Finally

Did you catch the box score? Check it again. That's right, the Royals have won. No hives, no warning-track home runs, no bullpen meltdown. I almost forgot what it feels like to have won. I sort of expected after the last out for the umpire to call both teams back on the field and say that the Indians get an extra out. Nope, nothing, just a Royals win.

This was one of those losing streaks where even though the Royals lost 12 in a row, they didn't seem to earn it. There was the game where Delmon Young fell down and let the game-tying runs score. There was the game were Cliff Lee was knocked around, there was the game where the Royals scored eight runs, and the pitching collapsed, and then there was the 8-3 meltdown. That's four games right there. If the Royals win those four, then instead of them sitting at 22-34, they're at a much-easier-to-digest 26-30.

So what's next? Can this team use this win as a chance to catch fire, and reach my pre-season prediction of 81 wins? Or is this an aberration? An example of a broken clock is right twice daily?

Sunday becomes very important, if the Royals can get to Byrd (which they can), Bannister has a solid outing (he's due) and they win, then maybe they can right the ship. Maybe not so much that they win the division, but enough so that Hillman, Moore and Co. can spend their time fixing this team, instead of defending its ineptness.

If they lose...well there is always tomorrow, right?