KC Royals: Five Reasons Why Fans Should Be Concerned

The KC Royals are caught in two-week downward slide that began with a three-game sweep in Anaheim. The slump has exposed some significant concerns with respect to the 2016 Kansas City Royals.

In two short weeks, the narrative among fans has gone from debating the potential to create a dynasty to many talking about the 2016 season going down the tubes. The KC Royals sank to 15-17 after a brutal 10-7 loss on Tuesday in New York. Meanwhile, the Chicago White Sox have jumped out to a seven-game bulge over Kansas City at 23-11.

Of course, cold streaks aren’t anything new. In a 162-game season, even strong teams usually suffer through long stretches of poor play. However, since the Kansas City Royals slide has taken place with only 32 games in the books, it threatens to change perceptions about the team more than it should.

Right now, the KC Royals find themselves under .500 for the first time since July 21, 2014 when the team fell to 48-50.

The situation was much more dire in 2014, when the Royals looked poised to blow James Shields‘ second season with the team after a strong start. Many pundits called for the front office to unload Shields and other short-term pieces to load up for a run in 2015.

General manager Dayton Moore stuck to his guns, as reserve outfielder Raul Ibanez delivered a clubhouse speech that many later credited with turning things around. The KC Royals famously went on to earn a wild card bid, pull off a historic comeback against the Oakland A’s to advance to the ALDS, and went on to sweep their way to the AL pennant before falling to the Giants in seven games in the 2014 World Series.

At the time, the Kansas City Royals trailed Detroit by 8.0 games and Cleveland by 6.5.

However, five things suggest that the KC Royals roster might have a real problem recovering from their current slide:

Next: Reason no. 5