KC Royals: Scariest Players in Team History
By Joel Wagler
A general view of the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame displaying new American League 2015 Champions at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
The Scariest Players in KC Royals History – Number Two: The Pitchers, 1998-2006
There are few things more nightmarish for KC Royals fans than to think back on the truly terrifying pitching the team ran out to the mound for almost a decade.
From 1998-2006, the Kansas City Royals pitchers had the worst ERA in Major League Baseball – 5.28. It didn’t matter if it was starters or relievers; they were all hideous.
The Kansas City Royals did nothing well from the mound. The rotation produced an ERA of 5.34 (third worst in baseball over this time), and the bullpen’s number was 5.19, the worst in the Majors
Here is a look at the numbers for starters:
- Twenty-eight starters pitched at least 100 innings in this time frame
- Four had an Earned Run Average over 6.00
- Seventeen starters and an ERA over 5.00
- Only one had an ERA under 4.00 – Paul Byrd at 3.98.
The other 27 were all at 4.27 or above.
Here are the cringe-worthy numbers for the relievers:
- Twenty-eight players also pitched at least 60 innings in relief over these nine years.
- Two set marks over 6.00
- Eight over 5.00
- Only three posted marks below 4.00, none lower than 3.73.
In all, 60 pitchers threw more than 60 innings in these brutal years. In total, two had an ERA over 7.00, 13 over 6.00, and only four under 4.00, the lowest being Cory Bailey (who???) at 3.73.
In those nine years, the Royals developed only one pitcher of top notch quality on the Majo League level – Zack Greinke, who enjoyed his best years after this stretch.
In comparison, over the last two seasons, the Royals have 13 pitchers with more than 60 innings, only two have an ERA number over 4.00, and eight under 3.30.
The Kansas City Royals have done a better developing arms under general manager Dayton Moore. Hopefully, the team will never suffer through another prolonged pitching slump as horrific as this.
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