Lets take a look at the rest of the year...

The Royals are on a Bob Davis winning streak of two in a row, so its time to get an optimistic vibe in here. They are sitting at 23-34 right now with 105 games left to play. I see 54-51 the rest of the way. How will they get there? Lets start off with my projections for the offense.

1. David DeJesus - 100 games, .301/.366/.421, 6HR 33RBI
2. Mark Grudzielanek - 51 games, .278/.322/.384, 2HR, 19RBI
3. Alex Gordon - 104 games, .319/.388/.544, 17HR, 72RBI
4. Jose Guillen - 98 games, .294/.352/.533, 18HR, 80RBI
5. Miguel Olivo - 81 games, .266/.314/.489, 11HR, 55RBI
6. Mark Teahen - 102 games, .301/.370/.443, 8HR, 49RBI
7. John Buck - 80 games, .243/.322/.415, 9HR, 37RBI
8. Joey Gathright - 64 games, .277/.341/.328, 0HR, 15RBI
9. TP - 18 games, .144/.147/.165, 0HR, 3RBI

Others:
Billy Butler - 80 games, .320/.390/.485, 11HR, 53RBI
Alberto Callaspo - 77 games, .284/.332/.414, 4HR, 31RBI
Ross Gload - 56 games, .266/.315/.406, 3HR, 23RBI
Esteban German - 43 games, .225/.340/.320, 1HR, 9RBI
Mike Aviles - 30 games, .298/.330/.436, 4HR, 15RBI
Random others - .210/.290/.350, 2HR, 18RBI

As you can see, I think Gordon will really bust out over the course of the rest of the season as will Butler upon his return to give the Royals a truly formidable middle of the lineup when coupled with Guillen and Olivo (a moderate dropoff still). I still like Mark Teahen and I hope he doesn't continue to prove me to be an idiot. I think he's the #2 hitter by August. I also think Grudz finally gets traded. Until that point, Callaspo is the starting shortstop - for better or for worse. When Grudz gets traded, Aviles plays short and Callaspo goes to second. The lineup I'd like to see at the end of the year:

1. DeJesus, CF
2. Teahen, RF
3. Butler, 1B
4. Gordon, 3B
5. Guillen, LF
6. Olivo, DH
7. Buck, C
8. Callaspo, 2B
9. Aviles, SS

It might be the two straight wins and an off day talking, but I really think the lineup will go as far as Butler and Gordon will take it, and I see them taking it a long way - to 4.8 runs per game. The season totals will still be pretty modest, but definitely not in the running for worst ever. Here we go on the pitchers:

Greinke - 21 starts, 11-4, 3.19 ERA, 134 IP, 122 H, 29 BB, 114 K
Meche - 20 starts, 7-7, 3.88 ERA, 124 IP, 128 H, 38 BB, 97 K
Bannister - 17 starts, 5-8, 4.31 ERA, 107 IP, 121 H, 20 BB, 66 K
Hochevar - 20 starts, 10-2, 3.11 ERA, 131 IP, 119 H, 47 BB, 126 K
Davies - 16 starts, 4-11, 5.54 ERA, 82 IP, 103 H, 37 BB, 56 K
Rosa - 11 starts, 6-3, 4.12 ERA, 68 IP, 55 H, 29 BB, 83 K

The starting staff, I think, will really step it up with Greinke, Hochevar and Meche leading the way. Rosa will come up when Banny makes a trip to the DL and misses a couple starts and then will be back when the Royals have finally seen enough of Davies. He'll show enough in this time to almost have locked up his spot on the 2009 staff. That staff of five should be very formidable in 2009.

Its tough to predict the pen, so I'll give you the highlights from the triple threat on the backside of the pen.

Soria - 38 games, 1-3, 2.13 ERA, 43 IP, 29 H, 7 BB, 50 K, 24 saves, 3 blown saves
Nunez - 41 games, 3-2, 3.19 ERA, 52 IP, 49 H, 18 BB, 46 K, 1 save
Ramirez - 35 games, 2-4, 3.44 ERA, 41 IP, 31 H, 14 BB, 53 K, 3 saves

That's what I have for you today. Days after off days are worse for bloggers than the actual off day.