Hard to believe the National League is /{this/} bad, where the anemic Cincinnati Reds are a .500 team, but apparently it's true.
That team we just saw for three games looked an awful lot like the Royals of the last five weeks: bad defense, hacktastic hitting, and talented pitchers unable to carry the team.
It's really easy to imagine the Royals as an 85-or-so win team in the National League, a subject that always comes up this time of year because the Royals had the chance to switch leagues 12 or so years ago.
Some people regret they didn't take that trip to Europe in college, before they got weighed down by responsibility. The Royals should regret they didn't take that trip to the NL, before they got weighed down by the superior league and a tilted financial structure.
One quick thought, and I'll be back this afternoon with more*: Willie Bloomquist has started 10 consecutive games, starting at six different positions and playing seven.
* What's the over-under on how long these two-a-day posts continue?
Bloomquist came to Kansas City to give Alberto Callaspo some competition at second base, and, after that, to give the Royals some versatility off the bench.
He's a pro's pro, can play virtually anywhere in the field, and gives tough at bats and smart base running. We've referenced this stat before, but the Royals are 21-15 when he starts and 7-19 when he doesn't. That can't be a total coincidence.
Now, all that being said, Bloomquist getting so much playing time -- he's on pace for about 400 plate appearances, which would be more than 100 above his career high -- is an indication of just how haywire this season has gone for the Royals.
Willie Bloomquist can start somewhat regularly for a bad team. He comes off the bench and spot-starts for a good one.
We thought before the season that the Royals had the chance to be a good team.
Injuries to -- deep breath -- Alex Gordon, Jose Guillen, Joakim Soria, Coco Crisp, John Buck and John Bale, among others, have made this more of a bad team.
The roster now includes the redundant redundancy of Tony Pena Jr., Luis Hernandez, Tug Hulett, and Bloomquist. That's nearly one-third of the position players on the roster right now.
This past weekend helped. Getting three good starts by Luke Hochevar, Kyle Davies (sort of) and Brian Bannister is a huge boost.
That's the sort of team we envisioned before the season, the sort of team that could be a default winner of the winnable AL Central if the other teams lag.
Don't look now, but the Royals are only 5 1/2 games back.
Back this afternoon with some thoughts on the pitchers.
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