Kansas City Royals: Eight bold predictions for 2020 season

Bold Prediction No. 8: Mike Matheny Grows As a Manager

There are several reasons why Mike Matheny flamed out as manager of the St. Louis Cardinals despite never having a losing record, among them:

• He couldn’t manage a bullpen.
• He couldn’t manage the clubhouse.

He took a veteran Cardinals team fresh off winning the World Series, and in six-and-a-half seasons, led them to 591-474 record with one 100-win season, four trips to the playoffs, two LCS appearances, and one World Series appearance.

But again…he struggled with the bullpen and lost the clubhouse. And in that environment, coupled with missing the postseason two straight years and then hovering just over .500, that’s a recipe for disaster.

He’s had to learn from his mistakes while reflecting on his time in St. Louis, right? Really, I’m not all that concerned with the managing of the bullpen, at least not in 2020, another season in which the Royals will be lucky to compete into August for a playoff spot.

It’s how he connects with his players that will be key.

With the Cardinals, saddled with expectations, he was all but forced to play favorites to the veterans. That won’t be the case with the Royals.

More from Kansas City Royals

• This Plus-Money Bobby Witt Jr. Prop Bet is on Fire (Hit in 15/21 Games)!
• The Royals Need to Extend Bobby Witt Jr. Immediately
• DraftKings + FanDuel Kansas Promos: INSTANT $150 Bonus Plus Two Chances to Win!
• 3 Royals Players Who Won’t Be on the Roster Next Year
• LAST CHANCE to Claim $250 GUARANTEED Bonus With FanDuel and DraftKings Kansas Promos!

Sure, the team has some veterans, guys like Whit Merrifield who definitely need to be on the diamond nearly every game. But what’s Matheny going to do with Alex Gordon if/when he starts slumping? Is he going to keep him in or is he going to bench him in order to get a younger guy some looks?

That will be interesting.

Overall, though, this is a much younger team than the any of the squads he led in St. Louis. Sure, there’s pressure on him to succeed, but succeed doesn’t necessarily mean make-the-playoffs-in-2020-or-you’re-fired. It’s more along the lines of, develop these guys. Turn them into everyday Major League Baseball players. Turn them into winners.

Will the Royals win a World Series with Mike Matheny as the manager? Dunno, and I’m not about to predict that. But I think we’re going to see a different Matheny in the dugout this year than he was with the Cardinals in 2018. He’ll better handle clubhouse dynamics while allowing the youth movement to happen. He won’t pit veteran versus youngster.

He’ll gain the trust of the Royals players, and for that, these guys will improve.

***

That’s it on my bold predictions. Anything in particular you like? Dislike? Something that should be added? Hit me up in the comments!