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?

[C3HIEF3S]

Moose pops out in foul ground, again.
Tejada with an unlucky out, lined hard to right and caught by a diving Santana.

[Nightfyre]

Well, if we get swept by the Indians, Moore must embrace the idea of becoming a seller. See ya Santana/Chen/Hoch

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

Well, if we get swept by the Indians, Moore must embrace the idea of becoming a seller. See ya Santana/Chen/Hoch

Nobody wants our trash dude. The only piece we have is Santana, period.

[siberian khatru]

Moose is 4-for-65 with RISP this year.

[gblowfish]

Have I mentioned lately that Chris Perez can kiss my lemony fresh ass?

[gblowfish]

And....
we stand there and look at strike three to end a game TWO nights in a row.

These guys take the cake at finding pathetic, pussy ways to lose. It's a gift, a gift I tell you....

[siberian khatru]

Great 9th inning

[siberian khatru]

And to think I was mildly optimistic Tuesday

[gblowfish]

Well, so much for this season.
Again, we can't score more than 3 runs.

Let the fire sale begin!

[mr. tegu]

I really hope no one tries to continue with the "it's only one game schtick."

[Sure-Oz]

They'll win tomorrow of course..

It's time to sell after Detroit sweeps them at the k

[Three7s]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

I really hope no one tries to continue with the "it's only one game schtick."

I ended it after getting our asses kicked by the Yanks the last two games. This team is cooked and anyone that still believes we're "in it" is in even more denial than Yost when he thinks Escobar is "a good #2 hitter".

[gblowfish]

I've been trying to be objective about this year. Yeah, the team isn't trolling in the cellar as they usually are. Of course, the year is only half over. They could still end up finishing 20 games out. Moose has been terrible. He is killing this team. He's even worse than Frenchy was, and still they plug him into the lineup day after day. No power. None. Orioles get 36 homers from Davis BEFORE the ASG, and we get.... Billy Butler walking. Whether or not they lose tomorrow, I think you have to blow this thing up. If we can't compete with Cleveland, we have problems. Big big problems. Let's not even talk about Detroit, especially if they trade for a closer.

Glass is a happy guy, Cardinals are in first place, so....

Don't expect anything earth shaking.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

Moose is 4-for-65 with RISP this year.

He's really turning a corner.....

[Sure-Oz]

Moose should be in AAA, period.