There is a reason the Royals are normally out of the race by Mother's Day. It is called "April."
The Royals are normally horrid in April. They were 11-15 in April last year and have had one winning April since 1989, a 16-7 record in 2003. That excellent start vaulted the Royals into first place, and they were in contention into September before fading to third place in the American League Central Division. The Royals have a franchise 365-445 April record, which is historically their worst month. They have won at least 516 games in other months. Kansas City lost 17 of 20 games in April 1992.
Jose Guillen, whom the Royals gave a three-year, $36 million contract in December 2007, is notoriously a slow starter and dreads the cold weather, but he took it to a different level last year, hitting .183 with 25 strikeouts in 104 at-bats when April ended.
Gil Meche, the 2008 Opening Day starter, went 1-4 last April and ended the month with a 7.22 ERA. Seven of the Royals pitchers had an ERA higher than 6.00 at the end of April 2008. The staff ERA was 4.71 after April 30 last season.
At the end of last April, the Royals were hitting .259 with 15 home runs and 97 RBIs, compared to their opponents' .275-23-126. The Royals were outscored 129-100 for the month.
Play FOX Fantasy Baseball today
