Losing Streak Hits Seven; Kansas City Royals Have No Quick Fix

Kansas City is off to their worst start to the season since 2007 when the team started 3-11 on their way to a 69-93 season. Standing at 3-9 at the moment, and riding a seven game losing streak, it appears the Royals have a long way to go to improve upon the 71-91 record of a season ago.

It's not like the Royals are being completely over matched on the field, they are in these games. Four of the nine losses have been by a single run, and a fifth was a extra innings loss. That may make it even more frustrating as the team continually makes a small error either in the field or on the basepaths that ends up magnifying itself and playing a large part in the loss.

The first week of the season the base running was questioned, and then Wednesday evening's loss may have been the best one yet, as Ned Yost's defensive shift on Prince Fielder in the seventh inning played directly into Detroit's hands as the Tigers first baseman rolled a grounder to the left side of the infield were Alcides Escobar normally would have been.

The squad is certainly pressing at the moment and possibly over compensating with lineup adjustments, defensive shifts, and things that may not often be the norm if the team was winning. The fact is, except for a couple games, the Royals pitching has been good enough to win. The most glaring holes at the moment are the Royals missing Salvador Perez's defense behind the plate, and the true lack of a number two hitter has also found Kansas City spending too much time tinkering with the lineup.

It's the same song and dance this year as it has been for the past 20 years. The guys on the roster are great character guys. We read the stories about them all hanging out in the clubhouse, we read their tweets, they visit with us out on the town. As fans we want these guys to succeed more than ever, and we want to believe.

"Our Time" was the slogan brought out by the marketing staff at Kauffman Stadium for 2012. While I had my eyes more on 2013, I bought in. I was ready to see improvement and ready for Kansas City to move up the standings in the American League Central. Now I'm thinking the marketing team may have bit off a little more than they can chew.

It's still early in the season, but the fan apathy has set in at a record rate. There aren't any quick fixes, and something brash such as firing Ned Yost may not even spark the fire. However if the Royals are say 10-25 after 35 games, it must be considered.

The question I have is you never hear anything from the ownership, and maybe you don't in most baseball circles. However, it seems like you often hear from Clark Hunt in relation to the Kansas City Chiefs, but the Glass family is not seen at the games or seen talking about the team.

It may be "Our Time", but it's "Their Time" to stand up and get the Royals over this generation long spell they are currently in. I don't have the solution, I'm just hoping someone in the organization does. Recently we've drafted great, or so most of us believe. We've signed promising young foreign players, but the story remains the same with the major league roster.

A needed off day is on the docket for the players and the fans on Thursday, but the results certainly need to change soon before "Our Time" is up for good.