2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread

[duncan_idaho]

Proposed 2013 Slogan: Tigers: They're what's for dinner
Actual 2013 Slogan: Come to Play
A better, more accurate, or alternative slogan: All in, no panic, we promise.

Dayton Moore has pushed all his chips in and is riding on King/Jack suited, hoping it comes together, he gets some good luck, and he hits the nuts by the river card. There's potential, oh yes, there's potential. There's also risk.

At the midway point, Dayton is left counting on the river card. The flop and turn didn't help him, and he's looking at the Tigers holding a pair of Queens and the Indians holding a pair of 9s. His 2013 plan hasn't failed - yet - but the odds are not in his favor.

Burning questions updates below.

Burning Questions for 2013:

1) Will the improve rotation be improved enough? Does James Shields pitch like a fringe No. 1 away from Tampa Bay? Does Ervin Santana pitch to his highest upside in his walk year? Can Jeremy Guthrie build on his strong performance as a Royal in 2012? Can Wade Davis bring his new mentality- and velocity - back to the rotation?

Midseason check-in: Yes, the rotation is certainly improved enough. Shields has pitched like a fringe No. 1 and Santana is having his best season. Guthrie has horrible peripherals but has continued to perform well at his home park and eat innings on the road. Davis brought neither his kick-ass mentality or improved velocity back to the rotation and is in Luke Hochevar/Hiram Davies territory.

2) When will Luke Hochevar be shown the door?
Midseason check-in: It appears, never, at this point. Hochevar has been solid in non-leverage situations, though pretty much every time he has been used with men on base in an inning, it has been a disaster.

3) Does Hosmer bounce back?
Midseason check-in: It took some time, but Hosmer's performance from June 1 on is probably the most encouraging thing about the 2013 season so far.
4) Can Moustakas hit for a whole season like he did in the first half of 2012?
Midseason check-in: Nope. Moustakas was god-awful, then great for about 3 weeks, then god-awful again. He has been better since he started working with Brett and Grafol but still has a long way to go.
5) Who regresses?
Midseason check-in: Welp, Alicides Escobar is not a surprising name here (though Yost's stubborn insistence on hitting him second is ridiculous). Billy Butler is a surprise. He isn't having a terrible year - still contributing a lot to the offense - but he's not hitting for the average or power he has displayed over the past several years.
6) Who plays 2B?
Midseason check-in: A whole bunch of people, and not that great. Gio is at least getting a shot, though he once again is not doing much with it.
7) Can Jeff Francoeur be at least replacement level, rather than epic horrible level?
Midseason check-in: Hahahahahahahahahahaha
8) Will Dayton Moore survive to see 2014?
Midseason check-in: Outlook uncertain. Probably still around, unless the team completely tanks in the second half and he does something foolish. My guess - he sacrifices Ned Yost this offseason and gets one more shot with a new manager in 2014.
9) Will Danny Duffy come back healthy? And if he does, is he the same, better or worse?
Midseason check-in: Yes. Velocity looks the same, and it looks likely he is the same guy as before.
10) And the big one: Has KC added enough to run down the big-money Detroit Tigers?
Midseason check-in: Doesn't look like it, does it?

[Strongside]

Originally Posted by Hootie

I didn't dumb it down.

You don't bat Mark Reynonds at #3 because he has a high slugging %.

You bat Frank Thomas at #3 because he has a high slugging % AND he gets on base.

You forgot about Jeff Francoeur.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Some people cannot get out of the way of their own ego.

[Hootie]

Alex Gordon is the IDEAL #3 hitter.

Of course, every IDEAL #3 hitter would be a successful leadoff man...but you don't waste a guy who consistently hits doubles and even home runs at #1.

You want him hitting behind people who GET ON BASE.

I realize alnorth is going to be like 'omg a .280 OBP isn't any different than a .330 OBP'...but it is.

batting Gordon leadoff means every single game he bats at least 1 time with no one on base...

you're wasting runs having your best power hitter hit leadoff...and that is what Gordon is...he doesn't hit a ton of homeruns but he hits a metric shit ton of doubles and doubles score runners who are on base

[Hootie]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Some people cannot get out of the way of their own ego.

what are you talking about?

I talk about slugging % all of the time

It is important.

I didn't care Hosmer was hitting .280 2 weeks ago because his slugging was like .305

that's horrid

you don't win games hitting singles

but Mark Reynolds hits .220 and slugs .500

that's who you want at #3?

[CaliforniaChief]

Gordon might be discovering his power stroke. Man, that HR last night was bad-ass. His home runs haven't been basket shots, they've been bombs.

[tomahawk kid]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

Gordon might be discovering his power stroke. Man, that HR last night was bad-ass. His home runs haven't been basket shots, they've been bombs.

Thought the same thing after he crushed that ball.

Also had some "style points" after the swing, which I've never seen Gordo do before.

I don't particularly care for that in general, but it tells me he's found a power stroke (and I like actually seeing someone on the Royals with a little swag).

[tomahawk kid]

Originally Posted by doomy3

A little Country Breakfast.

WTF?

Where did that come from?

[Hootie]

Gordon is a guy who I'd want sacrificing average to swing for the fences. We need it. If he's the guy that can hit 30 HR's on this team, he needs to be doing it.

In 2013, you can't win without home runs. Plain and simple.

Our starters have been fantastic but it is going to even out. Jeremy Guthrie isn't going to have a sub 3.00 ERA all year long. Same with Santana.

[CaliforniaChief]

Originally Posted by Hootie

Gordon is a guy who I'd want sacrificing average to swing for the fences. We need it. If he's the guy that can hit 30 HR's on this team, he needs to be doing it.

In 2013, you can't win without home runs. Plain and simple.

Our starters have been fantastic but it is going to even out. Jeremy Guthrie isn't going to have a sub 3.00 ERA all year long. Same with Santana.

Totally agree.

[Ceej]

Billy showing off the body of a 47 year old drunk.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by Hootie

Alex Gordon is the IDEAL #3 hitter.

Of course, every IDEAL #3 hitter would be a successful leadoff man...but you don't waste a guy who consistently hits doubles and even home runs at #1.

You want him hitting behind people who GET ON BASE.

I realize alnorth is going to be like 'omg a .280 OBP isn't any different than a .330 OBP'...but it is.

batting Gordon leadoff means every single game he bats at least 1 time with no one on base...

you're wasting runs having your best power hitter hit leadoff...and that is what Gordon is...he doesn't hit a ton of homeruns but he hits a metric shit ton of doubles and doubles score runners who are on base

I don't think Gordon is the ideal #3 hitter, But he's definitely one of the best options we have on the roster... His OBP is only .340 which isn't outstanding by any means, but has been much better the past 2 years hovering in the .370 range. His Slugging isn't ideal.. Career slg of .443... last year was only .455 which isn't bad, but you want multiple guys in your lineup hitting the .455 range. Not your #3 hitter. His SLG this season is up. However, this is due to his recent surge of power - 3 HR's in last 3 games. Before the last 3 it was .460 right around his career average, it'll level off.

As for the leadoff, we really don't have a high OBP player on the team which is why Gordon has played there... and some people are reluctant to see him move.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by Hootie

what are you talking about?

You called me out for basically agreeing with you, but adding to it... but whatever. I'm used to seeing your arrogance around here.

Carry on.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Hootie

I love alnorth. Great baseball poster.

I'm never going to agree with him that Barry Bonds should have been at leadoff rather than 3 or 4.

You put your .OPS guys at 3 and 4 because they drive in your .OBP guys. Period.

Not even Billy Beane hit Miguel Tejada at #1. There is a reason for that. Perhaps the math says something else, but you don't lead off with one of your best power hitters. In regards to the Royals...with all the extra base hits Gordon gets...you can't bat him at leadoff. He has to be at #3.

I spent most of my life believing the same thing you do now. The numbers do not have a bias, and they do not lie.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by Hootie

Gordon is a guy who I'd want sacrificing average to swing for the fences. We need it. If he's the guy that can hit 30 HR's on this team, he needs to be doing it.

In 2013, you can't win without home runs. Plain and simple.

Our starters have been fantastic but it is going to even out. Jeremy Guthrie isn't going to have a sub 3.00 ERA all year long. Same with Santana.

Out of necessity, yes... but at the same time, when he's tried this before he's failed miserably. If he's that guy to hit 30, you're damn right... but he's never been able to do that... in his first 6 seasons he's only broken 20 one time. Optimized projection is fine and dandy, but at some point you have to look at him for what he is... a Good player, with gap power and occasional HR ability.

Maybe he breaks out, I sure hope he does.. but not expecting it by any means.

[Strongside]

Originally Posted by tomahawk kid

WTF?

Where did that come from?

Billy sent it to him last night. Duh.