Kansas City Royals

Some have already dubbed the Kansas City Royals the Rays of 2009.

While that may be a bit of a stretch, there is plenty of proof around the club that the '09 campaign could be one of their best since 2003.

Since Dayton Moore's arrival as General Manager prior to the 2007 season, there's been more and more anticipation before each season. Right now, it's at an all-time high.

by Ryan of The Sportmeisters

With Opening Day right around the corner, now is the time to preview the 2009 baseball season. Today’s focus is on the AL Central.

Minnesota Twins

Cleveland Indians

Baseball Musings Team Offense
Baseball America Top 10 Prospects

Lineup
Grady Sizemore CF
Mark DeRosa 3B
Travis Hafner DH
Victor Martinez C

What a difference one month makes.

The Royals entered last September with 19 losses in their previous 23 games. Players were increasingly mutinous under first-year manager Trey Hillman.

A fifth straight last-place finish seemed certain, and a fifth 100-loss season in seven years appeared well within reach. General manager Dayton Moore responded with a bristling rebuke to players in a private clubhouse meeting during which he backed Hillman in unshakable terms.

I do not think the Kansas City Royals will escape the clutches of last place. They don't have the right mix of players on the team to get the job done in the AL Central.

Keep An Eye On: Mike Aviles, ss/2b

After being a two-time Big 12 Conference Player of the Year at the University of Nebraska and winning Baseball America’s College Player of the Year Award, Gordon was drafted by the Kansas City Royals as the overall No. 2.  That is when the comparisons to the King of Kansas City, George Brett, began. 

Gordon continued his meteoric rise destroying Double-A ball by slugging .588 and batting .325.  He was promoted to Kansas City in 2007 and experienced his first down year of his baseball career. 

There's arguably no race in the Major League that is more difficult to predict than the American League Central Division.

Last year was a prime example.

Most preseason baseball forecasters picked either the Detroit Tigers or the Cleveland Indians to capture the division. Chicago was picked third, with Minnesota in fourth followed by Kansas City at the bottom.

Well, we all know what happened.

*From Protect the Plate

The Kansas City Royals have been far from the national spotlight for what seems like forever, and are coming off their fifth-straight losing season. The franchise had its best run from 1976-85, making seven playoff appearances, capped off by a World Series championship in 1985.

The Royals haven't made the playoffs since, and while a postseason birth may be out of reach again this year, there is reason for increased expectations in KC this season.

Since the Indians will still not be on STO for another three weeks, I found some clips of the Wigwammers in action.

This first clip is of the Mar. 3 game against the Royals, first inning (Trevor Crowe, Jamey Carroll, Jhonny Peralta, and Ryan Garko).