Alton deFlat
07-30-2003, 06:47 AM
Tom Verducci lists the Royals as the NO 1 (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/tom_verducci/news/2003/07/29/insider/) surprise of the MLB season.
1. Kansas City Royals. No team that lost 100 games in one season made the
playoffs in the next, but Kansas City is making a run at just that kind of
turnaround. The Royals' hold on first place in the AL Central is, in many ways,
illogical -- though the uninspired play of the Twins and White Sox is a good
place to start explaining what has gone on. Otherwise, the Royals' pitching
staff is ranked 24th out of 30 teams, the offense has scored only six more
runs than its opponents, and Mike Sweeney, the club's best hitter, is on the
disabled list. The Royals are by no means a lock to maintain their hot play
down the stretch. Their chances depend mostly on how well their young
pitchers and weary bullpen hold up. Veteran pickups Curtis Leskanic and
Graeme Lloyd should help.
1. Kansas City Royals. No team that lost 100 games in one season made the
playoffs in the next, but Kansas City is making a run at just that kind of
turnaround. The Royals' hold on first place in the AL Central is, in many ways,
illogical -- though the uninspired play of the Twins and White Sox is a good
place to start explaining what has gone on. Otherwise, the Royals' pitching
staff is ranked 24th out of 30 teams, the offense has scored only six more
runs than its opponents, and Mike Sweeney, the club's best hitter, is on the
disabled list. The Royals are by no means a lock to maintain their hot play
down the stretch. Their chances depend mostly on how well their young
pitchers and weary bullpen hold up. Veteran pickups Curtis Leskanic and
Graeme Lloyd should help.