Royals fans, it’s time to believe and come out to the K

This seems real.

18-11.

16-9.

Royals fans have seen Fool’s Gold before. In 2009, fresh off some high-dollar free agent investments in Gil Meche and Jose Guillen, the Royals rushed out to an 18-11 start and were tied for first place in mid-May. They dropped 22 of their next 28 games and lost 97 games overall, the fourth-worst record in baseball.

In 2021, the team again looked good with some veteran additions like Andrew Benintendi and Carlos Santana. The team won 16 of their first 25 games and were in first place on May 5. They lost their next 11 games and finished 74-88 under manager Mike Matheny.

So I understand if Royals fans are gun-shy. We’re used to having the rug pulled out from underneath us. But we’re coming up on the Memorial Day weekend, historically the point where contending teams begin their chase for a pennant. And our plucky Royals find themselves 29-19, with the seventh-best record in baseball.

And it hasn’t been done with smoke and mirrors. The 2021 Royals had barely outscored their opponents over their first 25 games, suggesting they had gotten lucky in a lot of close games. The 2009 Royals were relying on the trio of MGD - Gil Meche, Zack Greinke, and Kyle Davies. Greinke would win the Cy Young that year, but Meche got hurt and ended with an ERA over five and Kyle Davies would be out of the big leagues three years later.

These Royals have flaws too, but we are deeper into the season and they are playing some of their best ball. This is the third-best start in franchise history, and they’re on the same pace of the 95-win 2015 Royals team that won it all.

The team has done it largely through starting pitching, and it has been a much deeper rotation than “MGD”. Royals starters have the fourth-best ERA in baseball and only the Phillies and Mariners have gotten more starts of 6+ innings with two or fewer runs from their starters, or more innings-per-start.

The Royals have also done it with the MVP performance of Bobby Witt Jr. and the All-Star level hitting of Salvador Perez. Bobby is tied for fourth in baseball in fWAR and has become a superstar before our eyes. Salvador Perez has defied the aging curve by getting off to a sensational start at the plate, and has even improved his defense.

The team has flaws, no doubt. They have the worst-hitting outfield in baseball. They have already changed closers from Will Smith to James McArthur, the latter of whom has all of 36 games in the big leagues. They have been extraordinarily healthy this year, but have a rotation with a pair of 30+ year-olds, and a lefty who has had two Tommy John surgeries.

But this is the first Royals team since 2017 that has a chance to be in contention as the summer begins. And if you don’t believe yet, the numbers seem to believe this team has a shot.

I’m not saying the Royals are guaranteed to make the playoffs. But they have a very good shot of having something to play for deep into the season. And they’re doing it with a fun, exciting team.

So come out to the K! The Royals are averaging just 16,655 fans per game, ahead of only four teams, all of whom are either terrible or are in terrible stadiums.

To be clear, I’m not blaming Royals fans. It seems silly to blame customers for not paying for a product, and the team has been awful for several years. It takes time to win fans back. In 2013, when the Royals made a late run and nearly made the Wild Card with the core that would eventually win a pennant and a title, they only drew 21,837 fans on a Friday night in September with a Wild Card spot on the line - the day before Justin Maxwell’s walk-off grand slam (which came in front of 36,575 fans). Fans didn’t really start coming out to the K til the next June, when a hot streak put them into first place.

I get prices aren’t what they used to be. But you can get into tonight’s game for $11. The game moves along quickly now with the pitch clock. And you’re getting an exciting team with a rising star, and perhaps one of the last great seasons out of a future Royals Hall of Famer, with terrific starting pitching every night. I just want more of my fellow Royals fans out at the K for an electric atmosphere.

This could all fall apart in a month, baseball is fickle that way. But I plan on enjoying it as long as it lasts. And I hope to see you out at the K.