Strauss: 'New money' Royals fans take on BFIB - STLtoday.com
The Kansas City Royals’ fan base is new money and it’s not going away. After living on baseball’s version of corned beef hash for more than a generation, Royals Nation is getting used to filet mignon in a barbecue market. Barring change, the Royals will send seven starters to next month’s All-Star Game in Cincinnati as a result of cyber ballot-stuffing by their newly frenetic following. “This time it counts” apparently has taken on new meaning among camp followers who awoke last fall to discover they’ve got a pretty damn good team. As we speak, catcher Salvador Perez, first baseman Eric Hosmer, third baseman Mike Moustakas, shortstop Alcides Escobar, outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Alex Gordon, and designated hitter Kendrys Morales lead their positions in the — take a deep... ” Two other Royals are also within hailing distance of “earning” a start. No one’s disputing the Royals are a fun story and are worthy of meaningful representation in Cincinnati. They play aggressive ball, never back down and their manager, Ned Yost, enjoyed the last laugh last season over those who had constructed a cottage industry demeaning his tactical skills. The same Yost who so stressed the 2008 Milwaukee Brewers that he was dismissed two weeks shy of the playoffs now gives off a more relaxed vibe. A longtime Atlanta Braves coach, Yost became the first limb off the Bobby Cox coaching tree to steer a team to the World Series. But even Yost would have trouble disputing his fan base is acting as. Source: www.stltoday.com
