CHICAGO -- Just after 4 p.m. on game days, the visiting clubhouse at U.S. Cellular Field is almost always filled with players milling around, munching on snacks or watching TV.
But Tuesday around this time, the Royals' clubhouse was vacant of players.
They had all gathered in a separate room in a players-only meeting to air out all that was on their minds.
The meeting lasted about 20 minutes.
"It was good ... good thing to talk," center fielder Lorenzo Cain said. "We just talked about winning. We've got to get back to that and what it will take."
Long-time leader Alex Gordon said the time had come for the players to get together and talk as a group.
"We just have lacked that fire that we normally have had," Gordon said. "You have seen that in the last four games. It's time to get our fire back."
Third baseman Mike Moustakas said everyone got a chance to speak, but it was the team veterans who did a lot of talking.
"You got guys in here who have 10 years of experience in this league," Moustakas said. "They know things because they have been around.
"They were just reminding us that we are a good team that isn't playing well right now. So, 'start playing well.' You always want to listen to those guys."
Moustakas said the meeting wasn't contentious at all and that there was no yelling or screaming.
"It was good for all of us to meet as players, but as people, too," he said. "You don't want to be having meetings all the time, but this was a good time to have one. We needed to say some things."
You can follow Jeffrey Flanagan on Twitter at @jflanagankc or email him at jeffreyflanagan6@gmail.com.
