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Wednesday, July 12
Royals fans give midseason report
We told you what we thought of the Royals' first-half performance, now you've told us. Here is what you had to say about what the Royals have to do in the second half:

The Royals are finally entertaining again with a fine nucleus of young, everyday players. The real problem is that by the time the farm system generates some effective pitchers, say in three years, the everyday guys will be leaving for free agency gold.

Dan Coomer
Olathe, Kan.


The Royals pitching this year has been an absolute embarrassment. The finger is starting to point at the coaching philosophy of manager Tony Muser and pitching coach Brent Strom.
Richard Grantham

With David Glass as the new owner, everyone is hoping that we will be able to keep the young future stars here in Kansas City. We need to sign these guys to long term contracts just like the Indians did several years ago.

Jason Cline
Kansas City, Mo.


The Royals need a proven type leader on the pitching staff. Not necessarily a 20-game winner, but someone who has been through the "wars". These younger players need someone to lean on in a 162 game season. I believe the Royals have the arms, they just need some guidance on how to win at this level.

Patrick J. Moran
Lees Summit, Mo.


If our pitchers could start pitching instead of trying to blow everything by every hitter, maybe, just maybe, we could turn things around and have a really respectable second half. I recall two cagey lefties, Larry Gura and Charlie Liebrandt, who pitched exceptionally well, although neither threw hard, but instead threw smartly.

Pat Cremin
Tulsa, Okla.


In most cases, when a team stinks they fire the manager as the scapegoat and all the pundits say, 'It's not the manager'. In the case of the Royals, it's the manager -- and the pitching coach. Fire Muser and Strom, hire Vern Ruhle as pitching coach and bring back Hal McRae. The young everyday players have finally developed, but the pitchers won't as long as they are being abused every time they start.

Jim Burns
Fayetteville, Ark.


The bottom line with the Royals is that you can put all the Sweeney's and Dye's on the field you want, but you can't ask them to score ten runs every single game. This pitching staff is brutal.

Mike Kayser
Pleasant Hill, Iowa


It has been a pretty disheartening experience with the level of play after that glorious start. I look for Beltran to come back big in the second half. He is simply too talented to keep playing at this torrid pace. He is the next five- tool star in the game. I am a bit confused on what the Royals should do about the pitching situation. Fans in KC are calling for Mr. Glass to trade for a quality starter.

Brian Stevenson
Kansas City, Mo.


The Royals pitching this year has been an absolute embarrassment. The finger is starting to point at the coaching philosophy of manager Tony Muser and pitching coach Brent Strom. No one in KC thought it was possible for the pitching staff to be as bad as they were in '99, but they actually seem worse. When the ace of your staff is Mac Suzuki, you know you are in trouble.

Richard Grantham
Greenwood, Mo.


One must remember that while winning is nice, the Royals are still building for "next year." It will be at least 2001, and more likely 2002, before this team is in a position to make a postseason run. The lineup is very solid, but the Royals must get some consistency in the bullpen. In the second half, look for potential impact from pitcher Jeff Austin, and outfielder Dee Brown.

Darin Atchison
Ottawa, Kan.


The Royals could be one or two years away from the playoffs. They have an excellent young foundation of Dye, Sweeney, Beltran, Febles, and Damon. They are also developing many young prospects in the farm system such as OF Dee Brown, SP Jeff Austin, 1B Ken Harvey, and 3B Joe Dillon. If their minor leaguers develop, the Royals will soon have the pitching to match their offense and become a tough team to beat.

Aaron Wolfson
Omaha, Neb.

 

ALSO SEE
Midseason report: Kansas City Royals

MLB midseason reports