Kansas City Royals Rewind: The Fans are Right

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It was a tale of two halves last week for the Kansas City Royals. They began the week with a much needed sweep of the Minnesota Twins, and were set to battle for baseball supremacy with the St. Louis Cardinals. Unfortunately, the Royals struggles appeared once more, as the Cardinals won both games before yesterday’s postponed matchup.

The concerns are not just on the offense. The Royals starting rotation is once again beset with injuries, as Yordano Ventura left his start early Friday and Jason Vargas was placed back on the disabled list with another flexor strain. Now, Joe Blanton is forced into a starting role for the Royals.

Despite these concerns with the starting rotation and an offense that is inconsistent at times, the Royals have managed to jump out to a game and a half lead in the American League Central. Likewise, they still have the best record in the American League, once again by that game and a half margin over the Twins and the New York Yankees. That is certainly one of the benefits of the blistering hot start the Royals had over the first month and a half of the year.

Let us go and take a final look back at the week that was, going over which players were hot, and which were not, for the Kansas City Royals.

Next: That jumpstart just has not happened

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3. Alex Rios

When Alex Rios was set to return to the Kansas City Royals, it was expected that he would help jumpstart an offense that had essentially been dormant. After all, with Paulo Orlando and Jarrod Dyson manning right, the Royals had among the worst production in baseball at the position.

Instead, as Rios has returned, the Royals have continued to struggle getting the production they need from the position. Last week, Rios was 1-19, striking out five times. He neither scored nor drove in a run, and just has not looked like the same player that he had been prior to landing on the disabled list.

It could be that his hand is still bothering him. Rios is not driving the ball with the same authority he had been during Spring Training and over the first week of the regular season prior to being hit by that pitch. Maybe it will just take a bit more time, and then the Royals will get back the Alex Rios they had to begin the season.

The Kansas City Royals certainly need Rios to turn things around and break out of his slump. If that can happen, the Royals hot and cold offense could get that boost they desperately need.

Next: Time to pull the plug

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2. Omar Infante

One of the entertaining stories about the Kansas City Royals fans getting out and voting for their players is that Omar Infante could be a starter for the MidSummer Classic. Even though he is statistically the worst second baseman in baseball, his presence could lead to an all Royals starting lineup.

While there would be a great deal of amusement, and overreactions from those who feel that the All-Star Game is a sacred event that should be taken with the seriousness of international arms treaties, the fact remains that Infante should not be in the lineup. His inability to perform at the plate has led to a gigantic black hole in the Royals batting order, essentially giving the opposition a free out more often than not.

Last week, Infante was 1-19, striking out six times. While he managed to score a run that one time he reached, one has to wonder why he is still in the lineup every day. Unfortunately, Christian Colon does not have that same level of trust that Infante has on defense, keeping his bat out of the lineup. Maybe it is time for a trade?

The Kansas City Royals need to get something out of the second base position, and they simply have not all season. Omar Infante certainly deserves credit for trying to play through his bone spur, but at this point, he is hurting the Royals far more than he is helping.

Next: The Royals walking wounded

Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

1. The Royals Health

It has been a rough season overall for the Kansas City Royals on the health front. Greg Holland, Alex Rios and Jason Vargas all missed time, and Vargas is back on the disabled list. Yordano Ventura had to leave his start after three innings because of an issue with his right hand. Danny Duffy is on a rehab assignment, but he also struggled before being shut down.

Even those players who have returned or are pushing through their injuries have struggled. Rios just has not been the same player, and instead of looking like the great signing he was after one week, is starting to be considered a bust. Infante needs to be shut down to have his elbow taken care of. Joe Blanton is in the starting rotation. Joe Blanton!!

Of all of these injuries, the timing of Vargas’ recurrence of his strained flexor tendon could not be worse. He pitched six shutout innings last week, allowing only five hits while striking out two batters. The Royals needed someone to step up in the rotation, and Vargas appeared set to do just that before his injury flared up once again.

The biggest key for the Kansas City Royals could end up being their health this year. After staying remarkably healthy last year, the Royals are seeing the opposite this season.

And not, on to the hot list!

Next: The potential savior of the rotation

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3. Chris Young

One had to figure that Chris Young would not be able to maintain the pace he was on at the start of the season. Then, once he began to struggle, one had to figure that he would right the ship at some point in time.

Young certainly righted the ship this past week. In his start against the Twins, Young put together what could arguably have been his best performance of the season. He pitched 6.1 no hit innings before being removed after Trevor Plouffe‘s triple, the only hit the Twins had all game. Young may not have had his dominant control, as he walked three while striking out two batters, but that performance propelled the Royals into first place.

At this point, Young may be the Royals second most consistent starter behind Edinson Volquez. With Vargas and Duffy on the disabled list, and the ongoing minor injuries that Ventura has dealt with all season, Young may be the pitcher that the Royals need to step up and help solidify their starting rotation.

back when he was initially signed during Spring Training, Chris Young appeared to be nothing more than a depth move for the Kansas City Royals. Now, he may turn out to be the savior of the rotation, at least until the Royals health improves.

Next: The Great Gordon!

Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

1. The Kansas City Royals fanbase

It is not a frequent occurrence when an entire fanbase draws national attention, especially when they are not the subject of an unfortunate incident either on the field or in a parking lot. However, the Kansas City Royals fans have managed to do just that by doing what they are supposed to do – vote for the All-Star Game.

The reason for the ire among baseball is that the Royals currently (at least, until the voting results are announced later today) have seven players starting in the All-Star Game. The two that are not, Alex Rios and Omar Infante, are second in the ballot. Needless to say, some people around baseball are not happy.

Well, too bad. If the fans do not want to see the All Royals All-Star Game, they could vote as well. No one is forcing them not to. Maybe, just maybe, the Royals brand of speed and defense has captured the imagination of the nation, and the fans actually *want* to see the Royals take on the National League.

Maybe it is upsetting to some, but the Kansas City Royals fanbase has done exactly what they need to be doing. Hopefully, this will lead to an all blue MidSummer Classic.

Next: Royals Facing Crossroads to 2015 Season