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?

[teedubya]

Royals win 87 games in 2103. You heard it here, first! [or Q times. I don't know.] 87-75 would be a great season... With our Royals luck, it still may not be enough for the playoffs. :-(

[noa]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

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.

It seemed like they never pulled him last year when they should have, and then games would get away from him.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by teedubya

Royals win 87 games in 2103. You heard it here, first! [or Q times. I don't know.] 87-75 would be a great season... With our Royals luck, it still may not be enough for the playoffs. :-(

We have wait 90 years for 87 wins?!

[gblowfish]

If Hoch is on the opening day roster, START HIM opening day.
If you're gonna bow to the suckage, go for it all the way.

[KCUnited]

Originally Posted by noa

It seemed like they never pulled him last year when they should have, and then games would get away from him.
Posted via Mobile Device

Well, our bullpen was taxed by May.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

Well, our bullpen was taxed by May.

It's going to feel so weird getting 7 innings out of starters this year.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

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.

I watch this guy pitch and i wonder..."How the hell does he get anybody out?"

But somehow he does......hes servicable at #5.

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by teedubya

Royals win 87 games in 2103. You heard it here, first! [or Q times. I don't know.] 87-75 would be a great season... With our Royals luck, it still may not be enough for the playoffs. :-(

We have a 90 year rebuilding plan.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by noa

It seemed like they never pulled him last year when they should have, and then games would get away from him.
Posted via Mobile Device

Well, when your rotation mates (Hochevar and Sanchez) are getting bombed and yanked after 2-3 innings, it puts your manager in a really tough spot as far as having to extend other guys to rest his pen.

Big difference in what the manager can do in the following situations:

2012

1) Hochevar gets rocked. Pitches 3 2/3
2) Sanchez gets rocked. Pitches 2 1/3
3) Will Smith makes it through 6
4) Random fill-in gives you 5 1/3

Bruce Chen pitches. Hits 95 pitches in sixth but is sent back out to face the heart of the order in 7th (gets rocked) because the bullpen has worked an average of 4 2/3 innings in the past four days.

2013

1) Shields goes 7
2) Guthrie goes 6 1/3
3) Santana goes 6
4) Wade Davis goes 6

Bruce Chen pitches. Hits 95 pitches in sixth and gives way to a well-rested bullpen that has worked an average of 2 2/3 inning the past 4 nights.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

I watch this guy pitch and i wonder..."How the hell does he get anybody out?"

But somehow he does......hes servicable at #5.

Baseball is littered with left-handed pitchers who have done the same thing.

[Al Bundy]

By Associated Press, Updated: Monday, March 18, 6:56 PM

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Left-hander Will Smith and rookie right-hander Yorando Ventura, candidates for Kansas City’s final rotation slot, were among seven cuts made by the Royals before Monday night’s game against the Texas Rangers.

Smith, 1-0 with a 1.64 ERA while holding opponents to a .179 batting average in four outings, was optioned to Triple-A Omaha. Ventura, a non-roster invitee who has made only six starts above Class A, was reassigned to minor league camp after going 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in five outings.

Kansas City also optioned right-hander Nate Adcock and left-hander Everett Teaford to Omaha. Right-handers Brian Sanches, Blaine Boyer and Michael Mariot were reassigned to minor-league camp.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[TLO]

Smith could be a candidate to bring up if our #5 guy struggles. I really hope both Paulino and Duffy come back healthy. Our rotation could be fantastic.

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

I watch this guy pitch and i wonder..."How the hell does he get anybody out?"

But somehow he does......hes servicable at #5.

Ozzie Guillen felt the same way.

[AndChiefs]

I hate francoeur. He would've walked if he just had a modicum of plate discipline.

[AndChiefs]

Santana having some bad luck.