Royals 2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread - Page 101

duncan_idaho · 10:01 AM

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?

duncan_idaho · 03-17-2013, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theelusiveeightrop

Duncan, I respect your opinion, probably more than any others, especially concerning the Royals. Lots of ifs. As a 48 year old man who was at game 7, I pray you are correct. My skepticism runs deep, and I will buy you a beer if we make the playoffs. If win win 81 games, I will as well. Thank you for your analysis. Not trying to bring everyone down. We seem to be the Chicago Cubs South.

It's the "if everything goes well" statement that threw me. I'm not saying I think they get there or that many things produce best outcome.

If the best-case scenario happens, we're going to have a lot of fun in KC this year.

AndChiefs · 03-17-2013, 04:46 PM

I really hope Mendoza gets the #5 spot.

nychief · 03-17-2013, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndChiefs

I really hope Mendoza gets the #5 spot.

down to him or smith.

KChiefs1 · 03-17-2013, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndChiefs

I really hope Mendoza gets the #5 spot.

He has to be the 5th.

Fansy the Famous Bard · 03-18-2013, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

He has to be the 5th.

I agree... he showed it last year with solid work at th ML level, dominated AAA, and is putting up great numbers right now through spring training...

What more could the guy do to win a spot? Just kills me seeing guys like hochevar\Davies etc are given half a decade to prove they suck... yet it seems like others that just produce are given a half decade to prove themselves, yet Dayton continues to look for reasons to not give them that opportunity. Give me a break.

Archie F. Swin · 03-18-2013, 09:32 AM

Mendoza is younger than Hochevar by about 6 weeks
http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/tea...an.jsp?c_id=kc

CaliforniaChief · 03-18-2013, 10:01 AM

Actually, one of the scenarios that could have hurt us has already been resolved...moving Hochevar out of the rotation.

I didn't think GMDM had it in him.

Now, if they can do the right thing and go to Mendoza that would be best, IMO. The last start Chen had he got shelled, and Mendoza was sharp. Are the baseball gods finally smiling on Kansas City???

sedated · 03-18-2013, 12:22 PM

I was just waking up when I heard this, but I believe Mendoza pitched 5 shut-out innings yesterday.

Fansy the Famous Bard · 03-18-2013, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sedated

I was just waking up when I heard this, but I believe Mendoza pitched 5 shut-out innings yesterday.

Yes he did.

Nightfyre · 03-18-2013, 12:57 PM

If mendoza replicated what he did last year, he would be a damned good #5. He ate 166 innings with a 4.23 ERA. He eats innings and gives you a chance to win with him on the mound.

Codered · 03-18-2013, 01:00 PM

I just don't get this 5th starter talk ... It's been obvious for quite some time now that Mendoza should be the 5th starter.

Screw the fact that we have to pay Chen and Hoch more money.

**Saul Good** · 03-18-2013, 01:09 PM

Mendoza should be the 5, but we should have better options later in the season coming up from Omaha.

Nightfyre · 03-18-2013, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Mendoza should be the 5, but we should have better options later in the season coming up from Omaha.

Once Duffy and Paulino are ready post-TJ, I am not sure how we will adjust the rotation. Maybe deal a hot hand around ASB time?

duncan_idaho · 03-18-2013, 01:27 PM

I realize I'm a Bruce Chen apologist, of sorts, but I don't have a problem with him getting a look at the No. 5 spot.

Chen was very good for KC in 2011 and 2010. He was pretty bad in 2009. He's got a little more of a positive track record than Mendoza in KC. It makes sense to me that he'd get a shot to win the No. 5 job.

I think they stretched him out too much last year and asked him to pitch too many innings. Used a little more judiciously - and with a quicker hook - I think we can once again see the numbers he posted in 2011 and 2010.

His peripheral stats have actually improved each year he's been with KC. More Ks, fewer walks. Last year was not an exception.

Chiefspants · 03-18-2013, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

Once Duffy and Paulino are ready post-TJ, I am not sure how we will adjust the rotation. Maybe deal a hot hand around ASB time?

Erwin Santana (if he turns around) could be dealt for the right price.

12-11-2012, 09:59 AM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $-1889692	2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread 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? Last edited by duncan_idaho; 07-15-2013 at 10:01 AM..
Posts: 22,314

03-17-2013, 04:46 PM	#1502
AndChiefs Bazinga! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Houston, TX Casino cash: $-1998180	I really hope Mendoza gets the #5 spot. __________________
Posts: 5,538

03-18-2013, 09:32 AM	#1506
Archie F. Swin This is the way Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Casino cash: $9975673	Mendoza is younger than Hochevar by about 6 weeks http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/tea...an.jsp?c_id=kc __________________ "No Two People Will Do It The Same, You got It Down...When You Appear to Be In Pain!"
Posts: 11,800

03-18-2013, 10:01 AM	#1507
CaliforniaChief #RIPAce Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal Casino cash: $10715899	Actually, one of the scenarios that could have hurt us has already been resolved...moving Hochevar out of the rotation. I didn't think GMDM had it in him. Now, if they can do the right thing and go to Mendoza that would be best, IMO. The last start Chen had he got shelled, and Mendoza was sharp. Are the baseball gods finally smiling on Kansas City???
Posts: 17,443

03-18-2013, 12:57 PM	#1510
Nightfyre MVP Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Helena, MT Casino cash: $1368849	If mendoza replicated what he did last year, he would be a damned good #5. He ate 166 innings with a 4.23 ERA. He eats innings and gives you a chance to win with him on the mound.
Posts: 18,647

03-18-2013, 01:00 PM	#1511
Codered Starter Join Date: Dec 2003 Casino cash: $8878190	I just don't get this 5th starter talk ... It's been obvious for quite some time now that Mendoza should be the 5th starter. Screw the fact that we have to pay Chen and Hoch more money.
Posts: 761

03-18-2013, 01:09 PM	#1512
Saul Good Quit your bullshit Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bored of winning Casino cash: $10052799	Mendoza should be the 5, but we should have better options later in the season coming up from Omaha. __________________ Today is not a good day to be a pussy.
Posts: 41,870

03-18-2013, 01:27 PM	#1514
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $-1889692	I realize I'm a Bruce Chen apologist, of sorts, but I don't have a problem with him getting a look at the No. 5 spot. Chen was very good for KC in 2011 and 2010. He was pretty bad in 2009. He's got a little more of a positive track record than Mendoza in KC. It makes sense to me that he'd get a shot to win the No. 5 job. I think they stretched him out too much last year and asked him to pitch too many innings. Used a little more judiciously - and with a quicker hook - I think we can once again see the numbers he posted in 2011 and 2010. His peripheral stats have actually improved each year he's been with KC. More Ks, fewer walks. Last year was not an exception. __________________ "You gotta love livin', cause dying is a pain in the ass." ---- Sinatra
Posts: 22,314

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