When Kansas City Royals General Manager Dayton Moore took over back in 2006, the organization was going in a downward spiral with nowhere to go but up.
In his first full season in KC, the team lost 100 games and once again finished in the cellar of the AL Central division.
Moore, the former Atlanta Braves scout, got to see firsthand why this team has been the laughingstock of major league baseball for over two decades.
A self-proclaimed Royals fan since he was young, Moore vowed that he would bring back this struggling franchise to the glory days that it once enjoyed so long ago.
Fast-forward a few years to a couple months before the 2011 regular season begins.
After four dreadful losing seasons and two more manager changes, the Royals are still one of the worst teams in baseball.
But this time, there is actually some hope for an organization that has had just one winning season in the last 25 years.
I’m referring to the recently No. 1-ranked Royals farm system that was announced by Baseball America last month.
With can’t-miss prospects like Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer and Mike Montgomery moving their way up the minor league ladder, suddenly KC has a good chance to turn things around.
But haven’t we heard this story before?
The Royals have brought up some solid players through the minor league system over the years, including names like Johnny Damon, Carlos Beltran and Jermaine Dye.
We all remember what happened to those star players: They were all traded away because of the almighty dollar.
Why should we be convinced that this won’t happen to some of the current prospects, after they have success at the big league level?
The difference this time is there are several guys on the Royals’ minor league teams who are committed to winning in Kansas City, not just one or two here and there like in the past.
It seems like for the first time in ages, the Royals brass has got it right.
Not only are they responsible for putting together the best farm system in baseball, but they have also drafted several players who are leaders on the diamond.
Take for instance Royals third-basemen of the future and reigning minor league player of the year, Mike Moustakas.
It was reported that “Moose,” as many in the organization call him, once jumped all over a teammate for supposedly throwing a fit in the locker room. The word on the street was there were no future problems with that particular teammate after that incident.
This is the kind of leadership that Dayton Moore has wanted on his Royals team since he arrived in the city of fountains nearly five years ago.
Moore’s plan is finally coming to fruition; a gaze into the organization’s future shows an unlimited amount of talented prospects and a potential contending major league team for years to come.
Until then, we will just have to wait and enjoy the view from here.
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