The Royals Against Their Low Bar

 

A few weeks ago, I talked about how the A's are verging on their worst season since before Rickey Henderson came up, and how not much could really stop them from potentially setting a new franchise worst mark. The Royals, the other 100+ win team in this scenario, are in a similar boat. They're sitting at 102 losses, and their low bar is 106, which was set during the 2005 season, around the last time the Royals were a league-worst staple. Basically, if they lose 5 games they've broke their own record, and they're also looking at upcoming series' against the Astros and Yankees.

However, and this is a detail that puzzles me...the last time the Royals and Astros met, which was this past weekend, it ended in a won series for Kansas City. Yes, the wins were close wins, but they still took two from the Astros in a stretch where the Astros would really like to hang onto first. It would have hit harder had the Rangers and Mariners not also lost consecutive games in this stretch, but it was a rare David beating Goliath moment. The Royals don't have a lot left besides Bobby Witt that they can work with, and the Astros have reached the peak of their momentum. Plus, the Astros only partially recovered and have been up against the ropes throughout this crucial Orioles series.

So what I'm saying is, how funny would it be if the Royals pants them again this weekend?

You know, even if there's this narrative about the Royals potentially setting a new season low, and this being the result of snakebitten pitching, a lot of hitters who aren't doing a damned thing at the plate, Salvador Perez leaving his peak, and great players like Vinnie Pasquantino, Kris Bubic and Daniel Lynch winding up injured for the majority of the season. But there are still people on the Royals who know what they're doing. Kyle Isbel is finally getting starting time, and while he's still not hitting very well, he's an above-average outfielder who's at least been having a nice season because of that. Cole Ragans has been the best pitcher in baseball since being activated a few months ago, and he's been a sure thing for this team in a year of disarray. Nick Loftin's been sharp since he came up, and now Tyler Cropley seems to be on the same path. 

This is still not a great team, but they're capable of surprising you, much like the A's midyear. If the Royals can topple the Astros again as they ready a postseason effort, I'll absolutely love it.

Coming Tomorrow-  Typically I don't post customs of people who land on the IL, but since he went on there like a day after I made the custom, and because it's probably the last custom I'll make for this team til December, it makes sense just to post it now.