Well, three games into the season things sure looked rocky for the Royals.
Part of me had this fear about a month ago this is how the team would look. But, like I do every year I got my hopes up.
I believe the last time I wrote about Kansas City, it was how I wasn’t excited for the season and the best signings for the team had been Ryan Goins, Wily Peralta and Michael Saunders. Oh, and bringing back Alcides Escobar. Yay!
A few moves since then really got me thinking things would look better for the Royals.
Lucas Duda was a decent signing to play first base. While he wouldn’t be a replacement for Eric Hosmer on the defensive side, he has enough power that it might make you not worry about a few miscues.
Somehow, the Royals got Moose back at a heck of a discount. Then Jon Jay’s addition to the outfield and possibly Clay Buchholz to the rotation at some time, I was getting excited.
I followed spring training results with cautious optimism. I mean, granted while we didn’t win the Cactus League title, there were some good things.
But, over the course of the past week about everything that could go wrong with the Royals pretty much did. The Royals were set to go to Omaha on Monday, but Mother Nature didn’t cooperate and that game was rained out. With rain falling down all morning, I figured it would be doubtful, but my friend, Kaleb, and I held out hope for a trip up Interstate 29.
Then the news that Salvador Perez got hurt carrying luggage was a punch to the gut.
I worked Thursday, so I missed most of the Royals game. On the plus side, I got to watch the first few innings and when I stopped, things went terrible. I will apologize to all the Royals fans out there.
I mean, I’m pretty sure Danny Duffy not pitching five innings didn’t help and the lack of bullpen became an ominous sign that would rear its head again the next game.
I checked an app on Saturday night to see the score and was pleasantly surprised to see the team was winning, while I was covering an all-star basketball game. The next time I checked, Brandon Maurer had came in and blew the game.
At least with the loss on Monday, it was a rough outing from a starter and the bullpen didn’t really have a chance to do much damage.
But all the bullpen struggles, coupled without having Salvy in the lineup, make me feel like this is just like every team I convinced myself would do something in my youth.
In my mind, they would win 90 games and go to the playoffs. The reality most of the time was losing 90 games and having to figure out which one player will represent the team in the All-Star Game.
I hope the team can find a way to pull out of it. The offense, when Perez is back, will have a chance to be a decent team. But without pitching, it will be like the 1990s and early 2000s squads all over again — a team with a few all-stars but a bullpen that couldn’t protect a lead.
I’m hoping the Royals can find a way to turn things around before it’s too late and the season turns into another trainwreck — or what a normal week in Ferrelview is like.
Cody Thorn is publisher of The Citizen. He may be reached via email at editor@plattecountycitizen.com. Follow him on Twitter: @Citizen_CodyT.