The Royals have made a complete 180 degree turn in the last two seasons. They went from the cellar dwellers to the perennial favorites in the American League. They were 90 feet away from tying WS game 7 in 2014, but fell short. However, it all came together in 2015 as they were able to win the World Series, which was their expected fate. All of it looks great on the surface, but it took a lot of work behind the scenes to build such a success in 2 years. So, how'd they do it? Let's look.
The first thing that came from all the Royals losing seasons prior to 2014 was that they were able to build a great core. It all eventually came together to make a scary team all around. Even when these players had struggles, they didn't give up on them. They stuck with the players, the manager, and the plan. This was all great in 2014, but it fell short (granted Bumgarner wasn't being stopped that year). In 2015, they knew they had to improve. This is when they decided to expand payroll and go get players that could help them win a title, knowing that it would get them over the hump. They took some risks, but it paid off. They knew they had the depth in the minors to make risky trades, such as Zobrist and Cueto, and they had payroll flexibility to take a chance on Kendrys Morales, and some pitching. What did it lead to? The first World Series championship in 30 years for Kansas City.
You may be asking: What does this have to do with the Pirates? Well, it has a lot to do with the Pirates. Looking at the two teams, they have very many similarities. They have good, young core talent, a very similar market size, and have both been able to turn their organizations around recently. The Royals have turned themselves around quicker than the Pirates. While the Pirates have enjoyed 3 straight years of playoff teams, they have all been wildcard game appearances, losing in the last two. In this time, the Royals have been to two World Series' and have won one. Why is this? Both teams being about the same should mean similar results, right? There is one difference between the two that stands out most. That is the willingness to go for it.
As we can remember, the Royals were really feeling frisky last year and showed their fans that they wanted it. What did they do? Oh, you know. Acquire two pretty good players in Johnny Cueto and Ben Zobrist. They knew they had the farm system depth and the payroll flexibility, so they did it. As I have stated, it ended in a title.
The Pirates made moves at the trade deadline, too. However, they were not quite as great. Soria was the most attractive piece they got. However, the others did well in their time, but they weren't high-impact players. Pirates were scrapping together a lot of second-tier players that eventually lead to a 98-win team with wasted potential. Pirates beat up on the little guys, but couldn't beat the big boys enough. Royals, with big talent, consistently beat up on the big boys. The talent level was the difference (not the fact that they faced Mr. Jake in the wildcard game).
The Royals and Pirates have conceivably the same payroll flexibility at this point. The only difference is that the Royals are willing to amp it up a notch to win championships. Meanwhile, the Pirates are afraid to show the money they have. Because of this, the Pirates settle for way too much 2nd-tier talent. Both the Royals and Pirates have to rely on the core and 2nd-tier talent. However, the Royals brought in some first-rate talent last year to win. Pirates brought in none of that. Royals used their resources in order to do this. Pirates elected to continue to hoard most of what they got in terms of money and prospects. Guess what? Royals got a ring. Pirates got ousted after one playoff game.
Royals went out of their comfort zone in order to win a championship. Pirates have yet to leave that zone yet. A little life lesson can be applied to the Pirates here. Here is the lesson: You cannot achieve what you want if you don't leave your own comfort zone. I think this can really be applied here. Pirates have yet to leave that zone. That is why the result has been the same for three straight years with early playoff exits. If they don't leave their comfort zone, that is all the far they'll ever get.
Don't get me wrong, I love the playoff appearances. I am not taking those for granted. However, there is a point where the front office has to take this core talent to the next level, especially considering their years together are quickly waning. The time is now for the Pirates to build a World Series team in this city that has invested so much into the Pirates. People stuck around through all the losing. It is time to return the favor by making some moves to get this team over the top. I am not saying to break the bank or kill the farm system, but you got to do better than a bunch of reclamation projects and 2nd-tier guys. It is time to break the Pirates mold and do something that isn't Pirate-like. It is time to be smartly aggressive and get players that will make a high impact and help bring this city what it righfully deserves. Your move, Pirates.
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