When Yordano Ventura died in a January car accident in the Dominican Republic, the sadness of a life snuffed out too early was overwhelming.
It was made more sad, even, because of the talent and potential Ventura had as a pitcher for the Kansas City Royals. There was a feeling, perhaps even an expectation, that 2017 would be a breakout season for the volatile Ventura, who had struggled to corral all of that enormous talent.
Ventura is gone, unbelievably, but the Royals had to go on. And give credit to general manager Dayton Moore, who has put together a starting pitching staff that just might be good enough to give Kansas City a chance to unseat Cleveland as American League Central champion.