2012 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread

[alnorth]

2012 Slogan: Our Time

A better, more accurate 2012 Slogan: It is Finally Next Year
(from Great Expectations)

An alternative slogan if you don't like that one: Someone has to win this crappy division
(from alnorth)

With the beginning of a new year, it is time for the 2012 version of the Royals Repository Thread. We've got Hosmer, we've got a 2011-dominating Gordon, we've got Moose, we've got hopefully a killer bullpen, we've got a stereotypical slow slugging DH, we've got easily one of the best defensive shortstops in the AL, we've got a promising catcher in Salvador Perez. Hell, we've got offense and promising prospects galore.

We do not have starting pitching.

Oh yeah, we've also got this:



Get ready for, (as of January 2012 anyway), one of the most confusing puzzles of a baseball season in recent Royals history. Will they suck? Maybe, I don't know. Will we be given a year of 0.500 baseball? Possibly, I don't know. Will they win the division and go to the playoffs for the first time in 27 years? For the first time in a long time, it could happen, I don't know. 92 losses, 92 wins, or anything in between would not surprise a lot of us.

Everything goes here except Gameday threads and really big news. If a giant story breaks, the Royals achieve some awesome milestone, or we sign/lose a highly significant player/coach/mascot/whatever, then it might also deserve its own thread. This being Chiefs Planet, please do not clutter the board with new threads about trivial Royals news or you will only annoy those who come here for just Chiefs football. If you aren't sure and its not a Gameday thread, it goes here.

What sort of stuff often goes here? SPchief explained it well, so I'll just copy that:

If you locate something of interest.. ANYTHING.. deals on apparel, best ways in/out of the stadium, giveaways, great stories from this season or from seasons gone by, rumors, trades, anything.... feel free to post it here.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Remember when our system was first gaining national attention? It was said that we had all these stud pitchers, be we were a bit lacking in position players. What the hell happened?

Honestly, it wasn't but a year or two ago that Royals fan was calling Moose and Hos busts.

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Too many nutz around these parts. Often imitated, never duplicated.

And can we get a mod to remove the French flag from beer me's avatar. I understand the desire to link Jayhawk Nation with one of the most spineless countries in history, but COME ON, MAN.

I was thinking about changing it but now I'm going to keep it.

[DeezNutz]

The concern with Hosmer was corrective eye surgery. Which came as a surprise to the Royals, and this type of issue shouldn't be something that catches a team (that is spending that kind of money) by surprise.

There are still some worrisome issues with Moose, so I'm not ready to crown this player yet. Like all fans, though, I'm optimistic about his potential.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

The concern with Hosmer was corrective eye surgery. Which came as a surprise to the Royals, and this type of issue shouldn't be something that catches a team (that is spending that kind of money) by surprise.

There are still some worrisome issues with Moose, so I'm not ready to crown this player yet. Like all fans, though, I'm optimistic about his potential.

I was referring more to the fickle nature of fans. If a highly-drafter player isn't a future Hall of Famer right out of the gate, they're labelled a bust.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Too many nutz around these parts. Often imitated, never duplicated.

And can we get a mod to remove the French flag from beer me's avatar? I understand the desire to link Jayhawk Nation with one of the most spineless countries in history, but COME ON, MAN.

Hah, I didn't even notice. The Iowa flag is basically the French flag with the word "Iowa" and an Eagle copy-pasted onto it (old French roots, I guess), and I see that flag everywhere every day.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Hah, I didn't even notice. The Iowa flag is basically the French flag with the word "Iowa" and an Eagle copy-pasted onto it (old French roots, I guess), and I see that flag everywhere every day.

Good point. I don't know why I immediately saw Jayhawk and thought France when there are, as you point out, many similar examples.

Malice was my prime mover, no doubt.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

I was referring more to the fickle nature of fans. If a highly-drafter player isn't a future Hall of Famer right out of the gate, they're labelled a bust.

Definitely true.

If Gordon really has turned a corner and '11 is what he really is, he'll be a great example of the need for much patience. I would have bet a good deal of money that he'd never play to his talent level prior to last year.

And it looks like I would have lost in a big (yet good) way.

[Simplicity]

World Series.

[alnorth]

Royals season ticket holders are starting to get word on all-star game prices. (This is for all 3 days including the home run derby and future's game, you cant just buy the all-star game from the royals)

On the other board, so far I've seen about $800 per for "good seats" (not sure where that is), and roughly $400 per for upper-deck seats. (not sure if thats good upper-deck or nosebleed and off to the side upper-deck).

It'll be interesting to see how this shakes out on sites like stubhub, no idea if seats will sell at a premium or a discount, depending on how accurately the royals are pricing it to demand.

[58kcfan89]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Royals season ticket holders are starting to get word on all-star game prices. (This is for all 3 days including the home run derby and future's game, you cant just buy the all-star game from the royals)

On the other board, so far I've seen about $800 per for "good seats" (not sure where that is), and roughly $400 per for upper-deck seats. (not sure if thats good upper-deck or nosebleed and off to the side upper-deck).

It'll be interesting to see how this shakes out on sites like stubhub, no idea if seats will sell at a premium or a discount, depending on how accurately the royals are pricing it to demand.

I'm assuming I couldn't buy just the HR Derby from the box office, either? I don't really care to go to any of the weekend (I haven't watched an ASG in forever), but I'd rather go to that than the actual game (especially in the off chance that Hos or another Royal is participating).

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by 58kcfan89

I'm assuming I couldn't buy just the HR Derby from the box office, either? I don't really care to go to any of the weekend (I haven't watched an ASG in forever), but I'd rather go to that than the actual game (especially in the off chance that Hos or another Royal is participating).

There will be tickets on stubhub, and I imagine you'll be able to score home run derby and future game tickets at fairly reasonable prices. You might wanna wait until 2 or 3 weeks before when people get desperate and realize their home run derby tickets might not sell.

[SnakeXJones]

Originally Posted by doomy3

Sounds like Carlos Pena is going to sign with the Rays, which is good news IMO.

I figured he could become a target of the Tigers since they lost Martinez for the season.

I thought for sure he was going to the yanks to be their DH

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

Hochevar ready to help Royals build off 2011


Righty credits Yost, clubhouse chemistry for helping club improve

By Dick Kaegel / MLB.com | 01/20/12 11:00 AM EST

KANSAS CITY -- Luke Hochevar sounds ready to go, ready for the season to start. Or at least ready for Spring Training to launch.

The Royals' 6-foot-5 right-hander is currently working out at Knoxville, Tenn., taking an occasional swim at the University of Tennessee -- where he was an All-America pitcher -- and having optimistic thoughts about the 2012 season. He'll be checking in at the Surprise, Ariz., training camp around Feb. 12, arriving just ahead of new pitching coach Dave Eiland and manager Ned Yost.

"We crank up the 14th," Hochevar said.

Nothing official -- the first pitchers-catchers workout is set for Feb. 21 -- but Eiland will be introducing himself to early arrivals and Yost will be laying the groundwork for the season. It's Yost who is credited by Hochevar for what he viewed as good chemistry on last year's young team.

"It seemed like everybody we called up just stepped in and did their job," Hochevar said. "But more than that, I just think it was the way that we clicked in the clubhouse and the way everybody gets along and everybody's pulling for the same thing, which is winning. First and foremost on everybody's mind is winning the division, and that's what it takes, is everybody being on the same side. I think that's the biggest thing we have going for us; obviously we have great talent but what pumps me up the most is how everybody is dialed into the same type of thinking and ultimately the same goal."

Hochevar, on the phone, paused just a second.

"That all starts with Ned," he said. "As soon as he took the job he really installed all that in us. Having that winner's mentality and playing for a championship. It became contagious, starting from him and it bled through the organization, that that's what we want to do, win a championship."

Yost, who took over from Trey Hillman on May 13, 2010, endured a last-place finish that season but last year got the Royals up a notch in the standings as the club played particularly well in the final month, going 15-10.

"He's one of the best motivators I've been around," Hochevar said. "He knows how to get the most out of his players, and the good thing is that the players respect him so much that they're going to give him everything that they have. You saw a lot of that in the second half, when a lot of the younger guys that came up felt that and everything started clicking.

"We became stronger as a unit and stronger as a team because of that. He has a way. It's really hard to describe -- I think it's one of those things that you've either got it or you don't. He just knows how to get the most out of his guys and they just lay it on the line for him."

As a pitcher, Hochevar realizes that another reason for the Royals' improvement last season was a better defense. Nothing like having infielders and outfielders behind you that inhale baseballs.

"That is so nice," Hochevar said.

Obviously, Eric Hosmer's glove at first base helped the rest of the infield that included second basemen Chris Getz and Johnny Giavotella, shortstop Alcides Escobar and third baseman Mike Moustakas.

"Granted, we had the best outfield in the big leagues, and then with Esky and Gio and Getz and Moustakas," Hochevar said. "With those guys on the infield and Hosmer at first base -- I didn't know he was that good of a first baseman. He moves so well, he picks the ball so good. He's just a baseball player, he knows the game so well and just has a good feel over there at first, and that just boosts everybody's confidence in the infield."

The August arrival of catcher Salvador Perez proved to be another boost.

"He very, very much impressed me and the entire pitching staff. When he came up, he was the hot topic with the pitchers, about how well he called a game and handled the pitchers. He stepped in there and did a great job," Hochevar said.

Those dips in the university pool are not just recreational -- they're part of Hochevar's revised workout routine. He swims often, even during the season.

"Incorporating that has really helped me," he said. "It's helped my arm endurance and flushing out after a game because I'm using my whole body, it's not just running with my legs. When I'm swimming, I'm using everything. It helps me recover and I felt great all season last year, and a lot of it had to do with that. And I've become smarter in my workouts and know what I need to do. I don't go as crazy as I used to with my workouts, and it's changed how my body feels and how I want it to feel."

Right now Hochevar's body feels like it wants to be in Spring Training. Won't be long -- less than a month from now he'll be tossing the ball in Arizona.

Dick Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

[stonedstooge]

Hope Cool Hand Luke starts it up where he left off last year

[DeezNutz]

Baseball mother****er: bring it.