Signing Reggie Sanders, Mark Grudzielanek, Doug Mientkiewicz and Joe Mays hasn't made a difference, and firing general manager Allard Baird isn't likely to keep the Royals from threatening the Mets' modern-day record for futility. The expansion Mets went 40-120 in 1962 while the 13-38 Royals are on course to finish 41-121 this season. So much has gone wrong in KC. Prospects Mark Quinn, Carlos Febles, Angel Berroa, Dee Brown, Ken Harvey and a host of young pitchers haven't panned out. The Royals have drafted a boatload of highly touted high school hurlers in recent years, a practice that comes with a great deal of risk and hasn't paid off. Kansas City had the worst team ERA in the American League in 2004 and the worst in the majors a year ago. It's well on its way to duplicating that feat with a 6.24 mark that would be hard to catch by other struggling staffs. Building a lineup around injury-prone Mike Sweeney doesn't help, nor do the personal issues that have plagued the Royals' best pitching prospect, Zach Greinke. Is there any hope the Royals can avoid a historic chase with the '62 Mets? Firing Baird may be necessary, but it's an odd move coming just days before the 2006 amateur draft.