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?

[Shogun]

I wasn't on board with the Myers trade. But I'm still excited as hell for the season, We got Big game ****ing james. Why not be optimistic?

[Nightfyre]

Originally Posted by Shogun

I wasn't on board with the Myers trade. But I'm still excited as hell for the season, We got Big game ****ing james. Why not be optimistic?

I just hope it works out for us.

[Sure-Oz]

I was pissed, but im stoke to see what happens this year, hoping that Wade Davis becomes a solid guy

[Mr. Arrowhead]

agreed, but its win now or dayton is fired

[58kcfan89]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

We would probably start eating into the ML roster and really thin out the minors. We would be better off focusing on replacing Frenchy which can be done for much cheaper.

Fair enough. I'm assuming Bourn is way out of our price range?

Nevermind, just saw that Tony Plush (Nyjer Morgan) is a free agent. Championship.

[Shogun]

Originally Posted by 58kcfan89

Fair enough. I'm assuming Bourn is way out of our price range?

Nevermind, just saw that Tony Plush (Nyjer Morgan) is a free agent. Championship.

In no due respect, **** nyjer morgan. What a garbage individual that guy is

[Nightfyre]

Knowing the Royal's luck:
1) Myers will move up this year and immediately start raking
2) The Rays know exactly what is wrong with Monty and he becomes an ace overnight.
3) Odorizzi actually turns into a valid major league pitcher.
4) Patrick Leonard will be the next coming of Pujols.
5) Shields will come completely off the rails and become below replacement level.
6) Davis will fizzle in the rotation, get moved back to reliever then traded for Mike Jacobs.

[dmahurin]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

Knowing the Royal's luck:
1) Myers will move up this year and immediately start raking
2) The Rays know exactly what is wrong with Monty and he becomes an ace overnight.
3) Odorizzi actually turns into a valid major league pitcher.
4) Patrick Leonard will be the next coming of Pujols.
5) Shields will come completely off the rails and become below replacement level.
6) Davis will fizzle in the rotation, get moved back to reliever then traded for Mike Jacobs.

[CaliforniaChief]

I will say this. Like most of you, I think Hoch is garbage. But there's enough there for another GM to say that if it was virtually a no-risk deal (cash considerations from us), that a change of scenery could bring something out in him. The whole #1 pick thing.

That said, I would be willing to part with one of our prospects to go get Bourjos. That guy is a baller. As Deez said, he plays great defense. Also, a great baserunner.

Of course we already have Francouer, so DM isn't thinking about that.

[58kcfan89]

Originally Posted by Shogun

In no due respect, **** nyjer morgan. What a garbage individual that guy is

At least the team would be entertaining, regardless of the outcome.

Seriously, though, I'm assuming Bourn is out of our price range to upgrade the OF. Or does Dayton just trot Frenchy out there again & pray to the baseball gods that he's not a worthless piece of shit in 2013?

[Prison Bitch]

An outfield with Cain in RF and Dyson in CF with Gordon, would be insanely good defensively. And might make up for our defensive shortcomings vis a vis Tampa. Hell, our IF would be good with the exception of Hosmer. We could really chase down everything, altho our offense wouldn't be the best.


Frenchy wasn't getting to any balls last year, it showed up in his range factor and you could see it on TV. I don't know if he was lollygagging it or if he was a bit hurt but plenty of soft drives landed in front of him. Now in the past, he'd make up for his range by gunning runners out with his arm but last year he didn't. He's the wild card here this year because if he sucks again at the plate, he's a big problem. If he plays like 2011 then we're ok.

[Shogun]

What the hell is Bryan Lahair up to? Heard his name a lot last year. He could come cheap

[doomy3]

Originally Posted by Shogun

What the hell is Bryan Lahair up to? Heard his name a lot last year. He could come cheap

I'm pretty sure he signed with a team in Japan.

[Cephalic Trauma]

Hochevar has the worst ERA in baseball since 2007 with a min. of 600 innings pitched (saw it on mlbtr).

Where is the value in that?

[Shogun]

Originally Posted by doomy3

I'm pretty sure he signed with a team in Japan.