Royals Report: 4 Things About Breaking The Losing Streak

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Jun 11, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (left) dumps water on teammate third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert (middle) as Joel Goldberg interviews him after a 4-1 win against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /

The KC Royals FINALLY broke their eight-game losing streak by defeating the Chicago White Sox 4-1 at U.S. Cellular Field Saturday afternoon.

1. 128. 4. 7. Final

DING DONG THE LOSING STREAK IS DEAD!!!

The Royals improved to 31-30 and remained 3.5 games behind the Indians in the AL Central while moving into second place in division. The White Sox fell to 31-31 and four games behind Cleveland.

I must confess the last nine days (eight losses in a row plus an off day Thursday) seemed like they would last forever. Watching games was a CHORE, and did nothing but made me angry and frustrated—until I decided to stop letting them affect me that way.

For a fan, it’s pretty easy to pull back and turn off the TV, or computer. For a player, you simply have to grind through the road trip from hell. And, this time, your Dads get to watch since the team brought their players fathers along for the ride for the team’s annual Father’s Day trip.

I don’t care how old and mature you are. You don’t want to suck at your job in front of your Dad.

So today, everything that went haywire for nine days suddenly fell in place. Starter Danny Duffy dominated. The offense scored four runs, and the bullpen held the lead while finishing out the final three innings of the game.

Now that the ordeal is over, you wonder why it took so long.

On to my observations about Saturday’s win:

Next: Danny Duffy

Jun 11, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Danny Duffy (41) delivers a pitch against the Chicago White Sox during the sixth inning at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /

4) Danny Duffy Is Emerging As The Team’s Ace

The KC Royals need a staff ace and Danny Duffy seems to be becoming that guy. He’s got the stuff, headlined by a fastball that touches 97-mph to go with a slider, change, and occasional hard sinker. But, more importantly, he now has the approach and attitude to carry the role.

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He’s no longer a bundle of nervous energy with no place to go on the mound. He’s harnessed his competitive drive into performance. Duffy also goes right after hitters instead of nibbling like in the past. Though he walked three hitters on Saturday, he’s only issued five free passes in his last 10 appearances—a span that has covered 35.2 innings pitched (going back to before joining the rotation).

Duffy struck out 10 while only needing 88 pitches through 6.0 innings, Yordano Ventura could learn a thing or two from Duffy.

At 27, Duffy is coming right into his prime and he’s got the talent to headline a rotation. If he continues his recent trajectory, Duffy could become the first true ace drafted and developed by Dayton Moore’s “Process”.

It’s about time.

Next: Alcides Escobar

Jun 11, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Kansas City Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain (6) celebrates a 4-1 win against the Chicago White Sox with first baseman Eric Hosmer (35) and third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert (19) at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /

3) Cheslor Cuthbert Must Have Been Listening Because He Produced

Just this morning, I wrote how Cheslor Cuthbert needed to start producing at the plate or else the Kansas City Royals front office would be forced to seek other solutions for third base. On Saturday, Cuthbert slammed two rather timely solo home runs to maintain his claim to the hot corner.

Cuthbert’s first bomb came in the third inning off Chicago starter Carlos Quintana to give the KC Royals a 1-0 lead. Bert added a second dinger in the eighth inning, also off Quintana, to score an important insurance run that made the score 3-0.

Oh yeah, Cuthbert also made a dazzling play at third base by diving to spear a screaming low liner off the bat of Adam Eaton to retire the Sox in the eighth.

You can see Cuthbert discussing the win by playing the below video:

The 23-year-old Cuthbert not only came though with some much-needed extra base power, it was his first multi-homer game of his young career. Btw, Cuthbert watched teammate Eric Hosmer smack two home runs Friday, and he used Hosmer’s lumber for two more dongs on Saturday.

Cuthbert went 3-4 on the day, with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI’s, which raised his triple slash to a much more respectable .270/.289/.414.

Congrats, Cheslor. Keep up the good work!

Next: Alcides Escobar

Jun 1, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar (2) drives in a run with a single against the Tampa Bay Rays in the sixth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports /

2) Ned Yost DID Bat Alcides Escobar At No. 2, AGAIN

This morning, I simply could not believe that Ned Yost chose to move Alcides Escobar off the leadoff spot, only to move him to no. 2. Given that the KC Royals scored more than one run for the first time in six games, I expected that he’d come back with the same lineup on Saturday.

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I was right.

I must confess, I enjoy typing that phrase. Aside from the self-congratulations, with the Kansas City Royals WINNING on Saturday, I expect to see this lineup continue through the foreseeable future. Thus, Saturday’s win will apparently lock in yet another mistaken lineup position for Alcides Escobar.

Will I ever be able to watch a KC Royals game without having to see Escobar get more at bats than players like Eric Hosmer and Lorenzo Cain?

I’m certain it will happen sooner than I’d like, if only because many of the Kansas City Royals key players are hitting free-agency after the 2017 season.

I swear, it’s just like Groundhog Day.

Next: Bullpen Use

Jun 11, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Wade Davis (17) celebrates a 4-1 win against the Chicago White Sox with catcher Salvador Perez (13) at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /

1) Yes, Using The Best Bullpen In Baseball Is A Good Idea

Twice, Ned Yost had the opportunity to use the best bullpen in baseball during the eight-game slump. The first time came against Cleveland with the KC Royals holding a 4-3 lead in the 9th inning, poised to win their seventh straight game.

The KC Royals FINALLY broke their eight-game losing streak by defeating the Chicago White Sox 4-1 at U.S. Cellular Field Saturday afternoon.

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