Kansas City Royals Resolutions For The New Year

The Kansas City Royals need to make some changes for 2017. Here’s some suggested New Year’s Resolutions to help the KC Royals succeed in the upcoming season.

The Kansas City Royals simply didn’t get it done in 2016 with a disappointing 81-81 finish. I know that .500 seemed like an impossible dream only five short years ago. However, I suppose I have become spoiled like every other KC fan over the last four seasons.

I no longer consider it a miracle that the Royals aren’t among the worst teams in baseball. Instead, I expect them to win. Hey, what can I say? Two pennants in a row plus a World Series title in 2015 is going to skew the expectations of the most generous fan base.

Front Office  And Coaching Staff Resolutions

Owner David Glass—promise to expand the payroll cap if the team is in position for another deep post-season run at the trade deadline. Really, it could be quite awhile before the Kansas City Royals can contend for a championship. If the Royals can pull it off next October, they could be remembered as a dynasty.

David Glass can’t afford to miss such an opportunity due to penny pinching.

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General manager Dayton Moore—make sure to pull the plug if his team only has a marginal shot at the playoffs come late July. The Royals can’t afford to chase a dream at the cost of cashing in players in the final year of their deals.

Manager Ned Yost—pledge to give Salvador Perez a rest even if he wants to catch. Oh, yeah, and to find someone else to leadoff besides Alcides Escobar.

Also, promise not to get captivated by toolsy players like Jorge Soler and Raul Mondesi if they don’t produce. Soler will probably hit well enough to DH, but could prove to be a liability in right. Meanwhile, Mondesi has electric tools, but Kansas City can’t afford to carry his weak bat if he doesn’t drastically improve his hitting.

Pitching Coach Dave Eiland—find some way to convince Yordano Ventura to follow through.

Pitcher Resolutions

Yordano Ventura—listen to Dave Eiland. Also, Ventura needs to grow up.

Chris Young—find some way to get back your ghost ball.

Ian Kennedy—continue to do whatever it was that helped you end the barrage of home runs that you gave up in the first half of 2016.

Kelvin Herrera—forget that you’re now the man in the bullpen. Just pitch like you did last season when you unveiled an effective slider. Herrera’s three-pitch mix should help him continue the success he enjoyed while Wade Davis recovered from injury (10 saves with zero blown saves).

Danny Duffy—figure out whatever the hell it was that allowed you to strike out 16 hitters in one eight inning game in 2016.

Position Player Resolutions

Eric Hosmer—do whatever it takes to keep the ball off the ground in 2017

Salvador Perez—actually listen when your manager or the training staff tell you that you need a day off. Working on your plate discipline wouldn’t hurt either.

Billy Burns—peruse etymology texts so that you’ll be prepared to take care of whatever good luck insect the team might adopt in 2017.

Alex Gordon And Mike Moustakas—pledge to stay far, far away from one another.

Whit Merrifield—promise not to start trying to pull the ball after you show up at Spring Training with another bump in your muscle mass. You’re a speed and contact guy that aspires to hit balls in the gap. You’re not Jorge Soler.

Jorge Soler—consider anything coach Rusty Kuntz and teammate Alex Gordon tells you about playing defense as pronouncements from God.

Next: Will A Royals Player Hit More Than 36 Home Runs In 2017?

KC Royals Fans—enjoy the 2017 season without getting caught up in expectations to win. Failing that will rob all the joy from the game.