a royals fan in atlanta

Looking Back Part 1

2007-10-29T11:01:00.000-05:00

So this is my personal views on becoming a Royals fan. Next up, a statistical look.

What a fantastic season. I watched a good deal of KC games, but I had the same feeling I get every year as the season ends...I don't feel like I watched enough games. I saw them win, I saw them lose and sometimes I fell asleep before the game ended.

I read about them nearly everyday, and while I didn't keep up with the blog, I definitely kept up with the team.

I talked Royals baseball to friends. I thought about them driving to work(Atlanta traffic can be brutal).

It was weird at first, watching and keeping up with two teams. I felt that if I wasn't watching the Braves I wasn't being a good fan. But as the weeks passed, I found myself watching both teams at the same time.

In April, I was still getting used to following two teams. But by June, it was second nature. The Royals were almost as much a part of me as were the Braves.

It's hard to say more without sounding too cheesy, but the truth is, I am a Royals fan for life. Now all I have to do is keep up with the blog a bit more.

btefan@yahoo.com

A New Start

2007-10-23T10:44:00.000-05:00

What's there to say? I can make excuses...regular hate mail, work(my real job) work(my secondary job(freelance writer) or procrastination. You can pick and you'd be right on all counts.

But here's what you may not know...I watched a lot of Royals baseball. A lot. I watched at least two games a week, and when I wasn't watching I was checking box scores and reading articles.

I became a Royals fan. I am a Royals fan. I should have kept up more and for that I'm sorry. I messed up. Big time. But I'm here to stay as a fan. And I enjoyed talking with you guys and getting your comments.

So here's the deal. Starting tomorrow, Oct. 24, I'll be updating on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Even during the offseason. I want feedback from you regularly, whether it be about how I'm doing or the Royals or both.

Suggest topics. My e-mail is btefan@yahoo.com.

I'll be back tomorrow morning with a summary of my first year watching the Royals. Friday will be a look at the team from a statistical standpoint. Thanks for coming back.

Looking Up?

2007-06-19T12:56:00.000-05:00

Yeah, the Royals are 29-42 and in last place in the division. Only one team in the AL has fewer wins. But they are 7-3 over the last 10 games.

But the truth is, the team has some serious issues. The offense is producing(seven of the last 10 games have seen KC score more than four runs), but the pitching is still shaky.

Last night's victory against the Cardinals showed the team has all the pieces, they just don't show up on the same day.

So far, two and a half months in the season, I'm still excited about the future of the team. I hope ownership gives these guys a chance to grow up a bit and not make any rash decisions regarding coaching.

A long Weekend

2007-05-27T10:13:00.000-05:00

The long weekekend is starting to seem very long for the Royals. Friday and Saturdays games were not pretty in any way. Meche lasted just over four innings on Friday and Bannister had no chance against Seattle's Cha Seung Baek. To say it was a bad start to the weekend is an understatement.

Five hits on Saturday and eight on Friday mean the pitching had to be perfect. Which it wasn't. Not even close. You have to be very good to win two games that you give up a combined 19 runs. The Royals did not look very good.

So now they finish up with the Mariners before heaing home to face Baltimore. KC is not the worst team in baseball, and a strong series against the Orioles will give them some confidence.

So after two big losses, are you worried?

A Short Letter to the Royals

2007-05-27T10:09:00.000-05:00

Dear Royals,
Please do not lose two games by a combined score of 19-3 right after I tell everyone I think the team will be fine. It's just not nice.

Sincerely,

Joe

Good or Bad, or otherwise

2007-05-25T07:33:00.000-05:00

You can't complain too much about 7-3 over the last 10 games. I especially enjoyed Wednesday's game, even though seven runs is a lot to give up. Still, it showed the offensive weapons on the team.

Thursday's game was one that you just look at the box score and move on. When you give up five in the first, it's probably going to be a rough game. It's funny that two games back to back can show two completely different teams. There is a lineup packed with good hitters who have power, but also a team still trying to make it's starting rotation come together.

One game shows a team that can fight and put runs on the board, even if the starter or the bullpen has an off night. The next game played into every stereotype I heard and read about before becoming a fan. The Royals are terrible. They have no pitching. They lose. A lot.

Here in Atlanta, the last two seasons of the Falcons drove me crazy with their big win one week, horrible performance the next. I just wanted them to choose:Be spectacularly good or incredibly horrible. Don't make me wonder which team is going to show up.

After last night's game, I thought that was where the Royals were headed, even after playing so well the last week and a half. This morning though I changed my mind.

This is a team on the rise, one that is learning who it is and what it needs to do to win. There won't be many 2-1 wins, but there will be plenty of 4-3 and 11-7 victories. The Royals are 10th in ERA and are last in hits allowed. Offensively, they are middle of the pack or better, especially in extra base hits(sixth in doubles, first in triples). Their OBP of .330 puts them at seventh in the American League.

Gil Meche is third in the AL in ERA, and Jorge De La Rosa's four wins show he is a good young starter with room to grow. Of course the bullpen is so much better than last year, there's not even a reason to draw a comparison. Even with Octavio Dotel out for a large chunk of the season so far, the bullpen is tied for ninth in the league with saves. Joakim Soria's 10 saves puts him ninth in saves.

This is a team on the way up. They are only three back of the Twins in the division. Sure, the chances of a wild card are slim right now, but this team will be one to build on for next year. For now, they know who they are and so do the fans. It's time they show the rest of baseball.

What I've Learned

2007-05-17T14:02:00.000-05:00

During this time away from blogging I've watched plenty of Royals games, read about them and decided this...I'm a Royals fan for life. Absolutely.

I've cursed caught-looking strikeouts, thrown things during double plays and generally been as angry at them as I've been at other teams I follow. Nothing says love like yelling in frustration.

I've learned that I really like David DeJesus. His .351 OBP isn't too shabby, along with the 31 runs scored.

I've learned Gil Meche should have a stat for how many games heshould have won. He's 3-1, but he could be 7-3. That 1.91 ERA is top notch. He's pitching as well, if not better, than I hoped.

I learned that having one top pitcher isn't enough. OK, that's not something I actually just learned, but it goes with the post. Here in Atlanta the saying used to be, "Spahn and Sain and pray for rain." In KC it's "Meche, now what?"
The Braves are having a similar problem once the rotation gets to the 3, 4 and 5 spots.

I learned I really enjoy watching Royals games. That might sound stupid, but there's something about rooting for a team you're not used to being invested in emotionally. It's great fun. Even when the lose.

I learned that I procrastinate. A lot. Sorry.

I learned that once you order the MLB Extra Innings Package, there is no reason to leave the house between April and September. None.

Finally, I learned that I can't help but thinking I should have know better about Dotel. So far, he and I have pitched in the same number of games.

Now to you: What have you learned so far this season?

What a weird few days

2007-04-24T10:50:00.000-05:00

On Friday we closed on our house. Yesterday we were set up with the MLB package through DirecTV, but in the process they unhooked our internet. The bad news was I couldn't blog at home, but the good news was I finally got to see a Royals game.

Yeah, they lost, but it was wonderful to at last get to see them in action after months of just talking about it. I'm really looking forward to tonight's game. I hate that Meche is pitching decent but still not getting the wins. However, he did give up eight hits, but he didn't walk anyone, and that's always a good sign.

A few quality wins and they'll be back in it. One thing about the MLB package that I really like is that announcers from the teams do the games. Of all the sports, baseball announcers are the best, and they bring such an individual and unique touch to each team.

That's all for now. I'm psyched I'm finally able to watch KC games. Now I'm looking forward to them winning.

Back to Baseball

2007-04-21T14:56:00.000-05:00

What began Thursday evening has finally ended. My wife and I moved into our first home this weekend, which left me without internet and television for a few days. The good news is that I'm back online. The even better news is we should have the baseball package up Monday so I can watch every game. There's a good chance I might not leave the house again until October.

On to the Royals, as I'm writing this they are leading Minnesota 5-4 and on the verge of winning three straight. Teahen and Gordon have both homered and the team is playing really well against a quality division opponent.

Now that I'll be able to watch all the KC games, what type of superstitions do you guys have? How'd they come about?

I'll be back tomorrow to look about at the season so far.

At last!

2007-04-18T14:52:00.000-05:00

The Royals won. They came back from bad throws and a tough opposing pitcher to win. In the interest of full disclosure, Bonderman is on my fantasy team, but I never once wanted him to win. I'm glad to see KC never gave up in what was definitely a very tough game.

Meche pitched a gem, giving up three unearned runs while striking out six in eight innings. He pitched about as well as he could have, and it's bad luck he doesn't get the win.

The bullpen held together and hopefully that part of the team is back on track. It's good to see a win like this after the past week of rough games. So, do you take your finger off the panic button yet? Or is it too early to relax?

A visit to the ER

2007-04-15T09:36:00.000-05:00

Well, Thursday night I started feeling pretty rotten. I doubt the combination of a Braves loss and a Thrashers loss within a few hours had anything to do with it. Less than 24 hours later I was in the hospital with what the doctors believed was appendicitis.

I went home later that night with no idea what was causing my pains. So that's the reason for the lack of updates. I'll be heading to the doctor later this week for followups. Hopefully they can tell me why Dotel is still out with an oblique strain and when he'll return.

Since Thursday the Royals have continued to lose. A lot. Three straight to Baltimore with no real hint of offense. They have to win today. I don't like saying there are must-win games in April, but a five game slide is unacceptable.

I'll be able to watch Royals games starting on April 23. So, what have you seen as the big problems so far for the team during this bad streak?

3-6...

2007-04-12T07:53:00.000-05:00

So, the Royals are 3-6. Losing three straight didn't help. But Zack Greinke is pitching well with a 1-1 record and a 1.38 ERA. Four of the losses came when KC scored less than three runs, so the hitting is a bit streaky at the moment. Sure, they played two tough teams in the first nine games, but the Royals need to win a series. Soon.

That said, I'm still trying to stay optimistic. Two of the losses were by a run and and two more were by only three runs.

If they can take three of four from Baltimore starting tonight, that should give the team a good shot of confidence.

I'll be back tonight after the game. Catch me on Yahoo Messenger as btefan if you feel like venting.

Meche's Second Game

2007-04-07T23:28:00.000-05:00

Today's game was probably more like Gil Meche's career averages and less like his Royals debut. He struck out four, walked two and gave up eight hits over seven innings in a 6-5 loss to the Tigers.

Perhaps more disturbing were the four home runs. Still, the team wasn't blown out and managed to come back from a 4-1 deficit to tie up the game before it slipped away.

On the plus side, KC is 2-3 and has played well in all but one of those games.
Esteban German and Reggie Sanders both had strong games. On the flip side, Mike Sweeney is batting .133 and went 0-for-4 on the day.

Jeremy Bonderman will finish off the series against the Royals in a game I would love to see them win just to get back to .500. There's no reason to panic yet, but a few more days of good, solid pitching would be nice.

Overall, after five games the team is playing hard and giving themselves a chance to win. I think it will come down to starting pitching.

So far...

2007-04-07T08:27:00.000-05:00

Well, after losing two of three to the Red Sox, KC showed promise last night with a victory over Detroit. It was a big game in that it restored confidence after a couple of tough losses.

Remember Angel Berroa? Yeah, me neither. Tony Pena Jr. keeps looking better and better. As for the pitching, you have to love seeing Jorge De La Rosa pitch a strong game, walking three and striking out five. I was especially glad to see David Riske get the save and stepping in for the Octavio Dotel.

Overall, the team looks to be on the right track.

So, what do you think of the first four games?

I'll be back tonight after the game. Catch me on Google Talk as schulmanwriter or yahoo messenger as btefan.

Chat Update

2007-04-04T19:56:00.000-05:00

Well, Yahoo isn't allowing user created rooms as of just a few hours ago. So I'll be in MLB:2 until 10 if you want to stop in. I'm logged in as btefan.

Chat Reminder

2007-04-04T19:36:00.000-05:00

The chat room is titled Royals Fans under Yahoo! Messenger under Recreation and Sports. We'll be talking about tonight's game and the rest of the season.

Chat Tonight!

2007-04-04T13:16:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the short notice, but I'll have a chat room set up tonight on Yahoo! beginning at 9 p.m. eastern time. The room will be called Royals Fans. You'll need to be logged into Yahoo! messenger to use the chat room. Send me an e-mail or invite me as a buddy if you can't find the room. I'll be signed in under my Yahoo! account, btefan. If you have any problems, shoot me an e-mail to btefan@yahoo.com.

Go Royals.

Nothing but good news

2007-04-02T22:41:00.000-05:00

What an Opening Day. The Royals took care of business, thanks to their new additions Gil Meche and Tony Pena. That's not saying they were the only reasons the team won 7-1, but it's great to see the new guys contributing immediately.

There were plenty of top performances that can be found with just a quick glance of the box score. As for the underachievers, it is only one game. There's always tomorrow. That's the thing about baseball, you can't put too much stock in one game...

That being said...Woohoo!! What a game! They sure gave us fans a show! I'm sure the team won't spend their off day celebrating their first win of the season, so they'll have to excuse the rest of us for doing just that.

It's been a long day, but I'll be back later tomorrow with information on the Wednesday night chat. So, what did you think of the first game? Highlights? Lowlights? Any worries?

Back Soon

2007-04-02T16:46:00.000-05:00

Off to a family function. Back later tonight with a recap and reactions to the game. Leave your thoughts about the game either in the comments or on the message board.

Royals-Red Sox Top 4

2007-04-02T16:18:00.000-05:00

Meche is still rolling. Three K's in just over three innings. However, he just gave up a hit to JD Drew with one out. I'd be interested to see KC take a lead into the late innings just to see how the new bullpen does especially with Dotel's injury.

Teahen is having quite the first day. So far he's 2-3 with an RBI. New Royal Pena Jr. is playing well also, scoring two runs.

Bos:1, KC:5 End of 4th Inning

Royals Opening Day

2007-04-02T16:02:00.000-05:00

End of 2nd Inning:
You can't complain with a 2-1 lead against Boston. Sure Meche has given up three hits, but he has struck out two.

By the way, I'm on Google Talk right now as schulman writer.

Opening Day

2007-04-02T10:42:00.000-05:00

Finally. It's about mid-December when I always feel like baseball season is never going to arrive. Before you know it, pitchers and catchers are reporting. Spring training opens and...Baseball is here.

The good news for the Royals is of course the season starts today against Boston. We'll get to see finally what Gil Meche can do and see in a few days just how good is Dice-K.

The bad news is Octavio Dotel is a bit banged up. A strained oblique isn't the end of the world, but it's an injury that could nag him later if it doesn't heal completely. Congratulations to Scagnetti for calling the injury.

We'll be having a chat later this week, most likely Wednesday. Details will be up tomorrow. My wife and I are moving to a new house at the end of the month and our cable company doesn't have the baseball package. We'll be getting satellite a few days after we move so we can catch the Royals games, but I won't be able to watch them until that time. For now I'll be watching them online. Thanks a lot Comcast.

I'll be blogging the game in real-time today for the first hour before I have to head out. I'll be back late tonight to talk about the game.

It should be a good season...

Predictions and a Chat

2007-03-28T08:49:00.000-05:00

The season's finally here so it's time for everybody's predictions. Throw in your predictions for the questions below in the comments section.

1. Record of the Royals
2. Rank the teams in the division
3. How many games does Meche win?
4. Are you taking the over or under in the blown saves by the Royals? We'll set the number at 18.

My predictions:
1. Royals 73-89
2. Tigers, Indians, Twins, Royals, White Sox.
3. Meche will win 13.
4. I'm taking the under.

Now your turn. By the way, we'll be having our first chat of the season a week from today. I'll have more details later in the week. Until then, if you want to chat during the day, I'm on Google Talk as schulmanwriter.

Correction...and a Quick Hit

2007-03-27T10:55:00.000-05:00

So Teahen is listed at LF on some sites, RF on others. A reader said he's going to be in RF, so I'll defer to him.

Matsuzaka pitched five hitless innings in his last full start before the season. Any early predictions for the new Red Sox pitcher?

What a day

2007-03-27T10:09:00.000-05:00

So disregard that Teahen at 3b remark. Sigh. He's at LF, which is near third I guess. Sorry about that. Either way, I'm looking to him to have a breakout year. It's been that type of day so far. I'm trying to read as much as I can about all the teams and spring training while at the same time do everything else I normally do during the day(wake up, work, deal with our new cat).

Quick Hits

2007-03-27T08:49:00.000-05:00

Just a few things before I put up a longer post later today.
First off, if you have Gmail and Google Talk set up, I'm usually online during the day as schulmanwriter, just send me an invite.

Also, the more I look at 3B for the Royals, the happier I get. I really think Mark Teahen is going to continue to improve. I think he's going to be a cornerstone(no pun intended) for the team. I drafted him on my fantasy team, and I'm confident he'll be a good backup, maybe a starter later in the season.

That's all for now. Catch me on Google Talk today if you have a free minute. I'll be back later for more thoughts on spring training.

Angel and Tony

2007-03-26T13:49:00.000-05:00

Spring Training can be a confusing time for players and fans. Players are waiting to see who makes the team and fans are trying to figure out how the season looks based on a bunch of meaningless games. It's a tough time for everybody. I try not to read too much into spring games, but sometimes it's tough not to think the best(or worst).

Watching a former Rookie of the Year be sent down can put a damper on a season before it even starts, if management isn't careful. But sending Angel Berroa down is definitely for the best. He just wasn't producing given the time he has had in the majors and the money($8.5 million guaranteed).

As for Tony Pena, it's hard to get excited about the guy. I've always liked him, but he never was able to find his spot in Atlanta, given that he was playing behind guys like Rafael Furcal and Edgar Renteria. I doubt he'll develop into anything other than a stopgap until the Royals find someone else to play shortstop who has more tools at the plate than Pena.

I still like the team going into the start of the season, even if it still has a few holes.

On a side note for those who play fantasy baseball, where did Gil Meche go in your draft? Is your league AL-only or mixed league. In my mixed league Meche wasn't even selected. In fantasy terms, that's not surprising, but it's tough as a fan to see the number one starter on your team not get drafted. I guess it shows the confidence, or lack thereof, other fans have in him.

Be back later with a look back at spring training. I'm signing up for the baseball digital package this week, so I'll be able to catch all the Royals game.

A Buyer's Market

2007-03-19T11:01:00.000-05:00

It's been quite a spring so far. I always love spring training for the first few weeks but then I start to get a bit antsy. By St. Patrick's Day, I'm ready for the games to start counting. You can only practice and scout so much. Eventually you just have to strap on batting gloves and make that long walk to the batter's box.

This past week has been crazy. I had big changes at my job and my wife and I started house hunting. There's nothing so disheartening as looking at loads of houses and saying, "Nope, we can't afford that either."

That's what it must be like to be a general manager of a small market team. CT on the message boards wondered how do you defend the team to a bunch of teenagers when all they ever see is the team finish at the bottom of the division. The answer is easy.

You don't. Not in the same way a Yankees fan defends his team(not all the players are overpaid and over the hill). Instead, you show them everything on this blog and all over the fan sites for the team. People are excited. Sure the team's track record the last few years hasn't been great, but fans are looking forward to April.

It's tough being a kid and the fan of a really bad team. I was there for the late 80's of the Braves when the team couldn't draw a crowd if they gave away tickets. True story:Ted Turner drove a chariot led by ostriches at one game. Those were the things they tried to bring in fans.

I don't think there's much that has to be done this year to bring fans to the ballpark. By May, they'll know what this team is made of.

Question now: Minor league teams are infamous for doing creative marketing. What are some of the best ideas you've seen for bringing fans to the stadium?

So much for positive thinking

2007-03-08T12:09:00.000-05:00

There are so many good vibes coming from the Royals and their fans, I figure it's time to look at the other side of things. After all, that's what us fans do: We see a glass that's half full and promptly knock it off the counter. Today's the day to vent about anything and everything that worries you about the team.

So here we go. Let's start with the questions first: What do you see as the team's biggest weakness? Can they really compete in such a stout division? Sure the pitching improved, but aren't you at least a little worried about the hitting?

I don't want comments defending the team. I want to hear the worst case scenarios and what really worries you.

First, I think the team's biggest weakness is going to be that division. Every team in the central is going to be good. The ChiSox, Twins and Tigers all have good pitching, and the Indians are looking to finally capitalize on all the young talent on their team. In 162 games, those against the division are going to be important, and they are also going to be really rough.

Also, I'm not sure about the hitting. It's good, but if you're an opposing pitcher, name two guys on this Royals team you just fear when they step in the batter's box. Sure the Royals are looking good on offense, but there's no real BIG threat.

As for starting pitching, we're pinning our hopes to Gil Meche. Let that sink in. Gil Meche. The back of the rotation is pretty shaky. Odalis Perez has yet to win 10(or even 8) games in a single season. Zack Greinke has plenty of hype, but little yet to show for it. Luke Hudson is listed as the number three starter. Other than Meche, any of those names spell confidence for you?

What if this team has a tough April? Can it rebound? With so much money spent in the offseason, will there be any left over for trades and pickups during the season?

There ya go. A completely negative post about the Royals and the 2007 season. So what are your worries now? Don't leave anything on the table. If you have a concern, now's the time to voice it, because this will be the last negative post until the team actually starts showing some problems in April.

Meche's Debut

2007-03-02T23:10:00.000-05:00

New KC starter Gil Meche pitched a solid three innings today against the Texas Rangers, giving up two hits, a walk and striking out one batter. It was a good start, but spring training games mean next to nothing. Still, when you pay that much money, it's good to see positive signs.

Also nice to see Ryan Shealy go deep, something that could happen regularly during the season. It's hard not to read much into spring training games. When you go without baseball for four months, it's difficult not to overanalyze every little stat.

The Royals and Rangers meet again tomorrow.

So, with spring training games now here, what are you looking for in the box scores? What don't you care about(other than the win-lose record)?

Time for Predictions

2007-02-27T09:17:00.000-05:00

Every year in every sport, fans have to look at two questions when it comes to their teams. First, what they hope happens, and second, what they think will happen. Sometimes, the two are pretty close to the same answer. Most times, however, the answers are pretty far apart.

I've been looking over the central and the Royals quite a bit, and I've got my own answers now for both questions.

First, what I hope happens. The obvious answer would be a World Series sweep. But that's not realistic. I hope the team makes incredible strides over last year. I hope the pitching becomes a reasonable force to be reckoned with as the season progresses. I hope the team gives fans a reason to be excited about the future.

As for the second part, that's a bit more complicated. I think this is a team that can be exciting and fun to watch, but will win about 75-80 games. I think the best test will be against their division opponents. Good games against the Twins, Tigers and White Sox will be important, even if the Royals come out on the losing end of the majority of those games. For now, close will count.

However, I don't think the pitching is there yet to stay competitive with those teams. Not yet, but soon. I think they'll give the top teams a good run most days, but they'll fall short in the long run.

If any of this sounds too pessimistic, think about this: the owners have done a fantastic job building a team of the future. Most fans couldn't be more excited about how this team has been put together. But it will take time.

Overall, I hope the team is in the hunt for the wildcard, but I think they'll finish fourth in the division. Not bad for a team on it's way up.

Now to you: Hopes for the season and what you think will happen. Is the pitching on par with the rest of the AL? Are you worried about the lack of any improvement in hitting or do you think last year's strong offense will continue to get better? Where do they finish in the division?

Frustration is Universal

2007-02-22T12:03:00.000-05:00

So a few of you have talked about the fear that Angel Berroa will continue to not draw walks. It's funny that perhaps the biggest frustration for the Braves in the last 10 years was the frustration of watching Andruw Jones swing at bad pitches and later seeing Jeff Francoeur do the same thing.

In all of baseball, watching a top player fail to draw a walk has got to be most frustrating aspect of the sport. I can handle a pitcher throwing like it's batting practice. I can deal with a hitter going through a cold streak. But watching a top-tier slugger swing at balls a foot out of the strike zone is maddening.

I'll never forget Jones finally drawing a walk against the New York Mets in the 1999 playoffs. It seemed like he had finally gone from "Swing for the Fences" to "Swing at pitches only in the strike zone." Francoeur is getting on that path. Here's to hoping Berroa does the same.

This year will probably be Jones' last here in Atlanta. Over the years he has been seen as a superstar everywhere but here in Atlanta. Often, the talk has been of him never measuring up to his potential. It was always weird hearing the national media treat him so well while local radio ripped him for being streaky or not being the team leader.

I've been reading everything I can on the Royals in the last few weeks. But like the Jones case, I'm sure there are similar incidents in KC where the national media and the local guys don't agree.

Here's the question for today: Give me one thing about being a Royals fan that those outside the fanbase might not know. I'm not looking for statistics. I'll give you one more Atlanta example. While almost all Braves fan feel John Schuerholz is fantastic general manager, we can't stand how he sometimes acts like every move he makes is the perfect move.

Questions, questions

2007-02-20T16:23:00.000-05:00

OK. So I definitely need to step up. I won't make excuses except that I try not to blog while I'm at my regular job and that's make finding time difficult. Instead, let's just jump on in.

One of the things about being a fan is that you never give up on your team. Ever. For instance, the Atlanta Thrashers are in a tailspin the likes of which the NHL hasn't seen in years. Yet, I still watch them. The Falcons spent the last two seasons taking winning records at the halfway point and wasted them away by missing the playoffs. After the season ended, I couldn't help but think I was glad it was several months before they would step on the field again because I didn't think I would be able to take more disappointment.
The Braves have been pretty consistent at winning and of course blowing it in the playoffs. Last year I was understanding of the failure to make the playoffs. I imagine this year I'll be more upset, but not with the players. Management, specifically the old and new owners, are causing my apathy. I've heard talk that a lot of fans won't be spending money to go to as many games this year since the product on the field will not be as good as previous years.
All of this brings me to my questions for today: First, have you ever thought about giving up on your team? Also, what is the worst moment in Royals history for you and why? It doesn't have to be a big game. For me, I'll never forget the Braves blowing a nine run lead to the St. Louis Cardinals.

On to the Royals...Spring Training is here at last. Back in November it seemed like this would never come. I've got to say, I think it's going to be quite a season, no matter who you root for in baseball. The Royals are going to be interesting, and I think there will be more to cheer about this season.

That being said: What's the biggest concern going into ST? What do you hope to see by the time the regular season arrives. I would love to see the starting rotation gel and I'm hoping the arms are ready for what is going to be a very competitive central division. I think the hitting will be fine, but I'm curious to see who comes out of camp with the best bats.

Why read this?

2007-02-05T23:15:00.000-05:00

I started this blog a few months ago for two reasons: One selfish, one not so selfish. First, the unselfish. I'm a baseball fan just like everyone else. I eat, sleep and breathe the sport. There's no such thing as the off season. To me, it's just days without games. I read everything on baseball I can find. I talk to my friends about it for hours at a time.

I've never said I was an expert on the sport. Not in the sense that you'll see me on ESPN touting the next big rookie or picking which team will definitely tear through the playoffs. No, I'm an expert the way every fan is an expert. We bring passion and opinion to our discussion and swear we're right. Even when we may be exceptionally wrong.

So this blog isn't just a place for me to write whatever I'm thinking about the Royals. It's a place for me to offer an opinion and others to agree, disagree or bring up something else. If this was a community site, there wouldn't be a place to leave comments or a message board. I want this to be a place for all Royals fans, young ones, old ones, new ones and veteran ones.

That's the unselfish bit. Now the selfish part. Truth is, that question that ends every post isn't there just to spark discussion. It's there because like everyone else here, I want to talk baseball, and that means hearing what others have to say. As CT put it on the message board, "I'll talk Royals with anyone. Just give me an excuse."

All of this leads me to the main topic on being a fan. Part of that is knowing when to say you were wrong. As fans we like to think of ourselves as always knowing what's best for a team, more than the GM, owner and manager.

There's been plenty of second guessing some of the moves the Royals have made and not made so far this off season. I asked in my previous post about the best and worst signings by the Royals. Juan Gonzalez came up plenty, as did Jose Lima. We all know how both guys had careers that peaked and then crashed.

Looking back, neither player looked like a good signing going into their seasons with the Royals(Lima the second time around). But that's baseball. Hopefully moves like that won't be made anymore. To come full circle on all this I have a question for the fantasy baseball players out there.

As baseball fans we always act like we know more than management. Now that we went over the Royals and their worst signings, what are the worst trades, drops or signings you ever made with your own team? You can send as many as you want. I'll rank the worst ones in my next post. To get you started, I dropped Jeff Francoeur last year when he had three home runs and a .188 batting average. He finished with 29 HR, .260 BA and 103 RBI. There are plenty more where that came from.

So what are your worst trades and signings? Did it cost you a title?

Finally!

2007-02-03T08:58:00.000-05:00

Sorry it's been so long. Now that the season is right around the corner, I'll be posting every other day. Tomorrow is of course the Super Bowl, and I was looking at the way the Indianapolis Colts have built their team over the years compared to how my Atlanta Falcons have managed to waste draft picks and free agents.

As the Colts solidified their offense, the Falcons continued to go for quick fixes that never panned out. Each year the Colts have been in the thick of things while Atlanta has fought to finish at .500. The difference has been the management's perspective of the team's needs. The Colts saw their team as needing simple patches that could take a year or two to mature into starters, while Atlanta grabbed every wide receiver available and hoped they could catch a pass. They couldn't.

The Royals have been very active this offseason, but that doesn't always mean the team will be better. Remember when the Mets signed Mo Vaughn? Or look at Toronto last year and the numerous free agents and moves made by the team. They still fell short of the Yankees and barely finished ahead of the Red Sox. They spent loads of money and watched the playoffs from home. Again.

I've been looking over the KC moves quite a bit the last few days. Now that the knee-jerk reaction is gone, it's clear that these moves are going to make the team better not just in the short run, but in the long haul as well.

A lot of this has been said before here, but my point is this: go back and look at the two teams in the finals of every sport, including baseball. Almost all of them built their teams over a period of years to get them to the championship. There were no quick fixes or overnight changes.

What Dayton Moore has done has set this team up to be like the Detroit Tigers or the St. Louis Cardinals. I think it's safe to say we won't see another rebuilding year in Kansas City. From here on out, there will only be Building years.

In a sort of ironic twist, the Royals are heading up for the first time in years while the Atlanta Braves are heading down. For the Braves, this year is not a building year, but a rebuilding one. Instead of trying to move forward like the KC, the team is trying to just stay in the mix while cutting payroll and promoting minor leaguers.

That's the difference between this year and the last several for the Royals and why there is so much hope for the team. They're not only making moves, but the ones being made are setting the team and the fans up for several years of competitive baseball.

My question now to you: This can be for the Royals or another team, but what is the worst signing ever for a team you follow? Also, what signing were you completely wrong about? I'll fess up in my column Monday.

Why McGwire should be in, and why Bonds shouldn't

2007-01-13T22:26:00.000-05:00

Mark McGwire should be in the Hall. Barry Bonds shouldn't. Here's my reasons why:

First, in 1998, when we were ALL cheering McGwire, we also had a suspicion of steroids. But we didn't care that year. Not a single one of us said a word. Now nine years later all those supporters are mad. You can't have it both ways.

Second, steroids weren't illegal in baseball in 98 or any other year McGwire played. Yes, they were illegal in the U.S., but so is punching someone and yet boxers are being hauled off to jail after every match.

For the record, I believe McGwire used steroids. But it wasn't illegal at the time. You can't penalize him for doing something that so many others were doing at the time.

As for Bonds, I'll take my feelings for him out of the equation. Like McGwire, he wasn't cheating if he used steroids prior to them being illegal. But the minute he used them illegally, he lost any chance at the hall. There's enough proof(leaked from grand jury) to show he used them. Throw in the amphetamines, and you have enough reason to keep him out.

Baseball brought this on itself. I won't cheer Bonds if he breaks Hank Aaron's record. The fact that he allegedly blamed a teammate for the amphetamines is downright despicable. But that has nothing to do with the hall. Looking just at their records(steroids and all) McGwire played fair, whatever that meant at the time. Bonds did not.

I'd love to hear what you guys think.

Off to Cooperstown

2007-01-11T09:47:00.000-05:00

Since I started this blog about a month ago, I've had several people ask whether I'm going to get to a KC game.

The answer right now is no, and you can blame my wife.
See, she's a huge baseball fan and grew up in Baltimore watching Cal Ripken Jr. Since we started dating two years ago we have been planning our trip to Cooperstown to see him get inducted.

Well, he was voted in this week and we already have our hotel booked. The truth is, we want to do both trips. Unfortunately, as it stands, the trip to NY is going to be expensive and we don't think we can do both.

That's the bad news. The good news is I'm not leaving the Royals after a year. I became a fan and I will always be a fan. We've already been talking about next year heading up to Kansas City for at least one game.

When I started this blog, I always planned on going to a Royals game. I think you have to go. But my wife comes first and this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Things can change and there's always a chance a KC trip is in the cards for this year. But we'll have to see.

Now a question for everyone: Have you been to an induction at Cooperstown? Any words of advice?

Back to Ripken now. How could he not be unanimous? Same with Tony Gwynn. The two did everything asked of them in their careers. I won't go through the numbers because they're pretty well known, but I just don't see a reason not to vote for either guy. Any ideas?

On to the Royals. I just keep more and more excited about the season. I'm not predicting playoffs or anything, but I think we're going to see an excited team with plenty of support from the fans. I see them mimicking the recent success of the Tigers where they build and build until they take the league by storm.

I think most fans I've talked to feel this is a building process and the team is going about things the right way: One step at a time until the team reaches the top. Having a stable, strong team for many years is better than producing only for a single year and then falling back into the cellar.

One last question for the day: What do you think of Mark McGwire's poor showing in the HOF voting? I'll post about it more tomorrow, but I want to hear from you guys too.

New Year, New Talk

2007-01-05T07:29:00.000-05:00

I'm still new as a Royals fan, so I'm not sure this applies to the KC management. But if I was a betting man, I'd say just about every fan for for every team has dealt with one of my biggest pet peeves in sports. It's what I call spit talk.

As fans, we live and die(mostly die) by how our team performs. So when that team does poorly or a bad trade is made, hurts. But what hurts more is the response from managers and coaches. Instead of owning up to a major screw-up or disaster, we get the sugar-coated, not as bad as it looks speech.

But that's not what we want. Don't spit in my hand and tell me it's just the rain. We want to hear the truth. Or at least how the owners, general managers and managers really feel.

I bring this up because as a longtime Braves fan, I've dealt with this often. Whether it be at the end of a short playoff run or after a free agent signing that was far from spectacular, we get a "we'll try harder next year" or "this guy will really be an addition."

Look, I know you can't badmouth a new player and you can't rip a team apart when the wheels come off in the seventh inning. I'm not asking for that. What I want is feeling. Emotions.

It's why I don't always mind when a pitcher hauls off and punches a water cooler. Good for him. At least I know he's mad about losing. That's why fans love Tommy Lasorda. His rants on guys like Dave Kingman are epic.

I'm not saying that every executive and coach in sports should always speak their mind. Not by a long shot. I just want them to ocassionally let us know how they really feel. Good or bad. When a big free agent arrives, smile and show some excitement.

Sports are about emotions. It'd be nice if we'd see it from someone other than the people who buy tickets.

So my question now is actually two parts: Are you getting the feeling Royals execs are excited about the upcoming season? What's the best show of emotion you've seen by an executive, coach or player?

Looking Back

2006-12-27T08:28:00.000-05:00

Hope everyone had a great holiday. Today's the day I start looking to next year's fantasy baseball draft. Looking ahead means looking back at last year. What went right, what went wrong and what I didn't even think about at all during the season. I figured I could use that same formula today and look back at last year's Royals from two different perspectives.

First off, I'm more than just a Braves fan. I'm a baseball fanatic. I watch any game I can, no matter how good or bad the teams. It's one of the things I love about the sport. Every night you can get your fix. I always hate Mondays during the season when there are only a handful of games. I know the players need a travel day and all, but it's rough for us fans.

So last year, I knew almost nothing about the Royals. That's the sad truth. I saw their name in the standings, but that's about it. As the season wore on, I read just bits about the team, because the way I saw it, they were far from contending for anything.

That changed in the late part of the season when I started putting together the idea for this blog. But even then, the Royals were only a footnote to my everyday scouring of box scores and wild card standings. As bad as it sounds, I think it's the problem with so many fans.

We end up caring about our team and their division and that's about it. Sure, we watch other games, but how many of us are guilty of turning off a Rockies/Pirates game because we just don't care? I know I'm guilty. I said I would watch any game, but sometimes they just aren't interesting.

One of my goals this year is not to watch more games or more teams, but to know what's going on with more teams. I'm sure there were plenty of good games and great plays by KC players and guys on teams like the Nationals or the Pirates.

By the end of last season, I had started taking an interest in the Royals, but it was much too late to mean anything in the context of 2006. Now it's almost 2007 and I no longer tell people I'm just a Braves fan. I'm a Royals fan too.

I'm already looking forward to '07. They may not make the playoffs, but it should be the best season in years.

My question to you is: What did I miss from last year? Memorable plays? Great pitching duels? Offensive explosions?

Also, what do you think will be the players or games we'll be looking back on next year?

Monday Feature

2006-12-18T15:17:00.000-05:00

So first things first, I want to say something about the Meche-Matsuzaka comparison.
I didn’t forget about the money spent by the Red Sox to just talk with Matsuzaka. I thought I could make the comparison strictly on what each pitcher is being paid. Looking back, I can’t tell if it was the right decision, but the comments from you guys say the signing money makes the comparison difficult.

But that’s what this blog is, a forum for Royals fans, not just my opinion. I still think Meche will be OK, but he'll have to have a great season to be worth $55 million. As for Matsuzaka, he'll need a Cy Young caliber season to prove he deserved more than $100 million total the Red Sox are paying him.

On to today’s feature. There’s a great scene in “Bull Durham” where the manager simplifies baseball into just hitting, catching and throwing. I think being a fan for any team can also be simplified into just a few words.

For us in Atlanta, those words would be, “Disappointing. Here come the playoffs. There go the playoffs.”

Now that I'm also a Royals fan too, I was curious how you guys felt about your team in 10 words or less. Here are some of the best ones I received:

Mike B. looked at some of the team's greats in his list.

1. Kauffman
2. 5 (George Brett's number)
3. 20 (Frank White's number)
4. Sabes (Saberhagen)
5. Howser
6. Bo
7. pine-tar
8. fountains
9. disappointment
10. hope

Bob S. also went for history with his words on being a Royals fan. “Dane Orge...Jim Sundberg...Darrel Porter...SAFE...Royals Win!!!”

Michael M. said, “Loyalty. Euphoria in 1985! Expectations. Doubts. Frustration. Embarrassment. Believe. Excitement!"

Cooper S. went over the 10-word limit just a bit, but it was worth it with these three gems.
“Watching SNL: you hope it'll regain form, but it never does.”
“Trying to play $5 black jack at the $100 table.”
“Being married to an addict: you keep giving them chances and they keep disappointing you.”

Dave P.’s gave his feelings as a Royals fan in just a six letters. “Lonely.”

In Bryan T’s mind(and in the minds of most Royals fans), each season is pretty much the same as the one before it. “A new season brings hope, then heartbreak.”

And finally from Christopher T...“For better or worse; my team.”

So now, just about a month into following the team, I give you my feelings in 10 words or less on being a Royals fan.
“New here, but never leaving. Is it April yet?”

Next week: A look back and a look ahead.

Today's question: The Winter Meetings are over. What do you see as the big needs for the Royals with spring training less than two months away? Leave your thoughts in the comments or on the message board.

Help!

2006-12-16T12:21:00.000-05:00

So this Monday's feature is going to be a bit different. I need your help. Tell me in 10 words or less what it's like to be a Royals fan. You can mention a player, a moment, or just a general feeling. It can rhyme, be a half sentence, whatever. E-mail them to me at btefan@yahoo.com. I need them by midnight EST Sunday. Submit as many as you want with your name(only your first name and last initial will be printed).

Now, on to baseball. Two of the more talked about signings in the last few weeks have been Gil Meche(5 year/$55 mil) by the Royals and Daisuke Matsuzaka(6 year/$52 mil) by the Red Sox.

The two have more than just their contracts in common. Meche is 28 and Matsuzaka is 26. Neither have proven themselves to be all-star caliber pitchers, yet both commanded two of the larger salaries for a pitcher during the offseason.

I see the reasoning behind Meche. He's got potential, and he has been at least average. The money was the only way to get him to KC. He could be a solid starter, but he'll never win 20 games.

Here's where the two differ: For the most part, we know what we're getting out of Meche within a few wins and strikeouts. He probably won't be a disaster, but I don't think they'll be etching his name on the Cy Young anytime soon.

Matsuzaka though is anyone's guess. Will he win 18 games? Or will he be another Hideki Irabu? The potential is there for both possibilities. He has this gyro-ball pitch that everyone's talking about, but he has also never faced major league hitting.

Since the two contracts are so similar, you have to wonder whether the Royals picked the right guy.

I absolutely think they got the right pitcher in this case. You're trying to build a team not bring in a circus act. Meche will pitch 150-185 innings and win at least 10 games. I can't even predict what Matsuzaka will do.

So, you've read about both guys. Did the Royals make the right choice?

Reitsma

2006-12-13T12:55:00.000-05:00

It's going around that Chris Reitsma, a former closer for the Atlanta Braves, could be heading to Kansas City. The knee jerk reaction is to look at his 2006 numbers and scream. But the truth is, Reitsma is better than 2006(8.68 ERA, 27 runs in 28 innings) and would be an asset as a setup guy on just about any team.

Back in 2005, he was the man for the Braves for most of the season before lagging a bit at the end. He was giving up about a half a run an inning from 2002 through 2005 and had an ERA that hovered around 4. While those are dominating numbers, as a setup guy they're not bad.

The other reason I like Reitsma is strictly personal. He put up with a lot of grief in Atlanta, especially after 2005, and he took it all like a professional. A friend of mine interviewed him for an article and said Reitsma never got angry with the criticism and took it all in stride.

You want a guy with that type of attitude to succeed. He's a smart pitcher who comes to the ballpark ready to go. On a younger team like the Royals, he'd be good in the clubhouse. He would also be a great setup guy for Octavio Dotel.

How It Starts

2006-12-12T07:18:00.000-05:00

I apologize for the lateness...

Back in sixth grade I started counting down in December the days to the season started. By eighth grade, I figured I would grow out of that habit and not be so obsessed. You know, girls were starting to show up in my young life too at that time.

But the obsession never died. Girlfriends and crushes came and went in a hurry, but baseball was always there. Most girls never knew what they were in for when April came around, no matter how hard I tried to explain.

When you're a kid, you can have obsessions. The ones around you figure you'll grow out of it by the time you head to college or get a real job. But the truth is, when you fall in love with a sport and a team, it's a partnership for life.

It's been a while since I first fell in love with baseball. Back then, the Braves could buy a win or sell a ticket. But they were my team. I wasn't sure I'd be able to feel that same obsessive feeling again, especially 18 years years later.

But the truth is, when I call myself a Royals fan now, I mean it. I'm not saying I'm as big a fan as someone who has watched them for 30 years. But I am a fan. I cheered the signing of Octavio Dotel and talk as much about KC as I do Atlanta when I talk with friends. They're still getting used to the fact I care about a team hundreds of miles away.

My becoming such a fan so fast was not expected. Part of that came from all the KC fans who have dropped me messages to welcome me or tell me I'm crazy. Part of being a fan is feeling a part of that community. I definitely feel part of the KC fan club.

I fell into baseball by accident the first time. I bought a pack of baseball cards at the local grocery store and something inside me clicked. None of my immediate family members were baseball fans. It was just something I fell into by opening up that first pack of cards. This time the fandom was more deliberate, but the feeling is the same. I'm already looking to April 1. This time I'll have two games to watch, and I can't tell you how excited that makes me.

For those who are counting, pitchers and catchers report Feb. 15.

Dotel a Royal

2006-12-09T22:58:00.000-05:00

I couldn't be happier with the signing of Octavio Dotel. He's not the best closer in baseball, but in 2004 he was a strong reliever that had great potential. His 2005 season was lost to injuries, but KC could be a great place to start over.

The moves by the Royals have been promising, if nothing else. Both are risky with Gil Meche getting big money in the hopes he has a breakout year and Dotel coming back from a fairly major injury.

Still, you have to be happy the team is making moves. As an Atlanta fan, I can tell you the heartbreak of watching a starter go 7 strong innings only to watch a lead disappear thanks to a horrendous bullpen. The Royals were no different last year.

Give credit to Moore for showing fans the team wants to compete. In just a few months we'll see if all the money spent pays off.

So, what do you think of the Dotel signing?

On a personal note, tomorrow(Sunday) is the one-week anniversary of this blog. It's been great so far. Thanks to everyone who has stopped in, left a comment or chatted on the message board.

Let me know if there's anything you'd like more from the site. Beginning Monday, I'll have a weekly topic up about my becoming a Royals fan. If there's anything you'd like me to cover or you want to offer a suggestion, leave it in the comments. I'm also looking into maybe doing a weekly chat if I can work out the logistics.

More Meche Talk

2006-12-08T09:06:00.000-05:00

It looks like reaction to the Gil Meche signing is split among those who like it and those who don't. The only agreement is that the Royals are paying him a lot of money to head to Kansas City.

While most of the people I've talked to and heard from on the site agree $11 million a year is a little high, the signing of a big name player(regardless of how good he is) is at least a sign by management that the team is not going to just sit around and watch the rest of baseball snatch up every single free agent.

I don't think this is a signing that can be judged on the day it happened(even though I and every other Royals fan did just that). In two years we'll know if we got a top tier pitcher cheap or vastly overpaid for a guy who is at best average.

Back to the money. I hate spending that much on a guy who has never had a really great season(15 Wins, 3.50 ERA, 200 K). But the fact the Royals spent like that is a nice change of pace for a team known for sitting back while the big boys open their wallets.

It was only a few years ago that Detroit started picking up big names like Ivan Rodriquez and Magglio Ordonez. Perhaps Meche is just the start of something bigger for the team. The difference is that both Pudge and Mags were stars before they signed with the Tigers. The message from the Tigers was "We're spending money, and we're spending it on big names who are proven stars."

While the Royals are saying they're willing to spend money, I'm not sure what is the exact message. For now, I think Meche is not a bad signing, but not great either. However, his arrival could be a good start to a promising future for Royals fans.

So...What do you think the message is being sent from KC?

Meche...

2006-12-07T14:56:00.000-05:00

Wow, Gil Meche gets $55 million over five years. He went 11-8 last year and struck out 156 in 186 innings and a 4.65 ERA. Sure, he's only 28, but his past years show that unless he has a big breakout year(15 wins, 175 K, 4.00 ERA), he's not worth that money. I'm glad they signed him, but the money is crazy. Not sure if the team has any money left to spend, and if not, will Meche be enough to turn the team around? I don't mind signing a pitcher that will help turn the staff around, but the hitting was never that great either. A contract this big might mean fans will have to wait to see the batting order bolstered.

Back to Meche, he's given up a hit an inning on average for his career and has never pitched more than 186 innings. He's had some decent years, but nothing worth $11 million a year.

So, how do you guys see it?

Floor and a Ceiling Needed

2006-12-07T14:17:00.000-05:00

The other night my wife and I were at a silent auction and watched as the people with way more than us made bids above and beyond anything we could have paid.

We felt a bit like small market owners at the winter meetings.

This winter so far has been particularly crazy, what with the signing of Alfonso Soriano and Gary Matthews Jr. each going for way more than they're worth. But that's baseball these days. And for most people, it's the best argument for a salary cap.

The truth is, the cap would be for the wrong reasons. People think a cap would level the playing field, but it would really be there just to save the owners from themselves. Nobody is forcing owners to offer ridiculous salaries for Matthews. The owners are overpaying, and there's nobody to blame but them. I can understand the players fighting it. For many of them, the owners are just throwing money at them. Who are they to turn it down?

A salary cap is not the full answer; it's only half. What's needed in addition is a salary floor, a mininum amount spent each year on the players' salaries. This would force owners to loosen the purse strings and also keep the big market teams closer in check.

For us Royals fans, this would be great. Imagine having the owner and general manager forced to spend money. Meanwhile, teams on the upper end will be kept in check.

Like the salary cap, the salary floor is a pipe dream. Players don't want to be told they can't make more money and owners won't be happy being forced to spend more.

I know this isn't a new argument. It's like when people complain about the BCS. It's stupid and everyone is pretty much in agreement with that. But nothing will be done to fix it until the people in charge figure out what everyone else already knows.

I'm coming from a mid-to high market team. So for you longtime fans, what would you like to see done about the disparity in the team payrolls?

Winter Meetings

2006-12-05T09:27:00.000-05:00

The one thing I love about baseball is the fact that the offseason tends to fly because there is always something going on. November has the awards, December is the winter meetings, January is filled with talk of the future, and spring training kicks off in February when pitchers and catchers report. There's never a dull moment, even when the season is still months away.

The Winter Meetings are always tense if your team is looking to upgrade to a big name guy or downgrade to cut costs. The Royals definitely have an uphill battle this year with the Central filled to the brim with talented teams capable of making it to the Fall Classic.

Pitching is right now the big need of the Royals, especially in a division with teams like the Twins and Tigers who have killer staffs packed with aces. A pitching staff with only one starter with double digit wins is going to have a hard time fighting for a wild card spot.

KC also needs some big hitters. Everyone knows what Yogi Berra said about good hitting and good pitching. The winner of the Central is going to have both. To even stay in the race, the Royals are going to have to upgrade their lineup to get out of the cellar in team home runs and runs scored.

It's clear this is a team that definitely needs some work to compete in that division. Tomorrow I'll take a closer look at the Royals by position and compare them to the rest of the division.

So, with this being the holiday season, anyone on your wishlist for the team?

Quick note: The comments are fixed. You don't have to register to comment, but they will be moderated to keep the blog family friendly.

Goodbyes are always sad

2006-12-04T14:10:00.000-05:00

Here in Atlanta, Braves fans were mourning the loss of Tom Glavine for a second time. For most of the 90's he was one of the faces of the team, the guy who brought us a championship and the guy who left for New York for money.

Now he decided to go back to the Mets for a huge chunk of cash instead of returning once again to the team that was such a huge part of his career.

That's the thing with being a fan. You give everything to a team, and the team(or it's components) turn around and leave you for more money. Loyalty tends to go only one way.

This of course has something to do with Kansas City. As a small market team, players come up, they get good and then they get out of town. Perhaps the most obvious example is Carlos Beltran, who in 2004 left for Houston and eventually the Mets for as many bucks as they would throw at him.

But the two cases are different. Glavine's career was winding down on a team that was consistently good. He switched teams to make more money. The switch was to a Mets team that has so far under achieved. Sure, the same could be said about the Braves, but their payroll was not that of the Mets and shouldn't there be something about team loyalty during negotiations?

Beltran's departure I understand. A young guy who is on the fast track to superstardom shouldn't feel obligated to stay in a small town that can't pay him what he deserves. This, however, is not the fault of the Royals, nor should it be taken as a dig against the team. It's a baseball problem. No salary cap means teams like the (Ex)Expos will be simply training grounds for the bigger cities. You pay your dues in Milwaukee or Florida, then head to greener pastures.

Fans of the big budget teams have no idea what it's like to watch your favorite players leave because the team couldn't afford them. It's one more reason why being a fan of a small market team is more of an test than cheering on a team like the Yankees.

So, I'll open it up to you guys now... Who are some players that you loved to watch that left for more money? Did you forgive them?

On a side note, the comments are only visible right now through clicking on "Post a comment." Hopefully, that will be fixed soon.

It wouldn't be fair also to not mention my wife, a huge baseball fan, who put this blog together for me. She has her own personal blog at The Journey of a Thousand Words Begins Here. Check it out if you have a free minute.

The bandwagon has open seats

2006-12-03T09:00:00.000-05:00

Published Dec. 3 in the Kansas City Star

It began with a simple talk with a friend of mine. Truth is, I was jealous. He grew up in Detroit before moving to Georgia, so he was now following two teams while I was stuck with just one, my stumbling Atlanta Braves.

The more I thought about my friend’s luck, the more I wondered what it would be like to be a new fan for a completely different team. I, like most fans, had given myself to one team earlier in life. When I was a kid I learned the players’ and managers’ names, memorized the schedule and during the summer counted down the hours each day to the first pitch.

But that was a long time ago, and I started wondering what it would be like to do that again, to pledge my allegiance to a new team no matter how the season turned out.

As the 2006 season closed and the Braves missed the playoffs, I decided to pick my new team. I set out some guidelines and began narrowing my options.

1. The team could not be in the National League East. No way could I root for two teams in the same division.

2. The team must not have reached the league championship series in the last five years. If I was going to pick a team, I certainly didn’t want to look like a fair-weather fan.

3. The team had to be filled with likeable players. This ruled out the Giants for obvious reasons.

4. The team could not be the Yankees. Yeah, that one is strictly personal.

5. The team could not already be on the way up. Rooting for the A’s and the Twins seemed too easy given the amount of talent and potential talent.

After a few nights I narrowed my search down to the Colorado Rockies, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Kansas City Royals.

I always loved watching Larry Walker and Dante Bichette. But I enjoy pitching duels, and I had a sneaking suspicion those were in short supply in Denver.

The Devil Rays had the look of a team that seemed on the verge of busting out, but they were always going to finish behind the Red Sox and Yankees. I also wanted a team with more history.

That left me with the Royals. The team fit all five criteria, and a quick look at the bandwagon revealed I had a good shot at getting up near the front. People who go to Royals games go because they are Royals fans. They go because deep down they hope the winds of fate will change direction and the team will become better. These are my kind of people.

The Grand Experiment

2006-11-05T11:57:00.000-05:00

Beginning on Nov. 12, this blog will be linked to the Kansas City Star's site to detail my first year as a Kansas City Royals fan living in Atlanta. My upcoming post about why I chose the Royals is scheduled to run in the Star on Sunday, with other posts running occasionally throughout the season. I'll be updating this blog once a week until the season starts, but after that the site will be updated about four times a week. Feel free to leave a comment or chat on the message board.

Go Royals