Catching Up with Former KC Royals IF Elliot Johnson

EB: What kind of goals or expectations did you have going into the 2013 season as you began your KC Royals tenure?

EJ: I felt like we were a playoff team. If we didn’t have that miserable month of May, we had a shot. The bullpen was unreal. Defense was incredible. Good lineup. We needed starting pitching. Shields and Wade brought that to the team, but you can’t win a handful of games or less in a month. Too hard to come back from that deficit.

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EB: So the runs in 2014 and 2015 didn’t come as a surprise to you?

EJ: Of course not! Salvy, Lo Cain and Esky. Those three saved runs every night. And Dyson would plug in and could save runs in CF if Lo Cain needed a day. Salvy is one of the best catchers in the game and Esky turned hits into outs all the time.

Gordo is a machine! Hoz and Moose were still developing and Dayton and Ned were being patient even though many fans and media members were clamoring to have them fired. We were good enough in 2013 just not consistent enough.

2014 it came together and 2015 was the culmination of all their patience and dedication to the process.

Royals fans everywhere can rejoice and be proud to be a fan again!

EB: I know I had been used to some rough seasons.  My youngest son was born in 2014 during the ALCS and I remember thinking he might never see the Royals struggle like I had.