Everything SEEMS to be coming together. This has a feel of '77 when, after much mediocrity, everything jelled in late August, then September and the team won 16 (16!) straight, lost tp Doc Medich (I think), then ripped off another 8 in a row, 24 of 25. This team could do no wrong. Of course, this was an expansion year, the Blue Jays and Mariners first appearing. Still.
The next 20 games on the schedule are brutal, but the Phillies have come down to earth, as have the Guardians. The Astros are scary (I was pretty sure they'd recover), the Yanx are the Yanx, but the Twins come to Kauffman. After the 20, the slate looks pretty soft.
I've been pleasantly surprised by the progress they've made this year. I didn't think they'd be this close to the top at this point of the season. Mind boggling, indeed.
For the first time this year, I think we're going to win the Central.
Cleveland is (finally) faltering. They've played above their ability all season so I've thought they were due for a slide.
Minnesota is good but with Buxton back on the IL where he belongs, it's hard to see how they make a move. It's sad when great players can't stay healthy but we've all known that's his issue for years so, from a roster construction standpoint, you get what you paid for.
The Royals, on the other hand, are a better team on paper today than they were on June 1 AND they're playing like it. The bullpen still has its issues (although those issues are far less dramatic than they were earlier in the season; I love me some Lucas Erceg & Kris Bubic has outperformed any rational expectation coming off TJ surgery) and I continue to be worried about the innings the starting rotation has racked up and whether they'll be able to maintain form through the end of the season, but KC is the class of the Central.
I have to wrap my head around the idea that the Royals are the best team in the Central. I'm not quite there, but the argument is real and persuasive. And who knows...that may be the case. Wild.
I've had people tell me this team was 2003 Royals. I have had people tell me it's 2013 Royals. I kept telling them, these are the 2014 Royals if they're any previous team. Continuing to turn up the heat the past week while the rest of the American League playoff race crumbles around them only reassures me that I was correct this entire time.
Interesting parallels. They're DEFINITELY not 2003. I have a difficult time buying into either '13 or '14 because those teams made clear strides from the previous seasons. Methodical. This team is on some kind of warpspeed-into-contention trajectory which I don't think we've seen in these parts. I think the largest single year improvement in franchise history is 20 games which happened in 1971. The current edition is 14 games better than last year with 37 left to play. Delightful baseball unicorns.
Yeah, in terms of progress over the previous season, you're right. That said, they remind me a lot of 2014 in terms of people getting incredibly frustrated with them even when they're winning games and a lot of consternation about whether they can make the postseason but especially whether they could possibly win once they get there.
I also find it interesting that this is likely to be the first team to finish with 4 starters who have double digit wins and more wins than losses since 2014, a team that also had a group of sturdy but not showy starters who stayed healthy most of the year.
And, as noted, I find the complete collapse of the Guardians and Red Sox to be reminiscent of when the Athletics fell apart down the stretch in 2014. There are plenty of other parallels, too, like the fact that no team may win 100 games for the first time since that year and more.
I hear you. There are definitely parallels. Although that 2014 team was underachieving until the second half. If anyone tried to claim this ‘24 team was underachieving at any point this year, I’d suggest they seek professional help.
I've thought all season that if they can just make the postseason the Royals have a great shot to go on a run like 2014. Excellent starting pitching + timely hitting + days off so you're only using your best relievers = postseason wins.
Everything SEEMS to be coming together. This has a feel of '77 when, after much mediocrity, everything jelled in late August, then September and the team won 16 (16!) straight, lost tp Doc Medich (I think), then ripped off another 8 in a row, 24 of 25. This team could do no wrong. Of course, this was an expansion year, the Blue Jays and Mariners first appearing. Still.
The next 20 games on the schedule are brutal, but the Phillies have come down to earth, as have the Guardians. The Astros are scary (I was pretty sure they'd recover), the Yanx are the Yanx, but the Twins come to Kauffman. After the 20, the slate looks pretty soft.
Cinch you saddle, buckaroos.
They caught the Astros at the right time for the first three of the six games they'll play this season way back in early April. Different team now.
As we know, sometimes it's all about catching fire at the right time.
You nailed it—the current standings boggle my mind.
I've been pleasantly surprised by the progress they've made this year. I didn't think they'd be this close to the top at this point of the season. Mind boggling, indeed.
I've been waiting for the 10 game winning streak, or the GMDM 15 of 20. Maybe this is it!
Ahhhhh...who can forget the "this team can win 15 of 20" statement? And then damn if they didn't do just that.
You are correct. I couldn’t be happier to be paying to watch this team than I am now. This is fantastic and will be real fun.
Such a fun summer. Really, no matter how it ends.
For the first time this year, I think we're going to win the Central.
Cleveland is (finally) faltering. They've played above their ability all season so I've thought they were due for a slide.
Minnesota is good but with Buxton back on the IL where he belongs, it's hard to see how they make a move. It's sad when great players can't stay healthy but we've all known that's his issue for years so, from a roster construction standpoint, you get what you paid for.
The Royals, on the other hand, are a better team on paper today than they were on June 1 AND they're playing like it. The bullpen still has its issues (although those issues are far less dramatic than they were earlier in the season; I love me some Lucas Erceg & Kris Bubic has outperformed any rational expectation coming off TJ surgery) and I continue to be worried about the innings the starting rotation has racked up and whether they'll be able to maintain form through the end of the season, but KC is the class of the Central.
I have to wrap my head around the idea that the Royals are the best team in the Central. I'm not quite there, but the argument is real and persuasive. And who knows...that may be the case. Wild.
I did laugh out loud at your Buxton comment.
I've had people tell me this team was 2003 Royals. I have had people tell me it's 2013 Royals. I kept telling them, these are the 2014 Royals if they're any previous team. Continuing to turn up the heat the past week while the rest of the American League playoff race crumbles around them only reassures me that I was correct this entire time.
Interesting parallels. They're DEFINITELY not 2003. I have a difficult time buying into either '13 or '14 because those teams made clear strides from the previous seasons. Methodical. This team is on some kind of warpspeed-into-contention trajectory which I don't think we've seen in these parts. I think the largest single year improvement in franchise history is 20 games which happened in 1971. The current edition is 14 games better than last year with 37 left to play. Delightful baseball unicorns.
Yeah, in terms of progress over the previous season, you're right. That said, they remind me a lot of 2014 in terms of people getting incredibly frustrated with them even when they're winning games and a lot of consternation about whether they can make the postseason but especially whether they could possibly win once they get there.
I also find it interesting that this is likely to be the first team to finish with 4 starters who have double digit wins and more wins than losses since 2014, a team that also had a group of sturdy but not showy starters who stayed healthy most of the year.
And, as noted, I find the complete collapse of the Guardians and Red Sox to be reminiscent of when the Athletics fell apart down the stretch in 2014. There are plenty of other parallels, too, like the fact that no team may win 100 games for the first time since that year and more.
I hear you. There are definitely parallels. Although that 2014 team was underachieving until the second half. If anyone tried to claim this ‘24 team was underachieving at any point this year, I’d suggest they seek professional help.
I've thought all season that if they can just make the postseason the Royals have a great shot to go on a run like 2014. Excellent starting pitching + timely hitting + days off so you're only using your best relievers = postseason wins.
Yep. Just get into October. A couple of hot bats and some quality starts can get you far.