Stale, Banged-up Royals Can't Seem To Get Ahead

(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Leading up to the 2009 Major League Baseball season, a lot of analysts thought the Kansas City Royals had what it would take to win the American League’s Central Division.

A mediocre division and the acquisition of a few position players, along with a solid pitching staff, allowed any baseball fan to think the boys in powder blue had a chance.

And the beginning of the season looked as though those predictions were on the right track.

Starting the team’s 40th season off with a promising April, including the opening of the newly remodeled Kauffman Stadium as well as winning 58 percent of their games, the Royals were able to have a winning month even after losing up-and-coming star third baseman Alex Gordon.

Gordon, who was injured just eight games into the season, suffered a cartilage tear in his right hip and continues to be out until around the All-Star break.

Much of the steam for April’s success came from fiery pitcher Zack Greinke, who let up only one earned run all month and posted an incredible .050 ERA, winning each of his starts, two of which were complete games.

Greinke’s success continued through much of May.  He pitched three complete games and, of the three, only one was a loss. That loss was a 1-0 decision vs. Joe Saunders of the Los Angeles Angels, who also threw a complete game.

The Royals returned all five starters from last year’s pitching staff (Greinke, Gil Meche, Kyle Davies, Horacio Ramirez, and Luke Hochevar), but also tried to bulk up their bullpen without spending too much cash.

They acquired Kyle Farnsworth and Juan Cruz to help out Kansas City’s sole All-Star last season, Joakim Soria. 

And, through April, it appeared to work.

Pitchers kept opponents low-scoring and the offense registered runs. Trey Hillman’s second season as skipper was looking very promising.

But May was a little different.

The Royals lost 17 of their 28 games in May, and, with Gordon already out, lights-out closer Soria soon also headed to the disabled list with a bum shoulder.

Greinke let up a few more earned runs throughout May, but, other than his loss to Saunders and the Angels, he racked up three more wins and his ERA remained under one until the last day of the month.

At first, May looked like it was going to turn out to be better than April after Kansas City hit a season-high six-game win streak in the first week of the month. But, that was immediately followed by a six-game losing streak.

Last year’s breakout star, Mike Aviles, was also placed on the DL at the end of May with a strained forearm too. Aviles has only played 36 games this season and is batting .183 with one home run.

It got worse in June.

The Royals continued to fall, even after getting Soria back. Greinke came down to earth (although his ERA still remains under two), and the team struggled to put runs on the board.

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