Royals Report: 4 Things About Monday’s Return To Citi Field

2) Don’t Be Disappointed By The Royals Failure To Steal A Late Victory

I must confess, I was waiting for the KC Royals to steal the game away from the Mets. I mean, we’d seen them do it four times last October and, by now, a late-game Kansas City Royals rally seemed part of the script.

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As great of a comeback team that the Royals are, they’re just not going to pull it off in every close game. Not only is it impossible for any team to regularly tap into playoff intensity during the regular season. Further, there’s a reason that ESPN data considered late-inning comebacks as rather unlikely. It’s because they’re HARD.

No one defies long odds forever.

The fact is, the New York Mets have one of the best bullpens in the game with a 3.11 ERA. They have an elite closer in Jeurys Familia and a deep pool of effective arms. New York recovered admirably after starter Bartolo Colon left the game in the first inning after throwing a mere four pitches when Whit Merrifield blasted a come-backer to the mound that Colon missed with his glove before hitting his right thumb.

That’s not a failure by the Royals. Monday was more about the Mets relievers performing up to their high standard.

Hey, if repeating were easy, then it wouldn’t be much of a charge when your team has a chance to pull it off.

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