Sunday, November 22, 2009

Introduction to Royal Revival

The last twenty years have been a dark age for Royals fans. After such a promising beginning that was capped off with the ultimate prize in 1985, the franchise stumbled. Kansas City went from being a league icon to becoming the joke of the league. Perhaps, the rock bottom came when they were the punchline to a joke in the 2005 romantic comedy Fever Pitch. More embarrassing than being a joke in a romantic comedy was probably the fact that the joke was made by Jimmy Fallon.

I have been a life long Royals fan and have to say that I haven't one had the privilege of watching the Royals in a playoff game. But I do have hope. As my fellow Royals fans know hope is an integral part of our being. Without hope and optimism it would be impossible to look forward to that crisp March day when hope springs eternal. In the past decade times have been particularly harsh and the must fun season is the offseason, when all that is possible is dreaming of the promise the new season brings.

I considered starting this blog months ago it was a time when all was well in Royal Nation and the season that was approaching just felt different. However after an 18-11 mirage the team tanked. So it is probably not a coincidence that I decided to start this blog in the offseason when I knew that I could have at least four months of optimism before the potential reality of the upcoming season set in.

There has been a lot of talk recently about the fans needing to "trust in the process." A lot of people think that the front office is foolish and thinks that the team without the injuries could have actually won the division. I disagree. I believe that the front office made several moves over the offseason that were designed to excite the fans for a year that the Central was obviously down and the gates to a New Kauffman Stadium would be opened. I think that they were successful in creating excitement and even successful in convincing Zack Greinke that this was a place that was committed to winning.

Personally I feel that as terrible as last season was for Royals fans I do not feel as though it will hamper the long term goals of an organization that will be defined by its ability to build a farm system that can flood the major league roster with talent. This is the true process that Royals fans must focus on and while we cannot say with certainty which prospects will and will not be successful Major League players, we can say that the Royals system has been gaining praise and the front office does appear to be putting all of the necessary resources to create a productive farm.

Many are already writing the Royals off for the 2010 season and this is probably fair considering the decade that Royals have had and the disappointment that 2009 provided. However, on this blog we will not be pessimistic when talking about the upcoming Royals season. We will be realistic and do our best to offer unbiased analysis of all Royals moves and rumors. This blog will also have a strong focus on the minor league system, because currently this is where Royals fans can be excited without being overly optimistic. The Royals also have the best pitcher in baseball and an all star closer locked up through 2012, and perhaps the best homegrown hitter in the past decade locked up through 2013. There is reason to be excited. There is reason to hope. And most importantly there is reason to expect a Royal Revival.

8 comments:

  1. The royal revival is going to be alive and well with Greinke winning the Cy Young. This is just the kind of thing KC needed to get some respect from around the league.

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  2. Definitely the Royals needed to take a step in the right direction and a Cy Young award winner would qualifies.

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  3. Landon my boy! Nice article. I am very excited for this offseason and to see our guys again in '10! I have a question. What other kind of moves do you see D. Moore pursuing in the months to follow? I've heard that Getz and Fields could possibly be involved in other deals...

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  4. I agree completely that this team is moving in the right direction, and I was just as negative as anyone last year about this team, but I am ready to full embrace our farm system and watch them grow before our eyes. Guys like John Lamb, Duffy, and Montgomery are some very exciting and powerful arms to be excited about. Us KC fans are just going to have to realize that this will be a long process but if/when these players pan out the rewards will be plentiful. Just like Moses and the promise land

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  5. Well Dan, I am going to discuss that soon enough, so you will have to stay tuned! As for Getz and Fields I will go ahead and say that they may provide the depth that enables us to make other deals, but I can't really imagine that we would trade them in particular this offseason.

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  6. Paden- I agree with you the young arms in the farm system give us reason to be hopeful, and there are plenty of teams that are envious of KC's quality and quantity of big league pitching prospects at the lower levels. One of the things that I plan on doing with this blog is devoting it to the entire KC organization and not just the big league roster.

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  7. Oh you bet I will! With that being said, where will those 2 be put into the lineup or will it depend on Spring Training and other moves made?

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  8. It will depend on other moves that will be made. Getz, does have an option left so it will be possible for him to be placed in Omaha, as for Fields he will be on the big league roster. As for his role I cannot really say at this point.

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