Should the Royals move to the National League?
by RoyalsRetro on Jun 27, 2008 9:12 AM EDT
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PrintBeware, speculation based on hearsay ahead. You have entered the talk radio zone.
Supposedly the Royals were offered a chance to move to the National League in 1998 when the league expanded with Tampa Bay and Arizona, and supposedly they turned it down, graciously allowing the Brewers to make the move.
Supposedly the Brewers are contemplating moving back to set up a rivalry with the Twins.
Supposedly Barack Obama refuses to put his hand over his heart for the Pledge of Allegiance and is a secret terrorist.
Let's suppose for a second that the second rumor is true (we all know the third one is). That begs the question - would the Royals be better off in the National League?
The argument for:
- The National League is the inferior league. Moving leagues would add a few wins to the Royals total.
- National League payrolls are smaller. The Royals could more effectively compete in terms of payrolls.
- The Royals play a National League-style of play with pitching, defense, and low scoring games
- Playing in the National League would eliminate the need to pay for a designated hitter, often times one of the more costly players on a team.
- Playing in the National League would allow the Royals to avoid the Red Sox and Yankees juggernauts, who frequently hog two post-season births.
The argument against:
- It would be more difficult competing against large market clubs like the Cubs, Astros and Cardinals, instead of the relatively smaller Twins, Indians and White Sox.
- Baseball is cyclical, and simply because the National League is weaker now, does not mean they will be weaker in the future.
- The Royals play a pitching and defense-heavy style now, but they have won before in the American League before with that formula
- Kansas City is a traditional American League city, dating back to the days of the Athletics, and some evidence even suggests the Kansas City Blues were the forerunners to the Washington Senators, who later became the Minnesota Twins.
- The National League is for pansies. Bunting, stealing bases and watching pitchers hit is un-American and could cause drastic decreases in your testosterone levels.
Look how exciting this bunt is! Its how the game was meant to be played!
What say you Royals Kingdom?
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Yes, Yes, a Thousand Times Yes
The NL is the inferior league, has been for some time, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. Plus, it appears that the NL would benefit a small-market team since there is no need to spend money on a DH that plays everyday.
I know some don’t want to move because they are AL fans, but I have no doubt this would benefit the organization in the short and long run.
Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club
I can't help but feel, though
That we would forever have our tail tucked between our legs if we were to fail in the AL and compete in the NL. Even if we were to go to and win the World Series, there would always be the fact hanging over our heads that it was only possible because we are in an inferior league.
We would perpetually be losers in the sight of baseball, even if we were to succeed. But if we remain in the AL and succeed, we would know we actually are better than the best teams in baseball.
No
Even though my signature may suggest otherwise, I say no. The Royals are an American League team, and as much as it’d be cool for them to win the World Series as an AL team and an NL team, I still feel too much true blue trad… err, I like tradition. Royals won as an AL team. They had amazingly memorable ALCSes. Also having the Cubs and Cardinals in the same division is worse than having to play Red Sox and Yankees sometimes.
Kansas City Royals: your 2006 and 2007 NL Central champions!
But
Royals tradition traditionally flies in the face of…..tradition.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
traditionally speaking of course
"I never really said most of the things I said." - Yogi Berra
by loyal2theroyals on Jun 27, 2008 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Are you nuts?
USA Basketball hasn’t won the Olympic gold in a while, so should they start competing in the Special Olympics?
OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG
I would like the move
I too, feel the tradition of the American League but really just want to see the Royals win and go to the playoffs. I think in the NL, they have the much easier chance to do this (I mean, c’mon, the Rockies were in the world series last year). I’ve never seen a playoff game from my favorite team and I just want to feel that excitement, in the NL that is definitely possible, even next year…..for the record, I don’t think there is anyway this happens.
by I need more Esteban on Jun 27, 2008 1:16 PM EDT reply actions
It would have been better for the Royals for 1998-2008
But would it be better for the Royals for 2009 and beyond? I think that is guesswork. Long story short, whether it would be better for the Royals to be in the AL or NL going forward is a tossup.
(except that I think Moore and Hillman’s pitching and defense focus would work better in the NL)
This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.
Wouldn't that be reversed?
Wasn’t the AL Central generally weaker than the NL Central from 1998 to about 2005? They used to call it “Comedy Central.” I would think being in the AL Central from ‘98 to ‘08 would be better than going forward.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
You're right about the earlier part of the 1998-2008 period
My point is that we have no idea what will happen going forward. There are some large market clubs with big money in the NL Central. But Detroit is spending like a large market team and Cleveland is full of young talent. So I think the AL Central will be better than the NL Central for the next few years. But money can change everything. And 5 years from now and from then on, we have no idea what the two divisions will be like. It’s a total crapshoot.
This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.
by Scott McKinney on Jun 27, 2008 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed
Sports are pretty cyclical. Making long-term decisions based on short-term trends would be folly.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
F@CK NO!!!!1111one one one
the national league sucks absolute @ss. There is no way in hell I want to see pitchers hitting, unless it’s a pinch hitter for TPJ.
The National League is stupid, basically.
One man with courage makes a majority - Andrew Jackson
by Home Run Tony Cogan on Jun 27, 2008 2:34 PM EDT reply actions
Yes, but not for...
...some kind of temporary/false competitive advantage. You have to love NL baseball, which I do. How is it better? Here’s how:
1. Watching lame pitchers hit is fun, but it’s even more fun when you find a two-way player (i.e. Zambrano). The second scenario is awesome.
2. The managers have to be thoughtful, and I truly believe we have one of those in Hillman;
3. Teams avoid one-dimensional players like Butler. Will he ever be adequate at anything other than offense and chewing sunflower seeds?
4. Being in the Midwest, the Royals would likely end up in the NL Central, so we’d play cool teams like the Reds, Cubs, Cards, and Stros. I’d like to play St. Louis with more on the line.
- TL
I'm very confused why it's
a good thing according to you that teams avoid players like Butler. If someone can hit the ball the way Butler will…you find a spot for them in the line-up and bite the bullet.
A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.
Butler might not...
...have been the best examle for me to use there, but he still needs to develop an MLB track record to get off the snide. – TL
Changing leagues hasn't helped the Brewers
They have gone even longer than the Royals without a playoff appearance.
And
The same number of winning seasons as us since 1998, when they switched.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
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