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.

[Deberg_1990]

Rany says it best...he cant pitch with runners on base.

http://www.ranyontheroyals.com/

Luke Hochevar, bases empty: .252/.313/.425Luke Hochevar, men on base: .304/.372/.480Luke Hochevar, runners in scoring position: .315/.388/.504

Any questions?)

[DJ's left nut]

They also made a damn good move to get Denard Span, which shores up their only major weakness (CF defense and leadoff).

They'll be able to move Werth to the 2 hole or maybe the 6 hole now with Span leading off and playing GG defense in center.

That team is going to be really really freakin' good.

[KevB]

Credit to Rany's blog for this one :

Luke Hochevar, bases empty: .252/.313/.425
Luke Hochevar, men on base: .304/.372/.480
Luke Hochevar, runners in scoring position: .315/.388/.504

Gee, what could his problems be? I'm having a devil of a time figuring out this Gordian Knot.....

[KevB]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

They also made a damn good move to get Denard Span, which shores up their only major weakness (CF defense and leadoff).

They'll be able to move Werth to the 2 hole or maybe the 6 hole now with Span leading off and playing GG defense in center.

That team is going to be really really freakin' good.

And if they re-sign LaRoche, they'll have Morse as trade bait to upgrade elsewhere.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by KevB

Credit to Rany's blog for this one :

Luke Hochevar, bases empty: .252/.313/.425
Luke Hochevar, men on base: .304/.372/.480
Luke Hochevar, runners in scoring position: .315/.388/.504

Gee, what could his problems be? I'm having a devil of a time figuring out this Gordian Knot.....

To be fair, a .738 OPS against with the bases empty is pretty shitty in its own right.

Matt Morris had issues like this towards the end of his time with the Cardinals. It seemed like his stuff really diminished when he pitched from the stretch. The Cardinals still refused to keep him in the windup with men on, though.

There's a good chance that his shoulder was just hamburger already, but you couldn't miss the fact that he was still throwing 94 from the windup. Maybe it wouldn't have made a difference, but I sure would've liked to have seen them try.

With Hoch, what the hell could it hurt? Though, like I said, getting a pitcher w/ a .738 OPSA for your troubles that now can't hold baserunners isn't exactly a bangup resolution either.

[BlackHelicopters]

Can't believe this came out of Ned's mouth. Does Ned drink?

[KevB]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

To be fair, a .738 OPS against with the bases empty is pretty shitty in its own right.

Matt Morris had issues like this towards the end of his time with the Cardinals. It seemed like his stuff really diminished when he pitched from the stretch. The Cardinals still refused to keep him in the windup with men on, though.

There's a good chance that his shoulder was just hamburger already, but you couldn't miss the fact that he was still throwing 94 from the windup. Maybe it wouldn't have made a difference, but I sure would've liked to have seen them try.

With Hoch, what the hell could it hurt? Though, like I said, getting a pitcher w/ a .738 OPSA for your troubles that now can't hold baserunners isn't exactly a bangup resolution either.

Absolutely, he's not a good pitcher regardless how you slice the data. But for a team that's been criticized for refusing to embrace the sabermetric side of the game to say they just don't understand what the problems are, with this data staring them in the face, is demoralizing.

[duncan_idaho]

Rany makes an incredibly compelling case for R.A. Dickey in today's post.

I wonder how much the Mets really want... It seems like the Royals CAN do that deal for something that doesn't include Wil Myers or Sal Perez (obvious deal breakers).

Cain + Ventura + Jason Adam?

[petegz28]

Ned Yost:

I think Luke has great stuff, and I feel good every time he steps on the mound.

Every baseball team the Royals face:

So do we!

[DJ's left nut]

If Cain stays healthy, he's due a breakout this year, IMO.

He showed surprising power even after the leg injury that could've really robbed him of his base.

You give him 600 ABs, you could potentially have a 20/20 player on your hands. Granted, a ton would have to break right for that to happen and he'd certainly need to continue to work on his strike zone judgment, but it's not impossible.

You guys will really regret Myers in CF, IMO. You cannot cut corners on your defense up the middle. I guess you also have that banjo hitter off the bench you could run out there, but man are you really eager to give that guy 500+ ABs?

I'd still rather give up Colon. Cain could be a very valuable weapon for the Royals, both offensively and defensively.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

To be fair, a .738 OPS against with the bases empty is pretty shitty in its own right.

Matt Morris had issues like this towards the end of his time with the Cardinals. It seemed like his stuff really diminished when he pitched from the stretch. The Cardinals still refused to keep him in the windup with men on, though.

There's a good chance that his shoulder was just hamburger already, but you couldn't miss the fact that he was still throwing 94 from the windup. Maybe it wouldn't have made a difference, but I sure would've liked to have seen them try.

With Hoch, what the hell could it hurt? Though, like I said, getting a pitcher w/ a .738 OPSA for your troubles that now can't hold baserunners isn't exactly a bangup resolution either.

You have to remember, you are dealing with a GM who doesn't give a shit nor does he have any idea how to evaluate talent through the usage of Sabermetrics. Dayton Moore is an absolute ****ing "moran"

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

If Cain stays healthy, he's due a breakout this year, IMO.

He showed surprising power even after the leg injury that could've really robbed him of his base.

You give him 600 ABs, you could potentially have a 20/20 player on your hands. Granted, a ton would have to break right for that to happen and he'd certainly need to continue to work on his strike zone judgment, but it's not impossible.

You guys will really regret Myers in CF, IMO. You cannot cut corners on your defense up the middle. I guess you also have that banjo hitter off the bench you could run out there, but man are you really eager to give that guy 500+ ABs?

I'd still rather give up Colon. Cain could be a very valuable weapon for the Royals, both offensively and defensively.

Agreed.

I would much rather convince the Mets to take Colon instead of Cain, but I'm not sure that works.

They would need to work out some sort of Dyson platoon in Centerfield, possibly with Myers getting some time there in road stadiums. I can't imagine Myers being worse than Melky Cabrera was there a few years ago (not sure defensive metrics would back that up, but I thought Cabrera was a really range-lacking CF).

Giving up Cain would hurt, but I could live with it if you're getting Dickey back (especially because you can likely extend him to a Jeremy Guthrie-esque contract).

[Lex Luthor]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I'd still rather give up Colon. Cain could be a very valuable weapon for the Royals, both offensively and defensively.

I think everyone would agree with that. However, I doubt Colon has much trade value.

[duncan_idaho]

DJ - I think Colon is in Zach Cox territory at this point. He has a LITTLE more value because of his defensive position (passable SS, above-average 2B), but his bat has been a major disappointment.

He showed some positive signs towards the end of 2011 before getting hurt, but not enough to rebuild much value.

[duncan_idaho]

Apparently, the Mets ALSO are looking for bullpen help. That is a bonus for KC.

It seems like Crow is someone the Royals are willing to move, and maybe that makes the package you send to the Mets a little less painful.

Hell, if it takes Holland, that's OK, too.