Kansas City Royals: What do players play for during rough seasons?

The Kansas City Royals are in a slump but what do players play for during rough seasons? It’s all about leading by example and building up the right mentality for the future.

Several seasons ago there was a discussion amongst the Kansas City Royals’ radio broadcast booth. At the time the Royals were pushing towards their first playoff spot in over two decades. It was late in the Summer when the Royals were facing a downtrodden Minnesota Twins team. With the score favoring the Royals late in the game, Joe Mauer had stepped up to the plate.

The broadcast booth was discussing Mauer’s plate appearance. To them, Mauer was still swinging like he was the last batter in the bottom of the ninth in Game 7 of the World Series. The broadcasters were commenting on Mauer’s professionalism towards hitting when the team was playing poor baseball that summer.

Flash forward to this season and the Royals and Twins have switched places. The Twins are duking it out with the Indians for the Central lead and playoff contention while the Royals are most definitely feeling the blues with a putrid 41 wins and a sea of losses. This begs the question of what do players play for during rough seasons?

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For some players, this is an opportunity to shine at the MLB level that they ordinarily would not get until some winter ball league or spring training session. Players that fall into this category are long-shot prospects that may eventually earn some spot playing time that usually comes when someone is hurt or the team needs a body.

For other players, this is also an opportunity to plant some seeds into the big league coaches and decision-makers. One such player was Carlos Beltran who did so well in his September audition that he won the starting outfield job for the 1999 season (which he won the Rookie of the Year Award). These players usually have higher ceilings than the first group.

However, there is another group that shines. This group of players are guys who lead by example. They are trying to either impress other organizations by their effort (for trading purposes or for when they hit the open market when their contract expires). However, within this group of players, there is a select group that plays for something else.

What this group plays for is something that is bigger than their stat line, bank accounts, or even a future contract. This group plays for the love of the game. They play to set the example for younger players to see how to approach the game the right way.

One clear example of this type of player on the Royals’ roster is Alex Gordon. Gordon, whose real value to the Royals goes beyond his statistics or his expiring contract is how he approaches the game. Alex Gordon usually arrives several hours before each game to hit the weights, work on route running, and going through at least four rounds of different hitting situations. He does this routine meticulously.

Why would Alex keep doing the same or similar routine when the team is having a difficult season or when his season isn’t going well? Alex maintains his routine because the routine is what has kept him prepared to play Major League Baseball for so long. In doing his routine day after day and year after year Gordon has become a guiding light for the players around him. (An example of this can be found here). This is one major reason why the Royals gave Alex a big contract a few years ago and also why they were reluctant to trade him since that extension.

Players play the game for a variety of reasons. These reasons may change from season to season or from one circumstance to another. However, it is important to note that without key veteran leadership who’s focus, determination, and commitment to themselves and to the team, the team would have a harder task at improving from inefficient play to exceptional play.

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While this has been a season to forget from a fan’s perspective the display of Gordon’s work ethic and commitments have been showing up on his younger colleagues as they stretch a single into a double, a double to a triple, laying a bunt down when it seems silly to, or pitching during an early blowout game.

Struggling either breaks down the weak (such as the Orioles teams as of late) or struggling with the right mentors often propels a team into a winner. A few years ago, the Twins’ fans saw this with Mauer’s leadership and approach that helped transform the Twins from pitiful to playoff contention. We might be seeing the same thing with Gordon’s leadership and approach with this young group of Royals who are playing for a brighter future.

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