Entering May, the Kansas City Royals were 14-13, and fans were hopeful that this would be a contending year. Entering June, the Royal found themselves 26-29 after just being swept by the worst team in the majors. The Royals are taking their fans on a Royal Coaster that goes up, down, backwards, and upside down.
The Royals were riding a three game winning-streak coming into May, as soon as the Calendar flipped to May, they promptly lost five in a row, including a three-game sweep against division leading Detroit Tigers. Following that five-game losing streak, the Royals won two, lost one, won one, lost one, and then won three in a row. If that isn’t a “Royal Coaster” I don’t know what is.
Aside from games being crazy, and emotionally draining, the offense is also very inconsistent. On April 26th, the Royals scored two runs. On April 27th, they scored nine runs. On May 7th, the KC offense scored eight runs. The very next day, they scored exactly zero. Not exactly something you would call consistent.
The coaching staff has been a real “Royal Coaster” not just for the fans, but for the players too. In the last two-and-a-half seasons, the Royals have had six hitting coaches: Kevin Sietzer (who coaches the best offense in the American League) Andre David, Jack Maloof, George Brett, Pedro Grifol, and now Dale Sveum. The abundance of hitting coaches is mostly due to Dayton Moore’s lack of accountability, but also partly due to a subpar major-league offense.
As for media, that might be the biggest coaster of them all. With statements like, “Vargy pitched real good.” Which came out of the mouth of third baseman, Mike Moustakas. Or Dayton Moore talking about how he tried to get George Brett to resume his role as hitting coach, and saying to Royals Radio Reporter, Josh Vernier, “I really felt George might do it long term…I took a shot that that was going to happen..I just took a risk…Didn’t happen” This coming from Dayton Moore, is no surprise, but still sent Royals Twitter Nation into a frenzy, and they let the “Dayton-bashing” begin.
Hopefully, now the Royals are on a “Royal Coaster” that only goes up. In the midst of a four game, home-and-home series with their state rivals, Saint Louis Cardinals, the Royals fans have took to twitter with generally upbeat spirits, having just swept the Cardinals at home. Eh, who cares if it doesn’t count as a sweep yet, they’re entitled to it.
Royals fans are probably emotionally drained being on this “Royal Coaster” for so many years. In some cases it’s just like a train wreck you can’t turn away from. Actually, that would be most cases. When the Royals finally do get to where they’re headed, the fans deserve it. They’ve waited long enough.
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