Anyone who has watched the Royals over the past three seasons knows it’s a colossal mistake to count them out.
Consider yours truly one of those who committed that mistake.
By winning nine in a row (a string that ended Wednesday afternoon at the hands of Jose Fernandez and the Miami Marlins) and having gone 17-5 since the beginning of August, the Royals are within four games of the final available playoff spot in the American League.
That said, take the next 500 or so words a mea culpa for being so foolish to give up on a team that refuses to do the same.
So, what could be the main source of inspiration behind this hot streak? Would you believe a praying mantis?
In the superstitious world of baseball, where just about anything can pose as a good luck charm, both players and fans alike are embracing the insect for inciting success — because ever since it was spotted in Kauffman Stadium on August 6, K.C. has triumphed in 15 of its last 18 contests, posted an ERA around 2.00, and boasted a WHIP under 1.00.
For those who commit to belief that talent and skill deserve credit for such a turnaround, there’s much to lean on.
Lorenzo Cain, batting over .300 for the month, went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a run scored, and three RBIs in last Saturday’s victory over the Minnesota Twins. Yordano Ventura, who had a dreadful 5.15 ERA over the first half, has posted a 2.65 mark since the All-Star break. In fact, as you saw above, the pitching staff as a whole has been phenomenal of late.
In three weeks, @Royals have cut deficit in AL Central from 11 games to 6.5 and in AL Wild Card race from 9.5 games to 4.
— Richard Justice (@richardjustice) August 26, 2016
And, of course, a staple of Ned Yost’s team is a marked difference versus the competition when it comes to speed and defense. Take last night’s amazing catch by Jarrod Dyson as proof.
To anyone stunned by Kansas City’s ability to come back from the dead, you shouldn’t be. This is a club that has experienced far more dire situations. Take the 2014 Wild Card Game versus Oakland, in which the Royals used a bevy of stolen bases to rally from four runs down in the eighth to tie the A’s – eventually winning it in the bottom of the 12th on a Salvador Perez single.
The Royals’ reputation for resiliency was solidified with a terrific run that ended in a narrow World Series Game 7 loss to San Francisco. It was bolstered the following year’s Division Series against Houston. Facing elimination in Game 4, K.C. scored five eighth inning runs to overtake the Astros.
The end result was a series-ending win two nights later, and eventually the franchise’s first World Championship since 1985.
Can the Royals continue to drum up that old magic and put forth another remarkable comeback that results in a third postseason berth in as many years? It won’t be easy, but it’s be hard to put it past them.
Their difficult task is made even more daunting by the road that lies ahead — highlighted by three straight series (Red Sox, Yankees, and Tigers) against clubs with winning records.
Regardless, if the defending champions have proven anything over the last week-and-a-half, it’s that they won’t relinquish the crown so easily.
