KC Royals: What A Difference A Decade Makes
By Scott Dillon
Opening Day
Before jumping into the lineup comparisons it’s important to talk about how each season started out. Both 2005 and 2015 started out with a bang. While the 2015 ‘bang’ was the Royals announcing they weren’t a fluke, the 2005 ‘bang’ was more of the crash and burn variety.
2005:
Jose Lima was the starting pitcher for the 2005 Royals on opening day. He threw his first pitch of the day to a young second baseman named Omar Infante. (Yes, that one)
Lima lasted just three innings giving up three home runs to the Tigers as the Royals got shelled 11-2.
Their nine run lead was a complete turnaround from the 2005 season opener
The Royals gave up 11 runs on 13 hits, which included four home runs (three to one player) and four walks. Their team ERA at the end of the day was 11.25.
(The Royals team ERA in 2005 would finish dead last in the American League and they finished 43 games behind the division leader and 2005 World Series Champion Chicago White Sox)
2015:
This is where things start to get just a little ironic.
The 2015 Royals sent Yordano Ventura to the mound against the 2005 champs. The Royals gave up one run allowing six total base runners.
The Royals did the shelling this time beating the White Sox 10-1. Their nine run lead was a complete turnaround from the 2005 season opener (an exact turn around!).
While Omar Infante led off for a team in 2005, he batted last in 2015. He didn’t collect a hit, which isn’t surprising based on his season.
The Royals totaled 13 hits and five walks, eerily similar to the numbers they gave up ten years prior.
(The Royals pitching in 2015 was a strength and they won their division and finished almost 40 wins better than ten years earlier)
Next: Coming Up Just A Little Short