Jobu’s MLB Rankings for 2010: Kansas City Royals
2009 Campaign: 65-97, Last place, AL Central
The Royals had the Cy Young Award Winner in 2009, Zack Greinke. After starting 6-0 with a 0.40 ERA and refusing to give up an earned run in his first 29 innings of work, Greinke came back to Earth slightly, but still managed to finish the season with 16 wins and a 2.16 ERA. Unfortunately, he was also the only Kansas City starter with a winning record. Aside from the Greinke success story, Kansas City also saw 1B/DH Billy Butler begin to step into his own. The young talent hit .301 with 93 RBIs, an impressive feat for a team that didn’t generate too much offense. In the end though, injuries plagued and already subpar and depth-less KC team, and aside from showing up to see Greinke pitch every five days, there wasn’t much to get excited about.
Key Arrivals: INF Josh Fields (trade w/ White Sox), RHP Jorge Campillo (FA), C Jason Kendall (FA), 2B Chris Getz (trade w/ White Sox)
Key Departures: OF Coco Crisp (FA), 1B Mike Jacobs (FA), C John Buck (FA), C Miguel Olivo (FA), 3B Mark Teahen (trade w/ White Sox)
2010 Outlook: See “2009 Campaign.” Some different players, exact same result. The good news is that Cleveland may be worse.
Jobu Says – Kansas City is dry and smoke-free. Jobu does not visit often. One Jobu means KC fans better hope Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles are a good duo. (Remember, for more on Jobu rankings, click here.)
