I have feeling this team is gonna be closer to the 83 or 84 wins. They guys who haven't been great will improve(not sure how much though) and everyone else will stay the same or fall back a bit. This could all change but this team seems way better than the past couple of years.
Damn good question. And let's remember; it's often better to be lucky than good.
My take is that this team is well-assembled. The pieces fit together better than any Royals team we've seen since 15' and frankly, maybe better (no I'm not saying this team is better, I'm saying the pieces may be more complimentary than that team).
Pitching-wise: When Keller (or other starters) isn't Keller and bombs, the pen is stacked and can pick them up. The pen is selfless and there are enough arms with experience, heat, moxie, to come in and log the innings when needed.
Hitting and fielding: I'd say most of our field players are "pretty good", not stars but pretty good. The type of guy who can get hot and go on a mini-tear for a game or two. So when our players who are or could be stars (Salvy/Whit/Soler/and hopefully Mondesi soon) aren't contributing, some of the pretty good guys have been just hot enough to pick them up.
As I believe you pointed out in another article earlier this year - last year's schedule was brutal and that team was on pace for 71 wins. I thought DM's offseason moves were good for another 10 games and at least a .500 team. (I've got a hefty wager on over 74.5 though lol)
What I can say for sure is this - it's damn fun to be past the halfway mark in April and not be out of it.
I have feeling this team is gonna be closer to the 83 or 84 wins. They guys who haven't been great will improve(not sure how much though) and everyone else will stay the same or fall back a bit. This could all change but this team seems way better than the past couple of years.
Damn good question. And let's remember; it's often better to be lucky than good.
My take is that this team is well-assembled. The pieces fit together better than any Royals team we've seen since 15' and frankly, maybe better (no I'm not saying this team is better, I'm saying the pieces may be more complimentary than that team).
Pitching-wise: When Keller (or other starters) isn't Keller and bombs, the pen is stacked and can pick them up. The pen is selfless and there are enough arms with experience, heat, moxie, to come in and log the innings when needed.
Hitting and fielding: I'd say most of our field players are "pretty good", not stars but pretty good. The type of guy who can get hot and go on a mini-tear for a game or two. So when our players who are or could be stars (Salvy/Whit/Soler/and hopefully Mondesi soon) aren't contributing, some of the pretty good guys have been just hot enough to pick them up.
As I believe you pointed out in another article earlier this year - last year's schedule was brutal and that team was on pace for 71 wins. I thought DM's offseason moves were good for another 10 games and at least a .500 team. (I've got a hefty wager on over 74.5 though lol)
What I can say for sure is this - it's damn fun to be past the halfway mark in April and not be out of it.