[duncan_idaho]

Some food for thought:

1) Remember that the goal for the month of May needs to be staying around .500 for the Royals. THis is by far KC's toughest month in the season. If they can skate through it AT .500 or slightly above, they'll pick up ground in June, July and August as the schedule softens. I said before the month started that I'd be THRILLED to still be 5 games over .500 at the end of the month. That still is true.

2) It's still too early to trade for a bat. The earliest deals really won't start happening until June, because most teams won't "give up" on the season until that point.

Chase Utley will remain a prime target and should. Alex Rios is another guy that could be an option, if the White Sox continue to lag. He's got another year plus an option year at a decently-sized price, but Rios would look awfully nice in RF for 1.5 seasons. (Would also let them continue to slow-play Jorge Bonifacio, who probably is ready in 2015).

Ethier is not really an option, IMO. Not a huge impact guy but has a huge impact contract.

3) Billy Butler is not going to slump all season. When he does, the offense is likely going to struggle because of how thin it is.

4) Francoeur and Getz are black holes offensively. They seem to have realized this with Getz. I like Johnson getting PT, because at least he provide elite 2B defense. They are starting to realize it was Francoeur (who should sit except against LHP).