Royals, worst franchise in sports???

chubychecker · 04-18-2006, 08:30 PM

This is an espn page 2 article. Sorry if a repost.

If you were as bad at your job as Royals management is at theirs, you'd be reading this at the computer station of a public library because you certainly wouldn't have a job anymore or any of the things that go along with gainful employment, like your own computer or even a home.

No, you'd have your bindle propped up next to the chair while the other library patrons gave you a wide berth on account of your outdoorsy aroma.

Will the Royals, too, be transient or extinct soon enough? If baseball hadn't already usurped just about every viable market in the country, the answer might be yes. Instead, the good people of Kansas City -- as savvy and loyal a group of rooters as one was apt to find at one time -- have had their patience pushed to the brink.

This has been no overnight transformation, either. The Royals have managed to do this in neatly descending stages as if participating in a series of reverse-purpose five-year plans:

Years Era Wins Losses Pct.
1969-1975 Gateway to Glory 551 574 .490
1976-1980 The Model Franchise 466 344 .575
1981-1985 Good Enough for the AL West 394 357 .525
1986-1991 Getting By 492 488 .502
1992-1996 Viable but Fading 365 379 .491
1997-2001 Hell's Waiting Room 345 462 .428
2002-2006 The Bottomless Pit 261 398 .396

Royals: Past Five Years
Year Record Pct.
2005 56-106 .346
2004 58-104 .358
2003 83-79 .512
2002 62-100 .383
2001 65-97 .401
Last winning season: 2003
Last playoff season: 1985

The Royals have been brought to a point where their entire 2006 season has the possibility of becoming a complete rout. Management spent the offseason acquiring free agents that nobody else wanted (like Doug Mientkiewicz, Mark Grudzielanek and Joe Mays) to build a team whose mission, at best, would be to avoid losing 100 games for the third year in a row.

Sadly, the Royals don't seem capable of even clearing that low hurdle. In fact, the long, slow decline illustrated in that chart could very well know no end. A team that thinks Mientkiewicz is the answer at first base deserves each and every one of its 120 losses. The Royals could well do what no other team in history has managed to pull off: lose 100 games three years in a row while increasing that loss total each time. Every other doormat franchise in baseball history has always managed to pull the nose up just enough to avoid that distinction.

And the nominees are ...
The Clippers have escaped purgatory. We need a new team to mock. Check out the Page 2 essays on why the following teams may be the new Worst Franchise in Sports.

Arizona Cardinals | Atlanta Hawks Baltimore Orioles | Chicago Blackhawks | Detroit Lions | Golden State Warriors | Kansas City Royals New York Knicks | Pittsburgh Pirates Portland Trail Blazers

Vote: Click on our SportsNation listranker to rank the worst of the worst. Plus, send us your thoughts and sob stories on these teams, and read what others have to say!

Even the Royals' greatest built-in excuse -- the small-market dodge -- doesn't wash anymore. True, the Royals can't compete with the big boys for the premium free agents, but they can draft well (just one Royals draft choice from 1996 to 2002, Mike MacDougal, has made an All-Star Game appearance) and make the most of available talent as much as teams in other cities of their size have done.

The ascendancy of the A's, the Marlins' World Series championship in 2003 and the current rise of the Brewers all conspire to leave Royals management sitting in the corner wearing the dunce cap.

General manager Allard Baird has managed to do the impossible: He's made his predecessor, Herk Robinson, look like Branch Rickey.

At least the Truman Complex is going to be renovated and will include a promenade and all sorts of fan-friendly shenanigans. That should fix everything.

Jim Baker is a contributing writer to BaseballProspectus.com.

VonneMarie · 04-18-2006, 08:37 PM

The Royals are not the worst franchise in all of sports. I may not have proof, but I won't believe it.

Coach · 04-18-2006, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VonneMarie

The Royals are not the worst franchise in all of sports. I may not have proof, but I won't believe it.

No, they aren't...yet.

But they're heading there in a hell of a hurry, I must admit.

**petegz28** · 04-18-2006, 08:39 PM

They re the worst right now. They suck. They play ball like GIRLS!!!!!!!!

chubychecker · 04-18-2006, 08:42 PM

Wow; I did a horrible job posting that article...Sorry here is the link
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2.../060417_royals

chubychecker · 04-18-2006, 08:43 PM

I am beginning to lose all faith that I have left in the royals management. I will never understand how graffinino can be an every day player for the Bosox, and be a part timer for the royals. Makes no sense. He did bat near .300 last year.

**The Bad Guy** · 04-18-2006, 08:40 PM

The New York Knicks are the worst in sports by far.

**petegz28** · 04-18-2006, 08:41 PM

And they are planning on adding seats to Kauffman???

arrowheadnation · 04-18-2006, 08:42 PM

What about that team that plays the Globe Trotters?

**petegz28** · 04-18-2006, 08:47 PM

All I know is this team sucks ass crust. Sweeney is a damn joke. Our pitching is utterly pathetic and if you think Grienke is the answer you are smoking crack!

We have no heart cause we have no leadership at the top

Deberg_1990 · 04-18-2006, 10:01 PM

If they are not the worst they are pretty damn close. Can somone name the other franchises that havent made the playoffs in over 20 years??

thebrad84 · 04-18-2006, 10:39 PM

Go to espn.com right now...we are the main article on there. There is a big picture of Mays looking distraught and the heading: The Biggest Losers. How awesome. The entire nation is reading about the crappiness that is the Kansas City Royals. How sweet it is to be a kansas citian right now...how did that tv commercial go a few years ago? Kansas City Royals, Your Hometown team!...yeah, we know, thanks for F'ing reminding us.

Mecca · 04-18-2006, 11:07 PM

The team deserves to be a national laughing stock at this point.

POND_OF_RED · 04-19-2006, 03:42 AM

I feel like I have been watching another one of those "major league" movies my whole life without the turnaround...

**MahiMike** · 04-19-2006, 06:40 AM

This is good news. You have to first admit you have a problem...

Of course maybe it doesn't count if ESPN says it instead of Royals management?

04-18-2006, 08:30 PM	Topic Starter
chubychecker Starter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: kansas, hiawatha Casino cash: $10004900	Royals, worst franchise in sports??? This is an espn page 2 article. Sorry if a repost. If you were as bad at your job as Royals management is at theirs, you'd be reading this at the computer station of a public library because you certainly wouldn't have a job anymore or any of the things that go along with gainful employment, like your own computer or even a home. No, you'd have your bindle propped up next to the chair while the other library patrons gave you a wide berth on account of your outdoorsy aroma. Will the Royals, too, be transient or extinct soon enough? If baseball hadn't already usurped just about every viable market in the country, the answer might be yes. Instead, the good people of Kansas City -- as savvy and loyal a group of rooters as one was apt to find at one time -- have had their patience pushed to the brink. This has been no overnight transformation, either. The Royals have managed to do this in neatly descending stages as if participating in a series of reverse-purpose five-year plans: Years Era Wins Losses Pct. 1969-1975 Gateway to Glory 551 574 .490 1976-1980 The Model Franchise 466 344 .575 1981-1985 Good Enough for the AL West 394 357 .525 1986-1991 Getting By 492 488 .502 1992-1996 Viable but Fading 365 379 .491 1997-2001 Hell's Waiting Room 345 462 .428 2002-2006 The Bottomless Pit 261 398 .396 Royals: Past Five Years Year Record Pct. 2005 56-106 .346 2004 58-104 .358 2003 83-79 .512 2002 62-100 .383 2001 65-97 .401 Last winning season: 2003 Last playoff season: 1985 The Royals have been brought to a point where their entire 2006 season has the possibility of becoming a complete rout. Management spent the offseason acquiring free agents that nobody else wanted (like Doug Mientkiewicz, Mark Grudzielanek and Joe Mays) to build a team whose mission, at best, would be to avoid losing 100 games for the third year in a row. Sadly, the Royals don't seem capable of even clearing that low hurdle. In fact, the long, slow decline illustrated in that chart could very well know no end. A team that thinks Mientkiewicz is the answer at first base deserves each and every one of its 120 losses. The Royals could well do what no other team in history has managed to pull off: lose 100 games three years in a row while increasing that loss total each time. Every other doormat franchise in baseball history has always managed to pull the nose up just enough to avoid that distinction. And the nominees are ... The Clippers have escaped purgatory. We need a new team to mock. Check out the Page 2 essays on why the following teams may be the new Worst Franchise in Sports. Arizona Cardinals \| Atlanta Hawks Baltimore Orioles \| Chicago Blackhawks \| Detroit Lions \| Golden State Warriors \| Kansas City Royals New York Knicks \| Pittsburgh Pirates Portland Trail Blazers Vote: Click on our SportsNation listranker to rank the worst of the worst. Plus, send us your thoughts and sob stories on these teams, and read what others have to say! Even the Royals' greatest built-in excuse -- the small-market dodge -- doesn't wash anymore. True, the Royals can't compete with the big boys for the premium free agents, but they can draft well (just one Royals draft choice from 1996 to 2002, Mike MacDougal, has made an All-Star Game appearance) and make the most of available talent as much as teams in other cities of their size have done. The ascendancy of the A's, the Marlins' World Series championship in 2003 and the current rise of the Brewers all conspire to leave Royals management sitting in the corner wearing the dunce cap. General manager Allard Baird has managed to do the impossible: He's made his predecessor, Herk Robinson, look like Branch Rickey. At least the Truman Complex is going to be renovated and will include a promenade and all sorts of fan-friendly shenanigans. That should fix everything. Jim Baker is a contributing writer to BaseballProspectus.com.
Posts: 398

04-18-2006, 08:37 PM	#2
VonneMarie Don't look over here Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Kansas City, MO Casino cash: $10008987	The Royals are not the worst franchise in all of sports. I may not have proof, but I won't believe it.
Posts: 17,644

04-18-2006, 08:39 PM	#4
petegz28 Supporter Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Olathe, Ks Casino cash: $2844127	They re the worst right now. They suck. They play ball like GIRLS!!!!!!!!
Posts: 127,957

04-18-2006, 08:42 PM	#5
chubychecker Starter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: kansas, hiawatha Casino cash: $10004900	Wow; I did a horrible job posting that article...Sorry here is the link http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2.../060417_royals
Posts: 398

04-18-2006, 08:43 PM	#6
chubychecker Starter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: kansas, hiawatha Casino cash: $10004900	I am beginning to lose all faith that I have left in the royals management. I will never understand how graffinino can be an every day player for the Bosox, and be a part timer for the royals. Makes no sense. He did bat near .300 last year.
Posts: 398

04-18-2006, 08:40 PM	#7
The Bad Guy Scott Pioli Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: The Copacobana Casino cash: $9373645	The New York Knicks are the worst in sports by far. __________________
Posts: 23,212

04-18-2006, 08:41 PM	#8
petegz28 Supporter Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Olathe, Ks Casino cash: $2844127	And they are planning on adding seats to Kauffman???
Posts: 127,957

04-18-2006, 08:42 PM	#9
arrowheadnation MONTANA #19 Join Date: Mar 2005 Casino cash: $6267357	What about that team that plays the Globe Trotters? Last edited by arrowheadnation; 04-18-2006 at 08:49 PM..
Posts: 4,212

04-18-2006, 08:47 PM	#10
petegz28 Supporter Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Olathe, Ks Casino cash: $2844127	All I know is this team sucks ass crust. Sweeney is a damn joke. Our pitching is utterly pathetic and if you think Grienke is the answer you are smoking crack! We have no heart cause we have no leadership at the top
Posts: 127,957

04-18-2006, 10:01 PM	#11
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3914454	If they are not the worst they are pretty damn close. Can somone name the other franchises that havent made the playoffs in over 20 years?? __________________ Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning: Matt once made a very nice play in Seattle where he spun away from a pass rusher and hit Bowe off his back foot for a first down. One of the best plays Matt has ever made.
Posts: 66,914

04-18-2006, 10:39 PM	#12
thebrad84 My name...is Horace! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Olathe, KS Casino cash: $6624069	Go to espn.com right now...we are the main article on there. There is a big picture of Mays looking distraught and the heading: The Biggest Losers. How awesome. The entire nation is reading about the crappiness that is the Kansas City Royals. How sweet it is to be a kansas citian right now...how did that tv commercial go a few years ago? Kansas City Royals, Your Hometown team!...yeah, we know, thanks for F'ing reminding us.
Posts: 1,470

04-18-2006, 11:07 PM	#13
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $2667050	The team deserves to be a national laughing stock at this point.
Posts: 110,765

04-19-2006, 03:42 AM	#14
POND_OF_RED The talking stonehead Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Blue Springs, MO Casino cash: $1823146	I feel like I have been watching another one of those "major league" movies my whole life without the turnaround...
Posts: 5,691

04-19-2006, 06:40 AM	#15
MahiMike He's Mahomie! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Jax, FL Casino cash: $10023443	This is good news. You have to first admit you have a problem... Of course maybe it doesn't count if ESPN says it instead of Royals management?
Posts: 17,387