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Kansas City Royals
Overall: 9
Title track: 1
Ownership: 37
Coaching: 54
Players: 16
Fan relations: 10
Affordability: 10
Stadium experience: 6
Bang for the buck: 24
Change from last year: +6
The Royals had the second-biggest leap in last year's Ultimate Standings, and now, after winning the World Series last fall, they climb into the top 10 as the highest-ranked MLB team. Key injuries to Mike Moustakas and Lorenzo Cain and Alex Gordon's bad year wrecked the team's playoff hopes, but Kansas City remained baseball-crazy, with the highest local TV ratings in the sport.
What's good
The Royals scored high once again in the ballpark experience (sixth overall) and fan relations, and the team received the best affordability score in MLB (both 10th overall). In fact, ticket prices didn't increase after a World Series title. It's worth noting, though, that per-game attendance decreased from 2015, which is unusual for a World Series winner. It seems like the team's postseason attendance high actually came after the Royals' first World Series trip in 2014. After all, fans of sports' top-ranked title track team (up 46 spots from last year!) can get spoiled.
What's bad
Ned Yost ranked 47th in coaching last year -- remember, the polling was done just before the Royals won the World Series -- and fell a few spots to 54th this year. Even with a ring, Royals fans remain unconvinced that Yost is one of the game's top managers. Apparently, even the year after a title, it's easier to blame the manager than the offense that finished near the bottom in runs scored.
What's new
The Royals climbed 23 spots in bang for the buck, which is a good sign that fans are leaving the ballpark happy. Next season will be interesting, as the Royals have already announced an increase in ticket prices to counter expected arbitration raises for Moustakas, Cain, Eric Hosmer, Danny Duffy and Alcides Escobar, all free agents after 2017. "This is all about trying to keep this thing going as long as we possibly can on the field," Royals VP Toby Cook told the Kansas City Star in explaining the price hike. The coming season might be the final stand for this group of players, as the Royals are unlikely to be able to retain all those free agents.
Next: Texas Rangers | Full rankings