A disheartening look at why the Royals aren’t like the Nationals

• Bleacher Report
• It’s a continual leap of faith with the Royals.

An expansion team with fans hanging on to what seems like glory days that are further and further gone. A collection of young and talented hitters to go alongside a crop of highly touted pitching prospects who will change the team for the better whenever they reach the major leagues. The Kansas City Royals and Washington Nationals had a lot in common coming into this year. And yet today, the Nationals are 30 games over .500 at 76-46. The Royals? They’re 13 games under the .500 mark even after sweeping the division-leading Chicago White Sox over the weekend.

ESPN’s Michael Baumann has a devastating piece on “How Royals Failed to Become Nats of the AL.” It’s not for the weak-stomached. For those who want the CliffsNotes, it’s a failure of pitching, hitting and pitching. Still, Baumann suggests that the Royals could be better positioned for the long term. The problem is that nobody can say when the long term will actually be here.