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?

[Cephalic Trauma]

Originally Posted by CJizzles

He's a good dude.

But, seriously, he can share pictures of Hosmer puss pounding his girl then share the pictures with strange men on the interwebzzzz.

We're all Royals fans here

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by Cephalic Trauma

I'm tired of it. After pages and pages of good discussion, you get a post like that.

Huh?

I understand where George is coming from...judging from his past posts we are about the same age & have had similar childhoods. I wasn't trying to slam him but relate to him. He is a Royals fan who cares because he posts in this thread, even though they are very negative. I keep hoping they will eventually be the organization they were when I was a kid & young adult.

[-King-]

The entire Astros team salary is $25 mil? Holy ****ing shit, I thought the Royals were cheap.

[Valiant]

Originally Posted by Peyton's Princess

what is Gordon's absolute ceiling this year?

how many homeruns?

I know we thought in the past he had 30 HR potential...any chance he turns some doubles into homers this year?

what do you guys think?

19 homers is his ceiling in leadoff. 24 anywhere else. 100+r. 60rbi. 50doubles. 35 steals.

The spring homers are a mirage. There is a good article about the cactus league and why so many runs and homers get hit.

[TLO]

Opening day can't get here soon enough! Good think KU basketball has filled most of the time in-between opening day.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by -King-

The entire Astros team salary is $25 mil? Holy ****ing shit, I thought the Royals were cheap.

A new AL team we get to knock around this season.

[SnakeXJones]

Originally Posted by -King-

The entire Astros team salary is $25 mil? Holy ****ing shit, I thought the Royals were cheap.

It's actually 31 for what I read but thats just sick **** I feel sorry for them

[Demonpenz]

Lorenzo Cain's eye test says his swing and build is Torri Hunter, but the way his body really is is Ron Gant after a nice motorcycle ride.

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Picked Lorenzo Cain up as a potential 4th OF for my FBB team. Do you guys think he has a legit chance at a 20/30 season this year?

Legit chance? No

Tiny possibility? I guess so. If he went 15/20, I'd take it in a heartbeat.

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

Lorenzo Cain's eye test says his swing and build is Torri Hunter, but the way his body really is is Ron Gant after a nice motorcycle ride.

Rany on LoCain:

I feel like Cain is talked about less than anyone else in the lineup, even the second base mess. It’s understandable given that he couldn’t stay healthy last year; once you get that injury-prone label it’s hard to break. On the other hand, Cain played a full season in Omaha in 2011, and played 127 games at three different levels in 2010. Since turning pro, the only other season he didn’t play at least 125 games (remember, minor league seasons run only 140 games) was 2009. Hopefully, last year was a fluke.

It’s also worth remembering that in 110 career games in the majors, Cain has hit .281/.327/.412. He has some pop (21 doubles, 8 homers) and a lot of speed (17-for-18 in steal attempts). He has a very good defensive reputation, and the numbers suggest that “very good” is an understatement: he’s been worth 19 runs above average in basically two-thirds of a full season.

Put it this way: you know how much I/we rave about Salvador Perez? How the mind boggles at the fact that in 115 career games, Perez has been worth 4.2 bWAR, which is practically an MVP-caliber pace? Well, in 110 career games, Cain has been worth 4.0 bWAR.

No, I don’t think that’s sustainable, because I don’t think his defensive numbers are sustainable. But be honest: you didn’t know he had been that effective in his career. I sure didn’t, and I get not paid to know this stuff.

Cain turns 27 next month – the most common age for a career year. If he stays healthy, that Torii Hunter vibe he gives off at the plate may reflect itself on the stat sheet as well. If you’re looking for a reason to believe that the conventional wisdom on the 2013 Royals is wrong, look no further than a breakout season from The Painkiller.

[Archie F. Swin]

the season can't start soon enough

[Ceej]

LEW WE R WAITING!

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

Rany on LoCain:

Let this be so. Please.

[lewdog]

Forgot to share this but the other night at Royals vs Dodgers the guy behind us taps me on the shoulder as says, "Hey, you just made TV!" He said he told his son where they were sitting and when the TV Crew panned the crowd behind home plate, they hit our section. He forwarded the picture to us. Check out this gem. Must have been a great joke!

[Nightfyre]

I love what LoCain brings when he is healthy. Keep in mind that he has been playing with a bad hammy last year - we should expect an increase in defensive and stolen base production. However - he takes walks at a Frenchy-like rate. We really need to improve his patience at the plate. Hell, him taking walks and being more selective could increase his power numbers.