A repeat is difficult in any sport. The added wear from the grind of a long postseason run, coupled with the pressure of attempting to replicate the magic from a championship season, can tax any team, regardless of how talented a squad. Even making consecutive appearances in a championship series is a difficult task, with only the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers and the Kansas City Royals having accomplished that task since the calender turned to the year 2000.
While both the Yankees and Rangers were expected to contend the following year, the same is not the case with the Royals.