Tennis superstar Maria Sharapova once said, “Well, fans always root for the underdog.”
There is much truth to this statement, particularly in the sports world. In the 2014 season, the Royals played exactly the role of the underdog. No one expected them to make the playoffs, yet alone make a run all the way to the World Series. However, the truth is they did just that. They captivated not only Kansas City, but the entire country. With this said, they now hold the title of American League Champions and are faced with increased expectations to prove last season wasn’t a fluke.
Current Squad
To help silence the doubters, the Royals didn’t stand pat after their miraculous run. In the offseason they added talent, while keeping the majority of their core in place. Here is the projected starters:
C: Salvador Perez
1B: Eric Hosmer
2B: Omar Infante
SS: Alcides Escobar
3B: Mike Moustakas
RF: Alex Rios*
CF: Lorenzo Cain
LF: Alex Gordon
DH: Kendrys Morales*
SP: Yordano Ventura
SP: Jason Vargas
SP: Edinson Volquez*
SP: Danny Duffy
SP: Jeremy Guthrie
Set-Up: Kelvin Herrera
Set-Up: Wade Davis
Closer: Greg Holland
*New Additions
Question Marks Entering 2015
Will Moustakas and Hosmer live up to the hype?
Each year, it seems like Royals’ fans ponder whether these corner infielders will finally meet their potential. While each had another lackluster 2014 season, there are signs of hope, most of which come from the playoff run. During the run to the World Series, the nation saw Hosmer and Moustakas flash that power that made them highly touted prospects.
Can the trio of Holland, Wade Davis, and Kelvin Herrera replicate the dominance from 2014?
A large part of the Royals’ success all season depended on the bullpen’s dominance. Holland (1.44 ERA), Davis (1.00 ERA), and Herrera (1.41 ERA) were arguably the best backend in all of baseball. While the trio looks to be in good shape entering 2015, they will need the starting rotation to eat up some innings to keep them fresh.
Can someone fill James Shields’ role as the ace?
In the two years Shields spent in Kansas City, he not only brought brilliance on the mound, but also leadership, as well as guidance in developing the younger arms. Ventura and Duffy made steady strides last year. They also added Volquez, who was coming off a great season with Pittsburgh. It’s hard to say whether they have a guy who is a lock for 200+ innings, but they seem to have a nice overall staff. Further, on Saturday, they signed former Seattle Mariners starter Chris Young. He will initially work in long relief, but would provide an additional option, in case an injury came about.
Follow Brandon on Twitter @_BrandonOgle
