Danny Duffy
Superstar to be
They’re up, they’re down – they’re down, they’re up…
And given the Kansas City Royals decades long track record it’s all but impossible not to fear the worst. Even now, with the team in 1st Place for the first time in many of their fans lifetimes.
That said, let’s give ’em their due – for however long – how bout them Royals?
“How about em,” says Stanford’s main man Craig Glazer, who’s shot more high profile arrows into the team’s backside than possibly any man alive who calls themselves a Royals fan.
“Well, that’s twice now this season that I’ve had to eat crow,” Glazer continues. “You know, I never said they were going to be a bad team, I just didn’t think they’d be a playoff team. This was supposed to be their big year and early on the hitting just wasn’t there. They were all either bad or just OK. Nobody’s a scary hitter and they were getting beat 2-1, 2-0 and 3-2.”
Which brings us to the team’s high point.
“I mean, the Royals pitching right now is arguably the best in baseball,” Glazer says. “Nobody’s better – that’s why they’re winning – they’re just lights out.
“And the big thing for the Royals is they’ve discovered a superstar in Danny Duffy. I believe he’s a guy who could be a dominant pitcher for years to come – possibly a Cy Young winner. To me he’s looking like the first mega star the Royals have brought up from the minor leagues since George Brett.”
Say everything works out, will this be a one-and-done year for the Royals?
“Well, they’re going to lose James Shields, one of their star pitchers,” Glazer says. “And losing Shields will be a blow, but they have a core group. A core group that has not evolved yet, but maybe they will now – Butler, Hosmer, Gordon, Perez, Moustakas – they’re just an inch away. But you know, you can’t trust ’em yet.”
Here’s Kansas City’s problem:
“We’re not a destination city like New York or LA and the really good players don’t want to play here,” Glazer says. “Because they know we won’t pay them the super salaries even if they’re that good. The players that have stayed here like Mike Sweeney weren’t superstars. They were happy just to be making several million dollars a year. And thirdly, we’re just not winners.
“I mean, as much as I’ve been down on the Royals and the Chiefs,I see their problem as not having a pedigree. So when they players can, and they’re good, they leave.”
All of that said, this could be the Royals’ year, Glazer says.
“Is this their year? It may be. I wasn’t the only one down on them. I will say this, this is the best Royals team since 1985. So I’m going to go out on a limb and say, I think they’ll make the playoffs this year. And they may win the division.”
So again, given the team’s history and management, might this be a one-and-done year?
No, no it’s not,” Glazer says defiantly. “I think they have the pieces to be a contender going forward. They just need to keep going and they need another bat. Because unlike the Chiefs, they have a nucleus.
“Do I believe in them? I’d like to, but not quite yet.”
Christ on a cracker, CG! Don’t fall off that fence you’re ridin’. The same players that were nothing to build on are now future contenders?
Quote from your May 23rd column:
“The bottom line:
This Royals team will be an also ran this season and next. I see very little to build on. ”
Quote from today’s column:
“No, no it’s not,” Glazer says defiantly. “I think they have the pieces to be a contender going forward.
Glaze talking out of both sides of his mouth? NO WAY!
Right…next you will tell me that he doesn’t wear a rug and loves to bang hookers…..errrrrrr………. strippers.
The Royal’s bandwagon needs new shocks with all the jumping on and off.
Crow be yummy.
On paper, our talent adds up.
Now, on the field it adds up.
I like it.
not there quite yet… wanna see them take this A’s series or, at least, split. (actually, I want them to sweep and crush the bloody bastards into green and gold goo.) if so, get those new shocks on the wagon ’cause there’ll be several thousand more or so just like me.
Hey I wasn’t the only one down on them. Damn 30 years and not one big game. The team needs to learn to win and stay up. I guess one day it will happen. Maybe its now. I love Kansas City and our fans. They deserve the post season and more than just one game. I hope they, the Royals prove me wrong and get there. I really do.
I agree, Glaze. The one thing they haven’t been able to do much of this year is handle pressure. That’s a tough hump to get over.
Your hot take is hot crap, snitchy
Well you can’t win every game. Losing last night made some sense. Gutherie is the weakest starter unless you use Chen. Even then both are capable. Whats important now for the Royals is to not go into one of those 2-10 runs. That would surprise me with the pitching this good. Hitting still isn’t really there and I’m just not convinced it will be anytime soon. Lets see how this homestand pans out. It’s gonna be tough to do much if the Royals stay in that 1,2,3 runs of offense a game.
From here on, they have to win series. I agree… can’t go into a losing tailspin, but last night’s loss wasn’t about folding under the pressure. it was about the A’s having top-notch pitching.
I actually believe they’ll bounce back tonight.
You called it Mike. Again great pitching and no hitting to speak of, their usual 2 or 3 runs. However enough to win. I’m getting emails from the west coast about the Royals now. FINALLY your team is a winner. One guy, Merrill Maza, was in the joint with me, I was an insane Royals and Chiefs fan back in the mid 80’s. He would hear me wine and bitch daily. He sent a line saying “finally”…
I’ve trashed both the Chiefs and Royals over the last several years. They deserved to be trashed. As I wrote here, I’d love to see the Royals prove me wrong and win the division, win a playoff series, win the world series…I love my city and our fans deserve that kind of summers end.