Spring is springing!

The Royals are off to their customary good start in spring training. I've mentioned before that I can't help but be optimistic at this time of year. Why am I optimistic about a year when only the "farm" will be talked about? I want to be excited. I want to be surprised. I have all of June,July,August,and September to have reality slug me around. I want to be excited now. A weeks worth of games that don't count can't shed too much light on what to expect this season, but here are some out of the box predictions/feelings. I hope/expect Escobar to make the Zack trade more palatable. Again I think Zack quit on the team and I'm glad he is Milwaukee. A hard working, good defensive catcher will be nice to see. Cain and Jeffress will be wait and see deals. Odorizzi will be good but he is a "farm" boy. Francis and Chen have to be good. Mazzaro and Hochevar and O'Sullivan have to surprise and exceed career highs for the team to compete for 70 wins. Starting pitching is a big ?. The bullpen has a chance to be formidable. Collins and now Smith looking for a lefty role. Too early to earmark anyone but the basis seems to be there or at least coming
Escobar, bullpen, optimism. Remember 70 wins is what I'm hoping for. I'll take more but 70 is the goal. Melky, Frenchy, Cain? Gordon hasn't flamed completely out but the light is fading very fast. George Brett comparisons didn't quite work out for him. Too bad for Alex and the Royals. Too bad Kendal has to come back. Unnecessarily mean but catcher and CF need better than Leche and Kendall. Hell Jason is jumping into interviews that Moose is giving. Bad signing, very bad. Guillen bad. Only 2 years but 3 times the cost any team was willing to give the over the hill Kendall. Give Pena/Pina/Martinez the competition and the chance to catch every day.
My optimism is up. The "farm" boys are padding the spring record. I find it strangely satisfying when the Royals win 6 of 8 games, spring or not. See I can't help myself.
Go Royals.