KC Royals: Five Reasons They Are Better Than Detroit Tigers

Apr 19, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost (3) argues with home plate umpire Greg Gibson (center) after getting thrown out of the game against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Ned Yost has received plenty of criticism as Royals’ manager, and most of it was deserved. However, it’s hard to argue against a guy who took his team to the World Series last season, has led this year’s team to MLB’s second-best record a quarter of the way though and improved his squad in each of his first five seasons.

While Brad Ausmus won the Al Central in his first season at the helm, he also took over a team that had won three straight division titles. Detroit however, didn’t win a game in the 2014 postseason after being swept in the ALDS by the Baltimore Orioles.

Ausmus was questioned by the Detroit media for his decision making during the series, and the regular season as well.

That of course is nothing new to Yost, who MLB analyst Pedro Martinez said would have been the “ugly goat” had the Royals not come back in dramatic fashion against the Oakland A’s in the 2014 AL Wild Card game after some questionable bullpen moves.

However, they did come back, and the road to the World Series began.

Yost is now third on the Royals all-time managerial wins list*, and is just 10 victories away from being number one. Unlike Ausmus, he went through ups and downs of building a team basically from scratch, with home grown talent.

He may not be the most charismatic leader, or even slightly open to change and modern modes of baseball, but he continues to win in spite of “expert” predictions.

If Ausmus can build a rapport with his players like Yost has with his, and continue to win every year, he might reach his level.

*Statistics provided in link do not count the 28 wins accumulated by Yost this season.

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