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?

[AndChiefs]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

"I think his foot got stuck in the wall when he jumped," right fielder Lorenzo Cain said. "Hopefully, he's OK because we definitely need him out there."

-- Lorenzo Cain, on Dyson's ankle sprain.

Why, Zo? When Francoeur is available, who needs Dyson?

Said no one not named "Francoeur" ever.

Ban assault walls?

Sorry couldn't help it.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

"I think his foot got stuck in the wall when he jumped," right fielder Lorenzo Cain said. "Hopefully, he's OK because we definitely need him out there."

-- Lorenzo Cain, on Dyson's ankle sprain.

Why, Zo? When Francoeur is available, who needs Dyson?

Said no one not named "Francoeur" ever.

Bring up Lough to platoon if Dyson goes on the 15 day?

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Bring up Lough to platoon if Dyson goes on the 15 day?

Possibly. Hopefully the ankle sprain isn't that bad.

They'd need another OF in that case.

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Bring up Lough to platoon if Dyson goes on the 15 day?

Probably...if they really want to contend they need to start looking outside the organization for help.

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

Probably...if they really want to contend they need to start looking outside the organization for help.

DDJ!

[seaofred]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

DDJ!

Please no!

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by seaofred

Please no!

Probably a cheap upgrade to Frenchy. DDJ and Utley would be a nice upgrade.

[Demonpenz]

Dejesus would be my pick

[mr. tegu]

I love watching Dyson play. I hope he comes back with out missing any significant time.

[ChiliConCarnage]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

Probably...if they really want to contend they need to start looking outside the organization for help.

I think gordo/dyson/cain could be fine if Cain can maintain something like this production all year. We could carry a weak bat in an important defensive postion like CF.

What we can't carry is useless bats at 1st and 3rd. I think we're down to prayer as our only option there.

[cmh6476]

any hope that someone is going to be called up at some point to help us in the 4 or 5 slot in the starting rotation?

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by cmh6476

any hope that someone is going to be called up at some point to help us in the 4 or 5 slot in the starting rotation?

I think they're going to stick with Davis for quite a bit longer, and Mendoza's last two starts have been "fine" for a No. 5 starter. So I don't think they'll make any move suddenly.

Yordano Ventura might force their hand, though. He's been brilliant at AA and is probably going to be worthy of a promotion soon. Pitch efficiency and control are still areas of improvement (He needs to go deeper and walk fewer hitters, though his walk rate is not out of control).

Depending on how Ace does at Omaha, the Royals might have no choice but to make room for him.

[AndChiefs]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

I think they're going to stick with Davis for quite a bit longer, and Mendoza's last two starts have been "fine" for a No. 5 starter. So I don't think they'll make any move suddenly.

Yordano Ventura might force their hand, though. He's been brilliant at AA and is probably going to be worthy of a promotion soon. Pitch efficiency and control are still areas of improvement (He needs to go deeper and walk fewer hitters, though his walk rate is not out of control).

Depending on how Ace does at Omaha, the Royals might have no choice but to make room for him.

I hope so. We need some good starting pitching we can control cheaply for a few years.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by ChiliConCarnage

What we can't carry is useless bats at 1st and 3rd. I think we're down to prayer as our only option there.

Yep. It's really depressing.

[siberian khatru]

The question with Ventura is whether he can hold up as a starter. Obviously he's more valuable (to us and in trade) if he's in the rotation. But here's some food for thought on short, skinny starting pitchers:

http://www.royalsreview.com/2012/7/1...a-large-person

And includes this conclusion: "... the Royals would be wise to keep him starting until Ventura absolutely proves he can't do it." Still, stuff to consider.