Royals 2004 Star Series: Wrap

The 2004 Kansas City Royals were far from a good team. They finished the season with a dismal record of 58 wins and 104 losses. Despite their struggles, the team boasted a roster that included a mix of past and future All-Stars:
  • Zack Greinke
  • Carlos Beltran
  • Benito Santiago
  • Juan Gonzalez
  • Jose Bautista
  • Mike Sweeney
However, the Royals' pitching staff, outside of Zack Greinke, was particularly lackluster. Greinke, starting his career in 2004, made his MLB debut on May 22nd against the Athletics. Despite a promising start, his chance to become the youngest player to earn a win in the majors at the age of 20 was spoiled by a blown save from closer Jeremy Affeldt. Nonetheless, Greinke went on to achieve significant success in his career, winning the CY Young Award in 2009, appearing in six All-Star Games, and earning six Gold Gloves, although he never secured a World Series ring.
Outfielder Carlos Beltran, unlike Greinke, expressed reluctance to leave Kansas City: "I cried like a baby that night," he recalled. Despite his emotional attachment to the Royals, he eventually moved on, achieving further success, including nine All-Star appearances and a 2017 World Series championship with the Houston Astros. His managerial stint with the Astros, however, was marred by involvement in the 2020 sign-stealing scandal.
Before Salvador Perez's tenure, the Royals struggled to find a reliable catcher. In 2004, they hoped for a resurgence from Benito Santiago, but the experiment failed, as the 39-year-old managed modest statistics before departing for the Pirates the following season.
The Royals front office continued to add former stars in hopes of making a playoff push, including outfielder Juan Gonzalez, who signed a one-year deal at age 34 but had a brief stint with the team, playing just 33 games. Despite a solid performance in those games, Gonzalez's return to form didn't materialize as expected.
Jose Bautista, who later became a thorn in the Royals' side during his tenure with the Blue Jays in 2015, briefly played for Kansas City in 2004 after being acquired via the MLB Rule 5 Draft. Despite a limited role and modest statistics during his short stint with the Royals, Bautista's career took off after leaving Kansas City, particularly during his standout years with the Blue Jays.
Finally, Mike Sweeney stood out as a consistent performer for the Royals throughout his career. Despite injuries, Sweeney's hitting prowess was a cornerstone for the team. His peak season came in 2000 when he played 162 games, hitting 22 home runs and driving in 79 RBIs. Despite the individual successes of these players, the Royals' overall performance was overshadowed by their poor pitching, which ranked among the worst in the league in 2004.
Following two disappointing seasons, including 2004, team owner David Glass hired former Braves assistant general manager Dayton Moore in 2006. Under Moore's leadership, the Royals experienced a resurgence, reaching two World Series and winning one in 2015.
In conclusion, the 2004 Royals remain a fascinating team due to their roster featuring multiple Hall of Famers and future stars who went on to have successful careers with other teams, despite enduring a difficult season.











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