Fandom can be fickle

Phil Cobb

Am I fickle because I’m a baseball fan … or am I a baseball fan because I’m fickle?

When Alex Gordon became a free agent following the 2015 season, I first pleaded with the team to let him go in favor of cultivating the next great Kansas City Royal.

Then, when they signed him to a four-year, $72 million contract, I applauded the organization for doing what was right, even if it wasn’t the smartest long-term decision.

I mean, he did give us one of the most iconic moments in team history with a dramatic home run in Game 1 of the 2015 World Series, right?

How can we bear to watch him put on some other team’s uniform?

Now, that he is arguably the second worst hitter in all of professional baseball (second only to teammate Alcides Escobar), I find myself scratching my head once more.

All season long I have thought that Gordon will break out of his funk and go on a torrid hitting streak, but all season long he has proven that his offensive abilities have fallen off a steep cliff.

When the Royals failed to compete in 2016 because of their World Series hangover, or injuries, or being tired from a short offseason, or whatever excuse you want to pick, I was at the front of the trade-them-while-you-can-get-the-most-out-of-them parade.

Following a 10-21 mark to begin this season, I was dreaming of the giant haul of talent the Royals would acquire from trading pending free agents Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Jason Vargas, Lorenzo Cain, and Alcides Escobar.

Then, after they rattled off a 17-9 record for the month of June and a nine-game winning streak in mid-July, I was beating myself up for having given up on my team.

Why, when we all know that windows of opportunity of this sort come so rarely, would we shut that window prematurely so long as any hope remains for one last surge?

What was I thinking?

This “championship core” deserves one last chance to do all they can for Royals fans to remember them by.

Right?

As recently as July 26 the Royals were — almost miraculously — within 1.5 games of last year’s World Series runner-up Cleveland Indians in the American League Central Division race.

Following Monday night’s loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, despite going 3-7 in their previous 10 games, they were tied for the second of two Wild Card playoff spots in the American League.

If the playoffs started today (I’m writing this on Tuesday), the Royals (they hold an advantage over the Rays in head-to-head games) would be in a one-game playoff with the New York Yankees for the right to take on the Houston Astros in the American League Divisional Series.

This sure doesn’t look like a playoff team right now.

The starting pitching has been bad — really bad.

The acquisition of three pitchers from the San Diego Padres who were supposed to make the rotation deeper and better, has so far yielded the same effect as striking a match to gasoline.

For the most part, the offense has been pretty good.

I like the acquisition of Melky Cabrera, but I can’t say that it has necessarily made the team better.

As much as I hate to say it, I think the only way it makes the team better is if The Melk Man stays in right field and rookie Jorge Bonifacio replaces Gordon in left.

I don’t see the organization making that move.

Right or wrong, there’s too much allegiance to the perennial gold-glover and World Series hero, who has been there through the entire process of Royals baseball rebirth.

I have to say, I have all but given up on Gordon’s bat coming back to life, but I have not given up on the Royals making the playoffs and being competitive therein.

I think they are currently going through what you would expect a team to go through when you introduce it to four new team members.

Throw in the recent injury to catcher Salvador Perez, and the Royals are just in a little bit of a funk.

I haven’t heard how long Perez will be out, but assuming he comes back to the lineup shortly after his 10-day DL stint, I think the team will go on what manager Ned Yost might call “a streaky little good streak.”

Will that be enough to overcome the Indians for the division title?

Possibly.

Will it be enough to ward off the other contenders for the Wild Card spots?

I think so.

Will it be enough to legitimately compete for the American League crown?

It wouldn’t be the first time the Royals achieved the improbable.

Phil Cobb is the owner and publisher of the Maryville Daily Forum and The Post.