Complete the pattern: 5, 10, 20...

Today I read an article in the KC Star about how Carlos Beltran has really become the stellar player that all of Kansas City knew he would be. It really got me thinking about the future of the Royals... like just about anything else. But this time I started thinking about something different. I was trying to figure out who would be the next player to have their number retired by the Royals. Had Beltran stayed there is little doubt that eventually his number would have been placed at the base of the scoreboard (barring injury or mental breakdown). Just imagine having that .270+ avg, 35+ hr, 100+ runs scored, 100+ rbi, 20+ sb almost every year... it almost makes me cry. There's only one problem to this secenario: Beltran would not have put up these numbers in KC (if he was stuck here) because he did not feel as if he were on a team that could compete. Eventually his numbers would have fallen because he would not have put forth the effort for the Royals. So maybe his number would not have been retired after all. The next thought would have been Mike Sweeney. The man is a machine in the batter's box and any Major League pitcher will tell you he is one of the toughest outs in the majors. He is even a great guy off the field, and a great ambassador for the game. But, as we all know, number 29 will not find its way to the base of the scoreboard because Sweeney has been racked with injuries. So where does that leave us? Who is out there that could possibly earn the right to have their number for the rest of the Royals' days?

First, it's important to look at those who's numbers have been retired briefly. You have 10 Dick Howser, 20 Frank White, and 5 George Brett. The key to all three of these individuals is not that they were the only three to make a lasting impact on the Royals. It is the fact that they helped to define Royals baseball. Dick Howser was a guy that people in KC latched onto, he really pushed the team to succeed and he put them in postion to win all the time. Frank White is quite possibly the best defensive second baseman of all time. Like the Wizard in St. Louis, White preveted as many runs scoring as many people drove in throughout a season. He played smart, tough baseball. George Brett put the Royals on the map. He was the Royals first true superstar and he played the game the way it is supposed to be played. Every day he gave it everything he got, regardless of the situation or his contract or even his health. Consequently, his numbers refelect this attitude.

Which brings us back to the present. Who can redefine Royals baseball over the next decade or so? Who can become the face of the Royals and lead us to success? Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the next number to be retired by the Royals (as long as health or trade don't interfere): 9. That's right, number 9. Good old David DeJesus. Watching DeJesus play is immensly fun. Like the retired numbers before him, he plays the game the way it is supposed to be played. He is out their giving his all every play regardless, and to top it off, he is having fun doing it. He almost always has a smile on his face in the field and on the bases... it's refreshing to see that enjoyment on a player's face in KC. And the kicker to all of this is that he makes the Royals better. He may not be as flashy as Beltran was or is, but day in and day out he makes plays that help the Royals win and he does it in all aspects. He hits the ball solidly, gets on base, runs the bases well, and fields the ball as good as just about anyone. So, 25 or 30 years from now, when DeJesus has been away from the game for awhile, don't be surprised if number 9 sits forever immortalized with 5, 10, and 20.

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