{"id":110130,"date":"2025-12-09T00:52:39","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T05:52:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=110130"},"modified":"2025-12-09T00:52:39","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T05:52:39","slug":"royals-have-standard-issue-not-roster-issue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/12\/09\/royals-have-standard-issue-not-roster-issue\/","title":{"rendered":"The Royals Do Not Have a Roster Issue. They Have a Standards Issue."},"content":{"rendered":"

The Kansas City Royals keep talking about adding bats and bullpen help, but that is not where the gap is. The real weakness is the Royals’ standards issue in the clubhouse. General Manager J.J. Picollo’s comments at the recent GM Meetings told a story about a team searching for complementary pieces when the truth is more straightforward. This club needs a higher bar for how it competes every single day, inspiring fans and analysts to believe in a stronger, more resilient culture.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Nov 3, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro (33) and general manager J.J. Picollo talk with media during a press conference at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Royals Have a Standards Issue in the Clubhouse<\/h2>\n

Too Easy To Pitch To<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Picollo mentioned the desire to lengthen the lineup during the GM Meetings, as reported by MLB.com<\/a>. <\/span>Kansas City finished with a .303 team OBP in 2024, which ranked 24th in MLB according to FanGraphs<\/a>. <\/span>When a team fails to control the strike zone, it cannot establish a standard of being hard to beat. The offense looked passive far too often.<\/span><\/p>\n

One Player Cannot Carry a Culture<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

In that same interview, Picollo pointed to the Royals’ young core as the heart of the club.<\/span><\/p>\n

That core has talent, but talent without accountability tends to stall. Veterans matter because they give shape to daily habits. The Royals never built that spine. Teams like the Baltimore Orioles and Texas Rangers climbed quickly because their veterans raised the daily standard, a standard Kansas City still needs to meet.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Problem Was Identity, Not Personnel<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Picollo emphasized that Kansas City’s challenge was inconsistency rooted in a fragile identity, underscoring the need for a mindset and standard shift.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Royals ranked 27th in chase rate this season, per Baseball Savant<\/a>. <\/span>They also ranked 28th in walk rate, per FanGraphs<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Those numbers point to one truth. Kansas City surrendered too much control in the small details. Identity lives in the details.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cNobody can outwork Salvy… but then when you get Bobby [Witt Jr.] in there. When your best players are your best leaders\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

J.J. Picollo speaks on the work ethic amongst the @Royals<\/a> stars and how it rubs off on the younger players.<\/p>\n

MLB Network + @SageUSAmerica<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/UTFOaKchxz<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/W812C3bMJx<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 8, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n