The Royals will be a playoff team in the next FEW years?

Question

The Rays are living proof that years of having many years of high draft picks pay off eventually. If someone had said last year that the Rays would be a playoff team in 2008, everyone (including myself) would have laughed at the idea. But the Royals have been drafting high for years, and will do it again this year, which is why there is no doubt that they will soon surprise everyone one year and rise up in the AL Central.

If there are any Royals fans out there, continue to root for your team! Don't just root for them when they're doing well - like bandwagon fans that have suddenly shown up in Tampa Bay.

Answer 1

I'm a huge royals fan and I'm afraid it's going to take more than a couple of years.  They really don't have anybody in AAA ball that's ready to come up.

Also, I heard people talking about the Rays before the season, and saying they could make the play offs, so it's not like they came out of no where.

The Royals need to spend some money, and hold on to their talent, they can't let the Johnny Damons, Carlos Beltrans, Jermain Dye's go anymore.

Answer 2

The Royals dont have a starting rotation tho.  Zack Grienke, but who else?

THere bullpen have gotten it together over the last two years and they have themselves a very good closer in Soria.

Their hitting needs to improve as well.

Dejesus. Aviles and Gordon cant do all the lifting.

Answer 3

The Rays had talent already there, but most of their players weren't playing well together. The Royals may have had high draft picks, but many of them haven't had any shot in the majors. Once they do, then you can go on about how good the Royals can be. Another possible reason that they probably won't in the playoffs, is they've been know to traded many of their prospects away in their franchise. Jermaine Dye, Carlos Beltran, and Johnny Damon were some of those players. I'm not saying they won't win, I'm saying the chances are slim.

Answer 4

Lifelong Royals fan (and 11 year season ticket holder) here and a firm believer that Dayton Moore will build a team that will have us in the playoffs by 2011.  I'm hoping for 2010.  We may have a last place team now but any AL Central fan that pays attention to the game knows that the road to the division crown goes through Kansas City.  The Royals have been responsible for crowning the last 3 AL Central Champs by either beating the division leader late in the season to give the 2nd place team the title or by beating the 2nd place team while the first place team is losing and allowing them to hold onto their lead.  The Royals key to success will be staying within reaching distance until the All-Star break and getting rid of the 10,11, 12 (and once as long as 19) game losing streaks.

As far as draft picks, yeah we've had some high ones but they really haven't materialized into good major league players.  A good development system wasn't in place until about 2 years ago.  Things should be looking up - got a couple of quality players in Omaha that'll be ready for the show in year to year and a half.

As far as Bandwagon fans go, I'll be throwing them off with extreme prejudice when the time comes.

Answer 5

I'd say 3 or 4 years and they are a wildcard winner at least. They have a solid core of hitters, so all they need to do is sign a few good starting pitchers in the off season. Once you get to the 9th, Soria is lights-out.

Answer 6

Honestly Modest, I thought this was the year the Royals were going to have a breakout season. I didn't think their rotation was all that bad coming into the season. I'm sure it'll happen eventually. But there's just something about the Royals organization in general that just doesn't seem to gel the players.

I'm afraid also, and it's happened in the past, that should any legit player come out of the Royals organization, as soon as he's eligible for free-agency, he'll want out of there. I mean, not to bash Kansas City or their fans, but it's not exactly the first choice for star major league players.