The last few days have seen something dramatic in the world of sports: for the first time, an active player on a professional team in either the NBA, MLB, NFL or NHL has announced publicly that he is homosexual.  This ground-breaking event has led many to compare the player, Jason Collins of the Washington Wizards, with baseball’s Jackie Robinson.  That compassion, in my opinion, is absurd.

Now I am not launching into any political or religious debates in this space.  Jason Collins is gay.  We are not here to discuss his legal right to marry someone or whether or not he should be supported by some church body.  That is not the issue at hand here and if you wish to discuss those issues, I invite you to take to social media and discuss with your social circles in whatever means you feel necessary.

The discussion here revolves around sports and the breaking down of barriers.  What Collins has done is monumental and over the course of the next NBA season or two, we will discover what impact it truly has on his teammates, opponents, and the league as a whole.  He is the first person to openly proclaim a sexual preference towards the same sex in this type of setting and that decision, most likely, will influence others to do the same.  The day will dawn soon enough that players in the other major sports will follow Collins lead and announce that they too are gay.

Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball.  He found his way on to a Major League Baseball team in an era where players openly stated that they would not play with a man of color.  Owners had banned the thought of a black man on a roster.  He was not a player on a team that suddenly decided that the world should know something about him that they did not.  He was not a player that was concerned with how he would be received.

Therein lies the largest difference in the situation.  The world will tune in to see how Collins is received and analysts will break down every incident to see if it is fueled by some degree of hate.  There was very little doubt when it came to Robinson.  The world was at a turning point and he was at the center of it.  Robinson would deal with hate and ridicule at every turn.

The idea that Jason Collins is Jackie Robinson is a stretch based on the idea that all civil rights issues, of which the rights of gay people are classified, are the same.

Jason Collins is free to eat anywhere he wants.  There are no hotels that restrict a gay person from renting a room.  I have yet to see a sign in a window proclaiming “Straight Only”.  He will not have to use a different entrance to an establishment or a different bathroom or have to sit in designated seating because he is gay.  He did not enter a league that previously had told people like him that they could not be here.

The world is a much different place in many ways and very similar in others.  Hate crimes run rampant and extremists exist in all areas of the world.  Collins will face adversity and challenges that are very different from what Robinson was challenged by.  They will be on a different level and, more than likely, be far less extreme.

Collins, I will admit courageously, stepped forward to announce that he was different.  He may have inspired others to do the same or helped others realize that it is okay.  It is a moment in sports that will leave his name etched into history.

But there is only one Jackie Robinson.

Bill Ivie is the editor here at i70baseball.
You can follow him on Twitter by clicking here.

COMMENTARY | For the first time since 2004, the St. Louis Cardinals will enter the season without Chris Carpenter in the dugout. The absence of that competitive nature and fiery demeanor could lead to a completely different clubhouse chemistry.

Carpenter was known for his expletive laden outbursts, his upholding of the unwritten rules of baseball, his intense conversations with teammates when he felt they were not as focused as necessary, and a competitive nature that was seldom rivaled. It was his leadership both on the field and behind closed doors that will provide the most change for the team, however.

The intensity of the Cardinals clubhouse has been off the charts at times and much of that intensity flowed form the ace pitcher and veteran leader of the team. That leadership now falls to Yadier Molina, who may very well share in that same level of intensity, and a much more subdued and calm Adam Wainwright. Both of these players will have an impact on the pitching staff that will clearly define the tone of the team in the immediate future.

Read more about the changing clubhouse of the St. Louis Cardinals by clicking here.

The St. Louis Cardinals finally made their most-anticipated decision of their 2013 spring training camp Monday when they announced Shelby Miller would be the team’s fifth starter to start the regular season. And while Miller truly might be the better choice, circumstances surely made the decision easier.

Miller began spring training in a competition with teammates Trevor Rosenthal and Joe Kelly to win the fifth and final spot in the Cardinals’ starting rotation.

The team quickly decided Rosenthal would be more of an asset in the bullpen after a couple of shaky starts early in spring training, but the battle between Miller and Kelly lasted nearly an entire month.

The competition lasted so long because the two pitchers had nearly identical stats throughout the spring. Both had one relatively bad outing, and each had several good appearances. Miller won the battle with a 3.94 earned-run average in five appearances with 13 strikeouts and five walks. Kelly posted a 5.54 ERA in five appearances, but he also allowed six walks and just two strikeouts.

But an injury to closer Jason Motte in the final week might have played as large a role in the final decision as anything. Motte fell victim to an elbow strain March 21 and will likely start the season on the disabled list.

That forced Mitchell Boggs into the closer’s role and opened up a spot at the front of the bullpen roster, which Kelly will likely fill now that the team has given Miller the starting job.

Kelly has experience in the bullpen. He was a closer while in college at the University of California-Riverside and made 15 relief appearances for the Cardinals in 2012 during the regular season and playoffs.

Plus, he performed well as a reliever. Kelly gave up just four earned runs in his eight regular-season relief appearances, and he allowed four runs in his seven playoff appearances.

The Cardinals were going to be in a difficult position if they gave Kelly the job and Motte hadn’t been injured. They wanted Miller to be a starter at some level, whether that be with the Cardinals or the Triple-A affiliate Memphis Redbirds, but they had groomed him as a starter in the minor leagues and were reluctant to put him in the bullpen.

Kelly, with his experience as a reliever, could more easily switch between the rotation and bullpen, but the Cardinals still might not have had a spot for him if Motte didn’t suffer his elbow injury.

The Cardinals already had plenty of righthanded relievers, including Boggs, Rosenthal, Edward Mujica and Fernando Salas.

That glut of pitchers might have forced the Cardinals to send Kelly to the minors if he didn’t win the starting job, but now they can keep both pitchers on the roster.

The Cardinals are taking a little bit more of a risk by choosing Miller as their fifth starter. Miller has pitched in just seven games as a major leaguer. He pitched well, posting a 1.32 ERA, but now the Cardinals will count on him to be a consistent starter for an entire season.

Kelly showed in 2012 he could be consistently effective for the better part of the season, and Miller will have to prove the same thing this year.

If he does, the Cardinals made a great spring-training decision. If not, they could be in for a long season that requires manager Mike Matheny constantly juggle his pitching staff, and those types of seasons rarely conclude with a playoff appearance.

Vance Albitz is a minor league infielder in the Cardinals organization who makes his offseason home in Torrance, California.  There is a good chance this is one of the first few times you have heard his name.  Thanks to the team, the upcoming Winter Warm Up, and his own challenge to help out the troops of our country, you will probably hear much more about him in the coming months.

This is not to say that Albitz will not be on the Cardinals’ radar in the near future.  The young man has performed well at various levels in the organization.  He is not a flashy player and when asked about the part of his game that is his strength he replies with a one word answer: “defense”.

Albitz took a few minutes of his offseason to answer a few questions for us here at i70.  He took time to talk about himself, his career, and his desire to provide something to troops of the United States Armed Forces that are stationed abroad.

I asked Albitz about his expectations for the season ahead and got a very professional sounding “I have no idea what is in store for the 2013 season for me.  I am looking to help the organization any way I can, any place they need me.”

I got a glimpse of the young man’s personality when he opened up about his favorite player growing up.  Albitz replied, “David Eckstein.  He once told me, “You have to prove yourself every single day.”  He practiced what he preached and I respect him for that.”

Ask him about his best friend in baseball and you’ll find a man that loves the game, and his teammates, to the fullest extent. “My best friends in my life have come from baseball.  I still keep in touch with my best friends from baseball in college.  The Cardinals have a number of guys in the organization that I enjoy being around.  There are literally too many to choose just one.”

Most impressively, and the reason you will hear more about him in the next few weeks, Albitz undertook a very special project this offseason.  While reading an article, Albitz discovered a conversation with a solider:

“What would you like people back home to send you?”

“Baseball gloves and a baseball,” he said.  “So much of our tasks are hurry up and go, followed by waiting.”

That inspired Albitz to go to work.  He set a goal for himself to reach out to as many people as he could.  His goal?  To send 1,000 baseball gloves to troops stationed overseas before the first day of Spring Training.

“My grandparents served and I have a number of friends serving right now.  My objective in starting this was to send the game of baseball to our soldiers who are doing so much for our country”, Albitz told me.  He has currently collected 250 gloves and expects the next month to pick up steam, thanks in part to the Cardinals asking fans to help contribute at this year’s Winter Warm Up.

The team will have donation bins setup this weekend at various locations around the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch during their annual Winter Warm Up celebration.  Fans are urged to donate new or gently used gloves by dropping them off at these bins.  Thanks to the club and Rawlings, Albitz hopes to greatly increase the number of gloves he has already collected.

The best way for people to help is to send me a used baseball glove, new baseball, or cash donation.  All the information on the website,www.gloves4troops.com.  What I would appreciate just as much if somebody doesn’t have those items is a thank you letter to a soldier (I can put these in the gloves).  The information can be found on the website.

I took a moment to ask Ablitz to share with our fans his favorite baseball movie (For Love Of The Game) and to also share with our fans if he was a collector of baseball cards growing up.

My brother and I collected baseball cards like crazy when we were younger.  I always remember the time my brother tricked me into trading him my Mike Piazza Bowman Rookie Card for Joel Skinner.  I still haven’t gotten over that.

If you are going to Winter Warm Up, grab that old glove out of the closet and drop it in a bin for a soldier.  If you are not, head over to the website and learn how you can help.

Bill Ivie is the editor here at I-70 Baseball
Follow him on Twitter here.

All the debate is over and the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) has decided for the eighth time in history to not induct a player into the Hall Of Fame.

The message should have been clear.  The message that was debated for the last few months that reflected on the character clause, the integrity of players and the game, as well as the unavoidable steroid discussion.  The BBWAA has stood very clear on the subject for the last few years: if you cheated, you don’t get in.  If we suspect you cheated, you don’t get in.  If you look like you might have cheated, you don’t get in.  This year, names like Roger Clemens, Mike Piazza, Barry Bonds, and Jeff Bagwell found themselves on the short end of the stick with many others.

But did the message come across loud and clear?

No.

The message here is that the hallowed halls of Cooperstown will recognize achievements by players that did not cheat or were not suspected of cheating.  In order to get that message across beyond a shadow of a doubt, the writers will need to show that the players on the other end of the spectrum, those that are not suspected of use in any way but are statistically qualified for consideration, are voted in quickly.

I present to you Craig Biggio.

Many assumed that Biggio would find his way into the Hall this year.  The statistics back up the normal mindset of voters, he was a historic player on his team and in his league.

Biggio’s career was worthy of the Hall Of Fame.  On top of that, he was never connected to performance enhancing drugs.  There are no rumors that he might have taken steroids.  He does not appear to fail the “eyeball test” suggesting that he got larger.  Biggio appears to be a guy that played the game the right way for more than 20 years of his life.  He is generally well liked among teammates, opponents, fans and the media.  He changed positions multiple times to better fit his team’s needs.  He spent his entire career with one team in an era where the almighty dollar has lured almost anyone away from the thought of doing that.  He is viewed by many as one of the best players to ever wear the Houston Astros uniform.

If the BBWAA wanted to send a clear and sound message to all of those suspected of steroid use, they had the perfect opportunity with Craig Biggio.

They had the perfect chance to induct a player that played the game the right way.

Unfortunately, they got so caught up in sending the negative message to the cheaters that they forgot to send the positive message to the clean players.

Biggio will be in the Hall Of Fame.  There is no doubt about that.

He deserved to go in on his first ballot.

Bill Ivie is the editor here at I-70 Baseball
Follow him on Twitter here.

I know, I know, this is a baseball site dedicated to the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals.

Every now and then, however, we read something that transcends.  It sheds light on athletes, athletics, faith and even life.

Garrett Weber-Gale is a world class athlete and was a favorite to head to London as part of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team.  His dream fell short.  It is not an easy thing to handle as an athlete, as you will soon see.

I cannot due the mood, emotions or situation justice myself.  Below are Garrett’s own words, taken from his site with his permission, and shared here with our readers.

Thanks to Garrett for sharing his thoughts with our audience, and God bless you, young man…your journey is just beginning:

Olympic Trials Recap

A week away from the US Olympic Trials and I’m still blown away by the result. Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought I would miss qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Games. Throughout the course of my career I have always been extremely consistent in my training, and dedication, to excellence in the sport of swimming. Going into the 2012 Olympic Trials I believed I would be in the running to win the 100 freestyle and be in the top three or so of the 50. As I write this, my mind still tries to figure out the meaning of the situation, to grasp the fact that I am sitting home while my former USA teammates are preparing for the Olympic Games. It feels like I’ve been stung by a huge bug, this hurts.

My career has always been about hard work. I’ve never thought I was the most talented swimmer. I’m certainly not the biggest, nor the strongest. My success has been a direct result of my absolute determination to do as many things right as I can, to put myself in position to be successful. Whether I’m refining my nutrition, stretching, getting to the weight room early, watching video of my stroke, working tirelessly on my start, going to bed every night at 9pm, or being a freak for keeping my shoulders healthy with physical therapy, I’ve done everything I would have ever known to do to promote fast swimming.

Last summer at the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai I went 48.19 in a time trial of the 100 freestyle. At the same meet I anchored the prelim of the 400 medley relay with a time of 47.3, which was the second fastest relay split in the world. When I got back to Austin in the fall of 2011, my coach Eddie Reese and I decided the way for me to go faster was for me to get stronger. I’ve always battled getting stronger and this was the area I needed to finally overcome. From September, straight through March of 2012, I literally killed myself, four days per week, in the weight room. I was getting stronger, and believed my goal of once again going 47 in the 100 freestyle was approaching.

On top of swimming super fast in 2011, I made a crucial realization in my life. I learned that for me to be successful, and swim fast, I need to be happy. Looking back at my best swimming, I’ve always been really happy, and positive about life. Inevitably there were times when I wasn’t happy, and my swimming definitely paid the price. Going into the summer of 2012 I knew my happiness was going to be a key to my success. Luckily for me, I was as happy as I could ever remember being in my entire life. The pieces of my happy puzzle were in place; my sister lives nearby and we hang out a lot, I have a phenomenal girlfriend, my body was healthy, I was getting tons of great sleep, my nutrition was and still is the best it’s ever been, I was on great terms with both of my coaches, and all the hard work I’d put in in the weight room had paid off because I was stronger than I’d ever been. Being happy and positive I had on lock down.

Unfortunately what I failed to understand is that with all my added work in the weight room, I would need even more rest, before my big meet, to recover from all that work. Swimming at the University of Texas I have always been a huge taper swimmer. I swim fastest at the end of the year when I have plenty of time to let my body and mind rest from the rigors of training. In the past, I generally would begin resting and compete about every month or so to judge my training as we approached the big taper meet. In 2008, for instance, I gradually got faster each meet I swam, right up to the 2008 Olympic Trials. As I swam faster, I was able to fine tune my skills, adjust my training appropriately, and gain confidence along the way.

This year I was so broken down from all the training that as I approached the 2012 Olympic Trials I was barely getting faster at all in my meets. Even though I was doing everything right to swim fast, I had worked myself into such a deep hole that I couldn’t climb out of it. I hate to say it, but I over-trained. Essentially, all the hard work is pointless if you don’t give yourself the time to recover from it. Your body needs time to heal and rebuild.

The finals of the 100 freestyle at the 2012 US Olympic Trials arrived. I warmed up and was super excited to race. I definitely had some nerves, but felt pretty good in warmup, and was ready to race. The summer before, when I went 48.1 in the 100 freestyle, I went out in 23.0 at the first 50, and came home in 25.1 the second 50. In the semi-finals of the 100 freestyle at the Trials I went out in 23.4 and went 48.9. I knew I needed to be out a bit faster, in the finals, to be in the race and give myself a chance to swim really fast. The gun went off and I was going for it. In no race do you go completely all out right from the get go. I built into the race and went out it 23.1. Off the turn I could tell I was in the race and needed to have a great second 50 to finish in the running. I began building the effort on my legs and worked to maintain the same tempo of my arms. With about 20 meters to go I started to seriously hurt. I have always prided myself as being one of the toughest racers, and not ever giving into the pain. I pushed and fought as hard as I could, and at the end it felt like my arms were full of lead. As I approached the finish I could barely move. After touching the wall I had an idea of the result before even looking at the scoreboard. Never in my life had I died that hard in a race. My mind knew that I would be lucky to get in the top six after hurting that bad the last 25 of the race. I went out in 23.1 and came home in 26.1 on the second 50. I finished in eighth place and missed making the Olympic team. Ouch is an understatement.

I went to the side of the pool and slowly got out. My body was battered and my mind deflated. For years and years I had worked tirelessly towards my Olympic dream. I felt like a failure. The only thing that kept me from crying was the fact that I was in complete and utter disbelief and shock. How did this happen, I thought.

Not only was I saddened and disappointed, but I was embarrassed. I believed I was one of the best sprinters in the world, and I couldn’t even get in the top six in the USA. Not to mention, USA Today had just featured me in their sports section about how much my diet makes a difference in my training and performance. I felt like a fraud, that everything I had worked so hard to do with my nutrition, in the pool, and with my food business, AthleticFoodie, was discredited.

Since I was a young boy, after every meet, I would always get together with my family and have dinner. The Olympic Trials was no different. After the 100 freestyle final I went back to the hotel and my parents had dinner waiting for me in their room. I ate with them and we talked about the result. I really didn’t even know what to say. Just like always, my parents were there with the utmost love and support. They were disappointed for me. Their positivity and love never wavered. All they’ve ever wanted was for me to be happy.

The next day I swam in the semi-finals of the 50 freestyle but barely missed qualifying for the finals. This just wasn’t my meet.

My poor result at the Trials was not because I didn’t work hard. Not because I didn’t do everything I knew how to do in order to swim fast. I was happy. I was excited. The problem was that I just didn’t get nearly enough rest to recover from the brutal training we did throughout the year. I should have toned down my weight lifting regimen much sooner. My lack of success at the Trials does not discredit my attention to detail in my diet nor my AthleticFoodie concept. The truth is that my refined diet, and the belief that healthy and nutritious foods can and do make a huge difference in performance holds true. By eating healthy and fueling for success I was able to get stronger than ever. The only thing stopping me was my lack of rest –not sleep, but time to continue working at an easier pace while my body healed itself. My diet paved the way for me to gain strength I never before had. Unfortunately I just couldn’t do anything about the fact that I didn’t have enough time to rebuild my muscles and nervous system before the big races.

I am sad. This experience definitely stings. Yes, I have felt embarrassed, and like a failure. However, as I get further and further away from the Trials I gain greater perspective and realize that this is the farthest from the truth. I followed my dream, and I pursued it with the utmost tenacity, care, focus, and resilience that I knew how. Along the way I have tried to be the best person I know how to be, and make as many positive differences in as many people’s lives as I could possibly touch. Swimming has never, and will never define me as a person. I still have an unbelievable life with family and friends who I love and love me back, a girlfriend who is an absolute angel, and many goals I am excited to now begin working to achieve. AthleticFoodie is at the top of my priority list now. It’s time for me to help as many people as I possibly can to become healthier and feel the dramatic difference nutritious foods can play on the quality of their lives.

As Roger Federer said yesterday in reference to Andy Murray’s defeat at Wimbledon, “It’s not the end of the world, it’s the start of something big.” This is not the end of Garrett Weber-Gale, this is just the beginning of a new stage in my life that promises to bring exciting and meaningful opportunities.

I want to sincerely thank each and every one of you who have followed and supported me throughout the years. I would never have been able to accomplish anything great without your continuous love and support. I have absolutely loved swimming the past couple years and have truly enjoyed the ride. There’s no question that I did not reach my potential this summer, and that leaves me wanting to get back after it! What I know for sure is that I’m going to continue living the dream as I always have. I will follow my passions, and continue to work to do everything at the absolute highest level. The opportunities for the future are endless!

This fall I have several speaking engagements already lined up, and will be kicking off an AthleticFoodie tour of swim clinics and events. (After all, I do have two Olympic gold medals and was a key part of one of the most famous relays ever!!!) Working with kids, and helping people be healthier is a huge passion of mine. One way or another I will be in a pool.

If you would like to bring an AthleticFoodie clinic or event to your team or city please email or call us from our AthleticFoodie contact page. Thanks y’all and I hope to see you soon!

What if you had a player who hit for average, had a great outfield arm, was a positive veteran leader in the clubhouse and was an all around good guy, even to fans from a rival team? Well, the Royals have such a player, and his name is Jeff Francoeur. But if you talk to or listen to some Royals fans, one would think Francoeur is one of the worst players on the team. But that’s what happens when you’re a player who started their career with a bang, faded away and revived their career in Kansas City. Oh, yeah, and being from the Atlanta Braves and being one of Royals General Manager Dayton Moore’s favorite players is a part of it too.

To be honest, I’m not a Jeff Francoeur apologist, but sometimes I wonder why there’s such vitriol from some fans when it comes to Francoeur. Yes, he does strike out a lot and he sometimes has the plate discipline of a little leaguer hopped up on Spree and Dr. Pepper. But Francoeur does hit well and many opposing players have been thrown out trying to test his arm.

And it’s not like Francoeur is a jerk. He’s one of the nicest players in the game. Recently, he threw a baseball with $100 wrapped around it so fans in right field at Kauffman Stadium could buy some beer and hot dogs, which is the same thing Francoeur did for some fans in Oakland. His teammates like him and the Royals promote him as one of their key players with Frenchy Corner Thursdays, where fans in a section of right field get a t-shirt, Marti Gras beads (no flashing necessary) and a discount price on a ticket. But yet, some fans cannot stand Francoeur. Why?

One reason is Francoeur was an Atlanta Brave. It’s well known General Manager Dayton Moore likes to sign or trade for current or former Braves. Which is understandable, seeing Moore spent most of his baseball career in Atlanta. But it’s almost become a running joke that any player from the Braves who’s available will end up with the Royals. So when Francoeur became a free agent, they Royals signed him. To some fans, the signing had a rinse, repeat vibe to it.

There’s the argument Francoeur strikes out a lot and doesn’t walk a lot, which is true. But Francoeur has decent power and since his time with Kansas City, he’s hitting around the .280 range and he’s hit 25 total homers, which is more than most of the current Royals players.

There’s the argument Francoeur is keeping the young players down in the minors, especially Wil Myers. Yes, Myers is playing well in AAA Omaha and his bat is close to Major League ready, but what about his defense? At least the Royals know what they have in Jeff Francoeur, especially with his defense.

This year, Francoeur started slowly, but lately he’s been heating up. Before Tuesday’s game with the Cleveland Indians, Francoeur went 16-32 with four home runs and an eight game hitting streak before going 0-4 in Tuesday’s game. His bat could cool off again, but for now, he’s playing well.

Francoeur is signed through 2013, so unless he suffers a serious injury or is traded, he’s patrolling right field for the Royals. Sure, the Royals could trade Francoeur and replace him with Myers, but what is the real trade value for Francoeur? He’s revived his career in Kansas City, but he’s not the type of player that’s going to get a front of the rotation starter. The Royals might get a mid-level pitching prospect or two for Francoeur, but that won’t help in the short term. And with the unpredictability of pitching, it may not help in the long term either.

And there’s Francoeur’s good character and leadership in the Royals clubhouse. One can debate if “veteran leadership” or “clubhouse presence” has anything to do with wins or losses. But the Royals are a young team and they need some veteran leadership. Of course there’s veterans like Billy Butler, Alex Gordon and Bruce Chen, but according to Moore, Francoeur has natural leadership ability.

If Myers was ready, Francoeur provided good trade value and the Royals thought another veteran player could take over Francoeur’s leadership role, the decision to trade Francoeur would be easy. Or Francoeur could suffer an injury and force the Royals hand. But if things stay where they are now, it’s probably best for Francoeur to stay in right field and give Wil Myers more AAA seasoning. It might be be a hard pill for some fans to swallow, but for now, Jeff Francoeur is the best choice in right field.

Minus the venerable veteran Joakim Soria, the Kansas City Royals bullpen had to have felt about like a college pitching staff last season. The primary contributors ranged in age from 21 to 25.

Whether by choice or by default, the Royals stocked their bullpen with rookies and rolled the dice last season. The results were mixed, but the experience gained gives KC much to be excited about going into 2012.

Greg Holland was the most effective setup man of the bunch.

“It was just a lot of fun,” Holland said of being part of such a young bullpen. “I think with being a young team we have a lot of camaraderie that I don’t know if a lot of other teams have.”

Holland leads a group of relievers, including Crow, Louis Coleman, Tim Collins, Blake Wood and Nate Adcock, who were barely old enough to buy a beer to celebrate victories last season. He said the group’s experience winning together at the minor league level could help them be successful in KC.

“We’ve been through highs and lows, all the way from the time we were drafted to being on the same (minor league) teams all the way up to the major league season.

“We’re young, but we expect to win,” Holland said at a recent Royals caravan stop. “I think being young, we’re ready to go out there and raise the bar.”

And no young reliever is generating more enthusiasm than Holland. While Aaron Crow got the most publicity and the all-star invitation, Holland quietly impressed those who know pitching best.

None other than Jeff Montgomery, media analyst and former Royals all-star, is singing Holland’s praises.

“He certainly has proven to himself, and to his teammates and to the organization, that he has the stuff to do whatever they want him to do as a major league pitcher,” Montgomery said recently, stating that Holland has all the makings of a big league closer.

A rocky big league baptism in 2010 forced Holland to begin last season in Omaha, but a promotion wasn’t long in coming.

While the other rookies ran hot and cold, Holland was consistent and effective from the moment he was promoted in May. In 60 innings, Holland surrendered just a .933 WHIP and struck out 74. His 1.80 ERA was by far the best of any Royal with more than 15 innings pitched.

Strikeouts have always been a part of Holland’s game. Unfortunately, so have control issues. Holland credits his ability to get ahead of hitters for the improvement.

“I got my first call-up in 2010, and my problem was not getting ahead in counts,” Holland said. “I was falling behind and then having to be too predictable. You know, 2-0 fastballs are a lot easier to hit than 0-2 fastballs.

“I knew, and the coaches knew, and the front office knew, that I had the stuff to be good. It was just how long is it going to take me to figure out how to get ahead. I really worked on it and got better at it and was able to do it for pretty much the whole year.”

Holland said he might have had more success than his bullpen mates because he learned to control his thoughts on the mound.

“I don’t have it all figured out, but I know I was able to control myself,” Holland said. “When things start going bad, it’s always better to give up one run than two runs. And you’re going to give up runs. So you’ve got to stay calm so that you don’t compound those mistakes.

“You see guys get amped up in those situations and then you walk a guy and that leads to an extra run. Being able to control your emotions helps a lot.”

Montgomery points to mechanics when describing Holland’s closer-type stuff.

“Everything he throws is going downhill,” Montgomery said. “Whether it’s from the arm angle or if its from the velocity, or the lack of, and the movement of the baseball, if things are going down, you have a chance to get hitters out. And that’s what I saw from Greg Holland from day one last year.

“He reminds me a lot of myself, because he’s a guy who wasn’t a high draft choice, wasn’t a guy who was expected to be closer someday. But he’s got the stuff to do it.”

Taken in the 10^th round as a 21-year-old out of Western Carolina University, Holland needed four-plus years of development in the minors to get him ready to succeed in the big leagues at age 26.

Montgomery, also a former collegian, was drafted in the 9^th round and didn’t become a full-time big leaguer until he was 26.

Montgomery spent a couple of years in the set up role before amassing 304 saves as a closer. Holland may well be on a similar career path. He saved four games last year, while also notching five wins in relief.

Holland so impressed the league that his name has come up in trade rumors this winter. But to this point, the Royals seem determined to hold onto him.

With Soria and newcomer Jonathan Broxton the likely candidates to close games this season, Holland’s role remains to be seen. But he says he doesn’t mind that KC added Broxton to the mix.

“He’s an all-star, and he’s proven he can close, so that was a really big move,” Holland said. “I feel like we’ve got four or five guys down there who are legitimate closers.”

Holland believes his bullpen mates will be more than just a year older this season. He foresees dramatic progress as a whole.

“We expect to do better than last year. If everyone stays healthy, you’ve got Broxton and Soria who are all-star caliber closers. And then Crow who was an all-star last year. Timmy (Collins) had some walk issues, but has electric stuff. We’ve all seen that. I think we have a really good chance of being a top-notch bullpen.”

The Kansas City Royals Awards Luncheon seemed to carry a theme this year with Hall Of Famer George Brett and young first baseman Eric Hosmer. The feeling in the room was unmistakable, the future has arrived in Kansas City.

You can hear it in George Brett’s voice. The proud Royal is ready for that next generation of successful Royals to take over the spotlight. Not that he does not enjoy the spotlight, quite the opposite. The Hall Of Famer is one of the most charismatic and comfortable former players in the lime light. Ask anyone and they will tell you, however, that he is true blue to the Royals. Just like any fan of the team, he’s ready for them to win.

During the awards ceremony, when asked about the young team, Brett was quick to state “It’s no secret that it has been a tough ten or fifteen years for this city”.

Prior to the awards luncheon, the winners and presenters joined the media for a quick question and answer session. Eric Hosmer, entering first, was moved to the center of the room and put on display like a show pony. As the media closed in, questions flew, and cameras rolled the young man took it in, answered every question, and showed confidence in himself and his teammates. Reporters had to remind themselves that they were face-to-face with a twenty-two year old ballplayer. The confidence and way with which Hosmer carried himself suggested a veteran player that was easily considered the face of the franchise.

When your franchise is the youngest in Major League Baseball, it should not surprise people that the face of that franchise is as young as Hosmer is. A young man who is comfortable letting his bat and glove speak for themselves has arrived in Kansas City and the weight of the team and the city are squarely on his shoulders.

When asked about his role when players that he has spent most of his career with are called up to the majors he confirmed his presence by saying “I think when guys first arrive, I’m the guy they come to with questions and finding out how the locker room works and things.” At the same time, Hosmer is quick to point out that his teammates “have been together for a long time and everyone knows their roles and how to conduct themselves.”

Throughout the day talking with the young players, there was a general feeling that this team was ready to compete, ready to win, and the expectations had changed. Conversations with manager Ned Yost and General Manager Dayton Moore revealed the same from their viewpoint, as they mentioned a need for this year’s team to transition from “learning” to “winning”. Manager Yost confirmed that his approach would be more focused on winning in every situation and less on sacrificing the win to help a young player mature.

The excitement in Kansas City is growing and is very apparent when you talk to the fans. Brett confirmed that saying that many fans are talking to him more and more about the current product on the field and cites solid attendance numbers towards the end of the 2011 season. The buzz of excitement for baseball is thick in the air of Kansas City.

This team is in a good position to take advantage of that. The Royals are ready for the first player to be the face of a winning franchise in Kansas City since Hall Of Famer George Brett retired.

Eric Hosmer is ready to be that player.

Bill Ivie is the editor here at I-70 Baseball as well as the Assignment Editor for BaseballDigest.com.
He is the host of I-70 Radio, hosted every week on BlogTalkRadio.com.
Follow him on Twitter here.

On the surface, the 2011 Royals season is just another in a long string of terrible won-lost records. Their record will not look much different from any other year of the Dayton Moore era, which has not looked much different from the Allard Baird years in terms of wins and losses. But anyone paying close attention should see that this year has been different below the surface in some positive ways. Most importantly, the roster is bursting at the seams with youth and promise. And while the pitching has been a mess, the offense has already turned itself into an asset. With the season’s end near, the numbers are clarifying just how different this offense has been than most in recent Royals history.

photo by Minda Haas, mindahaas.net

Rany Jazayerli uncovered how rare the combined doubles prowess of Billy Butler, Alex Gordon, Jeff Francoeur and Melky Cabrera has been. They have a shot to become the first quartet of teammates to record 42 doubles in a season. As a team, the Royals’ 287 doubles is already the 13th most in team history. They are on pace for 323, which would be second only to the 2006 team that hit 335. (The ’06 squad was not as top-heavy with doubles hitters as this year’s team, but 14 different Royals hit at least 10. They were a bad offense in general, but they sure hit doubles.)

Most doubles per 162 games in Royals history:

The power extends somewhat to home runs too. No individual player is setting the world on fire, and the team is only 11th in the AL in homers, but between Butler, Gordon, Francoeur, Cabrera and Eric Hosmer, the Royals already have five 15+ HR guys for just the fifth time in team history (’77, ’87, ’00, ’03).

While the team ranks only ninth in the AL in walks, their high average (.270) bumps them all the way up to fifth in on base percentage. The AL average OBP has fallen all the way to .322 this season. The Royals are at .328 as of this writing, making them one of only five AL teams to have an above-average team mark. The other four teams (Boston, New York, Detroit and Texas) are probably headed to the playoffs. The below chart plots how the Royals’ OBP has compared to the AL average every year:

The team has been underwater most years since 1983, but is peeking up above sea level for the second straight year in 2011. The last two year stretch above average was 1989-90. No Royals team has finished this high above average since 1982. Zooming in on the post-strike period shows how different the ’10 and ’11 Royals teams have been in terms of OBP:

While this is a major improvement by the Royals past standards, it still is pretty much average overall. The team’s slugging percentage is exactly average (.406). So no surprise that the Royals have been almost perfectly average when it comes to crossing the plate: The AL average runs per game right now is 4.43, and the Royals have scored 4.44. The last Royals team to score an above average number of runs was also the last team to have a winning record: 2003.

The question now becomes if the 2012 version of the Royals can sustain or improve upon this level. The short answer would appear to be yes. The names in 2012 are going to look a lot like the names have in the second half of 2011. There are a few candidates to regress significantly, namely Gordon, Cabrera and Francoeur. Still, regressions from those three could be more than offset by expected improvements from Hosmer and Mike Moustakas, a full year of Johnny Giavotella instead of Chris Getz at second, and a full year of Salvador Perez. Pitching is an entirely different story, but the Royals offense appears to be entering an era of respectability not seen in Kansas City for a very long time.