Royals 2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread - Page 373

duncan_idaho · 10:01 AM

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?

Mr_Tomahawk · 06-10-2013, 05:30 AM

3rd place bitches!

Prison Bitch · 06-10-2013, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

In Mellinger's column he notes that Escobar is on pace for the worst offensive performance of any player to total 600 ABs in a season in the last 10 years.

His time!

Gosh that's so weird, I said last week he was turning into a pumpkin and some people got mad on this thread. So weird.

Three7s · 06-10-2013, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Gosh that's so weird, I said last week he was turning into a pumpkin and some people got mad on this thread. So weird.

Some people that post here still have this fetish over Escobar. He's been bad this year, but only Deez really admits it. (sorry Prison, didn't see your post)

I'm not one of the ones going gaga over Escobar, but I'm hoping he can turn it around.

mr. tegu · 06-10-2013, 08:05 AM

When Gordon bats third the Royals are 4-14. When he bats leadoff we are 23-18. What does it mean? I don't know considering Gordon was killing it while batting third. I guess it could just be a coincedence.

Three7s · 06-10-2013, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

When Gordon bats third the Royals are 4-14. When he bats leadoff we are 23-18. What does it mean? I don't know considering Gordon was killing it while batting third. I guess it could just be a coincedence.

Maybe our leadoff hitter is more important than our #3 hitter. However, Gordon has been slumping in recently, so it might be just coincidence.

duncan_idaho · 06-10-2013, 09:09 AM

Pretty good breakdown of the Royals' draft strategy from Jim Callis at Baseball America and taking Dozier/Manaea, not Manaea/Dozier or Meadows/Manaea.

Oh, and Felipe Paulino makes his first rehab start in Northwest Arkansas tonight.

Archie F. Swin · 06-10-2013, 09:12 AM

JGuts cracks me up...

duncan_idaho · 06-10-2013, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Three7s

Maybe our leadoff hitter is more important than our #3 hitter. However, Gordon has been slumping in recently, so it might be just coincidence.

I've seen some stuff recently about lineup construction that suggests 1 and 2 and 4 are more important than 3. Rany talked about it on the 810 Border Patrol this morning.

The 2 hole is actually statistically the most important position in the lineup, which means you should put your best hitter in that spot.

This is something that Tony La Russa seemed to grasp... he always put a contact hitter with some pop in that role, and it always seemed to work.

Prison Bitch · 06-10-2013, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Three7s

Some people that post here still have this fetish over Escobar. He's been bad this year, but only Deez really admits it. (sorry Prison, didn't see your post)

I'm not one of the ones going gaga over Escobar, but I'm hoping he can turn it around.

I think people don't like others criticizing their players. That's why you never see anyone booing at the Royals games. It's too mean.

Used to be that way with the Chiefs too but Scott P really set our fanbase off. Now we're angry Philly types. Maybe someday our fans will expect something from the Royals too.

Demonpenz · 06-10-2013, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

I think people don't like others criticizing their players. That's why you never see anyone booing at the Royals games. It's too mean.

Used to be that way with the Chiefs too but Scott P really set our fanbase off. Now we're angry Philly types. Maybe someday our fans will expect something from the Royals too.

Guess you haven't been at the K lately. They boo Moostakas every time.

**ptlyon** · 06-10-2013, 09:46 AM

On my espn score center, for todays game it says "Miguel Cabrera and tigers seek 5th straight win"

Mildly pisses me off

Mr. Laz · 06-10-2013, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Pretty good breakdown of the Royals' draft strategy from Jim Callis at Baseball America and taking Dozier/Manaea, not Manaea/Dozier or Meadows/Manaea.

Oh, and Felipe Paulino makes his first rehab start in Northwest Arkansas tonight.

remind me to hate Bickford

"... his camp would not allow Royals officials to meet with him"

CaliforniaChief · 06-10-2013, 09:54 AM

The problem is that we have a punchless lineup. We don't have a #4 hitter to build around. And really, we don't have a #1 either, although Dyson was starting to show potential before getting hurt.

We simply will have to overpay in FA because we can't develop power on our own.

Mark Reynolds? Hunter Pence?

1. Dyson (CF)
2. Butler (DH)
3. Gordon (LF)
4. Reynolds (3B)
5. Hosmer (1B)
6. Perez (C)
7. Cain (RF)
8. Anyone other than Getz (2B)
9. Escobar (SS)

duncan_idaho · 06-10-2013, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

remind me to hate Bickford

"... his camp would not allow Royals officials to meet with him"

Yeah, his camp was awfully snobby for a guy who is just a big, projectable arm at this point. Sure, he's 6-5 and throws 95, 96... but he also has no breaking or off-speed pitches at this point.

duncan_idaho · 06-10-2013, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

The problem is that we have a punchless lineup. We don't have a #4 hitter to build around. And really, we don't have a #1 either, although Dyson was starting to show potential before getting hurt.

We simply will have to overpay in FA because we can't develop power on our own.

Mark Reynolds? Hunter Pence?

1. Dyson (CF)
2. Butler (DH)
3. Gordon (LF)
4. Reynolds (3B)
5. Hosmer (1B)
6. Perez (C)
7. Cain (RF)
8. Anyone other than Getz (2B)
9. Escobar (SS)

Honestly, the pickings in FA are pretty slim for big power bats. Reynolds is one, obviously, but he also is a butcher at 3B and is a low-average, high K hitter whose biggest skill (power) would play down in Kaufman.

Mike Morse, Kelly Johnson, Jason Kubel, Chris Young, and Corey Hart are all intriguing to me.

I'm not sure the Royals will want to spend big on Hunter Pence, and I'm not sure they should.

Shin Soo Choo is the best bat out there, and would be an amazing signing. But I have a really hard time seeing that happen.

12-11-2012, 09:59 AM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $-1889692	2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread 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? Last edited by duncan_idaho; 07-15-2013 at 10:01 AM..
Posts: 22,310

06-10-2013, 05:30 AM	#5581
Mr_Tomahawk Prestige Worldwide Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Spring Hill, KS Casino cash: $30526	3rd place bitches! __________________ Adopt-A-Chief: John Dorsey
Posts: 18,618

06-10-2013, 08:05 AM	#5584
mr. tegu Forever Royal Join Date: Mar 2012 Casino cash: $-1658700	When Gordon bats third the Royals are 4-14. When he bats leadoff we are 23-18. What does it mean? I don't know considering Gordon was killing it while batting third. I guess it could just be a coincedence.
Posts: 26,454

06-10-2013, 09:09 AM	#5586
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $-1889692	Pretty good breakdown of the Royals' draft strategy from Jim Callis at Baseball America and taking Dozier/Manaea, not Manaea/Dozier or Meadows/Manaea. Oh, and Felipe Paulino makes his first rehab start in Northwest Arkansas tonight. __________________ "You gotta love livin', cause dying is a pain in the ass." ---- Sinatra
Posts: 22,310

06-10-2013, 09:12 AM	#5587
Archie F. Swin This is the way Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Casino cash: $9975673	JGuts cracks me up... Your browser does not support iframes. __________________ "No Two People Will Do It The Same, You got It Down...When You Appear to Be In Pain!"
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06-10-2013, 09:46 AM	#5591
ptlyon Bono & Grbac wasn't enough Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Sioux City, IA Casino cash: $9473829	On my espn score center, for todays game it says "Miguel Cabrera and tigers seek 5th straight win" Mildly pisses me off __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Advertise here: $19.99 a month
Posts: 40,583

06-10-2013, 09:54 AM	#5593
CaliforniaChief #RIPAce Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal Casino cash: $10715899	The problem is that we have a punchless lineup. We don't have a #4 hitter to build around. And really, we don't have a #1 either, although Dyson was starting to show potential before getting hurt. We simply will have to overpay in FA because we can't develop power on our own. Mark Reynolds? Hunter Pence? 1. Dyson (CF) 2. Butler (DH) 3. Gordon (LF) 4. Reynolds (3B) 5. Hosmer (1B) 6. Perez (C) 7. Cain (RF) 8. Anyone other than Getz (2B) 9. Escobar (SS)
Posts: 17,443