We continue to look at team offenses for 2008 with the Kansas City Royals.
Billy Butler keeps his eye on the ball.
Photo: Icon SMI
In 2007, the Royals scored 4.36 runs per game.
I plugged in a likely lineup to the Lineup Analysis Tool, using the Marcel the Monkey predictions from Tom Tango. The lineups rate as follows:
- Best: 4.86 runs per game
- Given: 4.82 runs per game
- Worst: 4.64 runs per game
That looks like a nice improvement over last season. If the lineup listed at CBSSportsline really is the one Hillman is thinking of using, it’s very close to the optimum as calculated by this program. I’m impressed that he recognizes that Grudzielanek is not a top of the order hitter. I’m not sure how much Guillen helps them in rightfield. The Royals added some power at the position, but there’s an offsetting loss of OBA compared to 2007 rightfielders. Still, with very little change, the team is moving in the right direction.
Previous teams covered in the series:
- NY Yankees
- Philadelphia Phillies
- Detroit Tigers
- Boston Red Sox
- Colorado Rockies
- LAnaheim Angels
- Texas Rangers
- Cleveland Indians
- Atlanta Braves
- New York Mets
- Milwaukee Brewers
- Seattle Mariners
- Florida Marlins
- Cincinnati Reds
- Tampa Bay Rays
- Baltimore Orioles
- Toronto Blue Jays
- Chicago Cubs
- Oakland Athletics
- San Diego Padres
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- St. Louis Cardinals
- Pittsburgh Pirates
- Houston Astros
- Minnesota Twins
- Arizona Diamondbacks
Are the Marcels consistently optimistic on young players? It seems like virtually every team with young hitters that you’ve previewed projects for an offensive jump.