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]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

MY ideal lineup for the rest of the year would be...

gordon
cain
butler
moustakas
myers
perez
hosmer
betancourt
escobar

just with the #'s so far this year

Don't have a real #2 hitter just guessing at this point

Gordon
Myers
Moustakas
Butler
Hosmer
Perez
Cain
Betancourt/Getz
Escobar

Myers gets placed in a low-pressure spot in the order that will ensure he sees a lot of fastballs.

Moustakas is protected by Butler and gets more at-bats.

Butler is protected by Hosmer, who is good enough despite the slump for teams to work to Butler.

Perez moves up in the lineup.

Cain replaces Francouer. We KNOW he can't give much less offensively, and Cain at least gives them a third premium defender up the middle.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

Ideal, post-break line-up:

LF Gordon
RF Myers
1B Hosmer
DH Butler
3B Moustakas
2B Betancourt/Getz
CF Dyson/Bourgeois
SS Escobar

Not far from what I'd like to see.

Switch Hosmer and Moose. DFA Dyson. Insert Cain.

Profit.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

Ideal, post-break line-up:

LF Gordon
RF Myers
1B Hosmer
DH Butler
3B Moustakas
2B Betancourt/Getz
CF Dyson/Bourgeois
SS Escobar

Ugh.

Any lineup with Dyson in it is not ideal.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

Ideal, post-break line-up:

LF Gordon
RF Myers
1B Hosmer
DH Butler
3B Moustakas
2B Betancourt/Getz
CF Dyson/Bourgeois
SS Escobar

Not a bad idea having 8 batters **** up instead of 9

[DeezNutz]

And as I'm typing, duncan suggests damn near the identical lineup.

I'd say he reposted my thoughts, but...

[Ceej]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Winning teams have legit slug at the 2 spot. It's one of the most important roles in the entire lineup, and the notion that it's for someone to "handle the bat" and "move runners" is simply wrong.

I'm not saying your opinion is wrong, or not well put. And I know neither is mine.

But I like guys who can do the little things in the two spot - get on, swipe a base, sacrifice if need be, etc.

I must have the old school mentality but I like guys at the one and two spot who set the table for the middle of the line up.

[Sure-Oz]

Melky was huge as a #2 hitter last year. Myers may be better off ther than Cain. Who knows wtf cain is

[Nightfyre]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

Not a bad idea having 8 batters **** up instead of 9

I knew I was missing a righty!

LF Gordon
RF Myers
1B Hosmer
DH Butler
3B Moose
C Perez
CF Cain/Bourgeois
2B Betancourt
SS Escobar

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by CJizzles

I'm not saying your opinion is wrong, or not well put. And I know neither is mine.

But I like guys who can do the little things in the two spot - get on, swipe a base, sacrifice if need be, etc.

I must have the old school mentality but I like guys at the one and two spot who set the table for the middle of the line up.

Lineups are generally overrated, but what you definitively need is your best three hitters getting the most ABs. That's it.

In many ways, Butler would make for a good choice in the #2 hole. Now, old-school guys will say, "Whoa! Clogs the bases!" I say, "Don't care. Gets on base. Has legit slug."

Myers is a better athlete and would--we hope--fill the role perfectly.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

Melky was huge as a #2 hitter last year. Myers may be better off ther than Cain. Who knows wtf cain is

An oft-injured pussy is what we know he is so far. Now he has to prove us wrong.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Winning teams have legit slug at the 2 spot. It's one of the most important roles in the entire lineup, and the notion that it's for someone to "handle the bat" and "move runners" is simply wrong.

Agreed. That's old-school, National League thinking. Which evidence tells us is what Ned Yost does.

Sure-Oz - yes, the Pirates have received good pitching, but how much of that is pitching that is part of the long-term plan there?

They took a flier on Bedard, who has been Chen-esque.

Burnett has been good, but he's aging and not under contract after next season.

Correia has been acceptable but not outstanding.

The only stud pitcher the Pirates have is James McDonald, who is the good counterpart for Kyle Davies. Similar guys - post-hype prospects, both moved at the deadline for Octavio Dotel. The difference is that McDonald was a winning lottery ticket and Davies was "please try again."

They've done a nice job cobbling together a rotation, but only one of their five starters is really someone to envy. Burnett could be a good investment through next year again (and was someone many talked about the Royals acquiring). It wouldn't surprise me to see all of that except McDonald fall apart next year, if not in the second half.

Of course, due to draft position... they could have Cole and possibly Taillon ready for action next year, so...

[Ceej]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Lineups are generally overrated, but what you definitively need is your best three hitters getting the most ABs. That's it.

In many ways, Butler would make for a good choice in the #2 hole. Now, old-school guys will say, "Whoa! Clogs the bases!" I say, "Don't care. Gets on base. Has legit slug."

Myers is a better athlete and would--we hope--fill the role perfectly.

I also like the #2 guy to have some of speed. I like the idea if Billy, Moose, or whomever is hitting three hole can score the guy on first base with a double.

I'm unfamiliar with Myers' speed.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by CJizzles

I also I like the #2 guy to have some of speed. I like the idea if Billy, Moose, or whomever is hitting three hole can score the guy on first base with a double.

I'm unfamiliar with Myers' speed.

Great athlete. Not especially fast. Average to a tick above. Still, would be a solid option in CF because you need someone there who possesses great instincts and takes great routes.

Myers can be this guy.

And if he continues to rake, he would clearly by an outstanding option in the 2 hole. Just get our best three the most ABs. That's why I hesitate not to have Butler hitting third.

[Sure-Oz]

Agreed about the Pirates. Surprised by Burnett doing so well but the Royals definetly need 2 guys to pan out and soon. Damn injuries

The lineup in Pitt is not that scary imo. Mccutchen is a stud there and who else is there?

[Nightfyre]

Myers should start in Right field because frenchy is that ****ing bad.