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.

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Ugh. Yeah, that's the bitch of the whole situation; other teams are allowed to spend money and get better too.

Fielder going to Detroit is terrible, terrible news for KC.

It sucks, but that contract could turn into a huge albatross for them down the road. It's not like he is some impressive specimen. 9 years at $24 million per is a HUGE gamble.

[KC_Connection]

Yeah...it's true, this could look pretty awful in a few years. I'll be interested to see how Fielder hits in what I consider to be the far superior league.

[DeezNutz]

The contract is certainly risky, but I honestly believe he'll, at the very least, come close to living up to the deal.

I know the eye test says fat slob, but the dude just seems to be an unusual specimen. If I were a Cards fan (thanks parents for not in-breeding), I would have been pushing to sign Fielder over re-signing Pujols given their respective contracts.

[alnorth]

Looked up the Tigers on Forbes' annual MLB report. They make about 30 million more in revenue than KC. However, on top of that they are operating on a loss of almost 30 million a year, so effectively its 60.

They have apparently been losing money for a long time, and will continue to lose money, but their owner is seemingly saying "hey, I'm worth 2 billion, so F it, I'm havin' fun!"

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

It sucks, but that contract could turn into a huge albatross for them down the road. It's not like he is some impressive specimen. 9 years at $24 million per is a HUGE gamble.

By the time it turns into a huge albatross, our window will be almost closed. I expect him to be worth the money for at least 5 full years.

[tk13]

You can't go out and make a kneejerk signing because of this. Plus, Prince kills right handed pitching anyway. His OPS is like .200 lower against lefties. I don't think you should go get a left handed pitcher just because of Prince Fielder.

Cecil started going downhill after 32, and his peak years were 26-27. Not that it means Prince will... but it'll be interesting to see how we look back on the final years of these A-Rod/Pujols/Fielder contracts.
Posted via Mobile Device

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by alnorth

They have apparently been losing money for a long time, and will continue to lose money, but their owner is seemingly saying "hey, I'm worth 2 billion, so F it, I'm havin' fun!"

Pizza Pizza!

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by tk13

You can't go out and make a kneejerk signing because of this.

Absolutely agree.

To me, though, what it says is that other teams in the division aren't just sitting around, patiently waiting for KC's prospects to develop so that the division can then be given to them as a birthday gift. Fielder's signing underscores DM's (and more importantly Glass's) responsibility to supplement the roster with talent, particularly from the FA ranks.

We need another starting pitcher. Fielder doesn't change this, but he does highlight our weakness.

[tk13]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Looked up the Tigers on Forbes' annual MLB report. They make about 30 million more in revenue than KC. However, on top of that they are operating on a loss of almost 30 million a year, so effectively its 60.

They have apparently been losing money for a long time, and will continue to lose money, but their owner is seemingly saying "hey, I'm worth 2 billion, so F it, I'm havin' fun!"

Ilitch also owns the Red Wings.
Posted via Mobile Device

[DeezNutz]

I love their boots.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Looked up the Tigers on Forbes' annual MLB report. They make about 30 million more in revenue than KC. However, on top of that they are operating on a loss of almost 30 million a year, so effectively its 60.

They have apparently been losing money for a long time, and will continue to lose money, but their owner is seemingly saying "hey, I'm worth 2 billion, so F it, I'm havin' fun!"

I guess you've gotta respect an owner that is willing to go to these lengths to win. And win games, they certainly will.

[DeezNutz]

On a side note, I eagerly anticipate hearing Greinke bitch about not being able to win in Milwaukee.

[Chiefless]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

On a side note, I eagerly anticipate hearing Greinke bitch about not being able to win in Milwaukee.

Maybe he'll want to come back to KC to try and spite Fielder a few times a year. I kid.

[BigCatDaddy]

So does Cabrera move over to 3rd?

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

So does Cabrera move over to 3rd?

Nope. He either plays 1B or DHs. Not sure which of the two is better at 1B (though neither is great).