The Rise and Fall of the Blue October Part 1

As of writing this article, the Kansas City Royals are 27 and 47, last in the AL Central. They however have players on the roster who are bonafide stars. Zack Greinke, Salvador Perez, Whit Merrifield, and Andrew Benintendi. Out of the 25 players on the 2022 Kansas City Royals roster, 1 of them was part of something magical. Hi, I’m Brock Gorton, and today we will do a deep dive into the Kansas City Royals from 2010 until 2022 A multi-part look at the build-up to a run at glory and the tragic fall that followed. A 12-year run that has been equal parts tragic and enthralling. Welcome to Kansas City Missouri and Welcome to The Rise and Fall of the Blue October.

Part One Rebuilding a Kingdom

To understand this team and our story we first must go back to 1975. Going into the 1975 season the Royals hadn't made it to the playoffs in the franchise's short history. That however was about to change as the Royals made a run at the AL West crown. Yes back then there were only two divisions. They would fall just short of the playoffs going 91-71 seven games back of first. You may wonder why we are telling you this, well that would be because this would be the start of the foundation for the Royals for the next 17 years. This was the start of a run for the Royals where from 1975 until 1993 the Royals had only 5 losing seasons and in one of those years, they still made the playoffs. This run would lead to 7 playoff series, and two world series appearances including the 1985 world series win over the cross-state rival Saint Louis Cardinals. This would be the last time the Royals would make it to the playoffs. 1993 was the last time the Royals had a winning record with the holdover from the 1985 team the greatest player in the history of the Royals George Brett. Oddly enough would be in the front office watching our story unfold. If we are to find out what made the Royals of 14-15 special we first must meet the mastermind of the team.

Dayton Moore was born in Wichita Kansas which is in the heart of the Royal kingdom. He grew up on the Royals. He Watched the 1985 world series. It was destiny for him to be part of the team he watched growing up. Before he joined the Royals he started his career in the MLB as a scout for the Atlanta Braves in 1994. The Braves at this time were the kings of baseball from 1995 until 2005 the Atlanta Braves won the NL East every single year. They won the NL pennant in 1995, 1996, and 1999. They beat the Cleveland Indians in the 1995 World Series to claim the team's 3rd title. They were nicknamed the team of the ’90s. In short, Dayton joined and helped build a Juggernaut. In 2005 Dayton would take over as Assistant General Manager of the Braves where they won the NL East for the 10th straight year. On June 8th, 2006 Dayton would pack his bags to head west of the Mississippi and to Kansas City. One of his first orders of business was to figure out how to build the Royals into title contenders. The 06 Royals were not good at all they went 62-100 improving from the year before by six wins. This had been and was going to be the story of the Kansas City Royals since 1994 having one winning season from 1994 til 2012. There were really good pieces here on this team: pitcher Zack Greinke who had played his second year with the team, Catcher John Buck who is my favorite Royals of all time, Pitcher Jeremy Alfdelt, Outfielder David DeJesus, Second baseman Mark Grudzielanek, Third baseman Mark Teahan and the Legendary first baseman Mike Sweeny. The following year the royals would bring the first two members of the 2014 roster up to the big leagues. And with Mike Sweeny becoming more limited at first base the Royals need a big bat and a big boy to step up to the plate to help them out.

Billy Butler was a power-hitting first baseman who was drafted by the Royals in 2004 with the 14th pick. Billy wasn't the fastest but the man hit a lot. He became a reliable bat on the team earning the name the Royals Butler. The big right-hander played first base and would DH for the team. He would be an All-Star and a Silver Slugger. Butler made his major league debut on May 1st, 2007 Against the Los Angeles Angels. He would single in his first game and would go two for four on the day the Royals would lose that game, but Billy wasn't the only rookie in the lineup for the Royals on that day. While Billy may not be a hall of Famer the other guy on that lineup card has a case to be one.

Alex Gordon from Lincoln Nebraska the former Cornhusker would be drafted by the Royals in the 2005 draft with the second overall pick. He would spend only one year in the minor leagues as he would get the call to the show on opening day April 2nd, 2007 against the defending champion Boston Red Sox. He would be hit by a pitch to get on base. The Royals won that game 7-1. Alex started his career at third base where he would struggle. It wouldn't be until later in his career that he would become a masterful outfielder. Won 8 Gold Gloves and became an All-Star 3 times.

The 2007 Royals would improve in wins but would still be 69-93. The team would look ahead for what would be next unfortunately 2009 and 2010 would be more of the same however the Royal would make big moves in 2010. Starting with the man leading the team on the field.

Ned Yost was hired as the replacement of Trey Hillman for the Royals Manager on May 13th, 2010. He had been in Milwaukee as their manager from 2002 until 2008. Many saw this hire as a smart move by the royals as the Brewers during that time went from the same level as the Royals to the playoffs. Ned came in and would be the perfect man to get the young players in line and developed to be ready to make a run at the postseason. In Time Ned Yost would become the winningest coach in the history of the Royals. But at the time they were terrible in 2010, the Royals would go 67-95. It was clear that more moves needed to be made which leads us to the second biggest move of 2010 for the Royals. In December Dayton Moore struck a deal that would bring in two more key players in the World Series runs. Cy Young pitcher Zack Grenekie and shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt were shipped off to the Brewers for two relatively unknown players.

Alcides Escobar was the slightly better-known player in the deal as he had started for the Brewers. He hadn’t grown into the player he would become yet but the flashes were still there. He would become a human highlight reel with his plays at short for the Royals he would become the lead-off hitter for the Royals. And was a speed demon on the base pads. He would become an All-Star, a Gold Glove winner, and ALCS MVP in his time in Kansas City. He became a solid role player for the team who was brought in more for his defense than his bat. The man he was brought in with would become a sensation in the MLB for years to come.

Lorenzo Cain was a top prospect for the Brewers that hadn't played a full season for them. He would get sent to AAA Omaha when he got to Kansas City as the outfield was maned by veterans He would only play six games for the team in 2011. His Role would grow in 2012 and 2013. He would become an All-Star, a Gold Glove winner, a Fielding Bible Winner, and an ALCS MVP. Cain became the steady centerfielder, a Speedster, and a reliable bat on the Royals. In the 2010 Season, a little-known pitcher would debut for the team. One who would be vital to future playoff runs.

Greg Holland made his major league debut in July 2010 where he struggled in his first year. The following year however he only went 5-1 in 46 appearances with a 1.80 ERA. he would become the closer in 2012 for the Royals where he tortured batters and had fun doing so. He would soon form one of the scariest bullpen trios of all time, but pieces still needed to fall into place for that to happen. The 2011 season would be the year that most of those pieces did as the Royals brought up youngsters that would do major damage in the future. Including one of Holland’s Trio in the bullpen

Kelvin Herrera would come in late into the 2011 season where he would come in relief. It didn't go so well for him but he was on the major league roster and he wouldn't look back. In 2012 he would have a 2.35 ERA the lowest on the team that year he also would have 3 saves for the team. He and Holland had formed quite the Duo in the bullpen but the Royals still needed a good Starter pitcher. And a future ace for the team arrived that season.

Danny Duffy was taken in the third round of the 2007 draft. A master of the strikeout the Duff man came into the majors with little hype around him what no one knew was how good he was. In his debut on May 18th, 2011 he failed to get a decision in the loss to the Texas Rangers. His first two years were rough as he was a 22-year-old thrust into the dumpster fire the Royals were at the time. He would then need Tommy john next year. In 2013 and 2014 is where he proved himself to be a pitcher the Royals could depend on. On the lineup when he debuted was a player that would become one the best first basemen the Royals have had.

Eric Hosmer was drafted by the Royals in 2008. Coming in with all the hype in the world, Hosmer was the hope the fans were waiting for. Hosmer would make his debut on May 6th, 2011in front of a home crowd at Kauffman at First Base. He would walk twice and the Royals would fall 3-2 but it didn't take long for him to find his footing. Five days later he hit his first MLB home run at Yankee Stadium. That was just the start for the future All-Star. He would hit 19 home runs that year and bat .293. He would become a 4 time Gold Glover in his time in KC and a month after he debuted the Royals made another call-up. And this one would have a call all of his own.

Mike Moustakas was selected with the second overall pick in the 2007 draft. Debuting on June 10th, 2011 against the Angels where he got a hit and he came around to score. The Royals won the game 4-2. Mike became another “power bat” for the team and would end the year with 18 homers and a .263 batting average. He became an All-Star for the team and at one point was the single-season home run leader for the Royal. The third baseman was known for his crazy dives into the stands for balls, something that ran through the dugout around this time. But the big call-ups were not done yet for the Royals. One more player was called up and he is still on the team today.

Salvador Perez was signed to an international deal and he debuted on August 10th, 2011 against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Royals, like they did many times that year, lost, giving up 5 runs in the bottom of the 9th. Salvy would play 138 games hitting .292 with 13 home runs and an All-Star Appearance and his first Gold Glove that year. The player that was signed in 2007 for 65,000 dollars would become the greatest catcher in Royals’ history 7-time All-Star, 5-time gold glover, Comeback player of the year, and 3-time silver slugger. Salvador would be a defensive wiz with power and would become one of the best home run hitters the Royals would ever have. The Royals roster would stay the same going into the 2012 season.

There is a reason that you can not find any videos from the 2012 Kansas City Royals season. In the first month of play, the Royals won 6 out of their first 21 games. It wouldn’t get any better from there. There is a reason that the 2012 season is sometimes referred to as the lost season. The Royals and their fans would know nothing but pain the whole year. Throughout the entire year, the Royals felt like they were trying to make up ground from the terrible April that they had. By the All-Star break that year they were 37 and 47 by the end of July they would fall to 42 and 60. The worst part about that fact was the Royals had hosted the All-Star game in Kansas City. When you ask a Royals fan about that season the most common answer you will get is. “Wasn’t that the year we boo’d the Yankees guy during the home run derby?”

Robinson Cano was chosen over Billy Butler that year by Derrick Jeter. Cano would go 0 for 10. That was the Highlight of the 2012 season for the Royals. The Royals would finish the year 72 and 90. The best moment of the year for the fans was booing a Yankees player and chanting for Billy Butler. The Royals that off-season would look to get better and they did with one trade. On December 9th, 2012 Dayton Moore worked some more of his trade magic and struck a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays to acquire two players that would change the direction of the team.

The first player acquired in the trade was a young right-handed pitcher named Wade Davis. Before he was a Wader he was a busboy. While the Royals put in him the starting rotation when he first arrived in Kansas City it became clear that to best use him that he should be coming out of the bullpen. In his first season in KC Davis went 8 and 11 with a 5.32 ERA. The following year coming out of the bullpen would be the difference the team would need going forward and would help his career. Following him becoming a mainstay in the pen he would gain 3 All-Star appearances. The man he came over with would make an impact as soon as he stepped on the mound for the Royals.

James Shields came into Kansas City a proven winner. A veteran already had an All-Star Appearance and had pitched in the 2008 world series for the Rays in their loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. James brought some wisdom as to how to win and play in the postseason to a team that before his arrival had only thought of it as a dream. James would go 13 and 9 in his first season for the team with a 3.15 ERA he was put in a ragtag rotation that royals had at the time. Only two of the starting five pitchers would start the next year. Wade Davis would become a setup man, and Ervin Santana and Luis Mendoza would be released that offseason. One of the replacements for that rotation would make his debut that year. A man that would be nothing less than controversial on the mound.

Yordano Ventura made only three starts for the Royals in 2013 where he would go 0 and 1 with a 3.52 ERA. His presence would be felt in the future for the team as a starting pitcher over the next 3 seasons for the Royals. Because of his stellar pitching for the team and his last name he would earn the nickname Ace. Behind the strong defensive play by the Royals and the emergence of Holland and Herrera in the bullpen the Royals to their first winning record since 2003 just missing out on the playoffs going 86-76.

The next year would be one that would test their metal. Before they could make that one final push the Royals would pick up two players that while not at the center of our story are important nonetheless. Nori Aoki and Omar Infante were brought in in the 2014 preseason. Omar would take over second base from long-time second baseman Chris Getz who never panned out as more than a below-average player. And Nori would take the duties of Right field where the Royals had a constant revolving door of journeymen players, rookies that never worked out, past their prime players, and David Dejesus. Why did I single him out because he was awesome. With these pieces and the addition of Jason Vargas, the Royals were set to roll out into the 2014 season. What they nor anyone in Kansas City knew was what would await them in the season ahead.