In 2015, after years of rebuilding and pain, the Kansas City Royals were on top of the baseball world. Winning the World Series gave the franchise closure. They were no longer referred to as "losers" and brought fans in the MLB a sense of how a club can build through using their draft picks wisely and acquiring talent that was at a reasonable price. All of this contributed to a parade in downtown Kansas City, celebrating a triumph the franchise has waited for since the George Brett/Bret Saberhagen era. This temporary feeling of joy filled the hearts of Royals fans everywhere.
That's right, I said temporary. Unfortunately, everyone knew this wasn't going to last long. This has been the state of the Kansas City Royals for the past decade.
Here in present year, 2023, the Kansas City Royals are in the bottom of the barrel. If the Oak Vegas A's were not lame ducks and clearly, tanking, KC would be the laughingstock of MLB. It's a tragic tale of an organization who really cannot do much but look on as the sand goes through their fingers. I mean, look at the player above, Bobby Witt Jr. He is one of MLB's best young players. He will do well for say, five years, and then, the Royals will ship him off for a boat load of prospects. Same goes for Brady Singer, Vinnie Pasquantino and MJ Melendez. They already did it to Scott Barlow and Nicky Lopez at the trade deadline this season. The cycle will not break here.
To summarize former GM Dayton Moore's sixteen-year tenure with the Royals is simple: He caught lightning in a bottle for a few years, other than that, ehhhhh. He did draft Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer out of the gate, two key contributors to the '15 championship team. If you look at his draft record regarding first-round picks, it's not great. Most of these selections didn't even sniff the show. Look at the list on Wikipedia. Moore really cannot be blamed for all of it, though. He did acquire Lorenzo Cain and actually, extended Salvador Perez to a huge contract. So, he had bright spots for them, unfortunately, it was a rarity.
Here's a game, what word comes to mind when you think of the Royals' last two owners, Ewing Kauffman and David Glass (God rest their souls)? It's cheap. Both men were not willing to open the checkbook or their full wallets to shell out the lettuce to keep players in Kansas City, with the exception of Perez. I really cannot get a read on John Sherman, the current majority owner of the franchise, but it seems like more of the same. I realize people will put the Royals in the "small-market" category, but it gets to a point where they could break out of that mold. Bob Nutting, owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates was able to give out long-term contracts to KeBryan Hayes and Bryan Reynolds to have them stay in Pittsburgh. That's right, if Bob Nutting is able to shell out big money deals, then what is stopping the Royals?
If there is one thing that is a symbol of the Royals' cheapness, it is their ballpark, Kaufmann Stadium. I know that it is a majestic site for baseball due to the waterfalls. However, it is 50 years old. Yep, it is a half-century old. Usually most franchises would ask taxpayers (i.e."fans") to chip in for a build new ballpark. The Royals are finally jumping aboard and discussing a possibility of a new stadium worth $2 billion. It would be a jumping point for the team to get out of that "small market" situation. The Minnesota Twins did that after Target Field opened and the Pirates are starting to break out of that notion, hopefully, with PNC Park. If the Royals can get their ballpark, they COULD be able to spend on talent. However, a survey conducted by Fox 4 in Kansas City (Kids, show your work) showed that voters in Clay County are opposed to a sales tax that would help fund the stadium if it was placed in North Kansas City. See, if the product was consistently better throughout the years, the fans would be lining up to throw in that tax money for their new palace.
I can go on all day about the failures of the front office and how they do not develop premier talent. Fortunately, someone has. In a blog by a fan to SB Nation Royals site, this person wrote a letter to John Sherman about this subject. It is a must read, check it out.
The 2015 championship was the beacon of light for a franchise that needed it. Though it was swift, it showed that the Kansas City Royals can be on the top of the mountain. Hopefully, it can happen again.
God, if you are listening, please save the Royals.
References: Fox 4 Kansas City, MLB.com, Royals Review, Wikipedia, The Kansas City Star, KMBC, The Athletic, Baseball Reference
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