Adrift in Kansas City

"Eleven to nothing. The one-oh pitch...fly ball, Motley going back to the track...no outs to go! The Royals have won the 1985 World Series. And they converge on the mound in celebration!" - Denny Matthews

It’s been twenty years since that call last sounded over the airwaves, signifying the victory of the Kansas City Royals in the 1985 World Series.

In the 1970’s, the Royals were one of the most highly respected franchises in baseball, winning three straight division championships from 1976 to 1978 under manager Whitey Herzog.  They won, were profitable, and were able to win in a era of baseball equality.  In 1977, they posted a team-best 100-62 record, but lost the ALCS to the New York Yankees.  They reached the World Series in 1980, losing to the Phillies, but would return to win it in 1985, beating the St. Louis Cardinals in six games.  After that the team remained competitive for many years in the 1990’s until 1995 or so, when the Royals would promptly go into the toilet.  The reason being cited was that because of the rising cost of player salaries and the payroll disparity between major league teams, the Royals were unable to compete.  They could not afford the top talent thanks to the buying binges of the Yankees and Red Sox. 

Hence the advent of what General Manager Allard Baird has referred to as "the plan."  Though the subject of much sarcasm (particularly by many of the Kansas City press), the plan is essentially simple:  Rebuild using the products of the farm system, similar to what Oakland did when they rebuilt.  This sort of plan had often worked well for the Royals in the past, most notably in 1984, when the Royals suddenly had a glut of young pitching stars in Bret Saberhagen, Mark Gubicza, David Cone and Danny Jackson.  Another promising farm crop would mature in the 1990’s with Bo Jackson and Kevin Seitzer.  The new plan for rebuilding the Royals was to be similar to that of the Oakland A’s rebuilding program in the late 1990’s, when Billy Beane became the General Manager.  Draft well, sign the players to long-term contracts, buying out their arbitration years, and perhaps trading them to other contenders for more younger, cheaper talent.  That was the plan.

And the pieces to the puzzle were there.  The Royals had a flourishing farm system at the time, with several good players already in the system.  Players who would become All-Stars, whose names we all know.  Johnny Damon.  Jermaine Dye.  Carlos Beltran.  Mike Sweeney.  Joe Randa.  Mark Quinn.  The only thing that they needed was pitching, something that they could solve in the draft, thanks to high draft picks.

However, the following drafts for the Royals would be terrible.  Some of their first-round picks between 1993 and 2000 included Jeff Granger, Matt Smith, Juan LeBron, Jeff Austin, Dermal Brown, Matt Burch, Kyle Snyder and Mike Stodolka.  Don’t know who these guys are?  They’re all busts.  Some of the players the Royals could have drafted?  Tim Hudson, Zach Duke, Jonathan Papelbon, Kameron Loe, Felix Hernandez, and Brian Anderson, just to name a few.

A bigger problem was that Glass or none of the other minority owners have given the team money to keep their players, as was the trend with larger market teams come calling for free agent talent.  Most of their promising talent that the Royals expected to build around was either allowed to leave via free agency or in terrible trades.  The most recent example was Carlos Beltran, who was dealt for John Buck and a prospect.  Beltran could have been a rock in the Royals lineup, allowing David DeJesus to move to left or right field. 

Baird was adamant on keeping Johnny Damon, seeing him as someone whom the Royals could build the franchise around.  However, he wasn’t given the money to sign him.  Rather than lose him, he traded Damon to Oakland for a pair of middling prospects.   In 2001, when Baird didn’t get the money to sign Jermaine Dye long term, traded him for Neifi Perez, who was a utilityman at best.

And when the Royals do get money, it is spent so poorly.  Recall the 2003 season, when it appeared that the Royals were beginning to make a turnaround.  The Royals had only a $40 million payroll, the second lowest in baseball, but the team began the season 16-3, and would be in first place for much of the year, losing the division only in the last weeks of the season.  Manager Tony Peña was named the American League Manager of the Year.  Many even went so far as to pick the Royals to win their division in 2004 after they added some name players in the free agent market such as Brian Anderson, Juan Gonzalez, Benito Santiago, and others.  All were disappointments and would be gone within the year.  Then there was this off-season, when the Royals opened the purse again and outbid other teams for free agents scuh as Reggie Sanders, Mark Grudzielanek, Doug Mientkiewicz and Scott Elarton.  Of this, only Sanders and Grudzielanek were seen as solid signings.  Now, with rumors that the Royals are shopping around their modest free agents, there are few takers because the Royals have vastly overpaid for them.

Combine this with rushing prospects before they are ready or having them waste away on the bench and it’s no wonder the Royals are terrible.

And as for the rebuilding process?

Only Sweeney remains, with his huge contract and injury troubles have made it virtually impossible for the Royals to be able to trade him.  All of the other promising prospects are gone, to fame and fortune with other teams.  Damon and Dye won World Series rings, although with Boston and Chicago.  Beltran landed a huge money contract in New York.  Randa and Quinn’s careers have been destroyed by injuries and are now in on their last tour of the leagues with the different teams.  The team now averages 31 years old.  Not many of the prospects are playing now, as the talent in the Royals is far down in the system, in the Single A and Double A divisions. 

And the most tragic part is that the Royals have such great fans.  They are devoted, passionate, but not annoying and confrontational like Red Sox fans can be.  They’re great to watch a game with and can talk baseball with the best of them.

But, the fact is that the Royals are terrible.  And it won’t improve any time soon.

And all the while, the echoes from that 1985 World Series win get quieter and quieter.

NOTE:  This was written before the recent surge of Royals themed articles.  I hate you Ken Rosenthal.

 On The Block:  Melvin Mora

We continue our look at the corners by going into the American League.

Why He’s On The Block:  Mora is in the final year of his contract with the Orioles.  He has cut off negotiations on a contract extension with the Orioles until after the season, citing a lack of progress.  Mora is seeking $27 million over three years. The club is offering $24 million over three years with an option for a fourth that could be bought out at $1 million.  It’s likely that Baltimore wouldn’t want to re-sign Mora anyway, because of his age.

Asking Price:  Medium at best.  I remains to be seen if there is interest in Mora for contenders or rich farm system teams.

Negotiable:  Yes.

What He Offers:  Here’s what Mora offers:

·          Plus:  Has good power

·          Plus:  Draws walks

·           Minus:  Is 34 years old.  Approaching his decline stages.

·          Minus: Strikeout Machine

·          Minus:  Average fielder.

He Stay Or Will He Go:  40%-60% on him going, so let’s see where he could end up.

·          Philadelphia Phillies – 35%.   On the surface, this looks like the right fit.  Both sides have expressed some interest (mostly Mora.)  The problem is the price the Orioles are going to demand in return.  I think realistically that the Orioles are going to demand David Bell, a reliever, and a top-pitching prospect to be included.  I would pull the trigger if I were Philly if I could talk down the Orioles into accepting cash in return instead of the prospect. 

·          Pittsburgh Pirates  – 30%.   The Pirates could try and upgrade themselves at third base, in case they feel Joe Randa isn’t the answer at third.  The Pirates have a small excess of starters and could deal Randa and a starter back to the Orioles.  Will it happen?  Hell no.

·          San Diego Padres – 20%.   Vinny Castilla at third is a joke!  The Pads could use an upgrade at third and Mora would reasonably fit the bill.  They may not have many starting pitchers, but they have a reasonably glut of other position players and relievers that they could dip into.

·          Minnesota Twins – 15%.   The Twins are gambling on Tony Batista to resume the form he had in Montreal and Baltimore.  If Batista fails to catch fire, the Twins could make inquiries on Mora.  The problem:  the Twins have always been reluctant to give up their pitching prospects and will balk at taking much of Mora’s salary.