[duncan_idaho]

General thoughts:

1) There is a fundamental softness to this team, and it starts at the top. From players not being held accountable and being coddled instead, to being overly sensitive to the media, to not understanding why fans aren't coming out in droves, it's clear this team worries about the wrong things at the wrong times.

2) This creates a cycle. Most fans - especially the die-hards - are smart enough to realize when the goalposts are being moved and when someone is saying something stupid.

For these reasons, Yost (especially) and Moore frequently show their asses when speaking in public. Whether it's Yost doggedly defending his track record with young players (and how he's never been wrong) or Moore moving the goalposts on any number of things (Davis being the key to the trade, 1000 ABs-1500 ABs-"Do teammates want him here", 6-7 years to win vs 8-10. etc) that type of stuff DOES have an effect on fan support.

3) This team lacks so much toughness, it isn't funny. Just not a mentally tough group of hitters (I think Shields has instilled some of that in the pitching staff, at least with Ventura). And that's a development issue (how you treat players mentally as they are coming up).

4) I have no faith Dayton Moore or this management team can get things done. In fact, it looks to me like the old-school cronies Moore put in charge of minor league pitching and hitting development might have missed the boat with a huge collection of minor league talent.

When you see a group that continually does things that weaken the team and roster for the matter of proving a point (Not demoting Moose because they apparently are so tied to him and Yost has never been wrong, over-using Dyson because they sacrificed a lot of roster flex to keep him, etc), how can you continue to believe in it?

I can't. And I'm about the most positive Royals fan around.