All we are Saying...is Give Youth a Chance

The Royals might lose 100 games this year, they might lose 90...who knows. No matter what, this team doesn't need to worry about a championship run this season. With that thought firmly planted in their minds, top club officials need to consider playing the youth of this ball club instead of aging players. I am willing to be somewhat reasonable with this, Dayton. It doesn't appear that Bryan Pena is ready to spend a season as the team's backstop, Noel Arguelles doesn't need to be rushed into the rotation, and Edgar Osuna isn't quite ready to be a member of the starting five either. However, there are some younger players that deserve a shot at regular duty.

Baseball is too frequently a game of numbers and I am not necessarily referring to statistics. The higher paid players, with guaranteed contracts, are always going to get stronger considerations for regular roles. I understand that, get it, got it...DON'T CARE. Jose Guillen is going to make around $12 million this season whether he is playing as a regular DH for the Royals or feeding the chickens on his farm back home! He has had a decent spring, and he will likely play hard in an attempt to secure a free agent contract this off-season. The problem is that the Royals have some young guys who have earned a shot at Guillen's job, and I would rather see them play.

Mitch Maier, Kila Ka'aihue and Brain Anderson have all had a tremendous Spring Training.  It is unlikely that any of them will see regular playing time with the Royals in 2010. The team has logjams in the outfield, first-base and at designated hitter. With the exception of Butler (and therefore first-base), the current projected starters in logjam positions are between 30-34 years old (Dejesus, Ankiel, Guillen, and Podsednik). The ages of Maier, Ka'aihue and Anderson are: 27, 25 and 28 respectively. So, the starters aren't young and Maier, Ka-aihue and Anderson aren't exactly fresh off the farm system bus. However, it is time for the Royals to stop slapping together an aging free-agent leftover team and start playing what they have been investing in (I understand the Anderson isn't a product of the Royals, but he was signed cheap...he has played hard...and he deserves a look).

I am not delusional, I know that these guys aren't going to make the Royals any better this season. BUT! I would simply rather watch these guys play. They are all younger, haven't really "made it" to the Majors yet and they are still hungry. It would be more entertaining to watch the three of them struggle or succeed, than watch another game of: Guillen attempt to hit everything out of the park, Ankiel work on a "comeback", and Pods attempt to prove he is not "washed up".

My opinions are my own and they are likely not shared by Dayton Moore. So, anticipate another season of Hillman falling in love with players that wouldn't have a regular role on other teams. Bloomquist and Hillman likely exchange Valetines with each other...and I don't think anyone can break that bond. In other words, Willie will see way too many at bats this year. Guillen makes a lot of money (on this team) and he will likely have an improved year (if he is healthy), so the Royals are going to see what he can do. Ankiel and Pods are the "defensive upgrades" and so their roles will likely remain. The Royals didn't get to where they are by making the right moves, and the moves they are making at the Major League level haven't changed...so why should we expect anything different?