OK, we admit it. We thought the Royals' new manager was goofy back in spring training, when, like a high school pep-squad captain, Tony Peña printed up T-shirts with the word "Believe." Then the Royals started winning. They kept winning past when it should have been a fluke. They kept winning with a revolving door of starting pitchers, with Mike Sweeney among the wounded, with no clear leadoff hitter. And somewhere along the line, we finally woke up to the fact that this guy can inspire his players like no one else. The team played out of its mind all year, and Peña is the reason. We might not be springing for Peña's cheesy T-shirts, but we sure are itching to buy a retro, powder-blue Royals jersey.
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