Now it gets real. We mean it this time. Trust us. The Royals are going to turn things around. The guys are going to get things together, start playing better, show that they aren't one of the worst teams in history. Buddy Bell has spent two seasons saying, usually as if in a rotation, "I don't know what to say", "We've got to find a way to get better" and "Sometimes strange things happen to this team". Well, all the awe-shucks anti-intellectualism has paid off, we can tell.
To recap: The Royals still have just 14 wins, a winning percentage of .250, and sit a full ten games behind every other team in the American League. The Royals are an incredible 22 games behind the Tigers in the American League Central. Keep in mind, we've only played 56 games here.
Tonight, the long road to not being the worst team in history starts in earnest. We know it. We can feel it. Hope is in the air... Or something like that.
By the way, has the last 24 hours reminding anyone of the bizarre story from last winter featuring a plane crashing into Jason Grimsley's house? Its a sad story all the way around. I'm in no hurry to get on a small plane anytime soon...
The Royals send soon-to-be 24 Bobby Keppel (0-1, 2.70 ERA) to the mound against the Rangers. Keppel is making his second start as a big-leaguer, and his fourth appearance of the season. Keppel, somewhat amazingly, has managed to keep his ERA under 3.00 through 13.1 IP, including appearances against the Yankees and Tigers, two fairly strong offenses.
The Rangers counter with ex-Cub farm hand John Koronka (4-3, 4.87 ERA) who's making his first career start against the Royals.
Be sure to post your in-game reflections, Jason Grimsely memories and spam here. Go Royals!
Bobby agrees, its time for the Royals to start winning.