After another loss in September gave the Kansas City Royals a second seven-game losing streak this month, Will Smith decided to lighten the mood for his teammates.
“You guys are looking at this the wrong way,” Smith said. “The bright side is we can’t lose tomorrow.” The Royals managed to win four of their last six games, allowing them to make the playoffs just a year after tying a franchise record with 106 losses.
After sweeping Baltimore in two games, they are heading to the AL Division Series to play against the New York Yankees. This marks an incredible turnaround from one season to the next and even from game to game.
“All we’re focused on is right now,” said first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, who protected his surgically repaired right thumb while spraying sparkling wine during the fun celebration in the visiting clubhouse.
“We’re just focused on winning that pitch, and that’s what this team does. Losing streaks, winning streaks — it doesn’t matter. We just focus on that next pitch. We’ve done a really good job at it, and we’re going to keep trying to do it.”
Bobby Witt Jr., the AL batting champion, who drove in the winning run in both Games 1 and 2, said the goal is “one out at a time 27 times.”
Manager Matt Quatraro, also new to the playoffs, noted that his players really believe in this approach.
“They believe it,” Quatraro said. “You can’t just talk about it. You can’t just put it on a T-shirt and say let’s go or hang it on the wall on a poster. You have to live it. These guys do.”
General manager J.J. Picollo worked hard last offseason and during the trade deadline to surround his young players with experienced veterans. He brought in Smith, a three-time World Series-winning reliever, along with Game 2 starter and All-Star Seth Lugo, Yuli Gurriel, Tommy Pham, and Michael Wacha, who might start the opening game of the ALDS at Yankee Stadium.
