Questions, Possible Answers for the Royals 2015 Season

The Royals finished 89-73 last year, their second winning season in a row. How did they do it?

They became a winning team by having an above average, and under rated, starting rotation. They became a winning team by fielding the best defensive outfield in all of baseball, complimented with a fine shortstop and excellent catcher. They became a winning team by manufacturing runs with their base running. They became a winning team by constructing a devastating bullpen.

The Royals were a winning team, despite not hitting many home runs or getting on base. The Royals were a winning team, despite highly drafted corner infielders playing well below expectations. The Royals were a winning team, despite their generation’s best hitter down sliding for two straight years, and getting very little production from the right field position.

What’s changed for 2015? Let’s start with what has not.

Money in the bank for 2015

You can count on great outfield defense, speed on base paths, and bullpen. See Alex Gordon, Lorenzo Cain, Alcides Escobar, and pretty much everyone in the pen

You can also bank on lousy slugging, OBP, and run scoring.

Questions marks for 2015

The starting rotation.

Hosmer and Moose.

Rios and Morales

Infante and Perez

The season will boil down to these question marks. Will the answer to these questions be marked improvement, or solid decline? Those answers will write 2015’s story.

Infante and Perez-2 starters expected to anchor and stabilize the infield

It just doesn’t feel like Omar Infante can be healthy anymore. Last year was one of his worst, and he looks to be in physical decline. Many are expecting a bounce back year. I am expecting Christian Colon to be starting after the All Star Break. That could end up being a positive, but it’s far from ideal.

Decline

Salvador Perez is the heart and soul of this team. He’s an excellent catcher, but he’s a dreadful hitter. The book is out on how to pitch to Sal. I think his full year at the plate will more closely resemble last year’s second half, even with more rest.

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Decline

Rios and Morales-2 wild cards hoping to resurrect their careers

Alex Rios was real bad last year, and has never been a consistent player. Nori Aoki was under appreciated. Aoki got on base, something the Royals struggle to do. Aoki provided some of the team’s highest quality at bats last September, and was much more important than he has been given credit for. That said, he was a below average MLB starter. Rios will probably be even worse.

Slight Decline

Kendrys Morales was real, real bad last year. The Royals are hoping his season was screwed by his late start and he will have a new chip on his shoulder. I mean, he did hit some home runs a few years ago! Butler’s 2014 was kind of similar to Aoki’s. Overall, it was bad, but he carried the team during a critical stretch with Hosmer on the DL. Even with that much appreciated critical stretch performance, it’s hard to imagine Morales performing even worse than Billy did over the course of a full season. He’s in great shape, and should hit 20 dongs.

Slight Improvement

Hosmer and Moustakas- 2 Wild and Crazy Guys!

I’ll tell you right now. There will be improvement for both. There has to be.

Mike Moustakas was, once again, one of the worst starters in all of baseball last year. His hitting was abysmal and his fielding declined as well. If Moose manages to hit 230 and smack 20 home runs next year, it will be marked improvement. I think he will.

Marked Improvement (but that is not saying much)

Eric Hosmer got hot for about 15 minute last year, and then landed on the DL. He posted a .716 OPS and hit only 9 home runs. He was a homeless man’s Wally Joyner. Hosmer then went on a holy tear in the post season and played like the guy the Royals thought they drafted. Hosmer was solid in 2011 and 2013. I think he’ll enjoy another odd year season and take a big step forward. This will be huge for the Royals.

Marked Improvement (kind of a big deal)

The Starting Rotation-3 MCs and 2 DJs

Jason Vargas and Jeremy Guthrie were very steady, solid starters last year. They are far above average 4^th and 5^th starters. They just need to lay down steady, back of the rotation beats, and hope the top 3 guys step up to the mic. Will they?

Hold

Danny Duffy just needs to stay healthy. If he does, he will eat some of the innings that James Shields had last year. He’s got the stuff. When healthy, he was the second best pitcher in the rotation last year. Problem is, Duffy has never shown the ability to stay healthy.

Hold

Yordano Ventura needs to continue his progression. Last year was a coming out party for Little Pedro. He recovered after the Wild Card Game disaster nicely, having a great post season. The kid stepped up Bret Saberhagen style in game 6 of the World Series. He needs to become an ace and he will.

Marked Improvement

The Pirates best second half pitcher last year was Edinson Volquez. Then he got shelled in the Wild Card game by the Giants. Volquez has always struggled with his control, and is now moving to the American League. It’s harder to pitch here. I think Dave Eiland is a wizard, and could really prove it this season with Edinson. But he won’t.

Decline

That’s 3 declines, 1 slight decline, 2 holds, 1 slight improvement, and 3 marked improvements.

The 2015 Royals talent level is very close to last year’s team, but will play in a much improved division. Baring huge break outs by Hosmer, Volquez, Duffy, and one of the new free agents, it’s hard to see the Royals reaching last year’s 89 wins.

The Royals will finish at 82-80. That will be good for third place in the American League Central, behind Chicago and Detroit.

Next: Tim Collins MRI Reveals Damage, Clouds Brandon Finnegan's Future

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