The Blue Octobers Seven Years Later

The words “Inside corner, the Royals, 2015 world champions!” will be etched into the hearts and minds of Royals fans for years to come. The sights and sounds from that fateful November night will live on for years to come. The names of Hosmer, Cain, Escobar, Zobrist, Gordon, Perez, Moose, Davis, Herrera, and more will live on in the halls of Kauffman, and beyond. However, the triumph of this team and the build-up to the two Blue Octobers have been done to death. Today we look at what has happened to the Kansas City Royals in the seven years since hoisting up the world series trophy. (Man does it need a better name. I vote for the Landis Trophy after the first commissioner of the MLB Judge Kennesaw Mountain Landis) The 2016 Royals lacked the fire they had the year before. Losing key pieces will do that as Zobrist, Cueto, and Rois among others would leave the team. The 2016 Royals went 81-81. That would be the last time they haven't had a losing record. In this Darkness, however, one bright spot would appear. A drifter from the wasteland who would offer his services to the Royals. Whit Merrifield who was brought up as a sense of hope perhaps for the fan base soon took the hearts of the fans and continues to be a fan favorite to this day. He is arguably the best player on the Royals currently. The offseason would be one of heartbreak for many Royals fans. Fan Favorites Eric Hosmer and Lo Cain would leave the team for big contracts in San Diego and Milwaukee. That wouldn't be the loss that would hurt the most as on January 22nd, 2017 while back in his home country of the Dominican Republic Yordano Ventura would die in a Car Accident at age 25. Many Royals fans wonder what could have been if Ace was still here with us. Most argue that he would have left soon after everyone else did. Some think he could have changed the Royals' fortunes. No matter the case he is still missed to this day. And the next year the Royals would have tributes to him. The 2017 Royals went 80-82. Moose would break the franchise record of Home Runs hit in a season that year with 38. That would be his last full year in KC. In 2018 The Royals went 58-104 in 2018 entering full rebuild mode. Moose was traded to the Brewers for players who themselves wouldn't stick around for long. The Royals had returned to the Dark Ages. Whit, Alex, Salvy, Duffy, and Jorge Soler were the lone bright spots for that team. As a Royals fan, I have tried to block the 2018 season out of my head as it was the first season they were feeling the pain of trading all the farm system away for the playoff runs. Brad Keller and Jacob Junis were the only call-ups of note that year. One of those players is now a free agent. The 2019 season was not any better as Salvy did not play due to an injured elbow. The Royals were carried by Alex Gordon, Jorge Soler, and Whit Merrifield to 59-103 the only thing of note was Jorge Soler hitting 48 home runs that year and it being Whit’s major coming-out party. As such great players such as Lucas Duda, Chris Owings, Billy Hamilton, and Homer Bailey got playing time. One player did make his debut that year and has made a good impact on the team, however. Nicky Lopez took over at shortstop for an injured Alberto Mondesi and has turned into quite the player for the Royals. In 2020 Alex Gordon retired, marking an end of an era in Kansas City. The long-time workhorse finally gets to rest. Royals fans of my age call him the greatest we ever saw don the Royal Blue and White. The Royals would go 26 and 34 in his final season 6 games out of a wildcard spot. A sad but fitting end to Alex’s career close but just out of reach. The 2021 season brought new hope to Royals fans as they made some moves that have worked out in their favor. Andrew Benintendi was brought in from the Red Sox in a trade, Micheal A Taylor and Domingo Tapia were picked up in the free agency, and the callups of Kyle Isbel and Jake Brentz were. The Stabilization of the core with Whit, Lopez, Mondesi, and Salvy. The young pitching arms of Brady Singer Kris Bubic, Jackson Kowar Daniel Lynch Carlos Hernadez Tyler Zuber Josh Staumont, and Scott Barlow. Finishing 14 games below .500 despite a lack of offensive production thanks to Carlos Santana, and Hunter Dozier, and not having a stable third baseman until September. In 2022 Bobby Whit Jr, Nick Pratto, and MJ Melendez among others in the farm system were called up however this was not enough as the Royals regressed. Whit was traded, Andrew was traded, and Dayton Moore was fired as the Royals cleaned house. The skies may be grey now in Kansas City but the sun will soon shine on this little baseball town. And if Salvy has another season like he did this year then maybe with the right pieces there may be another Blue October upon the Horizon.