long will be knowing that Darrell May was sent far, far away from us. Matt “Beer League” Stairs is still fun to watch, swinging from the heels in slow-pitch softball fashion, but his usefulness is quickly evaporating. Emil Brown managed to beat out one-time up-and-comer Aaron Guiel and the last remains of prospect sheen dimly emanating from Abraham Nunez. Normally I wouldn't get too excited about a journeyman coming out of nowhere to win the right field job, but this case is more symbolic. Just as last year's lone All-Star, Ken Harvey, was dispatched to Omaha, Allard Baird was not going to settle for the status quo with a previously moderately productive Guiel or the unfulfilled potential of Nunez. Baird is fond of using the term “approach” when evaluating talent and I think his approach in these two positions is positive. He's still in search of an impact bat for one of the corner outfield spots and he has resisted the urge to fill those spots this year with overpriced, middling free agents.

STARTING PITCHING

Any comment on Kansas City's starting pitching has to begin with the inimitable Zack Greinke. Without question, he has the most pitching talent the Royals have seen since Bret Saberhagen. The only question is if he can make it through the next few years without being overworked and, subsequently, injured. Before last year, the only time I've ever bought a ticket to a baseball game with the sole intention of watching a pitcher was 2002 when Pedro Martinez picked apart the Royals. I listened to the radio broadcast of Greinke's first major league start last year and was blown away by the incredulity in Denny Matthews' voice. Matthews isn't the best broadcaster of all time, but he's been the voice of the Royals since their inception in 1969, and he's seen a lot in his day. But he hadn't seen anything like Greinke that day. After that game, I decided I had to witness this phenomenon for myself. And I wasn't disappointed. He never tried to overthrow the ball, instead hitting his targets and hitting every notch on the radar gun from 80 to 94. And, invariably, he would follow up a 94 mph offering with a 60 mph looping curveball, leaving batters lurching and cursing. I made up my mind that I would do whatever I could to watch every one of his starts from then on. He is easily the best pitcher on the Royals' staff, even at age 21.

But the Royals have other potentially exciting young members of the rotation as well in Runelvys Hernandez and Denny Bautista. Hernandez was without equal the first two months of the 2002 season, but a sore elbow and Tommy John surgery cut his promising start short. He's now fully recovered and rehabilitated and looking to compete. He has ability, heart and extreme confidence in himself; hopefully he can put it all together and have a breakout year. Denny Bautista throws hard, has a nasty curve and an excellent change. He may have the best pure stuff in the organization. He's still a bit raw, though, and his lanky frame contributes to occasionally poor mechanics. If re-hashed pitching coach Guy Hansen is half as good as he claims to be, Bautista could contribute sooner rather than later. Jose Lima and Brian Anderson fill out the veteran portion of the rotation. “Lima Time” was a popular act in his first go 'round in K.C.; we'll see if the increased offensive atmosphere of Kauffman Stadium as compared to Dodger Stadium bumps “Lima Time” from prime time to pine time. Brian Anderson has received an “Extreme Makeover: Delivery Edition” from Hansen. There's really nowhere to go but up for Anderson after last year's 5.64 ERA and 33 homeruns allowed. I hope.

BULLPEN

The bullpen is talented, yet free of unnecessary “veteran set-up guys,” “proven closers,” and their cash-sucking salaries. Jeremy Affeldt is as close to a “proven closer” as it comes, yet is still making far below market value for someone in his position. Mike MacDougall, the reigning closer before Affeldt, has come back strong from a season filled with illness, injury and disappointment. His always-concerning mechanics have been much more consistent this spring and, likewise, so have his results. Mike Wood has had a solid spring and stands to accept a rotation spot should Bautista or Anderson falter. Shawn Camp is another reliever rescued from the scrap heap to put up respectable numbers at bargain basement prices. And Jaime Cerda seems able to contribute in the role of LOOGY (Lefty One-Out GuY), at worst, and effectively face multiple batters, if given the chance.

The Royals won't be world-beaters this year, as they were in 2003. They also won't be the doormat that the 2004 club was. Tony Pena has a youth-oriented team again and that seems to suit his rah-rah, teaching style. Guy Hansen is ready to perform miracles heretofore only concocted by Leo Mazzone, his major league counterpart while Hansen was employed as the pitching coach for Atlanta's AAA team. The hitting coach, Jeff Pentland, has been credited with teaching the benefits of plate discipline and pitch selection to Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds. Allard Baird continues to do well looking under rocks for cheap and undervalued talent. The farm system is starting to produce both pitching and position prospects. If he can find the elusive “impact bat” to put in the outfield corners, the semblance of a respectable club might start to appear. Maybe not this year, but soon.