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.

[duncan_idaho]

There's no value in trading Soria at this point. The best they're going to get for him if he's hurt is a C prospect.

Best case if you really want to move Soria might be a short-term injury that gives Holland/Crow/Herrerra a chance to try out the job, and build the team's confidence in them. Then, when Soria comes back, he's lights out and maybe you move him at the trade deadline to someone who's desperate for a closer (Boston?)

[OmahaChief]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Then, when Soria comes back, he's lights out and maybe you move him at the trade deadline to someone who's desperate for a closer (Boston?)

I don't think he will ever be back. Not to the stuff he had that was wicked. He has not been the same since he wanted to no longer be called the Mexictioner. I think it stole his Mojo.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Starters are done. Chen was pretty bad, but hopefully he was just working on stuff.

Chen 3IP 5R 5ER 0BB 2K 1HR

Gordon 1/3, 2K
Cain 1/2, 1BB, 1K (1 double)
Hosmer 0/3
Butler 1/3, 1K
Francoeur 2/3
Moustakas 0/3, 3K (great, he would have been a contender for the golden sombrero if he wasn't pulled)
Betancourt 0/2
Pena 1/2
Escobar 1/2

I tend not to pay too much attention on pitching during the early to mid going of spring training as the players tend to work on their weakness stuff and trying to get their mechanics in control or working on their mechanics. I rather have my guys pitch like shit during spring training, with the end of spring training (last week) would be a good time to start seeing some positives.

If they are pitching like shit in the last week of spring training, then I'd be a little concerned. I know they say compeitition (sp) is all that and while it does hold true, sometimes, there really isn't, depending on each team, I suppose.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Coach

I tend not to pay too much attention on pitching during the early to mid going of spring training as the players tend to work on their weakness stuff and trying to get their mechanics in control or working on their mechanics. I rather have my guys pitch like shit during spring training, with the end of spring training (last week) would be a good time to start seeing some positives.

If they are pitching like shit in the last week of spring training, then I'd be a little concerned. I know they say compeitition (sp) is all that and while it does hold true, sometimes, there really isn't, depending on each team, I suppose.

The only exception would be if a pitcher is fighting for a spot on the rotation. (like Duffy, Paulino, Mendoza, Crow, etc) If his job is guaranteed, he might just work on stuff, but if not, he needs to get people out, beat out his competition, and impress the manager.

[alnorth]

well, this isn't good. Soria was asked about his elbow, and:

“Oh, yeah, I’m worried,” he admitted. “Since I’ve had my Tommy John surgery (in 2003), I’ve never had anything like that. I don’t feel it’s that bad because before the Tommy John surgery, all of my strength went away. This time, it hasn’t.

“So I don’t feel like it’s that.”

Even so, it’s ominous — particularly since Soria has little resembled his previous All-Star form in four spring appearances. The Royals characterized the injury as “soreness in his right elbow” and said he would be reevaluated within a couple of days.

“That’s a concern,” manager Ned Yost acknowledged. “No doubt, it’s a concern, but you can’t get crazy concerned until the doctors evaluate it and see where we’re at.”

Soria’s injury occurred shortly after the Royals announced right-handed reliever Blake Wood will be shut down for 10-14 days because of soreness that surfaced Saturday night in his right elbow in an appearance against San Diego in Peoria, Ariz.

Soria exited Sunday’s game after yielding three runs on three hits and a walk while making just 16 pitches in a 6-4 victory over the Indians at Surprise Stadium. Until Sunday, Soria had insisted he was healthy.

“I was feeling real good,” he reiterated. “I was feeling strong. I worked hard throughout the off-season to be ready. It all just happened today. I don’t know what is going to happen (next). I have to wait and talk to (the doctors) and see what they’ve got for me.”

[Nightfyre]

Fortunately we have the depth in the pen to allow Soria whatever time he needs to fully recover or even cover in the event he doesn't ever recover. The shame will be what we lost in his potential trade value.

[sedated]

Well...


F**k.

[DeezNutz]

Not to be callous, but I'd be fine with not seeing Wood flash his trademark sinking gopherball this season.

[DeezNutz]

Tweet on Rany's site:

"Betancourt forcing his way into the competition to determine starting 2B."

Exactly why I hated the signing.

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Tweet on Rany's site:

"Betancourt forcing his way into the competition to determine starting 2B."

Exactly why I hated the signing.

Because he might be better than Gio?

[CoMoChief]

So are the Royals going to sign old grandpa pudge rodriguez?

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Exactly why I hated the signing.

If he's better, how is that a bad thing?

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

So are the Royals going to sign old grandpa pudge rodriguez?

I heard they made him an offer but has yet to accept.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Because he might be better than Gio?

Because he's a weak defender and an OBP nightmare. And if he's better than Gio or anyone else for that matter, it means we have complete shit at the position.

Betancourt is a poor player, his upside being replacement level.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Dave

If he's better, how is that a bad thing?

If he's better, it means we're exponentially terrible at 2B. So I would actually like to improve the position. If a complete player isn't available, go glove first. Don't let familiarity and lack of attention to numbers allow us to repeat a mistake.