The Kansas City Royals have had a road map for success. It has led them to memorable playoff victories and consecutive World Series appearances as recently as 2014 and 2015.

However, there is one problem.

The original road map is outdated and the road signs have changed. The lanes have shifted and traffic has gotten worse. There are new requirements geared towards winning. Pitching is still at a premium, but now the top teams are stocked with young, talented superstars.

Royals general manager JJ Picollo understands this new frontier. His biggest challenge is constructing a winner that can develop quickly and ultimately appease fans.

KC fell to 14-35 after Monday’s loss.

“Big picture, there are some things moving in the right direction,” Picollo said. “The immediate return hasn’t been what we expected at this point as far as wins and losses. There are some victories along the way. We just have to believe in what we are doing and believe in our processes and stay the course. It may take some time to work out.”

How long will that take? Royals fans have asked this question for years. They have clamored for a consistent winner. The last time that happened was a decadelong stretch from 1976-85. The Royals made the ALCS six times and won the 1985 World Series.

It took 30 years to win again. The 2015 World Series was supposed to be a renaissance for the organization. Instead, fan debates today center on the topic of a new stadium as the Royals hope to appease their frustrations on the field by finding the right mix of talent and developing it.

The Royals have done that with the likes of Billy Butler, Lorenzo Cain, Eric Hosmer, Whit Merrifield and Alex Gordon over the years. But what about this new group?

Core group has potential to be great

This season, KC has another intriguing mix of core players. The group includes Vinnie Pasquantino, Bobby Witt Jr., Nick Pratto, Maikel Garcia, Brady Singer and MJ Melendez. Longtime veterans Salvador Perez and Zack Greinke provide leadership while serving as a reminder of the glory days, even if Greinke wasn’t around for the World Series runs.

Still, the Royals must sustain a winning culture. Picollo knows chemistry will be a key factor in creating that environment.

“It’s when they all come together and start to peak together is when we will be getting off that exit ramp and be ready to get to the end destination,” Picollo said.

There have been flashes from the new core. Pasquantino has shined since arriving last season and Witt is an exciting player with elite speed. Pratto and Melendez have the requisite hitting tools to supplement the offense.

Pitching remains a big issue. The Royals haven’t gotten production from their starting rotation. Singer has developed, but high draft picks such as Jackson Kowar, Asa Lacy and Daniel Lynch are still trying to figure it out.

Currently, the Royals are down multiple starters. The organization is trying to piece it together by utilizing an “opener” from the bullpen. KC has used reliever Carlos Hernandez in that role, and he has thrived with seven strikeouts in his last two opener appearances.

Picollo said that Lynch is close to returning from the injured list. When asked if he would consider other minor-league starters, he said there aren’t many players knocking on the MLB doorstep.

“Right now, nobody has really forced our hand and make room for them,” Picollo said. “I would suspect over the course of the season, there are going to be (players called up). … Hopefully, guys will settle in and start pushing to where we feel confident they are ready to be up here.”

Royals seeking influx of talent

The Royals seek three qualifications in their call-ups. There must be a measure of preparation, opportunity and performance at a respectable level.

Given the starting-rotation injuries, the opportunity is there. It’s hard to evaluate preparation, but the Royals have not expressed concerns in that area.

So, that leaves the performance aspect. The Royals are scouring the free agent and trade markets. They made a minor move to acquire James McArthur from the Philadelphia Phillies. He stands at 6-foot-7 and has good strikeout numbers. Picollo made the trade after the club identified a chance to develop McArthur’s arm talent.

“There were things that our pitching coaches really liked,” Picollo said. “They thought there was something to work with. So that’s why we made the trade for him. We value what he can do and we also have a strong belief that we can help him.”

These are moves the Royals should be making. Grabbing arm talent is important to build a treasure chest of MLB-ready pitching.

“We will continue to look at it,” Picollo said. “The thing that’s tough is the supply and demand. (That) is where it gets difficult. There is not enough (supply) and there is a lot of demand.”

New approach could lead to better results Royals fans understand the record is not important … right now. The key is developing the talent in KC and using the trade deadline to build a solid roster foundation.

Picollo is well on his way to refilling the cupboard. Recent moves to designate non-performing veterans Franmil Reyes and Hunter Dozier for assignment have opened up opportunities for young players. Picollo said the latest decision was to give younger players more at-bats.

Additional moves could be in the works. Several teams could be interested in veterans such as Aroldis Chapman at the trade deadline.

Picollo also mentioned that the team has metrics to evaluate the trade market, seeking to acquire pitching and defensive value when possible to bring flexibility to the lineup, rotation and bullpen.

“Pitching is always going to be a priority no matter how deep you are,” Picollo said. “We are experiencing that right now with injuries. Positionally, from a defensive standpoint, that is important to us. Really, it’s how you match up with a certain team that is going to be more predictive. Ideally, we could get pieces back that are major-league ready or close to major-league ready.”

The Royals have seen the youth-movement formula work. However, it’s a subtle change in organizational philosophy and a shift toward new metrics that might allow the Royals to expedite the rebuild.

“We just have to stay with that process,” Picollo said, “and play the long game rather than the short game.”