FanShot

One reason to be optimistic for next year

8

The Röyals have been remarkably unlucky. If everybody played according to their pythag, the standings would be DET 76-68 (-6 wins from their real record) CHW 70-73 (-2) CLE 67-75 (-4) KCR 67-79 (+7) MIN 56-88 (-3) With average luck, the Röyals wouldn't be 23 games behind the division leader. They wouldn't be contenders, of course, but their record would be closer to mediocre than sucky. This should be a reason for optimism: it's unlikely that the Röyals will be so unlucky next year. Another reason for optimism: the Röyals are 22-31 in one-run games. A little better luck in those would be nice. A third reason for optimism: the Royals went 5-13 against the NL. That really drags the won-lost record down. Gotta figure that's not going to happen again next year, since SOS, Hiram, and Boom Boom will be somewhere far from Kansas City.