The Kansas City Royals are sitting atop the American League Central and, barring a collapse, are poised to make the playoffs for the first time since the won the World Series in 1985.
Yet, for some reason, manager Ned Yost is not happy.
“I know there’s different things you can do. But there’s a real need for our fans to be a part of this. We had a great crowd last night, and I was kind of hoping we’d have another great crowd tonight, and we really didn’t,” the skipper said following Tuesday’s victory. “They’re a big part of our success, especially at home. We’ve been working hard to make our fans happy and make our fans proud for a lot of years, and we’d like them out here to enjoy a night like this with us.”
What Yost is referring to is this…13,847. That was the paid attendance to see the Royals upend the Minnesota Twins 2-1 following a two-run home run in the ninth.
“We’re in a pennant race, yeah. We’ve been working on trying to build this team for the last three or four years to put ourselves in a position where we can contend for a championship. And not only the division, but we want to contend for a world championship,” Yost added. “It’s really, really important we have our fans behind us at the stadium.”
And you know what…outside of channeling Tampa Bay Rays skipper Joe Maddon, Yost just might be on to something.
Kauffman Stadium holds 37,903 and the Royals have sold the joint out just twice this season. They’re currently sitting 25th in the Majors in attendance…above just the Houston Astros, Miami Marlins, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians and Maddon’s Rays.
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