Do you ever get the feeling that Kansas City teams are snakebit?

photo by Minda Haas

About six months ago, I was looking forward to the Chiefs making another playoff run. But after injuries claimed Matt Cassell, Jamaal Charles, Eric Berry, Tony Moeaki, and Jonathan Baldwin (and probably others I’ve forgotten) the Chiefs were reduced to rubble. It was painful to let go of those high expectations and suffer through another losing season.

Sound familiar?

Hopes couldn’t have been much higher for the moribund Royals entering spring. But in the course of just days the hottest catching prospect in the league and our once-rock-solid reliever have gone down for an unknown period of time. The season appears to be crumbling before our eyes.

Kansas City fans like myself will need therapy if we don’t catch a break soon.

But rather than turn away in disgust, it might be best if we assess the damage and try to move on.

Win-Win: Following the Salvador Perez signing, there were actually rumblings that the Royals were taking advantage of the 21-year-old, convincing him to sign on for much less than his true value. Now we see how the signing was truly a win-win for Perez and the team. The Royals locked up an elite prospect, and Perez got some insurance for the unforeseen.

The unforeseen came into sight much sooner than expected. Experts forecast Perez will be out of action until the end of June. At that time, he’ll need to rehab in the minors. A slow start at that time could relegate Perez to the minors for most, if not all, of 2012.

So now the Royals scramble for a stopgap. Acquiring a capable replacement could cost the Royals players or prospects. The impact of the loss of Perez will be difficult to quantify, but the rapport he was building with Royals pitchers will be stunted at a critical time.

Window Closing for Closer: While Perez’ star was on the rise, Soria’s sun may be setting. His rocky 2011 had people questioning how much he had left in the tank. Now he’s sidelined with a mysterious elbow injury. This setback may permanently push Soria out of the closer role.

While the injury could be devastating to Soria’s career, it might not be so traumatic to the team’s chances this year, or in the future. It seems the Royals prepared for just such a situation.

With Jonathan Broxton, Greg Holland and Aaron Crow all ready to take on significant roles in the pen, Soria might be adequately replaced.

Knock on Wood: By not pitching for the next couple of weeks, Blake Wood would appear to have secured a spot in Triple A for at least the time being. It’s not time to give up on the 26-year-old. After all, manager Ned Yost said he was throwing 97 miles-per-hour before the injury. But with so much talent in the bullpen, Wood will have to light things up in Omaha to earn a spot.

Hope Springs Eternal: The Chiefs canned Todd Haley. They just signed Peyton Hillis, Eric Winston, Kevin Boss, and Stanford Routt. The draft hasn’t even come yet, and they look drastically improved.

Add in Baldwin for a full training camp, and bring back Cassel, Moeaki, Charles, Berry, etc., and the Chiefs look promising once again.

Let’s hope the Royals can rally after these spring training setbacks. Our teams aren’t snakebit. It only seems that way sometimes.

Back in March I wrote an article previewing the month of July for the Royals. Since July is nearly complete I thought now would be a good time to review that article and see if I knew what I was talking about. Let’s get to it:

“The days are long and hot. It is the only month Major League Baseball has to itself on the sports calendar. If you are reading this, you probably like that. It is when most of America takes their vacations. In recent years it is when Royals fans begin taking their vacations from watching or listening to the Royals. They would rather listen to cicadas and think about Chiefs training camp, or their favorite college team.”

I have taken a vacation. The days are defiantly long, and we all hope it’s another 31 years before we see another summer this hot. The end to the NFL Lock-Out has cut short MLB’s time in the spotlight. It might re-emerge sometime in September. Overall, the Royals are where we thought they would be for the same reasons we thought they would.

“With the exception of Cleveland at the end, all of them are expected to compete for play-off spots in 2011”

Oops. This will make the third time I’ve mentioned this. The Royals need to get some wins against the Indians this weekend. They have cooled off since jumping out of the gate, but they are still contending for the division title. Collectively they are the same age as the Royals…except their starting pitching is decent. I don’t see any reason they won’t get better. As a Royals fan I’m worried and jealous of the Indians. Beginning the weekend with a 12-0 thrashing is a good start.

“July is when the much publicized prospects will likely be called up. I expect Mike Moustakas to be the first, followed by Mike Montgomery. Watching them develop will be a reason to pay attention”

And

“But if you haven’t noticed the Royals have a log jam of power hitting first baseman. I anticipate one of them being traded, along with Eric Hosmer making his MLB debut.”

It has not exactly gone down like this. Eric Hosmer was the first to be called up. Many of us were shocked by the timing of Hosmer’s call up. But, he’s done the best out of any of the prospects promoted. Mike Montgomery has turned it around lately, but has struggled most of the season at Omaha. Mike Moustakas destroyed PCL pitching while he was there. Since being called up he has struggled. However, he did show signs of life this week in Boston. Too bad the other power hitting first baseman mentioned in the March article doesn’t bring any trade value.

“The end of July is also the trade deadline. I love the trade deadline. You never know what might happen”

The trade deadline is fun if you’re a fan baseball in general. I’ve been a tad frustrated about what the Royals haven’t done at the trade deadline. I want some veterans out of here, and Lorenzo Cain, and Johnny Giavottella called up. But then I remember that each trade needs a trade partner. I can’t figure out a team that needs Frenchy, Melky, or Chris Getz who can’t find a better option on another team. And I wouldn’t wish our starting pitching on anyone. This leads me to believe the Royals are done for this trade season, and if they aren’t, it won’t be anything to get excited about.

“the Royals are .500….”

Pfffft!

“Finally, we all know there won’t be any football training camp to look forward to. So you might as well watch the Royals”

I’m glad to have been wrong on this statement. Baseball is my favorite sport, and the Royals are my favorite team. But I love the Chiefs and the NFL too and I’m glad that their CBA has been settled. Despite being hopelessly buried in last place I still get sucked in. Especially when they have a stretch like they have had in the last week. August through October is my favorite time of the year. There is a lot going on in the world of sports, and the weather and leaves turn to awesome. And for the first time in several summers the Royals have proven they can be interesting enough to be apart of that.

The I-70 Series has arrived in 2011. The series that gave this site the name that you all have come to know and love (humor me) will find the first three game set this year being hosted by the boys in blue.

In honor of the upcoming series, I reached out to two of my favorite (though sometimes below the belt fighting) guys to give us their thoughts as to why their individual team will walk away with some bragging rights after this weekend. I then asked our guest’s counter part to provide some counter-point thoughts.

In this article, it is our friend Aaron Hooks that will take the stage to tell you why the Cardinals will come out on top. The writer behind the amazing Twitter account @FakeNedYost takes on the task of counter points.

Aaron Hooks Says: Friday the 13th the Royals lost. And they haven’t won since. Some might call that a coincidence, but Cardinal fans are calling it what it really is – reality. The Royals are not a good team. The Royals are a poor team. And if takes a superstitious supernatural calendar date to wake the Royals back into their annual summer slumber, sobeit.

Fake Ned Yost Says: You’re a dick. We shop a grocery stores called “Hy-Vee” you shop at grocery stores called “Schnucks” That’s stupid.

Aaron Hooks Says: Kauffman Stadium is like Busch Stadium West. Face it Royal Fan, if there is such a creature, that stadium is going to be packed with so much red you’ll wonder if the Chiefs are holding a 9 on 9 drill. It’s hard to accept your fate as an eternal sub .500 team, but much easier when your own hometown won’t come out en masse for you against a cross-state power.

Fake Ned Yost Says: What an asshole. It’s no wonder the Reds hate you guys so much.

Aaron Hooks Says: It’s Kansas City. Correct me if I’m wrong, but the only thing they win at is losing.

Fake Ned Yost Says: The Rams totally agree with you there.

Aaron Hooks Says: Jamie Garcia. Go on and have a little taste of Jamie. Tell us how that goes for you on Sunday. I’d go ahead and make your post game plans now for 2:30 minutes and no runs after the first pitch.

Fake Ned Yost Says: I’ll take your Jamie Garcia and raise you an Eric Hosmer. Chuck Norris spent a million dollars for an Eric Hosmer rookie card.

Aaron Hooks Says: Wal-Mart. People shop at Wal-Mart to survive. People shop at Target to get things they enjoy and other people like. Guess where Royals owner David Glass came from.

Fake Ned Yost Says: You seem pretty educated on the matter. But just so ya know, your tampons and maxi-pads are cheaper at Wal-Mart.

Aaron Hooks Says: Have fun holding on to relevancy, KC- by June you’ll be ready for next year. And not to really be the turd in the punch bowl… but Alex Gordon was supposed to be a stud too. Hard to tell if all these ‘prospects’ are going to do jack in the big leagues.

Think about that. Think about that deeply.

Fake Ned Yost Says: We will murder Billy Butler in the street when we sign Albert to make room on the 25-Man roster.

If you look at a yearly calendar July is the first full month of summer. The days are long and hot. It is the only month Major League Baseball has to itself on the sports calendar. If you are reading this, you probably like that. It is when most of America takes their vacations. In recent years it is when Royals fans begin taking their vacations from watching or listening to the Royals. They would rather listen to cicadas and think about Chiefs training camp, or their favorite college team.

There is the All-Star Break which is known as the half way point of the MLB season. Even though game 81 usually occurs in late June. Like most months this July looks particularly tough for the Royals. 6 of their 8 series will be against teams with 2010 winning records. With the exception of Cleveland at the end, all of them are expected to compete for play-off spots in 2011. Not only will the Royals be playing good teams, 17 of the 27 games are on the road.

Despite the tough draw, road schedule, and what will likely be a lot of losing let me lay out a few reasons to keep watching. If you enjoyed the first part of spring training July is likely the time to tune in or go to Kauffman. July is when the much publicized prospects will likely be called up. I expect Mike Moustakas to be the first, followed by Mike Montgomery. Watching them develop will be a reason to pay attention.

The end of July is also the trade deadline. I love the trade deadline. You never know what might happen. The ensuing hilarity usually has a big impact on the playoff and playoff races. Not that I think the Royals will be hunting. But if you haven’t noticed the Royals have a log jam of power hitting first baseman. I anticipate one of them being traded, along with Eric Hosmer making his MLB debut.

Finally, we all know there won’t be any football training camp to look forward to. So you might as well watch the Royals. Here are the numbers.

July Breakdown:

Total Games: 27

Home: 10

Road: 17

Vs teams with winning records in 2010: 20

Vs teams with losing records in 2010: 3 (and 4 that went .500)

Vs teams in the AL Central: 17

Key Series:
July 14-17 @ Minnesota Twins: This is the first series after the All-Star Break. It will be a good time for a young team to reset their clocks and get off to a good start. The Twins will likely be fighting for, if not holding the division lead. This is the organization Dayton Moore says he’s trying to model the Royals Franchise. Starting the second half is good time to see how the Royals stack up.

July 22-24 vs Tampa Bay: The Tampa Bay Rays are another organization the Royals should look to as a role model. When the Rays break camp their starting pitching staff will have a combined salary of $7.3 Million. They’re expected to go toe-to-toe with the Yankees and Red Sox in the AL East who have single relievers who will make more than that. They traded off a lot of talent, and let a lot of talent walk via free agency this off-season. They too have a stocked farm system and it will only improve. The Rays have 12 of the first 89 picks in June’s Amateur Draft. This series is key mostly because the Rays, like the Twins are a good measuring stick of what the Royals can become even with a low payroll. I want to see the outcome on the field of this match-up.

July 29-31st @ Cleveland Indians: On Paper, the Indians are the weakest team the Royals play in July. Developmentally the Indians are in the same place as the Royals. The young Royals need to beat the young Indians and set the tone for years to come. Although a road series, the Royals need take the opportunity to get some wins at the end of a rough month.

Key To a Hot Month: Get off to a good start after the All-Star Break and carry some momentum for the rest of the month. Likely wins and losses won’t matter at this point. However, any prospects that get called up need to get off to hot starts before the stench of losing impacts their game.

At the end of July:

the Royals are .500…. This too would be awesome, and considering the tough schedule. It would mean winning all of their home series including some sweeps, and stealing some on the road.

If the Royals are above .500… Again, the odds are against this happening. I know, some of you are saying “But you’re saying there’s a chance, right?” Like I said in an earlier entry these games are more about getting young guys better at the major league level. However, some of them will be worth watching while they improve.

I would consider myself to be something more than just a fan of the Chiefs and the Royals. I have had season tickets to both and follow both with the same desire as well as loyalty.

The last two seasons have been rough with both the Royals and Chiefs having horrid seasons, but I still watched I still had faith. Or should I say I thought I had faith. The reason I say this is because with the baseball season winding down in Kansas City I have had the chance to go see the Royals for free but didn’t because of the price of gas and hotels, but in that same week I found myself justifying $300 tickets to see the Chiefs. I ended up not being able to go to the Chiefs game, but the fact that I was willing to spend so much to see the now 3-0 Chiefs made me take another look at my fan loyalty to the Royals.

I would still say that I am a loyal fan and lover of the K but I don’t think I can say with 100 percent honesty that I have faith in the Royals. I knew Lamar Hunt would never let losing become the norm on the red side of the Truman Sports Complex, but I don’t have the same feeling for the blue side. Kansas City as a whole needs faith and hope that this ownership group will bring back the faith that was once found in the K.

The mindset of a Royals fan has over the years slowly been changed from “let’s win” to “let’s have fun.” A game at the K is no longer about seeing the product on the field but more about just going and having fun. The Royals need to have a winning team for several seasons before this mindset will change, but they need to look to Arrowhead to help build the fan base back.

The arguments of small market this and that can not be justified when there are 80,000 fans across the street wiling to pay double face value on upper deck tickets. The city is willing and ready to fill the K, but they have to have something to cheer about. The team needs to be in the playoff hunt and the team needs to go out there and make moves.

The team has started to make changes but there is not a burning feeling that these moves are franchise-changing. The team has yet to make a move to place the future of the team on the career of any player or coach. I want one or two people who I can point to and say, “This is the future.” I want to know who our stars are going to be. I want something to put my faith in.