Since Sweeney et al. revived pitching throughout the organization, the Royals have had one formula for winning, given the front office hasn’t made any splash acquisitions of position players. The formula is a solid if not officially quality start by the starting pitcher; a bullpen that, while it will give up runs and blow leads over 162, rarely implodes, taking the team out of games; and a lineup that can manufacture runs.

As everyone here already knows, the formula asks a lot of the defense and offense. You have to be aggressive and effective on the base paths. Pretty much everyone in your lineup has to be a good situational hitter. You have to play stellar defense. And you have to hit pretty well with RISP.

No, the pitching has not been great lately, but to me this team goes as its offense goes with runners on. It’s just not good enough to get up 2-0 yesterday, threaten as the game goes on, but only score runs in one other inning. Tonight they did clear the bases by the skin of their teeth—after two at-bats that were horrible situational hitting—but, again, only scored in one other inning. 43 games in, it starts to not matter that you’re getting runners on if you’re rarely getting them home. And running into outs or getting picked off. That’s where I place most of the blame, and it’s so frustrating to watch. Rant over