The scars worn by a Royals fan

by SittinByTheFoulPole on Apr 11, 2008 12:24 PM EDT

Is it just me or have the last 20-ish years of being a loyal follower of the boys in blue left a number of scars? Here’s what I’m talking about… and what I’m noticing more and more with this nice start.

Normally when a team wins 3 games in a row and then takes a loss to a very capable team, a fan could just shrug it off and say, “Can’t win them all. We’ll get ‘em tomorrow.” But as a Royals fan, I find myself somewhat terrified after each loss wondering if one loss is going to lead to two and then to 19.

Our pitching as been spectacular if not dominant so far in 2008. Shouldn’t a typical fan simply revel in the success and salivate at the thought of Zack Greinke’s next appearance? But instead all I can think about is how Zack got off to a hot start last year before struggling and being removed from the rotation. Or how all the stat heads say Meche and Banny will regress, etc.

This scar is more recent (Buddy induced), but when the 3rd game (let me reiterate, 3rd GAME!) lineup was made and no changes were evident (not counting Gathright since that was due to injury), I was wondering, why isn’t Callaspo getting some ABs, what about German? And then I thought about how much I loathed Buddy using 172 different lineups in a 162 game season last year and I almost smacked myself. What’s wrong with sticking with a lineup that has helped you get to 2-0 on the season? Why not keep your starters in games? I just got so used to the incessant shuffling of the last regime, that I came to expect it. Scar.

I’ll stop there, but I think you get my point. And I’m not generally a pessimistic person. Quite the opposite. I’m just scarred from loving a loser for so long. Here’s to hoping this team and the teams of the next several years can help heal the scars (simply by being competitive; playing meaningful games as GMDM and Trey like to say). And it starts with a win tonight over the division rival Twinkies. Go Royals!

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Nice Post

I feel a lot of the same things, especially with the "if one loss is going to lead to two and then to 19" part. I worry about that every time we lose a game. The Greinke thing I've gotten over, I am a full believer in the new coming of Zack Greinke.

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by MileHighKCfan on Apr 11, 2008 12:34 PM EDT reply actions

this totally resonates with me

and I fully plan on linking this to some of my friends who like mainstream, regularly good teams.

I had one girl that I discussed this with and even though she lived through the 90s red sox, she still expected them to make it to October every year. I have never once had a real thought about the Royals making it to the postseason. I think that it takes too much as a fan to put your eggs in that basket in April just to have that all taken away from you two months down the road, you know?

I have the big photo montage the Star put out in September that says 'No more tears. No more tirades. Thanks a hundred!' up on my wall. It's currently serving as a good reminder of all those scars, always keeps me wary. I can't imagine having a great start to the season and then being sufficiently crushed afterwards.

Someone put up a fanpost of the 2nd week records from the past few years and ever since I read it, it has been eating at my soul. Can they go 2-1 against the Twins? Can they make a clean break from our annual shitty opening month? What if they don't, will they bounce back and do better in the later months or will they continue the vortex of suckitude. I want this team to do well, I NEED them to do well.

Sorry, none of those paragraphs really belonged together, but my brain slowly reminded me of things as I wrote so I figured it'd be good to get it all out.

Boyfriend of the Year 2008: It's gonna be big!

by loyal2theroyals on Apr 11, 2008 1:20 PM EDT reply actions

2003

Even though it was the clear outlier, 2003 has made me wary as well. Great season, but somewhat disappointing given how late in the year we had a lead in the Central. Although, I think RoyalsRetro points it out nicely below that this team doesn't seem to have the make-up of a flash in the pan. We're getting real, albiet young and unproven, major leaguers on the field and people are starting to notice. And some nice depth has been formed by GMDM as well. Our Omaha rotation of Hochevar, Davies,Lumsden, JDLR, and Maroth is arguably better than our 2006 starting rotation of Elarton, Mays, Affeldt, Bautista, Mike Wood. It's that kind of depth that will hopefully keep this competitive.

Relax, all right? Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by SittinByTheFoulPole on Apr 11, 2008 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

My scars

I think were erased when Dayton was hired. Its pretty clear this is a new ballclub, and the ghosts of the past have been put to rest. I don't remember the past few teams having a week of play where they looked consistently this good. They might have won a few games in a row, but it usually consisted of an 13-11 victory and a wild pitch by the other team, or a critical error by the opponent.

This year the team is winning with solid pitching, good defense, and just enough offense to get by. I still think the offense will be a problem, but that's not a bad problem to have, and one that can be readily fixed. I have a lot of confidence for this season.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Apr 11, 2008 1:29 PM EDT reply actions

+1

This team is clearly going in the right direction. While I'm certainly not jumping on the "we are contenders this year" train, I am even more confident now that this is a .500ish team. That's a big and important step forward. That also means that a key trade and/or FA acquisition or two in the offseason puts us at least on the doorstep of contending in 2009.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Apr 11, 2008 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions

You know

At this point, it wouldn't stun me if we made a pennant run. In 2003, I pretty much thought we would collapse at any moment. But this year, I mean I don't expect us to be in contention, and finishing .500 would absolutely thrill me. But I wouldn't be totally shocked if we made a run, and I wouldn't feel like it was a fluke, in contrast to say 2003.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Apr 11, 2008 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions

The Tigers...

abysmal start certainly helps us dream.

by djk royal on Apr 11, 2008 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions

In many divisions, it wouldn't surprise me if they made a pennant run

But in this division, I still see the cream rising to the top and the cream is damned good. I just think the Indians and Tigers are too good for the Royals to stick with them very long. I could be wrong. The Indians and/or Tigers could disappoint. And the Royals could do better than I expect.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Apr 11, 2008 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions

As for the scars of a Royals fan, I can

understand the apprehension of a fast start. Among the scars I still carry are
1. The total bullpen collapses after coming back to take a lead - you fill in the blank here.
2. Sticking with worthless players who continue to make boneheaded plays - Berroa, Donnie Sadler, LaRue
3. Looking at a lineup that consists of players who couldn't start for many other teams - Minky batting 3rd comes to mind right away.
4. The annual awful trade or salary dump along with its ugly cousin - the KC free agent acquisitions of players who are treadful - Kevin Appier, Johnny Damon, Carlos Beltran or Scott Elarton, Joe Mays,
5. Seeing a promising Royal to go another team and play really well or a former Royal farmhand get a chance to play somewhere else and succeed - Enrique Calero, Mark Ellis, and even to a lesser extend guys like Norris Hopper or Joe Dillon
6. Knowing that the long losing streak is lurking somewhere in the schedule.

But here is the 2008 difference. KC isn't filled with below average pitching anymore. The starting rotation looks consistently good and the bullpen is the best part of the team. The lineup isn't going to score lots of runs but Butler, Gordon, Teahen, et.al have given me hope. Then minor league system has more pitching than in past 5 years. Finally, I see the big league team executing and playing good baseball. If the Royals can stay healthy, I believe that be at or above .500 by the end of the year.

by daveyork on Apr 11, 2008 5:36 PM EDT reply actions