5 Kansas City Royals
On most days this spring, manager Tony Peña opened a dog-eared copy of John C. Maxwell's Winning With People on his desk at training camp and reread some of the blue-highlighted motivational phrases. A few speak directly to how he wants to treat his players, and Peña read them aloud to a visitor: "Mutual trust ... invest in others ... empower people." In the Royals' clubhouse inspirational messages were everywhere--losers always have an excuse. winners always have an idea read the one above the locker of pitcher Zack Greinke--and for good reason: There was nothing inspiring about Kansas City's 2004 season.
In losing a franchise-worst 104 games--25 more than the year before--the Royals finished 34 games behind AL Central winner Minnesota and 14 games behind fourth-place Detroit. They were a league-worst 30-63 after June 24, the day K.C. dealt All-Star centerfielder Carlos Beltran in a three-team trade with Houston and Oakland that yielded three prospects.
And despite all the optimism in spring training, '05 may not be any better. You can argue that every team in the division improved in the off-season except Kansas City, with its puny $38.5 million payroll. "We do not have too many big-name players here," Peña says, "but we have players motivated to show people they belong in the big leagues."
The Royals' brass believes it has five young players around whom the club can build a winner. Two are homegrown: Greinke, 21, a hard-throwing righthander who is the best prospect K.C. has developed in years, and centerfielder David DeJesus, 25, the leadoff hitter and the team's MVP last year despite playing in only 96 games. Shortstop Angel Berroa, 27, who was the 2003 AL Rookie of the Year before struggling mightily last season, was acquired from Oakland in January 2001. The other two came in the Beltran trade: catcher John Buck, 24, who hit 12 homers in 238 at bats with the Royals last year; and hard-hitting third baseman Mark Teahen, 23, who had been a top prospect in the talent-rich Athletics' farm system.
Those young players aren't going anywhere, says general manager Allard Baird. "I want our fans, mothers and fathers, to know they can buy their child a John Buck T-shirt knowing he's going to be here for the life of that T-shirt," he says.
Six years? Seven years?
"Well, at least five," Baird says, referring to the years before Buck is eligible for free agency. "And I think we'll be able to keep one, maybe two [of the youngsters] longer than that."
The big hit early in camp was Teahen, who hit a combined .301 at Double A Midland and Triple A stops in Sacramento and Omaha last season. On a side field one morning, with former Royals Hall of Famer George Brett throwing batting practice and Negro leagues great Buck O'Neill observing from behind the cage, the 6'3" Teahen sprayed line drives all over the field. After one laser to deep right center, the 93-year-old O'Neill piped up, "The ball just jumps off your bat, kid," and later he said, "Now, that's a good-looking hitter."
Of all the youngsters, though, DeJesus might be the most intriguing. He's a feisty New Jersey guy with the potential to hit 15 to 20 home runs and steal as many bases, and has excellent range and an average arm. Of course he's no Beltran. "If we told our fans we were creating another Beltran with David, it would be a flat-out lie," Baird says. "But he will be a player who will help us win."
Says DeJesus, "I'm working on seeing the ball better at the plate. The thing about major league pitching is, you hardly ever see a straight pitch. The ball's always sinking or tailing." He's showing signs of progress. Leading off against Giants lefty Noah Lowry in one exhibition game, DeJesus took the first two pitches for strikes, then worked the count to 3 and 2. Lowry tried going low and away, and DeJesus slapped the ball hard up the middle for a base hit.
Among other things, Kansas City will need about 190 such at bats from DeJesus to avoid being the division's punching bag again. --P.K.
In Fact
Jimmy Gobble and Darrell May tied for the team lead in wins last year with nine. It was the first time in the franchise's history that no pitcher won 10 or more games.
Enemy Lines
An opposing team's scout sizes up the Royals
THIS TEAM might end up with the fewest wins in the majors this year.... There aren't any impact players in the lineup beyond Mike Sweeney, whose back is fine. If things get real ugly with this club, there are going to be plenty of trade rumors surrounding him, which could be a distraction.... Angel Berroa was awful last year, mainly because he was pressing too much. Offensively it's still unknown what he can give you, but defensively Berroa's hands and feet are among the best in the league.... There's a lot of hype surrounding Mark Teahen, but I'm not sold. He's got a long, slow pull for a swing. He might hit a lot of doubles, but he's not going to hit for much power.... Zack Greinke had a very slow start this spring. I like his stuff, but his command hasn't been great, and he's so thin that his endurance will be an issue. There's no question he's got the stuff to be one of the league's best starters in a few years.... One thing they have is a pretty good closer in Jeremy Affeldt. He was effective last year, and the blisters that bothered him in 2003 haven't been a problem since.
The Lineup
projected roster with 2004 statistics
2004 RECORD
58-104
5th in AL Central
MANAGER
Tony Peña
fourth season with Kansas City
Batting Order
CF DeJesus
2B Gotay
1B Sweeney
RF Stairs
LF Long
DH Harvey
SS Berroa
C Buck
3B Teahen
DAVID DEJESUS
B-T L
PVR 186
BA .287
HR 7
RBI 39
SB 8
TERRENCE LONG [New acquisition]
B-T L
PVR 287
BA .295
HR 3
RBI 28
SB 3
MATT STAIRS
B-T L-R
PVR 198
BA .267
HR 18
RBI 66
SB 1
ANGEL BERROA
B-T R
PVR 168
BA .262
HR 8
RBI 43
SB 14
RUBEN GOTAY
B-T S-R
PVR 268
BA .270
HR 1
RBI 16
SB 0
MARK TEAHEN (R)*
B-T L-R
PVR 194
BA .279
HR 8
RBI 41
SB 0
MIKE SWEENEY
B-T R
PVR 103
BA .287
HR 22
RBI 79
SB 3
JOHN BUCK
B-T R
PVR 184
BA .235
HR 12
RBI 30
SB 1
DESIGNATED HITTER
KEN HARVEY
B-T R
PVR 201
BA .287
HR 13
RBI 55
SB 1
BENCH
TONY GRAFFANINO
B-T R
PVR 344
BA .263
HR 3
RBI 26
SB 10
ELI MARRERO [New acquisition]
B-T R
PVR 230
BA .320
HR 10
RBI 40
SB 4
ROTATION
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PITCHER | PVR | W | L | S | WHIP | ERA | |
LH | Jeremy Affeldt | 103 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 1.61 | 4.95 |
RH | Nate Field | 319 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1.33 | 4.26 |
RH | Mike MacDougal | 247 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2.21 | 5.56 |
New acquisition
(R) Rookie
B-T: Bats-throws
IPS: Innings pitched per start
WHIP: Walks plus hits per inning pitched
*Triple A stats
†2003 stats
PVR: Player Value Ranking (explanation on page 69)
COLOR PHOTO
ED ZURGA/AP
HERE'S THE CATCH
The 6'3" Buck is an imposing presence behind the plate, but he whiffed once every three times at bat.
COLOR PHOTO
ROBERT B. STANTON/WIREIMAGE.COM
Greinke
COLOR PHOTO