Fans might be wise to quit Royals
I am saying this because I have done it, and am back to really enjoying the game again.
I decided to quit the Royals about a year ago. I had come to the conclusion that the Royals baseball operations people were relatively incompetent, in several key areas in particular; player scouting, player evaluation and development, roster construction and in game strategy.
Also it seemed to me that Dayton and his key baseball operations people were pretty set in thier ways, reluctant to change and adopt more analytically driven decision making in all the areas mentioned.
MOST IMPORTANTLY THOUGH, I found that following the Royals was becoming a real negative emotional experience. I'd listen to Dayton or Ned talk and get mad. The 2018 team was so pathetically bad that I couldn't stand to watch them for more than a few innings
I started looking around for a new team to root for, and ended up following three teams, casually at first, and then with greater interest as the season moved on. Essentially it was like auditioning them to see which was worthy of my support. The three teams were the Brewers, the Oakland Athletics, and the Tampa Bay Rays.
One thing I found out was that the baseball operations people in all three organizations are much better that the Royals.
Over this past off-season I have done more research on these teams. and decided to follow all three, with a first, second, and third favorite. In essence being a fan of all three teams. The Rays are my first favorite team.
When friends of mine have asked about the process of changing affiliations I liken it to quitting smoking. I had terrible withdrawl symptons throughout the spring and summer of 2018. It wasn't easy at all, but I have to tell you now that I am over the withdrawl period I feel like a new man!
I love following the game again.
The experience has made me wonder fans today really need to trust their teams baseball operations leaders in a way that wasn't so important before. Could be a by-product of the analytics revolution with the fans being in a better position to evaluate their teams leadership.
Usually in industry, when management falls behind like the Royals had. ownership steps in and replaces the leadership.
Someday I might follow the Royals again, but only after the leadership improves.