2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread

[duncan_idaho]

Proposed 2013 Slogan: Tigers: They're what's for dinner
Actual 2013 Slogan: Come to Play
A better, more accurate, or alternative slogan: All in, no panic, we promise.

Dayton Moore has pushed all his chips in and is riding on King/Jack suited, hoping it comes together, he gets some good luck, and he hits the nuts by the river card. There's potential, oh yes, there's potential. There's also risk.

At the midway point, Dayton is left counting on the river card. The flop and turn didn't help him, and he's looking at the Tigers holding a pair of Queens and the Indians holding a pair of 9s. His 2013 plan hasn't failed - yet - but the odds are not in his favor.

Burning questions updates below.

Burning Questions for 2013:

1) Will the improve rotation be improved enough? Does James Shields pitch like a fringe No. 1 away from Tampa Bay? Does Ervin Santana pitch to his highest upside in his walk year? Can Jeremy Guthrie build on his strong performance as a Royal in 2012? Can Wade Davis bring his new mentality- and velocity - back to the rotation?

Midseason check-in: Yes, the rotation is certainly improved enough. Shields has pitched like a fringe No. 1 and Santana is having his best season. Guthrie has horrible peripherals but has continued to perform well at his home park and eat innings on the road. Davis brought neither his kick-ass mentality or improved velocity back to the rotation and is in Luke Hochevar/Hiram Davies territory.

2) When will Luke Hochevar be shown the door?
Midseason check-in: It appears, never, at this point. Hochevar has been solid in non-leverage situations, though pretty much every time he has been used with men on base in an inning, it has been a disaster.

3) Does Hosmer bounce back?
Midseason check-in: It took some time, but Hosmer's performance from June 1 on is probably the most encouraging thing about the 2013 season so far.
4) Can Moustakas hit for a whole season like he did in the first half of 2012?
Midseason check-in: Nope. Moustakas was god-awful, then great for about 3 weeks, then god-awful again. He has been better since he started working with Brett and Grafol but still has a long way to go.
5) Who regresses?
Midseason check-in: Welp, Alicides Escobar is not a surprising name here (though Yost's stubborn insistence on hitting him second is ridiculous). Billy Butler is a surprise. He isn't having a terrible year - still contributing a lot to the offense - but he's not hitting for the average or power he has displayed over the past several years.
6) Who plays 2B?
Midseason check-in: A whole bunch of people, and not that great. Gio is at least getting a shot, though he once again is not doing much with it.
7) Can Jeff Francoeur be at least replacement level, rather than epic horrible level?
Midseason check-in: Hahahahahahahahahahaha
8) Will Dayton Moore survive to see 2014?
Midseason check-in: Outlook uncertain. Probably still around, unless the team completely tanks in the second half and he does something foolish. My guess - he sacrifices Ned Yost this offseason and gets one more shot with a new manager in 2014.
9) Will Danny Duffy come back healthy? And if he does, is he the same, better or worse?
Midseason check-in: Yes. Velocity looks the same, and it looks likely he is the same guy as before.
10) And the big one: Has KC added enough to run down the big-money Detroit Tigers?
Midseason check-in: Doesn't look like it, does it?

[stonedstooge]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

They don't need Bourjos anymore. Also, they need pitching. And if we could pay most of Hoch's 2013 salary, it's basically a no-risk, potentially high reward move.

Would they owe Hoch a full years salary if he's cut in Spring Training?

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

How about Hoch and a prospect to the Halos for Peter Bourjos? I love that guy.

They're not interested in our trash, but Bourjos would absolutely be an astute target for a trade. He immediately starts in CF, and Cain moves to RF. This would be an outstanding defensive outfield, with the possibility for solid offensive production.

[RockChalk]

Originally Posted by alnorth

day job pays a hell of a lot more than some faceless anasometimes role. His opinions would become proprietary trade secret, he'd have to go dark and offer his insights and opinions to the public a lot less. With his blog, he's a lot more high-profile and well-known than he would be working for anyone.

I wasnt saying that one job is more lucrative than the other. I was opining that sometimes he comes off believing he has the chops to be a GM.

Now I shouldve stated beforehand that I do enjoy most of his articles. But he's kind of acting like a 12 year old girl who was just broken up with

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by RockChalk

I wasnt saying that one job is more lucrative than the other. I was opining that sometimes he comes off believing he has the chops to be a GM.

Now I shouldve stated beforehand that I do enjoy most of his articles. But he's kind of acting like a 12 year old girl who was just broken up with

I have little doubt that he does. I'd trade DM for Rany in a second.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

I have little doubt that he does. I'd trade DM for Rany in a second.

You liked it when he was slobbering all over signing Carl Crawford? That contract would've hamstrung us for years.

[RockChalk]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

I have little doubt that he does. I'd trade DM for Rany in a second.

I'm not debating his eye for the game...but GM-worthy is a bit much

[DeezNutz]

If DM is a GM...

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by CJizzles

Hey!!!!

I thought we were message board bffs.

No longer, lewdick!!!!

I can forgive and forget.......



Can you?

[Ceej]

Originally Posted by lewdog

I can forgive and forget.......



Can you?

poodog.

never!

[mr. tegu]

I just realized Duncan started the Missouri football thread. Hopefully you do better with this one!

[58kcfan89]

Haven't checked this thread since the day after the Shields trade. I feel a little better about it, and am at least willing to give it a chance to work out.

Has the idea of a trade for Dickey gone by the wayside? I feel like that puts us firmly in the contender talk but haven't heard much since Myers for Shields went down.

[Demonpenz]

I guess myers hit 4 home runs in an intersquad game all off of David Price.

[Cephalic Trauma]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Why would they bring on a negative value starter to their rotation? Even if he was free?

That's like offering someone cancer, but you'll pay their medical bills.

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by 58kcfan89

Haven't checked this thread since the day after the Shields trade. I feel a little better about it, and am at least willing to give it a chance to work out.

Has the idea of a trade for Dickey gone by the wayside? I feel like that puts us firmly in the contender talk but haven't heard much since Myers for Shields went down.

We would probably start eating into the ML roster and really thin out the minors. We would be better off focusing on replacing Frenchy which can be done for much cheaper.

[Sure-Oz]

I'm over the Myers deal....sucks we had to get rid of him but kinda excited but i was last year too