The 2014 Kansas City Royals hit just 95 HR, or 45 below the MLB average of 140. That meager total was last among 30 teams. Despite the infrequent four-baggers, K.C. scored 651 runs for a middle-of-the-pack 14th place in MLB. Left fielder Alex Gordon led the Royals with 19 HR, and catcher Salvador Perez (17) and 3B Mike Moustakas (15) were the only other players to finish in double digits. First baseman Eric Hosmer and DH Billy Butler hit just 9 HR apiece, which was less than they normally produced. Despite the low-wattage lineup, the Royals went 89-73, and this wild card team pushed the San Francisco Giants to 7 games in the World Series.<\/p>\n
The team\u2019s .263 average was fifth in MLB, but a lack of patience at the plate led to a last-place 380 walks, or 87 below the big league average of 467. The high-average\/low-walks offense worked out to a team OBP of .314, which equaled the MLB norm. Four regulars had an OBP of less than .300. Perez\u2019s .260 average was decent, but just 22 walks in 606 plate appearances works out to a .289 OBP. Second baseman Omar Infante hit .252 (133 for 528) with 33 BB and finished with a .295 OBP. Moustakas went 97-for-457, hitting .212 with 35 walks. He had a .271 OBP in exactly 500 plate appearances. Shortstop Alcides Escobar hit .285 (165 for 579), but he walked just 23 times.<\/p>\n
There is no way for such a nickel-and-dime offense to win without solid pitching, and the Royals had 5 competent or better starters. Ace James Shields went 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA in 227 innings pitched. Lefty Jeremy Guthrie was 13-11 with a 4.13 ERA in 202.2 IP. Jason Vargas (11-10, 3.71 in 187 IP) joined Shields and Guthrie in being miserly with walks. Shields\u2019 44 BB was just 1.7 per 9 innings pitched. Guthrie (49 walks) came through with 2.2\/9 IP, while Vargas\u2019 41 walks means he gave out just 2 walks per 9 IP.<\/p>\n
Rookie Yordano Ventura had his best season by going 14-10 with a 3.20 ERA (120 ERA+). Southpaw Danny Duffy deserved much better than a 9-12 record, as his 2.53 ERA (156 ERA+) would have been good for fifth in the American League if he pitched another 12.2 innings to reach 162 IP. If the starters were solid, the bullpen was off the charts. Closer Greg Holland was 1-3 with a 1.44 ERA and 46 saves. Ninety strikeouts in 62.1 IP comes out to 13 Ks per 9 IP. Setup man Wade Davis had the best season ever by a middle reliever, going 9-2 with a 1.00 ERA in 72 innings. The right-hander gave up just 8 earned runs, and 109 Ks gave Davis 13.6 K per 9 innings.<\/p>\n
The Royals had a trio of Gold Glovers in Perez (now at 5 Gold Gloves), Hosmer and Gordon. Likewise, this year\u2019s Brewers were strong defensively, as LF Jackson Chourio and 2B Brice Turang just won Gold Gloves. This is Turang\u2019s second Gold Glove, and he also took a National League Platinum Glove in 2024. Although the national media makes Milwaukee\u2019s offense sound below average, the Brewers were somewhat better than other slap-hitting pennant winners.<\/p>\n
The 2026 Brewers pitching staff has its own long list of noteworthy statistics, and they will be covered in the next column.<\/p>\n
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