ANAHEIM, Calif. — It’s been weeks now since the Royals began the drumbeat for the coming summer by touting the 2012 season as “our Time” in their promotional efforts. Even players now routinely punctuate Twitter messages with an “our time” hashtag.well, all right.That time starts tonight against a financially refortified host of Angels and with much of the baseball world watching — albeit largely because of the start of Albert Pujols’ decade under a halo.the Royals are cool with that.“There’s a lot of potential here,” left fielder Alex Gordon said, “but I still think we have a lot to prove. “We feel confident, but we’re trying to keep that in the clubhouse. We’re not trying to say too much.”After all …It’s been nine years since the Royals produced a winning season, 17 years since they finished higher than third in a division race, 23 years since they won more than 84 games and 27 years since they reached the postseason.A long time …None of that it matters, by the way, to a core group of homegrown players who instead point to sustained minor-league success in rising through the system the last few years. the pipeline suggests cream rising to the top.the club’s lowest full-season affiliate won the Class A Midwest League in 2008; its high Class A affiliate posted the best record in the Carolina League in 2009; its Class AA affiliate won the Texas League in 2010; and its Class AAA affiliate won the Pacific Coast League in 2011.“We go out on a daily basis expecting to win,” said third baseman Mike Moustakas, who played on all four of those minor-league clubs.“That’s how we played throughout the minor leagues, and that’s kind of how we’ve been playing since we got here.”Manager Ned Yost raised the bar last December at the Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla., when he dismissed the suggestion that .500 was a reasonable goal for a developing club coming off a 71-91 season.“Playing .500 has never entered my mind,” he barked back at the time. “I think we’re going to play much better than .500. But who knows? These kids have to continue to develop and grow, but it’s time to take that step and start dealing with expectations.”those expectations, at least from within, didn’t diminish when the club suffered a series of spring injuries that already offers a contrast a remarkably healthy 2011.All-Star closer Joakim Soria is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.Starting catcher Salvy Perez, whom many regard as the club’s most irreplaceable player, might not return before the All-Star break after suffering torn knee cartilage last month. Starting pitcher Felipe Paulino and reliever Blake Wood will also open the season on the disabled list. “Nobody can replace Soria,” said veteran left-hander Bruce Chen, who will start tonight’s opener at Angel Stadium. “But we’re lucky we signed (Jonathan) Broxton, and we have guys like (Greg) Holland, (Aaron) Crow and Kelvin (Herrera) who can step in.“Losing Salvador hurts a lot but, unlike Soria, we’re not losing him for the whole season.” Yost said: “We’ll recover from those injuries. you have to cover it, but we have the depth to do it.”right fielder Jeff Francoeur is just as confident. “We have talent,” he said. We’ve got six or seven guys sitting at Triple-A who, at any moment, could come up here and be very successful.”We’re about to find out whether that confidence is merited. the Royals play 13 of their first 16 games against opponents with legitimate postseason aspirations. “our Time” is about to go real time in no time.That starts this weekend with three games against the Angels, an 86-victory team from a year ago that purchased Pujols and left-handed pitcher C.J. Wilson on the free-agent market and also regains a healthy Kendry Morales.“It’s going to be fun,” Moustakas said. “It’s a fun time to be a Royal.”the ride starts tonight, and it’s open to all. the Royals make it clear “our Time” is meant to be inclusive. you want in? You’re in.“This city deserves it,” Chen said. “the fans deserve it. “We’re confident that we have the talent. We’re confident that we have the tools, and we’re confident we’re ready to play.”Time to find out.
