Royals over/under .500?

[ThruTheEyesOfRuby]

Spring training is looking good for the Royals thus far. Contributions from young players and a revamped pitching staff begs the eternal question for them.. are they going to have a surprise season? Will this be the year that they have a 'Rays 2008' turnaround year?

They'll have Jeremy Guthrie for a full season (Better than average workhorse with the O's when he was there), they'll have James Shields as their ace (another pitcher capable of 200 innings), they'll have Ervin Santana (which, frankly, is a question mark.. can he find a home in KC and show a little of what once made him a promising pitcher?), they'll have Wade Davis likely transitioning back to a starter at the 4 spot and Bruce Chen/Will Smith/Luke Hochevar and Luis Mendoza battling it out for the 4/5 spot.

With catcher Salvador Perez likely doing the bulk of the catching this year, can he build a quick rapport with the pitching staff?

 

[hokiehi21]

over by 1 game

 

[ThruTheEyesOfRuby]

over by 1 game

That's about what I was thinking. If their bullpen plays to the capability they did last year and gets used a lot less this year, I think they'll get their share of wins. Their batting order up-and-down isn't going to wow anyone, but their pitching should atleast get them to avoid those 8 and 10 game losing streaks that they seem to suffer a couple times a season every year.

 

[hokiehi21]

Also helps being in the AL central. It's the Tigers and 4 unproven teams.