Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Kansas City Royals fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Earlier this week, we asked you how many games the Royals would have to win in a row to convince you had a shot at the playoffs after all:
God bless the 6% of you who said the playoffs were already within reach. As I talked about on Sunday’s Royals Rundown Podcast, when I was a kid I would believe the Royals had a shot right up until they were officially eliminated. That 30-game winning streak was coming; I was just sure of it!
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After writing out all the winning percentages involved, I did end up voting with the plurality of 37% on this one. I wanted the Royals to finish out August with a winning streak. to believe it was a possibility. They didn’t manage it, losing one of the games in Toronto with three in Cleveland left to go before the month is over. That said, if they can sweep in Cleveland (a big if with Tanner Bibee, Foster Griffin, and Parker Messick scheduled to pitch this weekend), maybe I’ll still give in to some hopium for a September where they’d need to go 18-6 to reach .500.
The second place selection at 31% was midway through September and, honestly, if they had managed that, or if they can get there with only the one loss, I think the Royals playoff odds would rocket up from the current 0.1% to something like 50% at least. That’s a very reasonable time to believe, but man, I can’t imagine living my life where I had to see my favorite sports team go that far before I was able to dream a little about them. And those 18% of you who think the Royals need to win every remaining game – which would have gotten them to 88 wins, now 87 – make me truly sad.
No, the Royals almost certainly are not making the playoffs this year. But I hope I never become the kind of fan who can’t look at 0.1% odds of making the postseason and start imagining scenarios where it could happen.
These survey results are sponsored by FanDuel.
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