FanPost

A Critical Analysis of the Royals: Forward

Over the next several weeks, I'll be writing a critical analysis of the Royals. This will deliberately straddle the trade deadline.

The first two posts originally appeared on this site during the All-Star Break, and during the Red Sox series, but I took them down due to technical issues.

A few words about me: I bleed Royal blue, and remember summer nights listening to meaningful games on the radio during the glory years. I grew up in KC, but now follow them remotely. Accordingly, I sometimes miss the context of certain events or in-game decisions.

While I am a data and research junkie, unlike many readers and contributors to this blog, I am not an expert in statistical analysis. I do, however, possess expertise in the design, and implementation, of organizational strategy. It is through that lens that I will analyze the Royals. That analysis will cover recent history, the all-important present, and the immediate baseball future (2015).

I have no objective here other than to put on the record what the Royals SHOULD be doing with respect to the crucial decision-making window for 2015 (i.e., now thru the trade deadline). I think it's only fair that my critique be posted ahead of time, and without the benefit of hindsight. That way I can be thrashed in the event I'm wrong, just as I'll be thrashing senior Royals leadership.

Fortunately, the Royals recent win streak makes it more likely that my central analysis is wrong. Put simply: I don't think the Royals will make the playoffs, and hence I think they should be selling assets that can't/won't be retained for a better shot in 2015 and beyond. The Royals playoff chances have gone up since I posted during the All Star Break, so now my analysis is less likely to prove correct. That's a good thing. Being a pretend GM requires making very difficult, but realistic calls.

Finally, I really hope the Royals prove me wrong, and GMDM right. Like all Royals fans, I'd love to see a playoff game again, and while I think GMDM is wrong, I admire his loyalty and optimism, and thank him and the Royals for building a team that is sufficiently relevant to merit my attention. He, and the entire organization, have built a great franchise that we can all be proud of, and I'd love to see him / the organization rewarded for all that work in the trenches over some 8 years.

I look forward to reading everyone's comments and hope you enjoy my posts.

Royal in Portland

This FanPost was written by a member of the Royals Review community. It does not necessarily reflect the views of the editors and writers of this site.