Kansas City Royals

2009: 65-97 (Tied for last with Cleveland)

So Long: 3B Mark Teahen, 1B Mike Jacobs, C Miguel Olivo, C John Buck, OF Coco Crisp, OF Josh Anderson, P Sidney Ponson, 2B Tug Hulett, RP Tony Pena, Jr., RP Jamey Wright, RP John Bale, RP Yasuhiko Yabuta, RP Doug Waechter, RP Juan Abreu

Welcome: C Jason Kendall, OF Rick Ankiel, OF Scott Podesdnik, OF Brian Anderson, SP Noel Arguelles, RP Jorge Campillo, P Edgar Osuna, OF Buck Coats, 2B Chris Getz, P Bruce Chen, IF Wilson Betemit, C Vance Wilson

Projected Starting Lineup pulled from rototimes.com
1. Scott Podsednik, LF
2. David DeJesus, RF
3. Billy Butler, 1B
4. Jose Guillen, DH
5. Alex Gordon, 3B
6. Rick Ankiel, CF
7. Alberto Callaspo, 2B
8. Yuniesky Betancourt, SS

9. Jason Kendall, C

Rotation - Zack Greinke, Gil Meche, Luke Hochevar, Brian Bannister, Robinson Tejada
Setup - Juan Cruz, Kyle Farnsworthless
Closer - Joakim Soria

Growing up, my cousins lived in Kansas City and were big Royals fans, thus I've always harbored a soft spot for the team. I mean, who doesn't like George Brett? (Aside from Billy Martin anyway). I'm a big fan of Zack Greinke, who might just be the most exciting pitcher in baseball right now. If he had pitched for almost any other team last year, he might have won 25 games. Kudos to the writers for recognizing his superior performance last season and rewarding him with the Cy Young award despite his low win total.

Aside from Greinke, Soria, and Billy Butler, the Royals don't have a lot going for them this year. Their rotation after Greinke is serviceable, but not on the same level as the White Sox or Twins. They have a great closer, provided they can give him a lead to protect in the 9th. Despite the additions of Podsednik and Ankiel, the Royals' offense still looks a little suspect to me. The future does look bright, as the Royals have the 9th ranked farm system in the game. Personally, I wish they'd stop signing retreads like Scotty Pods, Ankiel, and Kendall and bring up more of their young guys to play. They do that and a few years from now, they might seriously contend for the division title, like the Rays did in 2008. And the powder blue unis kick serious ass.

PRESEASON AWARDS

If this team were a disease/ailment it would be: - Anemia. The Royals started out strong last year, leading some to believe they would actually compete. As the season wore on, the Royals got progressively weaker until they eventually wound up tied for last with the woeful Indians. Maybe Rick Ankiel will provide a shot in the arm to the Royals this year. Or at least a shot to the buttocks.

The "Who's the Boss?" Award. As a child of the 80s, I remember watching the corny sitcom Who's the Boss?. The whole attraction of the show seemed to be whether or not Tony and Angela would ever hook up. (For me, it was waiting for Alyssa Milano to develop boobs. (She did, and then some.)). The question was always "Will they or won't they?" and the writers of the show drug the "suspense" out for years. For the Royals, that question is "Will 3B Alex Gordon ever live up to his potential?" and it looks like it might take just as long for Gordon to finally meet expectations as it took Tony to nail that WASP ass.

The "Lack of an Award" Award. I totally racked my brain, but the Royals were simply so bland that I couldn't think of anything else that would be remotely funny. All of I've got is that for some reason I like to refer to Billy Butler as "Billy Jack Bitch", which is a Prince song from The Gold Experience. As I have nothing else, here's Alyssa Milano in a Royals shirt.