4 THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN MUNDAY, MARCH 31, 2014 PAGE 11 + QUOTE OF THE DAY "I love watching these guys play baseball. They have fun, they care about the game, they respect the game. They care about one another. They interact with the fan well, I'd like to think that because of those ingredients, they'll be rewarded." Dayton Moore when speaking of this year's team in the MLB payroll in 2014, it was 22nd FACT OF THE DAY Royals rank 19th. Royals rank 19th. — CBSSports TRIVIA OF THE DAY Q: Last time Royals had back-toback winning seasons? A: 1988, 1989 — CBSSports THE MORNING BREW Royals' season begins, fans hope for chance in playoffs Last season was monumental for the Royals, but as the 2014 season begins today, fans remain hopeful that this year will mark the team's entrance into the playoffs There was much contention when Dayton Moore received a two-year extension, prolonging the well-publicized process that the Royals underwent. The team revamped its farm system and spent more money internationally and in free agency. Moore has a chance to exhibit all of the work he's done in the past eight seasons he's spent at Royal Way. Moore has fielded by far his most respected team and the AL Central is more open than last year. The Royals have one of the better young pitchers in baseball in Yordano Ventura and enhanced its offense more than Detroit did in the offseason. While Detroit got rid of Prince Fielder and essentially downgraded its offense and still is devoid of a capable hitting shortstop after its starter Jose Iglesias got hurt, the Royals added Omar Infante who is a drastic improvement over the atrocities of Chris Getz and Elijah Johnson. The Royals community rejoiced when the second base duo was released from the team. By Connor Oberkrom sports@kansan.com With a small market team not having superior advantage, fortitude is part of the formula and things have to turn in your favor. Baseball is more rampant in that aspect than other sports. The Royals still have three major flaws in their lineup in Lorenzo Cain, Alcides Escobar and Mike Moustakas. It needs two of those guys to at least be average hitters. You can have two holes in your lineup, but three is a lot for a contending team. Also, it added Noki Aoki who embellishes the Royals top-notch defensive outfield and adds another speedster to its roster. Aoki has 50 stolen bases in the last two seasons. The pitching is what helped make the Royals a contender last season, but now it remains one of the team's biggest question marks. While James Shields remains a quality number one starter, the drop-off after that is significant. Jeremy Guthrie and Bruce Chen, who are not notoriously groundball pitchers, experienced a lot of batted ball in play. The defense can only sustain that so long. While Jason Vargas was a quality signing, his resume is closer to one of a number four starter. Also, with Ervin Santana gone it leaves a huge void that Ventura has the ability to fill and could make or break the lunge into the playoffs. Ventura can gun it, topping out at 102 mph, but velocity can sometimes get topsy-turvy as has been the case with Danny Duffy in some of his outings. The scouts, however, rave that his is one of the bookstores throwing hurle of the hardest throwing hurlers out there. The concern is if he can handle a full-season workload. This year is the tipping point for With Shields' contract up after this year, the stakes reach an unfamiliar territory for Moore and Royals fans. The Myers-Shields trade all was based on these two years and made for the purpose of entering the playoffs. It wasn't to make the Royals respectable but to cut down on the mocking of the young developing talent that gets "traded away for nothing." The Royals have become a punchline in their rock bottom years, but now look to taste some real baseball glory for the first time since 1985. Royals fandom. Everyone is invested in this team, gearing all their attention toward this season. While making the playoffs is something unordinary for Royals fans, not making the playoffs would put a huge dent in investment in the team down the road. Dayton Moore has faced warranted criticism with his many questionable moves, but he can mask all that with one playoff appearance. After all of the bleakness suffered as a small market team, this upcoming season can make all the difference. Edited by Katie Gilbaugh This week in athletics Monday No Events Tuesday Baseball Wichita State 6 p.m. Lawrence Wednesday Softball Wichita State 6 p.m. Wichita Thursday No Events Friday Softball Oklahoma 6:30 p.m. Norman, Okla. Women's golf SMU All day Dallas Track Stanford All day Palo Alto, Calif. Baseball Kansas State 6:30 p.m. Manhattan Women's tennis Baylor 3:30 p.m. Lawrence Saturday Men's golf Irish Creek Collegiate All day Charlotte, N.C. Softball Oklahoma 2 p.m. Norman, Okla. Women's golf SMU All day Dallas Track Stanford All day Palo Alto, Calif. Women's soccer Baseball Kansas State 2 p.m. Manhattan Women's soccer lowa 1 p.m. Lawrence Track Battle on the Bayou All day Baton Rouge, La. Sunday Men's golf Irish Creek Collegiate All Day Charlotte, N.C. Women's golf SMU All day Dallas Women's tennis Softball Oklahoma 12 p.m. Norman, Okla. Women's tennis Texas 12 p.m. Norman, Okla. Baseball Kansas State 2 p.m. Manhattan 785-864-4358 NOW HIRING full & part-time lead & & assistant teaching staff. Must have prior teaching experience in a licensed center w/1-5yrs. old. Substitute teachers also needed. College credits & Early Childhood credits preferred. Submit application from website, http://bit.ly/1iaHGv, along with resume to admin@googolosoflearn.com. Part-time Classroom Aides needed at Hilltop Child Dev. Center. Assist teachers in daily activities. Located on KU campus. Must be 18 & KU student. Hourly position. Email resume to chtultgrn@gmail.com. HAWKCHALK.COM Full/Part time workers needed for vegetable farm. Call 842-7941 leave message with your experience. HOUSING Secure Your Summer job now! The #1 Best Private Course in KC-Shadow Glen Golf Club, off K-10 & Cedar Creek Pkwy, will be hiring servers/bartenders. We are looking for servers who are avail days, evenings & weekend shifts. Exp. is preferred but we will train you if you are motivated to learn. Enjoy free meals & earn golf privileges in a fun atmosphere. Email your resume along with the hrs, you are avail. to work: barb@shadowglen.org NOW LEASING FOR AUGUST! 1 & 2 Bedroom Luxury Townhomes Saddlebrook Townhomes Overland Pointe Townhomes 625 Folks Road 785-832-8200 HOUSING 3 BR and 4BR Available Aug. Close to KU. All appls. Must see. Call 785-766-7518. Summer lease June- July 3BH, 2 BA, Near KU. All Apps. floor floors Call 785-841-3849 NOW LEASING FOR FALL! Call for details! Chase Court Apartments 785-843-8220 Large 3BR, 2BA, garage, W/D. FP- Jana Drive, Call/text 785-331-5360 lawrencepcm.com HOUSING STUDENT GHETTO HOUSE FOR RENT 3 BR; WILL CONVERT TO 4 ON REQUEST HARDWOOD FLOORS | FINISHED BASEMENT 5 MIN WAKE TO CAMPUS | 2 BLKS TO MASS ST HOT TUB | HIGH BACK YARD | KEGERATOR (COLLEGE!) $1650/MO | 316-519-3266 New Leasing for Summer & Fall 1-4 B Apts/AptTowns, Homes, Bus, Pool, Small, Quick Pets OK. 785- 834-0011 www.holidayPets OK. 3 BR, 2BA townhomes avail. Aug. 1 2808 University - $1300/month Adam Ave. - $1200/month Deposit - one months rent Pet Friendly! Call Garber Property Management! 785-842-2475 HOUSING Walk to campus/downtown 281/BRIA, W/D storage 901 Illinois. Cal/tell 785-331-5360 lawrenceprm.com STUDIO, 1, 2, & 3 BEDROOM OPTIONS HOUSING NOW RESERVING FOR SUMMER & AUGUST 785-842-4200 + . Bob Billings & Crestine Walking distance to KU KANSAN.COM +