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?

[Mr. Laz]

Draftee Dozier signed already

[MeatRock]

Nice to see the 6 game win streak, but the offense is still offensive.

[WhawhaWhat]

I have been to 4 games this year, all wins, including 2 Wade Davis games.

[SPchief]

Originally Posted by stonedstooge

SPchief where you at? We want to ride you like a two-bit whore

Sorry, was at work. Looks like business got taken care of by -King-. I'll be available for Wednesday's game.

[Mama Hip Rockets]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

I have been to 4 games this year, all wins, including 2 Wade Davis games.

Uh...you should get season tickets.

[RockChalk]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

I have been to 4 games this year, all wins, including 2 Wade Davis games.

Can you make it to tonight's game?

Also, I was just going over Max Scherzer's splits. My god, the guy has been dominant on the road, and overall of course. Let's hope we can change that up on him tonight

[BlackHelicopters]

Originally Posted by SPchief

Sorry, was at work. Looks like business got taken care of by -King-. I'll be available for Wednesday's game.

We need you to counter the One Eye Max mojo.

[Strongside]

I've got a good feeling about tonight.

[Great Expectations]

Detroit is only -150 tonight, I would have guessed it to be around -200.

[bsp4444]

Six game winning streak...yeah we are due for a trouncing.

[RockChalk]

Rany just tweeted something to the effect of we only have 3 7-game winning streaks in the last 10 years

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by RockChalk

Can you make it to tonight's game?

Also, I was just going over Max Scherzer's splits. My god, the guy has been dominant on the road, and overall of course. Let's hope we can change that up on him tonight

Can't make tonight's game but I may call in sick for tomorrow.

[-King-]

Originally Posted by Strongside

I've got a good feeling about tonight.

I don't. Wade Davis is pitching.

And honestly, if we're going to lose a game this series, I'd prefer it be today. I want to see Shields get a win, especially against Verlander.

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by -King-

I don't. Wade Davis is pitching.

And honestly, if we're going to lose a game this series, I'd prefer it be today. I want to see Shields get a win, especially against Verlander.

We aren't losing no stinking games in this series!

[Coach]

On a side note, Ned Yost is one soft bitch, who won't even challenge the ump on his shitty strike zone.

You got to protect your players, Ned, not sitting on the bench with your hand inside your pants, ala, Al Bundying it.