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?

[-King-]

Miguel Tejada: 17 hits in 51 at bats
Mike Moustakas: 34 hits in 185 at bats

And yet...

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by -King-

Miguel Tejada: 17 hits in 51 at bats
Mike Moustakas: 34 hits in 185 at bats

And yet...

Dayton will never admit defeat. It's infuriating but it is not changing. His quotes about why pitchers can be sent down but not hitters probably would've made Bill James faint.

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

Jeff Passan ‏@JeffPassan 2h

Sources: Royals very likely to sign supplemental 1st-rounder Sean Manaea. Deal for a well-above-slot bonus could come as soon as this week.



Jeff Passan ‏@JeffPassan 2h

Royals are confident Manaea's hip labrum tear is not a long-term issue. Very similar to injury that required surgery on Alex Gordon in 2009.

[Chiefspants]

A Hypothetical: It's the last week of July, the Royals are 6 games back from the division and 4.5 back from the wildcard. Danny Duffy has returned from Tommy John surgery and is pitching well, and Felipe Paulino is set to return any day. Do we trade the last two months we have of Ervin Santana for a second baseman who could provide a much needed boost for the lineup? Discuss..

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

A Hypothetical: It's the last week of July, the Royals are 6 games back from the division and 4.5 back from the wildcard. Danny Duffy has returned from Tommy John surgery and is pitching well, and Felipe Paulino is set to return any day. Do we trade the last two months we have of Ervin Santana for a second baseman who could provide a much needed boost for the lineup? Discuss..

No, I probably target trading some prospects not named Ventura for a bat.

Ventura is on the table, even, if you can get a young position player back with at least 3 years of control left, who is fairly established.

I think the Royals need Santana to make that playoff push.

[stonedstooge]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

No, I probably target trading some prospects not named Ventura for a bat.

Ventura is on the table, even, if you can get a young position player back with at least 3 years of control left, who is fairly established.

I think the Royals need Santana to make that playoff push.

Gawd wouldn't it be wonderful to still be in it in July, August....

[Three7s]

Originally Posted by stonedstooge

Gawd wouldn't it be wonderful to still be in it in July, August....

I'll take October for $500.

[stonedstooge]

Originally Posted by Three7s

I'll take October for $500.

Man it's been so long, I don't even remember what it's like.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

No, I probably target trading some prospects not named Ventura for a bat.

Ventura is on the table, even, if you can get a young position player back with at least 3 years of control left, who is fairly established.

I think the Royals need Santana to make that playoff push.

I agree. Santana and Shields is, in my opinion, a solid 1-2 starter for KC. I'll take my chances with Santana, assuming KC is still in the hunt before the trade deadline.

[Great Expectations]

I think we could definitely be in contention at the trade deadline with Seratelli at 3rd along with Frenchy and Getz being released.

[Great Expectations]

The K is a great Park for Guthrie and Santana to pitch in.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Great Expectations

I think we could definitely be in contention at the trade deadline with Seratelli at 3rd along with Frenchy and Getz being released.

I would like to address the 2B and 3B issues. Lough has grown on me slowly and I like the kid, at least much better than Francouer. So Francouer and Getz can get lost.

[Great Expectations]

Originally Posted by Coach

I would like to address the 2B and 3B issues. Lough has grown on me slowly and I like the kid, at least much better than Francouer. So Francouer and Getz can get lost.

Are you the coach who caught his home run ball?

[stonedstooge]

Got a hell of a pitching staff going this year. Who gets the credit for that?

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Great Expectations

Are you the coach who caught his home run ball?

Nope.