Word of Justice

GM Dayton Moore has done a terrific job, and the Royals are inching toward respectability. Third baseman Alex Gordon is a franchise player, and right-hander Gil Meche was everything Moore hoped he'd be. This season's progress will depend on what the Royals get from some of the young talent they've been grooming.

Meche, Brian Bannister and Zack Greinke are decent at the top of the rotation, and if former first-round pick Luke Hochevar is ready, Royals Stadium will be a lot more fun.

Moore lured left fielder Jose Guillen to Kansas City with a three-year, $36 million contract, and he should improve an offense that was last in the American League in home runs and next-to-last in runs.

-- Richard Justice

Numbers Game

102 - Home runs by the Royals in the 2007, the worst mark in the American League by 16. Kansas City had big problems in the power department last year, but there's reason to think that could all change, now that Billy Butler and Alex Gordon are comfortable at the major league level.

.814 - Alex Gordon's OPS from Aug. 10 to the end of the season last year. The third baseman struggled mightily early in his first season in the bigs, but he turned it on late, making a breakout seem imminent heading into 2008. Gordon is expected to be a franchise player for many years and his ceiling is very, very high.

4.2 - Strikeouts per nine innings by Brian Bannister last year. The Royals pitcher was a fringe Rookie of the Year contender and a quality No. 2 pitcher in 2007, but, even with impeccable control, he's going to need to start missing more bats to have prolonged success.

-- Andrew Johnson

Fantasy Spin

There's a lot of value to be found on this Royals club, but not many players who can be penciled in as everyday starters for your lineup. On the offensive side, Alex Gordon and Billy Butler have the most potential this season. Gordon struggled with his plate discipline throughout most of 2007, but he came on stronger in the power department in his last two months. If he can correct his recognition this season, he should have no trouble putting up a 20-20 campaign and boosting that batting average. Butler is ready to provide 20 homers and 90 RBI in his first full year. Jose Guillen can be quite a useful outfielder in deeper leagues, but don't reach for his 2007 numbers.

Mark Teahen and Joey Gathright are two players to watch in deeper leagues. Teahen's power took a nosedive last year, but if he can regain his 2006 form, he'll be a good outfielder for your bench. If Gathright can focus more on bunting and base-running than car-jumping, he may be able to wrestle Teahen's starting job away and be a supreme source of speed (30-40 steals).

As far as pitching goes, Gil Meche, Joakim Soria and Zack Greinke are the trio of hurlers who offer the most upside. Some may include Brian Bannister, but despite his surprisingly successful 2007, he'll have a tough time repeating if he loses some of that exceptional command due to a low strikeout rate. Meche is a No. 4-caliber starter who provides solid numbers in all categories except wins. Greinke can actually be more valuable than Meche this year. Take a closer look and you'll see his 2007 post-break 2.42 ERA and nearly a strikeout per inning. I've always been a believer, but will he finally be as well? And while everyone is reaching for the bigger name closers, wait and snag Soria, who has the stuff and command to be an elite option, even though he may provide less saves than others.

-- Tom Herrera

Preview Poetry

The Royals might avoid fiasco
For the first time since D. J. Carrasco
Still, Gordon's not yet
A replacement for Brett
Nor for Frank White, Alberto Callaspo

-- Tom Fornelli/Will McDonald, FanHouse