Baseball-Hall of Famer Brett says Royals will get even better

By Larry Fine NEW YORK, Nov 2 (Reuters) - The Royals had a dream run to their first World Series title in 30 years, but Kansas City baseball icon George Brett believes the Fall Classic champions should only get better. Hall of Famer Brett, the top player on Royals' teams that won the World Series in 1985 and made another trip to the title Series in 1980, says this Kansas City team is coming into its own. "They all had good offensive years this year," Brett told Reuters while leaning against the dugout railing before Sunday's Series-clinching Game Five win at Citi Field. "(Lorenzo) Cain, career year. (Mike) Moustakas, career year. (Salvador) Perez, career year. They all had career years. "I think they've all matured as players. They all know what they are capable of doing. They all know what's needed of them per at-bat," added Brett, who serves as Royals vice president in charge of baseball operations. The Royals ended a 29-year absence from the postseason last season by reaching the playoffs as a Wild Card team and won eight in a row to advance to the World Series before falling in seven games to the San Francisco Giants. This year they dominated the AL Central, winning it by 12 games and posting the best mark (95-67) in the American League. Brett said he expected the talented core of the Royals to improve. "Mike Moustakas, if he doesn't get better he's going to fail as a baseball player. If Eric Hosmer doesn't get better, he will fail as a baseball player. These guys are young enough and you get better," he said about the 27- and 26-year-old regulars. "Mike Moustakas batted .212 last year. He hit .284 this year. He's going to get better," the former star third baseman said about the current player manning the hot corner for the Royals. "Hopefully we're just seeing the tip of what these guys will be." Brett noted that outfielder Alex Gordon, hampered by injuries this season, should be better, and that the team went on to win it all even after losing closer Greg Holland at the end of the regular season. Of course decisions will have to be made about players acquired for the pennant run who will be free agents this offseason including second baseman Ben Zobrist, outfielder Alex Rios and starting pitcher Johnny Cueto. Veterans Gordon and Wade Davis, who took over masterfully as closer after Holland went down, have club options the team must decide whether to exercise for next season. Brett said general manager Dayton Moore and his staff likes to build around a particular type of player. "They wanted to get athletes to play baseball. We've a very athletic team, we're a very good defensive team," Brett said. "We are probably one of the faster teams in baseball. "Our outfield covers more ground than a lot of teams in baseball in a spacious ballpark in Kansas City. Our defense in the infield is very sure handed, our catcher shuts down the running game. Our bullpen is pretty much lights out. "If our starters go five or six, that's a quality start because we got five guys you can bring in." Brett even conceded that these Royals could have beaten the teams he was on in a best-of-seven, and the sweet-swinging lefty hitter who won three AL batting titles and the 1980 AL MVP award, gave a lot of credit to batting coach Dale Sveum. "He's got them to settle in and have a plan. Just try to be yourself. Don't try to be things you're not. Do what you're capable of doing," Brett said. "That's what he's gotten into these guys. "That's why you've seen so many rallies late in the game. There's a guy behind you that's just as capable of getting on base as you are. Get on base and let him move you up, and next guy move him up. And that's what we do." (Editing by Steve Keating.)