Here's a trivia question for you: Without looking it up, how many times since 1985's World Series Game 7 victory have the Kansas City Royals played in a playoff game?

The answer may shock you.

It's ZERO.

That's right. Not ONE TIME since the World Series downtown parade in 1985 have the Royals played in the post season.

Not once.

So it's without surprise that an objective onlooker might witness a sad and cynical fanbase. Still, the last two years of universal praise for (and worship of) their minor league system had afforded the rational Kansas City fan a reason to be hopeful, even confident that their team would soon be playing in October.

Yet many thought the Royals would be competitive in 2012, whereas it turns out they are, in fact, decidedly not. The prospects for a playoff-bound team in 2013 seem to have dwindled.

Will the Royals even be competitive in 2013? Will they even flirt with the near mythical .500 win-loss record? I simply don't know.

With misty eyes, I ask you this poll question: