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KC Royals: Wishing Jeremy Guthrie A Fond Farewell

By Scott Dillon

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Jeremy Guthrie may no longer be on the roster for the KC Royals, but he’ll forever have a home in Kansas City.

Jeremy Guthrie is not the best pitcher the Royals have ever had. He’s not going to show up in record books and he’s not going to be missed as part of the rotation.

While Guthrie may not be missed for his performance on the field, he’ll be greatly missed by his teammates and the fans. He turned into one of the leaders in the clubhouse for Kansas City and his post-game antics will be remembered for years to come.

Guthrie’s performance on the field didn’t ever seem to hurt all that much. It was hard to watch him struggle through his final season with Kansas City. He had never really been great, but at one point he was a reliable third or fourth starter for the Royals.

Yesterday, the Royals’ lost more than a starter who was fading into the end of his career. They lost a leader, a role model, a friend, and an all-around nice guy.

Guthrie shared his appreciation and love for the opportunity the Royals and Kansas City in a heart felt ‘thank you’ to the franchise and it’s fans:

In his thank you, he eludes to the fact that KC will always be considered home. It’s safe to say that the feeling is mutual. Here is some of the fan reaction to his signing with the Rangers and his ‘thank you’:

It didn’t matter that Jeremy Guthrie wasn’t so good at baseball anymore during last season. Even when he was sent to the bullpen, he entertained the audience as he battled the ball boys in friendly competitions to shag foul balls.

When he wasn’t busy doing that, he was leading the team in post-game celebrations. He gave speeches and created clubhouse rituals that helped keep the team loose and relaxed. He didn’t let the fact that his contributions could no longer be made on the field affect his demeanor.

Things weren’t all bad for Jeremy Guthrie in his career as a Royal. Two of his finer moments came in the 2014 season.

On September 26th, the former Royals’ pitcher held the White Sox to four hits and one walk across seven scoreless innings. The Royals would go on to win the game and clinch their first playoff berth in 29 seasons.

In the postseason, Guthrie would go on to pitch the seventh game of the World Series in 2014. It was a day that ended in heartbreak for the Royals but the Royals sent a player they trusted to the mound.

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He didn’t pitch great, but he gave it the same gutty performance that the Royals could expect every time he took the mound. It’s fitting that a player who has pitched the way he has earned the nickname ‘J-Guts’.

He also leaves the Royals with a winning record of 41-34. It’s the only winning record he’s had with any team in his career.

Jeremy Guthrie was signed by the Rangers on a Minor League deal late last evening. He may not have a great shot at making the rotation, but he doesn’t need to play to be effective. He could be the Jonny Gomes for the Rangers in 2016.

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The Rangers came awfully close to squaring off with the Royals in the ALCS last season. Maybe a strong leader like Jeremy Guthrie is the extra push that team needs to contend.

Yes, Jeremy Guthrie is going to be missed in Kansas City. His winning attitude and positive influence on clubhouse chemistry is going to be felt. His interactions with the fans and strong shoe game is a loss as well.

He may not be wearing royal blue next season, but he is certainly going to be ‘Forever Royal’. Hopefully, someday Guthrie will return to Kansas City in a coaching capacity, but for now I hope nothing but the best for Mr. Guthrie.

Next: Guthrie Had A Hand In Three Of These Seasons

What do you think KC Royals’ fans? Will Jeremy Guthrie earn a spot in Texas? Will he ever return to the KC Royals? What were your favorite things about him as a Royal? Share your thoughts in the comments’ section below.

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