Kansas City Royals on pace for worst record in franchise history
Let us go back to 2005. The Kansas City Royals finished that season with a miserable 56-106 record, their worst in franchise history. Three different managers – Tony Pena, Bob Schaefer, and Buddy Bell – could not make a difference as the losses kept piling up. At the time, the Royals were in the midst of a streak of losing 100 or more games in four out of five seasons, the first time in franchise history they had ever suffered through a 100 loss campaign.
As bad as that 2005 season may have been, it may not be the worst in Royals history for much longer. The Royals have a 17-37 record entering Wednesday and are currently on pace to lose 111 games, shattering their previous record.
Kansas City Royals on pace for historically awful season
It gets worse. The Royals were shut out for the eighth time on Tuesday, the second consecutive game that this has happened. They are now on pace to be shut out 24 times this year, a number that has not been seen in 50 years in the American League.
This was supposed to be the year that the Royals started their climb back to respectability. The front office felt that they were on the cusp of contending and that the rebuild was over. Their top pitching prospects were ready to establish themselves at the major league level, and with the ascension of Bobby Witt Jr., it was time to contend again.
Instead, the Royals have been a disaster in virtually every way. They cannot pitch, having posted an AL worst 5.19 ERA while having 23 different pitchers take the mound. Meanwhile, the Royals are 12th in runs (195), and 13th in homers (38) and OPS (.649). The pitching prospects have not developed as hoped and the Royals still put Carlos Santana and Ryan O’Hearn in the lineup for some utterly baffling reason.
Changes are needed. If the Royals have any designs on contending in the near future, they have to take a very long look at the roster and coaching staff. The front office has to come under fire as well as their loyalty, while commendable, has not produced tangible results since 2017. Eric Hosmer’s mad dash home may have been a lifetime ago at this point.
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The Kansas City Royals are on pace for a historically awful season. Major changes need to be made if that is going to change.