KC Royals: Picking Up Where They Left Off

The KC Royals are picking up this spring where they left off last year: as a team that has found its confidence. The Kansas City Royals sit atop the spring standings with an 8-1 record after winning both ends of split squad games on Wednesday afternoon (at Reds 5-2, 4-3 vs. San Diego).

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The Royals came out of the gate winning their first six spring games and responded to their first loss on Tuesday with two wins on Wednesday.

The KC Royals have not always believed in themselves. As recently as last July after the Royals had fallen to 48-50, veteran in-season acquisition Raul Ibanez had to lecture his young teammates how the rest of the league saw them as a talented squad. Ibanez’s speech during this closed-door session inspired the Kansas City Royals to 41-23 finish.

Of course, we all know that spring records can be deceptive. Year after year KC Royals fans had to dismiss hopeful springs after reality quickly set in during the regular season.

Teams filled with young players will often try harder than their opponents in Arizona and Florida due to a lack of self-belief, which yields a winning record because they’re trying to prove themselves on the scoreboard while opposing players work on skills.

Watching this year’s Kansas City Royals in Surprise, Arizona doesn’t give off that impression. The 2015 KC Royals look relaxed and confident during practice drills and in games.

In short, they’re acting like the defending American League Champions.

Not everyone is so bullish on the Kansas City Royals. The general opinion among pundits and projection systems see Kansas City as a middle-of-the-road team in 2015.

Fangraphs.com projects 79-83. Baseball Prospectus’ PECOTA system predicts 72-90. ESPN’s pre-season power rankings rate them 17th, CBS Sports puts them at no. 12, and Jonah Keri at Grantland.com sees the KC Royals at 23rd.

Not only are the pundits rather lukewarm on the Royals prospects in 2015, World Series losers can also be crushed by coming close, only to fail in the last moment, like the Royals did in game 7 against the Giants.

Yet, the Kansas City Royals see themselves in an entirely different light. After his team’s sixth straight spring win, manager Ned Yost told the Associated Press (posted on Fox Sports) on Monday:

"“Our guys are real focused about what they are doing,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “Our guys are real excited about the young kids getting opportunities and it excites the kids when they see the older veterans are excited about what they are doing. It gives everybody a good feeling.”"

Despite all of the good feelings and spring wins, the KC Royals are aware of their changed status in major league baseball. Young starter Yordano Ventura told Fox Sports he wanted to be the opening day starter after bouncing back with a strong performance Wednesday following a rough first spring outing on Friday:

"“That would mean I have earned from the trust from everyone in the organization,” he said through an interpreter. “…I’m working hard because I have a huge responsibility.”"

Add it all up and the KC Royals appear to be a team that grew up during the playoffs last fall.

Next: Kansas City Royals Offense Needs A Cornerstone

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