At the start of the season, anyway, the composition of the 2016 Royals was remarkably similar to the 2015 World Series championship version.
Other than the profound loss of Ben Zobrist, a mixed blessing in the departure of the baffling Johnny Cueto and the exit of Alex Rios after a fine postseason, this essentially was the same team.
Even if you saw discouraging signs at times, sheer logic offered the consolation that they should — or at least could —- be contenders unless there was an inexplicable, abrupt team-wide collapse.
At least until five weeks into the season, when starting pitchers Chris Young and Kris Medlen went on the disabled list on the same day —- a sense of attrition compounded by the loss of a far more pivotal pair on a freak play last Sunday in Chicago:
All-Stars Alex Gordon and Mike Moustakas collided chasing a foul ball, pursuing it with the sort of abandon that led to the iconic Moustakas catch in the 2014 playoffs or sent Gordon flying into the bleachers at U.