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?

[Great Expectations]

Ventura looks like a stud.

When can Paulino replace Mendoza?

[Nightfyre]

Mendoza will be fine, imo.

[KevB]

Cheslor Cuthbert with the walk off HR tonight for Wilmington

[Great Expectations]

Mendoza had sucked worse than Hoch. He doesn't have goods stuff, I think his weird magic luck is gone
Maybe start Chen until Paulino is back?

[Cephalic Trauma]

Shit, bring Ventura up for the 5 spot. Didn't Ned say something about that in ST?

[SPchief]

Mendoza will be fine

[PunkinDrublic]

Can't wait to come up to KC and go to some games next week. I can't believe it's been 13 years since I've been out to the K.

[KCwolf]

Originally Posted by Great Expectations

Mendoza had sucked worse than Hoch. He doesn't have goods stuff, I think his weird magic luck is gone
Maybe start Chen until Paulino is back?

Jesus .... Do you watch the games????? The stuff he had in Philly was nasty... the curveball was exceptional ... he'll be fine.

[CaliforniaChief]

This team is really growing on me fast. I love the spirit, self-confidence, etc. And this year's team actually has talent, they could ride for awhile.

This city...all of us...we NEED this.

[AussieChiefsFan]

If the Royals were in other divisions:

[teedubya]

The Royals are the 5th best team in baseball.

[teedubya]

Have you noticed the Royals new quirky move they do after they get on base? They are like mini TD dances. LOL. Like they point to something or make a hand gesture.

Anyone noticing these?

[teedubya]

Here's a sweet video archive of Royals shit. http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/kc/...roductions.jsp

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by KCwolf

Jesus .... Do you watch the games????? The stuff he had in Philly was nasty... the curveball was exceptional ... he'll be fine.

Well I dunno about that. A lot of people here give him a lot of love when he's nothing special, no more than your average bullpen guy that can eat away some innings. Don't think he should start. I think Crow needs to get the nod to start. Not to mention Duffy and Paulino will come back this season (I think) at which point Mendoza should go back to the pen.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by teedubya

Have you noticed the Royals new quirky move they do after they get on base? They are like mini TD dances. LOL. Like they point to something or make a hand gesture.

Anyone noticing these?

Yeah Franceour does a little John Cena bit......makes everyone in KC ****ing puke.