Kansas City Royals Over/Under Wins in 2014
By Austin New
Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Bovada.com has finally posted the Over/Unders for every MLB team‘s total 2014 wins, and the Kansas City Royals are currently sitting at 82.5. Last season the Royals finished with an 86-76 record. With the loss of Ervin Santana, and some new arms filling in the rotation, I would say that 82.5 is a pretty reasonable estimate.
This season, the Royals are a more “traditional” team than we have been in the past. What I mean by that is, we finally have an everyday second baseman, along with an actual lead-off hitter in the lineup. These two things alone, will open up a whole new horizon for our Royals.
In the past, Alex Gordon has been Kansas City’s lead-off guy. He was always solid there, but he deserves to hit in a bigger role spot, like the 3 or 5 hole. He should be hitting guys in all game long. Not leading off with minimal production behind him.
This season, Norichika Aoki will most likely be the lead-off man for the Royals. In his 2 year Major League Baseball career, Aoki averages an impressive 8.4% strikeout rate, along with a .287 batting average. He should be a key part to the “New-Look Royals”.
Aoki is listed as the starting right fielder right now, with Gordon in left, and Lorenzo Cain in center. I could not be more excited about this outfield. I am a firm believer in Cain. If he stays healthy, and that is a big if, he can really do some damage on both sides of the ball.
Kansas City Royals second baseman Omar Infante – Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
As for second base, Omar Infante will be the everyday starter, which will allow the team to get into a grove with one another. Whereas last year, it was a steady rotation of nobodies; Chris Getz, Johnny Giavotella, Miguel Tejada, Emilio Bonifacio, etc..
The 31 year old Infante hit for a solid .318 Batting Average last season, with 10 Home-Runs, 24 Doubles, and only 44 Strikeouts in 453 At-Bats. He will provide the Royals with some much needed front-of-the-line production.
I would guess that he will probably be in the 2 hole when it comes to the batting order, behind Aoki.
My biggest factor to if the Royals can be over 82.5 wins, is Mike Moustakas. The Royals went out and signed another 3rd basemen in Danny Valencia to push Moose to work harder this season.
Kansas City Royals legend, George Brett, said himself that Moustakas is primed for a breakout season, which you can see here. Along with all Royals fans, I hope Brett is right. Moose has been a bit of a dud lately.
The odds of KC winning more than 82.5 games is currently at (-115), which equals out to be about a 53.5% chance. I would imagine that these odds would change after the end of Spring Training, based on the Royals performance.
I am predicting the Kansas City Royals to finish the 2014 season with a record of 90-72, and finishing the season in 2nd place in the American League Central behind the Detroit Tigers.
Hopefully that is enough to get us into one of the AL Wild Card spots. For those of you that have the patience to wait a whole season for a bet to close, I definitely suggest betting on the Over.
What do you think Royals fans; Agree or Disagree? Give me your thoughts.