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?

[Three7s]

So, how many games does Franshit cost the Royals this year?

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by Three7s

So, how many games does Franshit cost the Royals this year?

81

[DaKCMan AP]

Ha. Elliot Johnson sucks. Enjoy.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

Ha. Elliot Johnson sucks. Enjoy.

Chris Getz on Roids, 6 HRS!!!

[Prison Bitch]

Can someone explain why Mendoza doesn't get more discussion as the 5th starter? Dayton was on Sunday Sports and I think Mendoza was about the fourth guy he mentioned as a possibility. Obviously they will go with golden boy Hochevar until they can't, but I thought Mendoza pitched really well. HIs peripherals were no different from his actual ERA so he wasn't lucky, and 25 starts with a 4.30 FIP is damn good in the A.L. and better than Luke or Santana or Guthrie's best year. Just named MVP of the Caribbean WS too with 13 scoreless innings.


Can someone explain it?

[BlackHelicopters]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Can someone explain why Mendoza doesn't get more discussion as the 5th starter? Dayton was on Sunday Sports and I think Mendoza was about the fourth guy he mentioned as a possibility. Obviously they will go with golden boy Hochevar until they can't, but I thought Mendoza pitched really well. HIs peripherals were no different from his actual ERA so he wasn't lucky, and 25 starts with a 4.30 FIP is damn good in the A.L. and better than Luke or Santana or Guthrie's best year. Just named MVP of the Caribbean WS too with 13 scoreless innings.


Can someone explain it?

Even to us faithful, we now know GMDM is an idiot.

[Prison Bitch]

Well, he was smart enough to pick up Mendoza and smart enough to give him 25 starts, even if it was by accident. I guess I don't see why he wouldn't see the value in what Mendoza gave him last year or see his performance this month as proof he's a very good option.

[ImAWalkingCorpse]

Hey has anyone seen the Spring Training Royals hats yet?

[sedated]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Can someone explain why Mendoza doesn't get more discussion as the 5th starter? Dayton was on Sunday Sports and I think Mendoza was about the fourth guy he mentioned as a possibility. Obviously they will go with golden boy Hochevar until they can't, but I thought Mendoza pitched really well. HIs peripherals were no different from his actual ERA so he wasn't lucky, and 25 starts with a 4.30 FIP is damn good in the A.L. and better than Luke or Santana or Guthrie's best year. Just named MVP of the Caribbean WS too with 13 scoreless innings.


Can someone explain it?

Trying to be play devil's advocate here, but Hoch cant pitch out of the stretch and falls apart when guys get on base - not exactly the perfect bullpen guy.

Mendoza is better, but his versatility is kind of his downfall.

[KCUnited]

Originally Posted by ImAWalkingCorpse

Hey has anyone seen the Spring Training Royals hats yet?

I like them.

[stonedstooge]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Can someone explain why Mendoza doesn't get more discussion as the 5th starter? Dayton was on Sunday Sports and I think Mendoza was about the fourth guy he mentioned as a possibility. Obviously they will go with golden boy Hochevar until they can't, but I thought Mendoza pitched really well. HIs peripherals were no different from his actual ERA so he wasn't lucky, and 25 starts with a 4.30 FIP is damn good in the A.L. and better than Luke or Santana or Guthrie's best year. Just named MVP of the Caribbean WS too with 13 scoreless innings.


Can someone explain it?

He had to fight his way into the lineup last year. Maybe that's what he does best?

[Bambi]

Actual 2013 Slogan: TBD

That is perfect.

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by sedated

Trying to be play devil's advocate here, but Hoch cant pitch out of the stretch and falls apart when guys get on base - not exactly the perfect bullpen guy.

Mendoza is better, but his versatility is kind of his downfall.

Pretty much my thoughts exactly. Mendoza is an excellent long reliever and spot starter. He is probably also more adapt than Hoch with an irregular pitching schedule.

[TLO]

Hoch sucks. He should be replaced by Mendoza or any other pitcher. Don't care who. Just say no to Hoch

[DeezNutz]

It's funny that we even have to continue to discuss an historically bad starting pitcher. Hoch is obviously a statistical abomination, and, to me, he doesn't even pass the eye test. His stuff can be a tick above average, but he lacks a true out pitch. I firmly believe that his breaking stuff isn't plus, and I've always held this view.