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?

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by -King-

You guys don't think that if we get into playoff contention or even make the playoffs, that David Glass will open up the purse strings $5-$10 mil more next year? It would be kind of hard justifying not doing it because of the money he'll make off attendance if we're in the playoff race late in the season.

He should, but I'm not going to count on it. Can't let myself do that yet.

[tk13]

We don't really have an excessive sample size but every time this team has appeared close in the last 10 years Glass spent more money and this team was more aggressive picking up guys. Even with Baird.

[tk13]

At least we're not the Braves and Mets. They're still playing. Game started at 11 PM tonight due to rain. They have to play a doubleheader tomorrow. They are basically playing three games in a 24 hour period if the weather holds up.

[Hootie]

hey I'm excited about .500 but lets not get too excited

we're still not hitting well and still not hitting for ANY power

[Archie F. Swin]

I suppose we'd have to give up Ventura, Dyson, Lough, Getz, Francoeur, all of our Wal Mart shares, Crown Vision and at least 2 cases of Billy's "Hit it a Ton" BBQ Sauce to get Stanton.

[Kidd Lex]

Originally Posted by Archie F. Swin

I suppose we'd have to give up Ventura, Dyson, Lough, Getz, Francoeur, all of our Wal Mart shares, Crown Vision and at least 2 cases of Billy's "Hit it a Ton" BBQ Sauce to get Stanton.

Actually that might get his bed pan.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Archie F. Swin

I suppose we'd have to give up Ventura, Dyson, Lough, Getz, Francoeur, all of our Wal Mart shares, Crown Vision and at least 2 cases of Billy's "Hit it a Ton" BBQ Sauce to get Stanton.

Miami doesn't want any of them.

[Hootie]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Miami doesn't want any of them.

it was a joke

[Demonpenz]

Originally Posted by unnecessary drama

hey I'm excited about .500 but lets not get too excited

we're still not hitting well and still not hitting for ANY power

Out of all the things to add to a team it seems like getting a bat is the easiest. I would rather hitting be our problem and not pitching or defense. Plus this team is loooose as hell. You get team that doesn't give a **** you have a chance at guys just going ham.

[Archie F. Swin]

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

. I would rather hitting be our problem and not pitching or defense.

I think we saw what crappy defense will get you last night. Truth be told, seems like our division rivals routinely shown some defensive weaknesses.

[sedated]

I see two problems with the “get a 2B or RF if we are within 5 games at the break”. First, unless we can scratch out 2-1 wins for another month, we won’t be – seems a bit chicken or egg. Second, Johnson has appeared serviceable at 2B and Lough serviceable at RF – the real sinkhole is at 3B, and the franchise won’t spend anything on that because they still see Moose as a future star.

[Demonpenz]

If we get into a series with the tigers. I would make Fielder. Cabrerra work by bunting.

[ChiTown]

Howie Kendrick

I dreamt we acquired him last night. Pls, God, can we make this happen?

[Mama Hip Rockets]

Originally Posted by sedated

Johnson has appeared serviceable at 2B and Lough serviceable at RF – the real sinkhole is at 3B, and the franchise won’t spend anything on that because they still see Moose as a future star.

The Royals desperately need a 2B. Johnson suuuuuuucks. He is awesome against Tampa Bay and atrocious against everybody else. His OBP is only .286, and he has just 5 walks and 32 strikeouts in 107 AB. Those are Yuni Betancourt-type numbers, but with less power and more strikeouts.

[jbwm89]

Originally Posted by unnecessary drama

it was a joke

Don't joke here, Prison Bitch deals only in cold hard facts. If he doesn't think it is a possibility do not discuss it, even jokingly.

What do you people think this is, a message board or something?