CHICAGO (AP) -- The mob arrived as soon as Salvador Perez squeezed that final foul popup, officially bringing Kansas City's playoff drought to an end.
Yes, the Royals are going back to the postseason.
Kansas City clinched a playoff spot Friday night for the first time in 29 years, beating the Chicago White Sox 3-1 behind seven scoreless innings from Jeremy Guthrie.
Kansas
City secured at least a wild card and ended the longest active
postseason drought among the major North American sports leagues. The
last time the Royals made it to the playoffs, George Brett led Kansas
City to a World Series victory over St. Louis in 1985.
''It feels better than expected,'' said Billy Butler,
a 2004 draft pick and eight-year veteran. ''It's a great thing. I'm
proud to bring this organization something they envisioned when they
drafted me.''
>>>> It took the Royals 28 years to get back to the post season, even though:
A. They continually drafted high each year in the amateur drafts.
B. They had a consistently good farm system of prospects.
C. They promoted their valued home grown prospects on a regular basis.
As a small market team, the Royals did not have the financial standing to compete on the major free agent market. Therefore, the team had to rely on its scouting and development departments in order to build a winning organization. This is the classic small market approach.
Which is exactly the approach the Cubs have been using the past four years. The emphasis on home grown talent (which is cheaper and under 6 years of cost control) is a noble quest, but it does not mean instant or continuous success. The Royals are the perfect example; it took almost three decades to achieve the minimum goal of each spring training - - - to make the playoffs.
So when the Cub media cheerleaders are jumping up and down this winter, saying that the Cubs are going to be in the wild card hunt, don't believe them. Remember the Royals journey to success.
