Low Expectations

Usually all professional sports teams are enthusiastic about their own chances to win whatever title the sports offer. How many team players or coaches have you heard say, "We really don't have a real shot at winning this year". Instead, you hear them say they feel optimistic of their chances. Baseball spring training is an example of hope springing eternal. Nearly every team will claim their goal is to win the World Series and that they have a shot at it. That is except for one team.


It has been 20 years since I have heard a player, coach, manager or general manager mention the KC Royals having a chance at winning the World Series. Nor have I heard one of them mention making the World Series, winning the AL pennant, or winning their own division. No, the KC Royals have become master at setting low expectations. In Kansas City, the fans would consider a fantastic baseball season to be playing .500 ball, something that hasn't happened in nearly 20 years.

In 2009, the goal was to draw 2 million fans to the stadium. The last time the Royals had drawn that well was 1991 (the last year they finished above .500). The city had just spent a quarter billion dollars of taxpayer money to modernize the aging facility. The Royals missed theri attendence goal by only drawing 1.7 million. Still that was nearly 200k more than in 2008.

So 2010 rolls in, and the publicty machine starts setting expectations for the fans. If we can play .500 ball during the first half, we might be in contention for the division in the second half. Wrong. The Royals were out of contention by the All Star break. So now the goals for the 2010 season boil down to two. Don't lose 100 games, and don't finish in last place.

The 2010 KC Royals will be remembered as one of the few recent teams that did not lose 100 games. They stand at 64-92 with 6 games remaining. Quite an accomplishment. I am flushed with giddiness. They still run a real risk of finishing last in the weak AL Central division as they are 1.5 games behind the lowly Cleveland Indians. I guess that makes them a .500 team, hitting 1 out of 2 goals for the year.

Next year's goal will be to sell 2 million hotdogs on buck night. They have a chance.