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?

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by unnecessary drama

relax

I'm saying Hochevar has been really good this year. I don't care what he's making.

The point isn't regarding hochevar... it's about the GM and manager. They are walking ****sticks.

[Hootie]

I just get to the point where I can't even argue. I think the Royals are in better shape now than they were when we had Allen Baird. I wish we could be better.

but no matter what, every single year...if we don't win 100 games, or 90 games...or compete whether it's the Royals or the Chiefs the fans on this site just want to fire everyone.

if the Chiefs are bad this year everyone will want to fire Reid and Dorsey.

I don't know...at this point if the Royals don't finish .500 after making that trade and some of those moves, you are probably right...

but it looks like the problem is in ownership for both teams so I just have a hard time kicking and screaming and demanding replacement after replacement after replacement

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by unnecessary drama

well now I guess we'll see if Hochevar is legit. He's the 7th inning guy now, right? He's been money this year, which is pretty hilarious.

I dunno, Coleman's pitched pretty well in the past. I'd still trust him in higher-leverage situations than Hoch (although you might want to protect him against lefties).

Hoch's been money in low-leverage situations. He's allowed all 3 inherited runners to score (SSS, I admit, but indicative of his career with men on base).

[gblowfish]

They've put Hoch in so many non-dangerous, stress free pitching assignments, they should make him wear a hockey helmet when he pitches. It's like he's a six year old being home schooled in Olathe, and Ned is his over protective mother.

[Hootie]

I'd rather see them switch Wade Davis and Hochevar and see what happens.

Davis has been arguably worse (albeit in less of a sample size) then Hochevar was last year.

I don't know...try something I guess. I'm not going to get into any arguments on this one because I'll agree with anyone who disagrees with that since Hoch has been so bad for so long for us.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by unnecessary drama

I'd rather see them switch Wade Davis and Hochevar and see what happens.

Davis has been arguably worse (albeit in less of a sample size) then Hochevar was last year.

I don't know...try something I guess. I'm not going to get into any arguments on this one because I'll agree with anyone who disagrees with that since Hoch has been so bad for so long for us.

They're basically the same player. Tampa did last year to Davis what we're doing this year to Hoch, hiding him in the bullpen so he doesn't get shattered as a starter. Of course Dayton fell hook line & sinker for the ruse and now has a guy in his rotation with a 5+ ERA and who can't even prevent Houston from packing the sacks with runners.


That's why people who brag about Aaron Crow being some draft diamond for Dayton are clinging to nonsense. They're in the pen because they're not good enough for the rotation.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by unnecessary drama

I just get to the point where I can't even argue. I think the Royals are in better shape now than they were when we had Allen Baird. I wish we could be better.

but no matter what, every single year...if we don't win 100 games, or 90 games...or compete whether it's the Royals or the Chiefs the fans on this site just want to fire everyone.

if the Chiefs are bad this year everyone will want to fire Reid and Dorsey.

I don't know...at this point if the Royals don't finish .500 after making that trade and some of those moves, you are probably right...

but it looks like the problem is in ownership for both teams so I just have a hard time kicking and screaming and demanding replacement after replacement after replacement

I guess they are in slightly better shape than the Baird years....but ultimately it doesn't matter because it hasn't translated into wins and playoff appearances. That's all that matters in the end.

This really should be Dayton's final year if they don't get better. He's had 7 years now to make a difference and he just hasn't gotten it done. There shouldn't be any of these silly excuses anymore like "be patient fans". What a cop out......27 years without a playoff appearance and they have the gall to tell fans that? Unreal.

[KCUnited]

The irony of Yost firing Seitzer because he wants Moose/Hos/Perez/Gordon hitting 30 hrs this year is fantastic. Dayton's the ultimate problem but Yost is looking like a buffoon. He publicly said those guys were going to hit all these home runs before the season and publicly said Hoch could be a 15 game winner. There's a fine line between trying to build confidence and being completely off the mark as far as expectations go. They both need to go if this failure continues throughout the season.

[Prison Bitch]

That's why I offered to eat my own feces in front of everyone if Sal hit 35 homers this year.

[Hootie]

well bro I don't know what to tell you

pretty sure we all just hoped Moose could have been our Longoria but apparently our coaching is total shit and we constantly miss on can't miss

[Hootie]

we need to just inject these idiots with ****ing horse roids and testosterone and pray they know how to use a whizzinator

[Ceej]

Originally Posted by unnecessary drama

we need to just inject these idiots with ****ing horse roids and testosterone and pray they know how to use a whizzinator

It worked for Canseco.

[Sure-Oz]

http://t.co/lo8fsbrSRr

Keith Law on 610 earlier talking Moose and Hosmers swing

[Discuss Thrower]

No bullshit, how far away are the Royals from contending in the playoffs? Is it like 4-5 years or 9-13 years?

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

No bullshit, how far away are the Royals from contending in the playoffs? Is it like 4-5 years or 9-13 years?

Playoffs? You wanna talk about Playoffs? Playoffs?