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?

[Captain Obvious]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

See what I mean?

Yes, because Frenchy/Getz are in the same situation in their careers as Moose.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

See what I mean?

You are comparing Getz, who's ceiling has always been low and has never shown to be any good.

Frenchy who is past the point of changing his ceiling and is what he is....shit.

And a young guy who has shown a ceiling that COULD be high given his 20 HR season he demonstrated at a young age and given he is only 24 right now.


Those are piss poor comparisons.

[Nightfyre]

Greg Holland, balls of steel.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

Greg Holland, balls of steel.

I'd let him tea-bag me but I think he'd break my teeth.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by lewdog

You are comparing Getz, who's ceiling has always been low and has never shown to be any good.

Frenchy who is past the point of changing his ceiling and is what he is....shit.

And a young guy who has shown a ceiling that COULD be high given his 20 HR season he demonstrated at a young age and given he is only 24 right now.


Those are piss poor comparisons.

You are using reason and intelligence in your post. I suggest refraining in the future. Carry on.

[bsp4444]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

So funny how our fans go ballistic over Fenchy and Getz (rightfully so) but don't seem to mind one bit about that worthless loser over at 3B

I'm becoming more concerned at DH. Butler is not getting the job done.

[BlackHelicopters]

Originally Posted by lewdog

I'd let him tea-bag me but I think he'd break my teeth.

Pics

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Zeke

You are using reason and intelligence in your post. I suggest refraining in the future. Carry on.

Best advice I've seen in this thread in a while.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by bsp4444

I'm becoming more concerned at DH. Butler is not getting the job done.

He's getting pitched around like crazy. Teams just not giving him much to hit.

Needs to pick up his slugging, but everything else is in line.

[Cephalic Trauma]

Raul ibanez is having a great year and this team desperately needs slugging. Would he be a solid upgrade for us? 21 HR on the year.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Cephalic Trauma

Raul ibanez is having a great year and this team desperately needs slugging. Would he be a solid upgrade for us? 21 HR on the year.

I could stand watching Ibanez hit 5th for the Royals again. Hosmer/Butler/Ibanez would be pretty salty.

I think we'd see Butler really start driving the ball again if he had legit protection behind him. Works the same way with Chase Utley, IMO.

Ibanez is likely cheaper to acquire than Utley - and much worse in RF than Utley would be at 2B.

[WhawhaWhat]

Gordon and Salvy are the Royals all-stars

[Valiant]

Good job alex and salvy.

[Cephalic Trauma]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

I could stand watching Ibanez hit 5th for the Royals again. Hosmer/Butler/Ibanez would be pretty salty.

I think we'd see Butler really start driving the ball again if he had legit protection behind him. Works the same way with Chase Utley, IMO.

Ibanez is likely cheaper to acquire than Utley - and much worse in RF than Utley would be at 2B.

Yeah, I just don't see Utley as an option without severely overpaying.

However, Ibanez seems like a legitimate candidate without giving up too much. He's producing beyond expectations, on a one year deal worth 2.75 mill, and the mariners have to be sellers.

Somebody should tweet at Rany and get his thoughts.

[Nightfyre]

Why do people think Utley is going to fetch much of anything on the trade market? The dude is 36 and in the last year of his contract. It's a half-year rental. He's playing pretty well, but this isn't a James Shields type deal. Also Utley's HALF season will cost 7.5 mill and the Phillies have to find a way to save payroll after that foolish deal they gave Howard.