A Pessimist’s View Of The 2014 Kansas City Royals

Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

It’s a small window. But it’s a window of opportunity that will take a laundry list of things to happen for the Kansas City Royals to leap through that window to the postseason.

Last season was a fun year, but it wasn’t good enough. Their 86-76 record was the best season for the Royals since 1989 and they still finished seven games back in the American League Central and five and a half games back in the Wild Card Standings.

The buzz this off season seems be that they’ll be better. But will that be enough?

I am far from convinced. So many things have gone wrong for this organization in the nearly 30 years since winning The World Series, a depressingly long laundry list in its own right. But this season, there’s a chance, albeit a small one.

We’ve been tricked into thinking this several times in recent memory. In 2004 the Kansas City Royals signed Juan Gonzalez and Benito Santiago among others. It was an utter failure. And that’s not to compare 2004 with 2014. There are few similarities other than to say the Royals will be the trendy pick to with the AL Central.

Admittedly, I am a suffocating pessimist when it comes to the Royals. Friends tire quickly of my negative texts during games. So excuse me if my view of the 2014 opportunity for the Royals is as a tiny, minuscule little window.

Nearly everything has to go right for them to have a shot. Nearly every offensive player needs to improve his numbers from last year. Every pitcher needs to replicate his 2013 performance.

So with 18 days until pitchers and catchers report, click Next to see my top four reasons why the Royals won’t be able to keep pace with the Tigers in the American League Central.