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KC Royals Picked Second Behind White Sox By USA Today

By Scott Dillon

Will KC Royals retain their crown as division champs? - Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Will KC Royals retain their crown as division champs? - Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /
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USA Today Sports released their projections for the 2016 season and have the KC Royals playing second fiddle to…the White Sox?

The KC Royals are picked to underperform yet again in the 2016 season. This time it’s USA Today who is estimating the Royals to lose out on the division title. Hopefully, this projection will be looked back upon as an underestimation of the Royals season.

This projection at least has the reigning World Champions winning more games than they lose unlike some projections. FanGraphs.com has the Royals slated to place fourth in their division with a record of 79-83.

It’s not the first time the Royals have been picked to not win the division and it certainly won’t be the last. It’s one of the things that helped drive the Royals’ players last season. If being doubted inspires them to achieve more, then let the doubting begin.

USA Today’s article, by Gabe Lacques, projecting the outcomes for the 2016 season says this about the projections:

"Unlike Las Vegas, our win totals are based on exactly how many games we think each team will win – with no need to make adjustments for the betting public’s anticipated reaction. And unlike the many excellent projection models out there, we are not beholden to formulas capable of producing strikingly accurate statistical projections, but lack an occasionally necessary human element."

The overall standings for the division look something like this:

  • Chicago White Sox (90-72)
  • Kansas City Royals (84-78)
  • Cleveland Indians (83-79)
  • Detroit Tigers (82-80)
  • Minnesota Twins (80-82)

The KC Royals aren’t projected to win the division, but don’t let that sway your opinion on how good the team is. What these projection systems fail to take into account is the human element behind the statistics.

There is a lot to be said about the effect team chemistry can have on a team. The human element that the statistics don’t reveal is often the difference between a meltdown and a clutch base-hit.

Let’s use game five of the 2015 World Series as an example. Terry Collins was ready to pull Matt Harvey out of the game. Matt Harvey had different ideas on whether or not he should continue pitching. The fans chanted his name as he sprinted back to the mound.

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The Royals took full advantage of the human element that led to that decision. What followed was another comeback win for a team that never quits and a final hush to a raucous New York crowd.

Team chemistry has a lot of impact on the success of a team. If the players in the clubhouse care genuinely about each other it shows on the field. The Royals display their kinship on and off the baseball field and it shows in their results. It’s not many teams that can rally from four runs down and earn a win.

The White Sox have a trio of capable left-handed pitchers in Chris Sale, Jose Quintana, and Carlos Rodon. They’ve also added some thump in the way of Todd Frazier and Brett Lawrie. What they may not have is good team chemistry.

The White Sox recently added Mat Latos to their roster. He’ll look to earn a spot in the rotation. Latos has a long documented history of being a clubhouse cancer, and he could easily cause an implosion on that team.

In an article by John Shea of SFGate.com, former Royals’ designated hitter Billy Butler was quoted saying the following:

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"“To say we had a bad clubhouse was accurate.“You see there’s definitely people who are not here anymore that were part of the issue. I think whenever you have a season you lose as many games as we did, that’s always going to be a question. I don’t think anybody’s going to get along (in a losing environment). Nobody wants to lose that much.”"

It’s worth wondering if Brett Lawrie is one of the people that Butler was referring to. A player as young and with as much upside as Lawrie getting traded away twice in two years may indicate his effect on a clubhouse.

The American League Central figures to be one of the toughest divisions in baseball in 2016. Everyone seems ready to contend and a small misstep could derail a season.

The KC Royals proved last year that they can defy the odds and play beyond their projections. They’ll have to do it again in 2016 if they want to repeat as World Series champions.

Next: Five Bold Predictions For 2016

What do you think KC Royals’ fans? Will the Royals prove those that doubt them wrong? Will they be able to earn a reputation as a ‘dynasty’? Let’s discuss in the comments’ section below.

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