Heightened expectations: Royals focused on returning to Fall Classic in 2015
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Beyond Alex Gordon's territory, and past Salvador Perez's postseason walk-off, a flagpole stands still and barren.
It sits atop the Royals Hall of Fame, wedged between Frank White and Dick Howser's retired numbers, bookended by the 1985 World Series Champions flag and the 1980 American League Champions banner. It serves not only as a reminder of what happened in the past, but also as a standard for the future.
The flagpole's tenant hasn't risen yet. But at 2:39 p.m. Monday, the Royals, more than five months removed from a stinging loss to San Francisco in Game 7 of the World Series, will raise the 2014 American League Champions pennant ahead of their most anticipated season in three decades.
The loss ended an unlikely postseason run by an improbable cast of characters, but ushered in a new era of Royals baseball.
Now the expectations are to make it back to October, to be the last one standing, to finish the job. Despite playing in one of baseball's deepest divisions, the Royals have their eyes on the Fall Classic -- again.
"Our guys are chomping at the bit to get back and defend their title," manager Ned Yost said.
The Royals return seven of nine starters from last year's team. They lost right fielder Nori Aoki and designated hitter Billy Butler, but replaced them with Alex Rios and Kendrys Morales. The starting rotation bid farewell to James Shields, but welcomed Edinson Volquez.
The game's best bullpen returns largely intact, with Greg Holland, Wade Davis and Kelvin Herrera anchoring a seven-man relief corps. Jason Frasor is back as well, joined by newcomers Chris Young, Franklin Morales and Ryan Madson.
The team stole hearts across American last October with its underdog story and exciting style of play. Young stars Eric Hosmer and Lorenzo Cain had a national audience. Perez became a rock behind the plate, and a comedian everywhere else.
FOX Sports Kansas City coverage of the White Sox-Royals game begins at 2 p.m. Monday with Royals Live.
"They make it fun to come to the ballpark," general manager Dayton Moore said. "They have a lot of joy playing. They really tackle the game with a youthful innocence that is special and unique to professional sports. I'm glad to be back watching them play."
Moore built this team to last. It was constructed through the draft and bolstered by long-term contracts to rising stars -- like Perez and Yordano Ventura. Development by their top prospects has led to consecutive winning seasons and now they're hunting for a third.
It starts with Monday's game against the retooled White Sox and newly acquired right-hander Jeff Samardzija. By the time Ventura throws the game's first pitch, the Royals will already have accepted their AL Championship rings and trotted to the first-base line.
And the flagpole will finally have an occupant.
You can follow Matthew DeFranks on Twitter at @MDeFranks or email him at matthew.defranks@gmail.com.
