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Royals Report: Four Things About Getting Swept In Cleveland

By John Viril

Jun 5, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Progressive Field is reflected in the puddles of the third base photo pit as a rain delay continues during the game between the Cleveland Indians and the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 5, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Progressive Field is reflected in the puddles of the third base photo pit as a rain delay continues during the game between the Cleveland Indians and the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 5, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Chris Young (32) is removed from the game during the fifth inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 5, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Chris Young (32) is removed from the game during the fifth inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

2) This Weekend’s Sudden Turn Shows How Fragile Success Is In MLB

The KC Royals had been roaring for more than two weeks headed into this four game series in Cleveland. They had won six straight series and six straight games. Their offense had slammed more than 10 hits and averaged seven runs per game over their last nine.

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The Kansas City Royals had zoomed from third to first place in the AL Central and looked every inch the defending champions. Then they blew a two-run eighth inning lead on Thursday.

That loss not only inspired the Indians, it struck at the KC Royals core identity. They HAVE to see themselves as the master of the late-innings after their success in crunch time the last two seasons. Thursday’s reversal of fortune apparently has punctured their balloon of belief and has sent the Kansas City Royals into a collective tailspin.

All of this has happened while the team has been pretty much the same guys that were walloping the opposition just a few days ago. Yes, Brett Eibner got injured on Tuesday, but I don’t see how that would have destroyed the team’s momentum. Eibner is a rookie with four games under his belt with the big club. The Kansas City Royals beat the Tampa Bay Rays without Eibner on Wednesday. Plus, Reymond Fuentes is hitting .345 in his place.

If there is any more clear example of belief coming from a triggering event like the collision between Alex Gordon and Mike Moustakas, followed by failure after a dispiriting defeat than the KC Royals in the last 10 days, I’m not aware of it.

Of course, you have to consider that this season’s Kansas City Royals have an 19-7 record at home and 11-18 on the road.  Notice that their string of poor play coincided with beginning their current road trip.

This year’s KC Royals team REALLY likes their home cooking.

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