Kansas City Royals

Kansas City Royals Riding Alcides Escobar Magic Yet Again

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 3:41 p.m. ET

Fansided, David Hill/FanSided via Call to the Pen

There are certain things that are completely inexplicable, like George Lopez having a career and anyone purchasing a Nickelback CD. Count the Kansas City Royals success with Alcides Escobar in the leadoff role in the same category.

On the list of things that just should not work, Alcides Escobar in the leadoff spot would be high on that list. While he has the speed that teams would look for from their leadoff hitters in the 1970's and 1980's, the game has evolved from that time. Escobar, quite simply, does not get on base nearly enough (lifetime .295 on base percentage) for that speed to truly be a factor.

As much as Escobar has struggled to be an offensive presence in his career, he has been even worse this season. Thus far, Escobar has a .193/.221/.252 batting line, with four walks and eight extra base hits, all of which have been doubles. He has taken his glove first reputation to another level this season.

However, with the Royals setting their own record for offensive futility this season, and looking for any type of a spark, Ned Yost put Escobar back atop the lineup. This strategy infamously worked in 2015, and throughout the playoffs. In fact, if Escobar swung at the first pitch that season, the Royals felt that they would win. Esky Magic somehow proved to exist.

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Amazingly enough, that magic is back. Despite a .226/.226/.258 batting line in the past seven games, the Royals are 6-1 with Escobar leading off. This winning stretch has come without Escobar drawing a walk, and having a double for his extra base hit of the week.

Even though the Royals are currently 16-21, sitting in the basement of the American League Central, they are still in striking distance of the lead. In fact, Kansas City was just 4.5 games out of first heading into last night's slate of action. As the Indians are not exactly lighting the baseball world on fire, and the division leading Twins are far from a sure bet, the Royals could get back into the postseason discussion.

If that happens, and Escobar is still leading off, it would further illustrate why the games are played, instead of determined on paper. Escobar leading off should not work, and there are plenty of statistical reasons to show why. And yet, when the lights turn on and the first pitch is thrown, there he is, swinging away. With that swing, the Royals believe, and that belief can matter far more than anything tangible.