View The MLB Cappers Leaderboard For 2009 \u00a0– Picks Packages for 2010 On Sale Now! \u2014\u2013><\/strong><\/p>\n Wasn\u2019t Kansas City supposed to be the next Tampa Bay? <\/p>\n That was the thinking among bettors entering 2009. The Royals had ended 2008 with baseball\u2019s best September record and, like the Rays, they\u2019d used their years of horrible play to stockpile big prospects \u2013 Alex Gordon, Zack Greinke, Luke Hochevar and Billy Butler, to name a few. <\/p>\n But instead of becoming last season\u2019s breakout team, the Royals were a huge bust. Greinke and Butler were obvious bright spots but no one else made any strides. Is K.C.\u2019s breakout just coming later than expected or is this team just going nowhere fast? <\/p>\n Looking up and down the Royals\u2019 lineup, I see a veteran group of guys that won\u2019t embarrass themselves plus one or two legit hitters. It reminds me of the Washington Nationals and that\u2019s not a good thing. Scott Podsednik, David DeJesus, Rick Ankiel, Jose Guillen \u2013 all are capable major leaguers who would be fine fixtures at the bottom of a good team\u2019s batting order. But the problem is that the Royals are depending on that group to fill out four of the top five spots. These guys simply aren\u2019t going to get any better. <\/p>\n The Royals have to rest their hopes on big Billy Butler, who went from overhyped to breakout star last season. All he did was hit in the minors and it appears he\u2019ll do so in the majors too. Most encouraging was his 21 homers and 93 RBI; the .301 average was a given but scouts were holding their breath hoping Butler would grow into his power and not end up a Dmitri Young\/John Kruk-type player who lacks power despite his large frame. <\/p>\n Butler should continue to grow and may hit 100 RBI for the first time in 2010. However, if the Royals want to make any offensive strides, they need Alex Gordon to show up. Gordon, a former second overall pick, was supposed to be the next David Wright. Instead, he\u2019s scuffled, hitting .250 and striking out 300 times in 334 games. He\u2019s now 26 years old, approaching his \u201cprime,\u201d so the clock is ticking. <\/p>\n Kansas City\u2019s pitching staff, while incomplete, is in better hands. Zack Greinke won the American League Cy Young Award last season and it was no fluke. His control was always outstanding but, now that he conquered anxiety issues and added velocity to his arsenal, he is absolutely dominant. Expect more of the same this season. Gil Meche is usually a capable No. 2 and is still young enough to bounce back after a disappointing 2009. Give him a mulligan. <\/p>\nMLB Team Preview \u2013 Kansas City Royals<\/h3>\n
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