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2005 Record: 56-106
(
2005 Runs Scored:
701
2005 Runs Allowed:
935
Expected 2005
Record: 60-102
Royals
manager Buddy Bell has a career 388-530 mark, good for a .423 winning
percentage. If the Royals duplicate that
rate, they will finish with 68 wins in 2006.
By setting a franchise record
with 106 losses last season, 68 wins would be a massive improvement. The Royals made an effort to show their fans
that they are interested in fielding a competitive team this year by being very
active in the bargain-rate, over-35 free agent market this offseason. But they also persist in playing a lot of
youngsters who they hope will develop faster with major league experience, even
though they aren’t hot stuff yet. What
does this mixture look like?
2005 Starter: John Buck
Projected 2006 Starter: John Buck
The Royals like what they get from Buck as a defensive
catcher. Though still a young 25, he
seems destined to develop a Matheny-type reputation as he gets older. His OPS was pushing .700 last year. If it can crawl
above that mark, the Royals should be in good shape. Paul Bako provides
an adequate veteran replacement when Buck needs to rest.
2005 Starters: Mike Sweeney, Matt Stairs
Projected 2006 Starters: Mike Sweeney, Doug Mientkiewicz
Mike Sweeney is a very fine high average, medium power hitter who is a lock to throw his back out for at least 30 games a year. For this reason, he plays a lot of DH too. But instead of Matt Stairs slagging around first, the Royals signed Mientkiewicz as a defensive whiz at first. He’s horrible offensively, but if he can corral all the wild throws that are expected to come his way from SS and 3B, he may prove valuable.
2005 Starters: Ruben Gotay,
Tony Graffanino, Joe McEwing
Projected 2006 Starter: Mark Grudzielanek
Grudzy has
been a consistently decent hitter in the twilight of his career, and has
improved to an above-average defender.
But the wisdom of signing a 36 year old to play second for two years is
always questionable. Having said that, a
lot of other teams would have liked his services, and he is a definite
improvement over last year.
2005 Starters: Mark Teahen,
Joe McEwing
Projected 2006 Starter: Mark Teahen
Teahen is a 24-year old who many scouts believe will mature into an incredible offensive player. In the meantime, he posted a .685 OPS last year and was probably the worst defensive third baseman in the majors last year. The Fielding Bible calls him “ghastly.” Twice.
2005 Starter: Angel Berroa
Projected 2006 Starter: Angel Berroa
Though sub-par offensively, Berroa is a quick and impressive athlete. This must mean he’s a good shortstop,
right? Wrong. In one of its more thoughtful analyses, The Fielding Bible
states it thusly: “His basic problem is that he just has no judgment. He doesn’t anticipate, he doesn’t think
through the play; he just reacts.” He is
credited with making 23 fewer plays
to his right than the average SS in 2005.
Combining Berroa with Teahen, the left side of the Royals infield should drive
their pitchers crazy throughout the season.
2005 Starters: Terrence Long, David DeJesus, Emil Brown
Projected 2006 Starters: Reggie Sanders, David DeJesus,
Emil Brown
When Reggie Sanders turned 35,
instead of declining as one would expect, he has slightly improved almost every
aspect of his game. Last year at age 37,
he hit 21 homers in 93 games and stole 14 of 15 attempted bases. If he can keep it up, the Royals will be set
in left this year. But beware the spectre of instantaneous decline, known in some circles as the
Ghost of Steve Finley. Emil Brown was
one of the best offensive right fielders in the
Matt Stairs should share the DH duties with Mike Sweeney, as well as
playing a bit of OF.
However, Chip Ambres and Aaron Guiel will be the OF replacements when good fielding is
required.
Projected 2006 Front Starters: Runelvys Hernandez,
Scott Elarton, Redman and Greinke
later
Lefty Mark Redman, who came over
from
The biggest positive in the Royals
rotation is the addition-by-subtraction of Jose Lima, who had an all-time boner
season with a 6.99 ERA in 32 starts last year.
Other 2005 Starters: D.J. Carrasco, J.P. Howell,
Mike Wood, Denny Bautista
Other Possible 2006
Starters: Howell,
Wood, Bautista, Joe Mays, Jeremy Affeldt
The Royals’ top starters were their
worst pitchers last season. These bottom
feeders were marginally more effective, and should perform similarly this
year. Affeldt
is a lefty with wicked stuff who has yet to be a consistent performer in the
big leagues, partly due to injuries.
Wood could be an average starter in the mold of Elarton. Beyond these two we have Joe Mays, who missed
all of 2004 with injury, and had opponents hit .318 off of him last year. D.J. Carrasco walked more men than he struck
out last season, and Howell’s ERA was 6.19 in 72.2 innings.
"We have
some depth," manager Buddy Bell said.
2005 Top Relievers: Mike MacDougal, Andy Sisco, Ambiorix Burgos, Leo
Nunez, Jimmy Gobble, Affeldt
Projected 2006 Top
Relievers: MacDougal,
Sisco,
This group may be the strength of
the entire team. The were surprisingly
effective last season, with MacDougal emerging as a reliable closer and Rule 5
acquisition Andy Sisco posting a 3.11 ERA and getting
some very valuable big league experience at age 22.
Final Word:
Someday, Andy Sisco will be a force among starting pitchers in this league. Someday, John Buck will be called a ‘proven winner’ by commentators both local and national. Someday…well, that’s about all I feel comfortable predicting for this bunch. Even if all their veteran signings exhibit a decline in skills from 2005, they would still likely represent an improvement at their respective positions. If some of their very young talent like Sisco and Greinke develop faster than expected, and Buddy bell finds the most effective mix of pitching arms from a myriad of options, this group could surprise a lot of people by winning over 70 games. Realistically, they should finish par for a Buddy Bell coached team with 65 to 68 wins.
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