And then, the other side for the Kansas City Royals…
For all the positives that the Kansas City Royals had last season, there were plenty of negatives. Most of that came from the veterans on the team.
The biggest negative may be that Alcides Escobar still managed to receive 531 plate appearances, as Ned Yost just could not quit the glove first shortstop. Alex Gordon had a hot month, and still plays excellent defense, but his bat has continued to lag behind. The bench was not that much better, with the likes of Hunter Dozier, Cheslor Cuthbert, and Rosell Herrera failing to show that they can be a part of the future.
However, as bad as the offense was, the pitching staff was even worse. jason Hammel had been a disaster in 2017, but was a complete dumpster fire last season. Hammel posted a 6.02 ERA and a 1.630 WHiP, but at least he is gone after this season. Ian Kennedy, meanwhile, is signed for two more years, and has an 8-22 record with a 5.06 ERA and a 1.348 WHiP since the start of 2017. Maybe, somehow, he can rediscover the form he displayed in 2016, as unlikely as that would seem.
Even with those disappointments, the biggest disappointment may have been Danny Duffy. Expected to be the staff ace, Duffy struggled again, posting a 4.88 ERA and a 1.490 WHiP, both his worst numbers since his rookie campaign. His 4.1 BB/9 rate was a major part of the problem, as Duffy was unable to command his stuff when healthy. If the Royals want to compete next season, it all may come back to whether or not Duffy can turn his performance around.
There was a lot that went wrong for the Kansas City Royals in 2018. Nonetheless, the future is very bright.