The clock was ticking.

They did have Tom Gordon and Mark Gubicza and Kevin Appier and Ewing Kauffman set his sights on another big one, but one that Kansas City already knew.

Local Boy Returns

David Cone had gone from Rockhurst High School to the Royals organization.  The third round pick in 1981, he lost 1983 to injury but by 1986, he’d battled back and made his major league debut, making a few appearances before going back to the minors and making it back in September.

The Royals traded him before the 1987 season started (for Ed Hearn – one of the most terrible trades in baseball history) and he went on to have seven strong seasons, accumulating a 3.13 ERA as a Met and finishing third in Cy Young voting in 1988 with a 20-3 record. Before he became a free agent after the 1992 season, the Mets shipped him off to Toronto for Jeff Kent. With a 3.10 ERA, Cone was the prize of the free agent class.

And Ewing Kauffman got him. It took three years and $18 million (half of that as a signing bonus). But with Brett winding down and Kauffman in his final years, the Royals were going for it.

For Cone, it was a chance to return home and exorcise some New York demons. For the Royals it gave them a strong 1-2 punch of Cone and Appier to open the 1993 season, a season that would turn out to be the last for both Brett and Kauffman (who passed away on August 1).

Cone had a notoriously odd year. He pitched great, but hardly got any run support, so despite a 3.33 ERA in 254 innings, he finished 11-14. The Royals, though, improved to 84-78 and had young players in place with Brian McRae in center field, and Bob Hamelin making his debut and they also had great veteran defense on the infield with Greg Gagne, Jose Lind and Wally Joyner. Jeff Montgomery was still among the best relievers in the game and the Royals hoped to keep the momentum going.

Streaks and Strikes

Cone opened his 1994 season with a much better batch of luck. In his first six starts, he had a 5-1 record. And it turns out that was just getting started.

On May 11, 17 and 22, Cone threw three consecutive shutouts, piling up 20 strikeouts and only eight hits in the 27 innings, including a one-hitter on the 22nd. He threw at least five innings in every start in 1994, including 17 where he’d reached at least seven innings.

On July 22, the Royals were 49-47 after a loss. On July 23, Cone took the mound against Detroit and gave up a leadoff single to Tony Phillips and followed that up with a walk to Lou Whitaker. The next hit the Tigers got off of Cone came in the bottom of the sixth with one out. In between, Cone retired 16 batters in a row until another walk to Phillips who went to third on a Whitaker single and scored on a ground out. Cone retired another seven of the next eight batters and finished with eight innings and 12 strikeouts. Jeff Montgomery worked the ninth to seal the win.

The Royals didn’t lose another game until August 6, a stretch of 14 games won by the Royals. At the end of the streak, the Royals stood at 63-47 and were a game behind both Cleveland and Chicago in the new AL Central. During the streak, Cone won three games, throwing 23.1 innings and striking out 21.

Less than a week later, the 1994 season was over following the MLBPA going on strike. The Royals finished 64-51.

Cone’s final line in 1994 was a 16-5 record and a 2.94 ERA in 171.2 innings. He won the Cy Young Award, only the second Kansas City Royal to do so to that point.

And Just Like That

July 1, 2012; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees former pitcher David Cone throws a pitch during the 66th annual Old Timers Day game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

With no owner in place, the Royals were starting to feel the pressure of baseball’s economics. Kauffman had gone after many high-priced players in the past and wasn’t afraid to put some money out to improve the team’s chances of winning, but before the 1995 season, things were starting to change.

On April 5, 1995, the Royals traded Brian McRae to the Cubs.

The next day, the Royals traded Cone to the Blue Jays. After a Cy Young season, and with a salary increasing to $8 million, the Royals couldn’t keep Cone. Despite two good seasons, all they got for him was a pair of minor leaguers and Chris Stynes, who spent two awful years in Kansas City before being traded to the Reds.

Cone went on to be traded once again, this time to the Yankees at the trade deadline. He was a part of three World Series winning teams and on July 18, 1999, he threw a perfect game against the Montreal Expos. He stayed with the Yankees until 2001 when he signed with the Red Sox and, after a year away, made five appearances for the Mets in 2003 before hanging it up at the age of 40.

There are a lot of questions about what might have been if the Royals had kept Cone. Maybe he’d have been enough to get them over the hump in 1989 or maybe they wouldn’t have made the same moves they did in 1990.

Instead, Cone is representative of the tumultuous period when the Royals lost their franchise player, lost their owner, and settled into the small-market, low-payroll ways that still haunt the club today. In 1995, the Royals trade of Cone was the first shot of the first youth movement in Kansas City, and one which is still going on today, even 17 years later. That June, they would draft Carlos Beltran. In August of that year, Johnny Damon made his major league debut.

The Royals have had one winning season since.

It’s a curious move, and some have suggested it’s done to reach the big leagues and push his candidacy for the Hall of Fame back five years in light of the controversy about PEDs and his perjury trial.

But perhaps that’s cynical. Maybe he can still go. He’s always been a competitor.

With his return in mind, I thought about a few Royals pitchers that I’d like to see try to make a comeback. My criteria is simple: how fun would it be to see them back on the mound in Kansas City?

Kevin Appier

Really, who wouldn’t want to see Appier dust off the cleats and take the mound again? He’s the career leader in pitching bWAR as a Royal and one of the most underrated pitchers of the 90s. He never got the win totals to open enough eyes, as evidenced by his 1993 third place finish in Cy Young Voting.

He was a workhorse in his prime but also suffered some arm injuries. There were still flashes of brilliance, though. In a sense, those flashes he showed in 2003 upon returning to the Royals almost work as his “unretirement” phase. I would guess that that slider-slash-”thing” could still get some batters out.

Tim Belcher

I don’t know why, but whenever Tim Belcher pitched against the Royals, I felt like he was a machine sent to beat the Royals. My memory deceives me, however, and I now have the aid of the internet to tell me that my perception then was very wrong. Against the Royals, Belcher made nine starts and carried a 7.41 ERA. My fuzzy memory must be based off of a few outings where he went deep into the game.

I think I just bought into the wily veteran reputation when he signed with Kansas City before 1996 but he did have some of his better seasons with Kansas City, especially among seasons in the twilight of his career. Belcher was the Indians pitching coach until stepping down at the end of last season. Maybe he can use his experience in coaching to make a return. Like Clemens, Belcher is 50 years old.

Jeff Montgomery

Montgomery had some of the best seasons of any reliever in Royals history and in the process made a few All-Star teams. Nowadays, we see him on the Fox Sports Kansas City broadcasts of Royals games, but he could still bring it, I bet.

Monty never relied on gas like a lot of closers. Instead, he used multiple pitches and hit his spots. Those kinds of pitchers can last a long time in the league if they can muster up the guile to keep getting batters out. In a recent Royals television segment, he showed he’s not afraid to challenge a hitter, as he plunked Rex Hudler on the hip (which elicited some cheers from some viewers, I’m sure). He still wants to claim that plate as his.

Bret Saberhagen

He won two Cy Young Awards as a Royal. He was the 1985 World Series MVP. He threw the most recent no-hitter in team history.

After arm troubles, he bounced around the league, but by this point, he’s got to be recovered, right?

Jose Rosado

Just because.

Rosado is one of the great “what-ifs” in Royals history. A two-time All-Star and a lefty with promise, his career was snuffed out due to shoulder injuries that he never recovered from. His issues began right as the Mike Sweeney/Carlos Beltran/Jermaine Dye teams started to develop into run-scoring teams and a solid starter would have helped that group out immensely.

Instead, Rosado’s final game as a big leaguer came as a 25-year-old.

He’s currently just 37 years old. Maybe he could throw right-handed?

David Cone

Cone had such a strange history as a Royals pitcher. Traded for virtually nothing to the Mets, he developed into a star before signing with Kansas City before 1993 with high expectations and much fanfare. He ran into terrible run support that year and despite a 3.33 ERA and 138 ERA+, he finished just 11-14. The following year, of course, he won the Cy Young Award.

Then the Royals traded him to the Blue Jays for virtually nothing in a salary dump, which we can see how was an omen of future salary dumps and traded stars. He later pitched in four World Series for the Yankees.

There are so many more pitchers who’d be fun to see again. Oh, they’ll never do it because, let’s face it, trying to pitch to major league hitters now when you’re 50 years old just isn’t a likely scenario for success. Typically, the batters will tell the pitchers when it’s time to hang them up.

But just in case. Just supposing. On the off chance that a Royals pitcher wanted to come out of retirement and try it again, those are the guys I’d most like to see pull a Clemens.

Let me give you an example.  I was recently looking at the Royals team history page and discovered something interesting.  If you review the column of “Top Players” you’ll see a number of recognizable names of athletes that contributed mightily to the success (or relative success) of each specific season.  You’ll find Alex Gordon, Amos Otis, Bret Saberhagen, Carlos Beltran, David Cone, Johnny Damon, Kevin Appier, Zack Greinke, John Mayberry, Dan Quisenberry, Willie Wilson, Joakim Soria, etc. and of course George Brett – a veritable who’s who of Royal’s history.  You’ll also see Jose Offerman, Mark Teahen and a couple other mild surprises.

This made me think…  What is, or what should be, the definition of the Top or Best player?  Baseball Reference defines the Top Player as the individual with the highest WAR (Wins Against Replacement) rating of any player on the team.  WAR is a tangible analysis that takes both offense and defense into account, but it doesn’t make any attempt to measure leadership or intangibles, and it seems to favor pitchers slightly in my opinion.

5 time All Star Mike Sweeney was never the best player on the Royals according to Baseball Reference (Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE)

Let me give you an example of the lack of leadership skills and intangibles in the WAR calculation.  Remember Mike Sweeney?  There is a lot of mixed opinion about Mike, and deservedly so, yet he put up some dynamite offensive numbers for a few years combined with the ability to hold his own at first base, and he was the undeniable leader of the Royals during his time as Captain.  Yet this 5 time All Star who hit .333 with 144 RBIs, 71 walks, and a league leading 15 HBPs in 2000, and a 2002 season that saw him hit .340, .563 slugging, and 148 OPS+ was never the “Top Player” for the Royals according to Baseball Reference and his WAR rating.  In 2002, that honor went to Paul Byrd.

What do you think of that?  Was Paul Byrd a more important piece of the puzzle for the Royals in 2002 than Mike Sweeney and his .340 batting average? (.340 is 2^nd only to George Brett’s .390 in 1980, and how would you like to have a .340 hitter on the Royals right now?)  In 2002, Paul Byrd was 17-11 with a 3.90 ERA and he led the league with 7 complete games – he was definitely a very valuable pitcher, but I don’t think his performance could be defined as “dominating.”  Paul Byrd appeared in 33 games.  Mike Sweeney played in 126 (less than a full season due to the beginning signs of his many recurring back issues), had the first straight steal of home by a Royal in over 20 years, was named to his 3^rd consecutive All-Star game, led the league in defensive assists by a 1^st baseman – and he was the Captain of the team.  But this wasn’t good enough to be the Royals “Top Player.”

Obviously, my definition of the best player on the team is going to differ from other fans, and from other experts as well.  My subjective definition simply asks, “Who was the player the Royals could least afford to do without?”  In 2002, I believe the answer has to be Mike Sweeney.

Before the 2012 season began, who did you think the Royals’ best player would be this season?  If you’re like most of the rest of us, you may have thought, or at least hoped, it would be Eric Hosmer.  If so, those hopes were dashed weeks ago as we’ve witnessed one of the most dramatic sophomore slumps in recent memory.  A few of you may have predicted Alex Gordon, or maybe Joakim Soria prior to his injury.  Predictions are based on hopes, and as a Royals fan you certainly know that hopes are often dashed.

If you said Billy Butler, you were pretty much on target.  (Although according to WAR rating, Alex Gordon is on top for the second year in a row – I don’t agree in 2012.)  However, I am hesitant to name a DH as the best player citing the same reservations many have for naming a pitcher as MVP.  And unless a Royals pitcher is completely and utterly dominating (see Steve Busby, Dennis Leonard, David Cone, Zach Greinke, or Bret Saberhagen) I have similar misgivings.

For 2013 we have several potential candidates for best player.  I’ll list my nominations below and include the odds that I think I’m right.  And, I’ll also acknowledge that there’s no possible way any reader will agree with me 100%.

Could Mike Moustakas become the best player on the Royals? (Credit: Peter G. Aiken-US PRESSWIRE)

Mike Moustakas:  The improvement Mike has shown from 2011 to 2012 has been nothing short of breathtaking.  He is much more comfortable at the plate this year, and in the field he doesn’t even look like the same player.  I believe Mike’s personality has many leadership qualities and he’s maturing into a presence that will almost certainly make him the best player on the team at some point in his career.  For 2013, I’d say the odds of Mike being the Royals best player, the guy they can least afford to do without, are about 3 to 1.

Eric Hosmer:  Although he hasn’t come close to fulfilling our expectations this year, Hosmer’s potential is so tantalizing that I have to put him near the top of the list.  I believe Eric is just a tweak or two away from “righting the ship” and getting back on track to becoming the offensive powerhouse we all know he can be.  His defense is still solid, but it may take a while for his personality to mature into a true clubhouse big dog.  I’ll put Hosmer’s odds of being the best player in 2013 at 5 to 1.

Alcides Escobar:  If you told me I could only watch one play from each Royals game, I would pick the inevitable web gem that Esky turns in virtually every night.  It is truly a thrill to watch Alcides display his otherworldly defensive skills while protecting the left side of the diamond.  I’ll go out on a limb and say that after watching him for less than two seasons he may not be the absolute best defensive shortstop I’ve ever seen, but I don’t believe I’ve ever seen anyone better than him.  Escober is hitting around .290 at a premium position and I believe the only thing that could potentially limit his ability to be a great club house leader are his English language skills.  Alcides is my dark horse candidate for best player in 2013 and he’s my favorite to watch play in 2012.  I’ll put his odds at 10-1.

Jeff Francoeur:  I believe Jeff is the closest thing the 2012 Royals have to a clubhouse leader and his rocket arm and intangibles are great.  Who’s the guy you see chest bumping his team mates every night and cheering them on with one of the most upbeat personalities in the majors?  It’s Frenchy.  Who else tosses baseballs wrapped in $100 bills and gets into hilarious mock disputes with opposing mascots?  Frenchy’s power numbers are way down this year and his average has dipped, so his on-field performance is not trending in the right direction which makes him a risky wager.  I also wouldn’t bet on Jeff being “da man” in 2013 due to the fact that he may not even play in a Royals uniform.   If he is still wearing Royals blue in 2013, I would put Francoeur’s odds at 15-1.

Wil Myers:  At some point in 2012, no matter how hard the Royals brass try to hold him back, he’ll force his way to Kansas City.  And he may light it up offensively when he arrives, but his defense still needs work and there’s almost no way anyone can be a true clubhouse leader in his first or second year.  Odds 30-1.

Billy Butler:  Great DH, one of the best in baseball.  But as I explained earlier, I just don’t think a DH can be the best player.  If a DH is your best player, then your team is in trouble.  Odds 30-1.

Jake Odorizzi:  See “Wil Myers.”  Odds 50-1.

Alex Gordon:  Gold Glove defensive left fielder who has been a disappointment at the plate this year.  He’s a solid contributor and I want him on my team, but he’s not a vocal clubhouse leader and has little chance to be the best player on the team in my rating system.  In 2013, I’d rate him at 50-1.

There are a few other players who have a shot at being the best player, but all of them have significant question marks either because they may not recover from injuries (Joakim Soria and Danny Duffy), they haven’t played in the majors long enough for us to get a good sense of their performance (Salvador Perez), or because Dayton Moore hasn’t traded for them yet or signed them as a free agent (Zach Greinke – hint, hint…)

And don’t get me started about relief pitchers.  Unless you are Mariano Rivera, Dan Quisenberry, or Joakim Soria in his prime, you can’t even be considered the Top Player on the team.  It would be the same as voting the field goal kicker as the top player on an NFL team – it’s not going to happen.

Could Yuniesky Betancourt be the best player? Haha, just kidding! Almost got you, didn't we? (Credit: John Rieger-US PRESSWIRE)

Yuniesky Betancourt:  I’ll just skip straight to the odds.  10,000,000,000 to 1.  I had to throw him in just for kicks.

The biggest reason we have difficulty selecting the potential top player is because the Royals are so young.  Most of the time I believe that’s a good thing and not a bad thing, but it causes them to be inconsistent as they go through the struggles of figuring out how to succeed in the big leagues, and most of them simply have not matured into the true leaders that they will hopefully one day become.

I still believe that we are two solid starting pitchers away from being a contending team and I’m holding on to hope that we find these hurlers somewhere, either in the farm system, through trades or free agency, before the start of the 2013 season.  When this happens, we’ll find our team playing in October, and this is the time when true clubhouse leadership emerges and performance on the field has a historical impact on your team and your legacy.   When we play in October, that’s when we’ll definitely learn who is the best player on this team.

Is Joakim Soria on the Trade Block? (AP Photo)

You’ve probably heard the news that some teams have inquired about the availability of Joakim Soria.  Most recently, the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox have expressed an interest, there are rumors about the Angels, and there may be others we don’t know about.  It’s obvious the Royals are shopping him around and if you’re like me, you’re both excited and highly concerned about what the Royals might receive in return for him if they pull the trigger on a trade.

While Soria is not yet a candidate for the Hall of Fame, he is arguably one of the top ten Rule 5 draft picks of all-time, he owns career marks of 2.40 ERA / 181 ERA+, 9.7 K/9, 1.043 WHIP (these numbers aren’t from his best season, I’m talking about his entire five year major league career), he averages 37 saves per season, he is a two time All-Star and his name has appeared on Cy Young and MVP ballots.  In other words, he’s pretty stinkin’ good.  Would the Royals seriously consider trading a young, successful pitcher whose best days may still be ahead of him?  Believe it or not, there is precedent for the Royals to do just that. (more…)

Which brings us to 1994.

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