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?

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

WWBD? (What would Beane do?) Would he extend James Shields or not. Just ask yourself that. WWAFD? (What would Andrew Friedman do?) Extend Shields?

That should answer the question.

How many World Series have those two won?

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

How many World Series have those two won?

Well then, there you have it.

[KevB]

Yikes, knew things weren't great, but the supposed "floor" of Drew Stubbs is even looking unlikely.

From Keith Law:

Bubba Starling, OF | Kansas City Royals

Starling was one of the most athletic high school prospects I've ever seen, but he's been an enormous disappointment in pro ball, looking "lost at the plate" with "no approach or feel" according to one of several scouts I talked to about him, none of whom wrote him up as even an average regular.

He can still run and he's playing solid defense in center field, but he's a train wreck at the plate, with no silver linings to be found unless you want to find hope in him improving his contact rate in the second half while having less success when he makes contact. He just turned 21 on Sunday and doesn't look ready for a promotion to high Class A, so he's well behind where the fifth overall pick of the 2011 draft should be on the development curve.

[keg in kc]

Noobraska starting QB, 2016?

[Lprechaun]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

How many World Series have those two won?

Andrew Friedman is nothing short of a genius. You can say all you want about WS but we get excited about an above .500 team, if we were able to do what the Rays do over the next few years most of us would be elated. Tampa is in one of if not THE toughest division in baseball and still contending each year for the last few years.
I for one would be happy with a few years straight of what the Rays have done.

[Lprechaun]

Duffy starting in place of Davis tomorrow

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by Strongside

Swimming mom mugshot released:

Would smash, but she looks closer to 40 than she does to 30.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Prison Bitch]

I'd be curious to know what AF is doing to stay this successful. From what I know he's an investment banker quant type who doesn't know dick about the players. Just their value. And maximizes his portfolio to so speak. Whereas Dayton doesn't know a damn thing about numbers but is an outstanding scout according to most baseball people.

To my knowledge Beane is the only guy who's been able to master both skills.

[C3HIEF3S]

Some good news.

Bob Dutton ‏@Royals_Report 1m
#Royals C Salvy Perez tells club officials he awoke today with no headache for first time since suffering concussion.

[Lprechaun]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

I'd be curious to know what AF is doing to stay this successful. From what I know he's an investment banker quant type who doesn't know dick about the players. Just their value. And maximizes his portfolio to so speak. Whereas Dayton doesn't know a damn thing about numbers but is an outstanding scout according to most baseball people.

To my knowledge Beane is the only guy who's been able to master both skills.

Sometimes its not about mastering both, its about putting people in place that can do their jobs beyond good and into great and get the results from doing so.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S

Some good news.

Bob Dutton ‏@Royals_Report 1m
#Royals C Salvy Perez tells club officials he awoke today with no headache for first time since suffering concussion.

outstanding ... hopefully after the 7 days it will be over and done with

[Saul Good]

Shouldn't we bring back Jason Kendall and start him for the rest of the season just in case?

[Prison Bitch]

Kottaras has 5 homers and 4 doubles. But only 3 singles. Hilarious

[Mr. Laz]

Josh Vernier ‏@JoshVernier 1m
#Royals Duffy to start vs. Twins tomorrow. Says his stuff is "as good as it's ever been."
Retweeted by 610 Sports Radio- KC
Expand

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Kottaras has 5 homers and 4 doubles. But only 3 singles. Hilarious

That's what you want from a guy who rarely plays. Go big or go home!