April 9, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost (left) relieves starting pitcher Luis Mendoza (39) at the pitchers mound against the Oakland Athletics during the sixth inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jason O. Watson-US PRESSWIRE
The Royals bullpen has been taxed quite a bit this season with most of the starters unable to go more than 5 innings. As of yesterday, over 43% of the innings thrown by the team have been by the bullpen. Here is a chart of the percentage of innings the Royals bullpen has thrown compared to the league average since 1974.
The 2012 bullpen has by far the largest % of total innings thrown by releivers for a Royals team. Now here is how the team ranks historically:
| Rank | Season | Team | relief_perc |
| 1 | 1981 | Cubs | 50.1% |
| 2 | 1996 | Pirates | 49.2% |
| 3 | 1989 | Mariners | 46.9% |
| 4 | 1995 | Tigers | 46.3% |
| 5 | 1995 | Twins | 45.9% |
| 6 | 2008 | Padres | 45.8% |
| 7 | 2009 | Padres | 45.4% |
| 8 | 1993 | Rockies | 45.1% |
| 9 | 1985 | Athletics | 44.5% |
| 10 | 2000 | Angels | 43.8% |
| 11 | 2004 | Devil Rays | 43.6% |
| 12 | 2005 | Rangers | 43.4% |
| 13 | 2012 | Royals | 43.2% |
| 14 | 2008 | Athletics | 43.2% |
| 15 | 2012 | Twins | 43.2% |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1069 | 1990 | Braves | 17.1% |
| 1070 | 1986 | Twins | 17.1% |
| 1071 | 1976 | Dodgers | 16.6% |
| 1072 | 1974 | Angels | 16.5% |
| 1073 | 1976 | Brewers | 16.4% |
| 1074 | 1977 | Orioles | 16.0% |
| 1075 | 1981 | Athletics | 15.9% |
| 1076 | 1978 | Rangers | 15.4% |
| 1077 | 1980 | Athletics | 14.3% |
| 1078 | 1977 | Angels | 13.0% |
The Royals and the Twins are doing more than battling for 4th place in the AL Central, they are battling for some historic ineptitude. Adding another digit to the right of the decimal, the Royals are at 43.18% and the Twins are at 43.15%. It will be a WAR to the end.
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