Pine Tar game.

MLB has hit a home run with the MLB Network.  This morning, I had a chance to watch The Pine Tar game. I was 19 at the time and watching the Royals and Yankees go at it – well, great memories. I was in awe watching George swing, Willie run and Otis in RF again.

One particular series of plays in that game caused me to reflect on the championship years of the Royals and the type of game they played versus our team today. Can baseball be won utilizing the Royals’ strategies of the late 70’s and 80’s? How different is today’s club and what would need to change to get back to those glory days?

I believe there were several specific characteristics of the Royals’ championship teams:

1 – Those teams were built to win in Royals Stadium.

2 – And as such, the teams were built around a specific blend defense up-the-middle, pitching, speed and the ability to hit doubles.

3 – The teams had MLB-best coaching (Lau of the 70’s, Herzog and Howser), support (Kauffman) and facilities.

That play series mentioned earlier was as follows: After Amos Otis grounded to first to start the second inning, John Wathan drew a walk from Yankees starter Shane Rawley. Bill White, the game announcer, mentioned how big of a lead Wathan was getting and sure enough, Wathan took off for second. Leon Roberts lined the pitch to center and Wathan never stopped taking third on the hit and run. Next up was Frank White. White hits a slow roller to second and hustles down the line to beat the relay and avoid a double play. Wathan scores. Next batter Don Slaught singles softly to right and again, the Royals take the extra base moving White over to third. Willie Wilson then grounds out to end the inning. Royals lead 1-0.

While this half inning may not seem that exciting, it gives an example of how adept the Royals were at manufacturing runs. That’s the key - every run counted and was earned! You had speed (Wilson, Washington and Wathan), OBP (Brett, McRae, Aikens), defense (White, Otis, Wilson) and good pitching (Splitorff, Black, Quisenberry). That’s a recipe for success.

While the 1983 Royals finished 2nd in the AL West, many of these players participated in the championships of 1976, 77, 78, 80, 81, 84 and 85. Here’s a breakdown of the 1983 Royals and our best in 2009. It’s not hard to see the differences.

C -  Wathan                       Olivo, Buck                 SP – Gura                        Greinke

1B – Aikens                        Butler                          SP – Splitorff                    Meche

2B – White                         Callaspo                      SP – Black                       Bannister

SS – Washington              Betancourt                   SP – Renco                      Davies

3B – Brett                          Gordon                        SP – Blue                          Hochevar

LF – Sheridan                    DeJesus                      CL – Quisenberry             Soria

CF – Wilson                       Crisp                            RP – Armstrong                Wright

RF – Otis                           Guillen                          RP – Hood                        Cruz

DH – McRae                      Jacobs                         RP – Castro                      Farnsworth

Other thoughts?