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Where did it all go so wrong for the Kansas City Royals\u2019 offense?<\/p>\n
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This past offseason, you\u2019ll remember, the Royals sought to increase their production at the plate<\/a> by acquiring on-base hitters Lane Thomas and Isaac Collins. KC sent a clear message that consistency was needed throughout the starting lineup.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The belief was that bringing in Thomas and Collins \u2014 plus a full season from emerging standouts Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen \u2014 would shake up the club\u2019s moribund bats. Those four would fit well alongside a returning core of Bobby Witt Jr., Maikel Garcia, Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Royals also moved in the fences<\/a> at Kauffman Stadium. Once more, the goal was to generate additional offense \u2014 runs. The Royals were interested in pushing to the top of the American League Central division.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n None of that has materialized. The Royals are mired at the bottom of the division.<\/a> At 22-35, they sit just a half-game ahead of the last-place Detroit Tigers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Top to bottom, the numbers haven\u2019t been good. KC has lost 14 of its last 17 games and is currently on a four-game losing streak. The Royals have been outscored 31-2 in their last three games \u2014 including a 15-1 blowout home loss<\/a> to the New York Yankees.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Royals manager Matt Quatraro has tried everything. He has shifted the lineup<\/a> and dropped guys down the batting order against a particularly tough pitcher. On Friday, Garcia batted third instead of in his customary leadoff spot.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n That honor went to Thomas, who is solid against left-handers. Pasquantino was moved down for the evening as well.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Those changes didn\u2019t work. Rangers starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore shut down the Royals\u2019 bats<\/a> across 6 1\/3 innings. Kansas City managed just four hits and one walk against him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI think we don\u2019t hit a lot of homers, we don\u2019t hit for extra bases,\u201d Garcia said after the game. \u201cSo we have to figure out how to score more runs. (It\u2019s) like playing the small game and trying to do something different.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s Royals baseball. We play the small game \u2014 bunts, hit and runs. So we have to do something different, figure out how to score more runs.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Royals have a negative run differential this season, which isn\u2019t surprising for a losing team. They have been outscored by 55 runs in 57 games played.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And things are worse on the road. The Royals own the second-worst record away from home (7-18) in the majors, just behind the Tigers. They\u2019ve been outscored 122-74 in those matchups.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s frustrating for everybody,\u201d Garcia said. \u201cAnd we just have to keep going and we can\u2019t give up.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So what must change for the Royals? At the moment, they need to generate more scoring opportunities. They finished 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position Friday, stranding seven men.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Garcia said he and his teammates need to play to their strengths. Power hitters should know who they are and hit for power. The same could be said for guys who move runners over and set up the club\u2019s run producers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When asked if some on the team are trying to do too much, Garcia did not disagree.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI mean, I think so,\u201d he said. \u201cYou can see the numbers. You can see, like, the swings, and trying to do too much.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n At the end of the day, the Royals must get back to playing complementary baseball. As Garcia noted, for instance, they\u2019re often at their best when they\u2019re playing small-ball \u2014 not just waiting for the three-run homer or the extra-base hit.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This season, the Royals haven\u2019t gotten consistent production from Pasquantino or Perez. Both logged at least 30 homers and 100 RBIs last season; this year, neither is hitting much above the Mendoza line \u2014 Perez is at .215, Pasquantino .206.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If the Royals are to climb out of their rut, they will need both men to regain their better form. There have been flashes, but the offense needs Pasquantino and Perez to play up to expectations day in and day out.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They are critical cogs in the Royals\u2019 run-producing machine \u2014 alongside Garcia and Witt \u2014 and can make the offense hum.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Right now, the Royals aren\u2019t getting clutch or timely hits from anyone. And with the pitching staff dealing with myriad injuries, this team is in a tight spot.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe talked about it at home last week,\u201d KC manager Matt Quatraro said. \u201cSometimes you need some batted-ball luck, and certainly we didn\u2019t have that tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Royals are hitting .233 as a team<\/a> this year with a combined .680 OPS (on-base plus slugging). Both stats rank in the bottom-third of the majors. KC also ranks 29th with just 210 runs<\/a> scored and 25th with a .372 slugging percentage.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The numbers tell the story. The Royals\u2019 offense is failing in several crucial metrics … and it\u2019s up to the players in the clubhouse to rectify this situation on the field.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cEverybody has to understand what is their game,\u201d Garcia said. \u201cSo we\u2019re going to figure it out quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n