Kansas City Making a Move

How about them Kansas City Royals? Don't look now, Detroit fans, you're Tigers were swept at home by the lowly…wait, up-and-coming Royals!

The Royals won the way you would expect a potential division contender would – with starting pitching – during all three games in the Motor City. So who are these Royals? Get to know the following names, as the Royals' roster is young, very young.

Beginning with the Royals' starting rotation, Gil Meche, the opening day starter, will be thirty years old in September. Meche performed well enough last year to garner a 3.67 ERA for the Royals. If Meche has another season like he had in 2007, the Royals fans will be smiling.

Talk about dominant; Brian Bannister completely shut down the Tigers yesterday. Seven innings pitched, two hits given up, and no earned runs. And oh, Bannister is only twenty-seven years old.

Now that the old-timers have been discussed (you won't be laughing for long), say hello to Zack Greinke. The not quite yet twenty-four year old held the Tigers to one run over seven innings today.

The Kansas City fourth and fifth starters are not expected to dominate the way the first three starters have or will this season, but if left handed hurler John Bale and right handed veteran Brett Tomko can muster even .500 records this season, the Royals will be in playoff contention come September.

Now to the hitters…and the Royals have some young talent in the batters box every baseball fan should learn about.

To add much needed pop to the K.C. lineup, Alex Gordon, a twenty-four year old third baseman, already hit two home runs in his first fourteen at bats this season. Alex Gordon is a left-handed hitter, to boot. Look for Gordon to be a future MVP candidate in seasons to come while hitting thirty or more home runs from this season forward.

Could this be the breakout season for left fielder Mark Teahen? The twenty-six year old is off to a good start in 2008, earning four hits in eleven at bats over the duration of the Detroit series. Like Gordon, Teahen hits left handed.

Billy Butler, a twenty-two year old first baseman and designated hitter, should provide right-handed power for the Royals.

Veteran Jose Guillen has been a reliable hitter during his past three fully healthy seasons, hitting 32, 28, and 28 home runs. Guillen still has several good years left, as he's only thirty-two years old.

And of course there is Mark Grudzielanek, the veteran second baseman is likely to bat near, at, or over .300 this season, while providing plenty of leadership for the young K.C. hitters.

Will the Royals win the World Series? Unlikely. Will the Royals compete for a playoff spot and possible American League Central championship? Definitely. And the young talent is in place for the Royals to compete at a high level for years to come.