Royals 2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread - Page 551

duncan_idaho · 10:01 AM

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?

duncan_idaho · 07-31-2013, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Ok, I was wrong. Still don't care and would trade anyone that I thought gave the team, Major league, a chance to win.

And that mindset is how a half-season of Doyle Alexander gets swapped for John Smoltz or a 1/2 season of Larry Anderson gets swapped for Jeff Bagwell or a 1/2 season of Mark De Rosa turns into Carlos Santana.

I'm fine with trading prospects to improve the major league team when appropriate (makes sense when you're .500 or better but does not when you're going to lose 100 games regardless), but saying willy-nilly you'll trade off any prospect for a guy who can help the big league club without also taking into consideration long-term loss (prospect) vs. short-term gain (the major leaguer) ... no way.

ChiefsCountry · 07-31-2013, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Can you even imagine trading Duffy or Ventura for a 0.7 WAR SS who is set to make 9M the next THREE years and who turns 30 this winter? I mean could we get any dumber than that?

Of course the previous 4 years he has a War of over 3.1, wouldn't need that at second now.

duncan_idaho · 07-31-2013, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeke

with a good organization I would agree, but this is not a good organization. We don't develop talent very well. He wants to use prospects to maximize their "hype" in acquiring wins for the short window we have.

I have no issue with that, as long as the players that are coming back are actually "good."

Jair Jurrjens, Martin Prado, Erick Aybar, Rickie Weeks, etc. are not actually good.

WhawhaWhat · 07-31-2013, 11:17 AM

This is what makes MLB trade deadline day fun.

From mlbtraderumors.com -

Quote:

12:11pm: Saunders is not a target for the Orioles right now, hears Connolly.

12:02pm: The Orioles are interested in a reunion with Joe Saunders, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.

duncan_idaho · 07-31-2013, 11:25 AM

Fun rumor:
D-Backs shopping Ian Kennedy and looking for bullpen help.

Royals give:
Luke Hochevar
Tim Collins
Kyle Smith?

Royals get:

Ian Kennedy

Immediate thoughts? Kennedy is having a bad season, but his peripheral suggest he has been really unlucky. His walk rate has increased slightly, but the main issue is that his strand rate has dropped like a rock. HIs LD% is up a bit, but his BABIP is still about the league aveage (.306). His strikeout rate has dropped about one percent. Velo charts don't show anything to be concerned about.

He's in his first arbitration year. You'd have two years of control, and he'd probably cost about $5.5-6 million next year and about 7-8 million the year after (assuming he bounces back).

How much would you be willing to sweeten the pot?

WhawhaWhat · 07-31-2013, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Fun rumor:
D-Backs shopping Ian Kennedy and looking for bullpen help.

Royals give:
Luke Hochevar
Tim Collins
Kyle Smith?

Royals get:

Ian Kennedy

Immediate thoughts?

I'm sure you already figured, but I would do it in a heartbeat. Kennedy in the rotation, Davis to the 'pen.

Archie F. Swin · 07-31-2013, 11:30 AM

I'm probably simplifying things, but it seems to me that while Davis has been suspect at best, Shields has been unlucky. Not since Greinke have I seen bats routinely freeze. Either that or the pen shitz the bed after a good start by James.

ChiefsCountry · 07-31-2013, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Fun rumor:
D-Backs shopping Ian Kennedy and looking for bullpen help.

Royals give:
Luke Hochevar
Tim Collins
Kyle Smith?

Royals get:

Ian Kennedy

Immediate thoughts? Kennedy is having a bad season, but his peripheral suggest he has been really unlucky. His walk rate has increased slightly, but the main issue is that his strand rate has dropped like a rock. HIs LD% is up a bit, but his BABIP is still about the league aveage (.306). His strikeout rate has dropped about one percent. Velo charts don't show anything to be concerned about.

He's in his first arbitration year. You'd have two years of control, and he'd probably cost about $5.5-6 million next year and about 7-8 million the year after (assuming he bounces back).

How much would you be willing to sweeten the pot?

Angels want Kennedy pretty bad is the other rumor, lets get a three way going.

WhawhaWhat · 07-31-2013, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Angels want Kennedy pretty bad is the other rumor, lets get a three way going.

Hochevar to AZ
Kennedy to LA
Kendrick to KC

Let's all make some calls.

Archie F. Swin · 07-31-2013, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

"

Jair Jurrjens, Martin Prado, Erick Aybar, Rickie Weeks, etc. are not actually good.

Petro suggested that we have the personnel (coaches) to make weeks better.

**RockChalk** · 07-31-2013, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Hochevar to AZ
Kennedy to LA
Kendrick to KC

Let's all make some calls.

siberian khatru · 07-31-2013, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Angels want Kennedy pretty bad is the other rumor, lets get a three way going.

I like how you think.

duncan_idaho · 07-31-2013, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

I'm sure you already figured, but I would do it in a heartbeat. Kennedy in the rotation, Davis to the 'pen.

It seems they want Luke Gregerson and Joe Thatcher from the Padres.

Hochevar and Collins would be a similar value, Smith is a nice sweetener (and buried in KC's SP prospect chart ... Zimmer, Mondesi, Duffy, Almonte, Manaea all rank higher than him, at least).

**alnorth** · 07-31-2013, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Hochevar to AZ
Kennedy to LA
Kendrick to KC

Let's all make some calls.

I would spend the entire day laughing maniacally if that actually happened.

Mama Hip Rockets · 07-31-2013, 11:38 AM

MLB Network is saying right now that the Padres are closing in on Kennedy.

12-11-2012, 09:59 AM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $-1889692	2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread 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? Last edited by duncan_idaho; 07-15-2013 at 10:01 AM..
Posts: 22,315

07-31-2013, 11:25 AM	#8255
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $-1889692	Fun rumor: D-Backs shopping Ian Kennedy and looking for bullpen help. Royals give: Luke Hochevar Tim Collins Kyle Smith? Royals get: Ian Kennedy Immediate thoughts? Kennedy is having a bad season, but his peripheral suggest he has been really unlucky. His walk rate has increased slightly, but the main issue is that his strand rate has dropped like a rock. HIs LD% is up a bit, but his BABIP is still about the league aveage (.306). His strikeout rate has dropped about one percent. Velo charts don't show anything to be concerned about. He's in his first arbitration year. You'd have two years of control, and he'd probably cost about $5.5-6 million next year and about 7-8 million the year after (assuming he bounces back). How much would you be willing to sweeten the pot? __________________ "You gotta love livin', cause dying is a pain in the ass." ---- Sinatra
Posts: 22,315

07-31-2013, 11:30 AM	#8257
Archie F. Swin This is the way Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Casino cash: $9975673	I'm probably simplifying things, but it seems to me that while Davis has been suspect at best, Shields has been unlucky. Not since Greinke have I seen bats routinely freeze. Either that or the pen shitz the bed after a good start by James. __________________ "No Two People Will Do It The Same, You got It Down...When You Appear to Be In Pain!"
Posts: 11,800

07-31-2013, 11:38 AM	#8265
Mama Hip Rockets You don't faze me, Gobble. Join Date: Dec 2005 Casino cash: $9915644	MLB Network is saying right now that the Padres are closing in on Kennedy.
Posts: 13,675

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