This message is for all Kansas City sports fans: step away from the ledge, your lives aren’t over yet, it’s baseball season once again! And I guarantee you that come July, the Kansas City Chiefs mini-camp won’t be the only thing talked about on sports radio.

Now, the Royals have been a complete disaster since winning their only title in 1985. They went 91-71 that year, winning the World Series in seven games against the St. Louis Cardinals.  After that, fans didn’t see first place for another, well…never.  But there is hope on the horizon. And have no fear KC, it took the Red Sox a whole 86 years to end their drought.

So the 2007 team is looking to get back to the promised land, or at least a winning record, which the Royals haven’t had since 2003.  Four out of the last five season have ended with over 100 losses.  Wow, enough said.  But I’m a glass is half full kind of guy so lets look at the good.

A new general manager, Dayton Moore, is at the helm for his first full season, coming over from the Braves.  He was in the Atlanta organization since 1994, starting as a scout and ultimately being promoted to director of player personnel in 2002.  You may have heard his name mentioned as a candidate for the Red Sox GM job during the Theo Epstein fiasco before last season.

Buddy Bell begins his second full season as the KC manager.  Bell has great baseball genes, as seemingly every male born in his family becomes a major leaguer.  He’s jumped around baseball the last decade managing Detroit and Colorado and working as a coach in Cleveland. The Royals hired him mid-season 2005, three weeks after then-manager Tony Pena resigned.

Centerfielder David DeJesus is probably one of the most talented young players you’ll find on an Opening Day lineup.  DeJesus’ name first appeared on the MLB radar when he was drafted straight out of high school by the New York Mets in 1997.  He didn’t sign, went to Rutgers University, and was later drafted by the Royals.  In 2004, DeJesus took over in center after the Royals traded Carlos Beltran to the Astros, and he’ll fill that role and the leadoff spot for the Royals once again. 

Slugger Ryan Shealy, a one-time backup to Colorado’s Todd Helton, saw immediate action once he was traded to Kansas City in 2006. Shealy will provide some protection to DH slugger Mike Sweeney.  Ah yes, poor Mike Sweeney.  It’s a toss up with this guy as he’s letting his prime years slip away due to injury and is becoming one of the biggest victims in the disaster that has been the Royals. He’s missed at least 40 games in each of the past four years due to injury and has never reached the 30 HR plateau in his career.   The club would really like to give him one more winning season before he heads out of town. Another DH prospect, Billy Butler, has a major-league bat but not even a little-league glove. Having struggled to find a position, Butler will get a chance to get consistent at-bats this season and should put up solid power numbers.