Royals 2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread - Page 512

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?

Sure-Oz · 07-27-2013, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

I'd feel a lot better about Lough if his OBP weren't so dependent upon his average.

I'd feel better if he was Adam Jones who is batting like .290 with a .316 obp but 22 HR

**DeezNutz** · 07-27-2013, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

I'd feel better if he was Adam Jones who is batting like .290 with a .316 obp but 22 HR

Yeah, that's a good point. Dude never walks.

Regardless, Lough has been more than adequate stepping in for Dayton's son.

ChiefsCountry · 07-27-2013, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theelusiveeightrop

Rays have won 20 of 23.

14 of those 23 were against the Astros, Twins, and White Sox. Royals have a similar stretch right now.

ChiefsCountry · 07-27-2013, 02:00 PM

I would feel a lot better if Lough was the 4th outfielder though.

sedated · 07-27-2013, 02:37 PM

Royals fans continuing to hate on a player pulling his weight (no pun intended)

siberian khatru · 07-27-2013, 02:41 PM

A Regrettable Trade

Prison Bitch · 07-27-2013, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

I would feel a lot better if Lough was the 4th outfielder though.

Why? In 1/3 of a season (he has 200 pa now) he's put up an impressive 1.4 war. Projected out that's a 4 war player. For league minimum too!

JohnnyV13 · 07-27-2013, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

What about Yordano Ventura? Is he ready?

No. Ventura is still walking too many. More importantly, Ventura can't last deep into games. He often only lasts 5 innings in a start while burning up a lot of pitches.

He's close though. The stuff is there and the fastball is plus plus.

Prison Bitch · 07-27-2013, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

I'd feel a lot better about Lough if his OBP weren't so dependent upon his average.

Fortunately his fielding is excellent and not a threat to disappear.

Deberg_1990 · 07-27-2013, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

A Regrettable Trade

I concur with every word. And I can't stand JoPo.

**SAUTO** · 07-27-2013, 02:54 PM

Santana is a "fringe 3 or number 4" ? Is Hamas nuts?
Posted via Mobile Device

CaliforniaChief · 07-27-2013, 03:02 PM

On paper, this is one of the most lopsided matchups all year. While I'd love to win and keep rolling, I almost want Davis to stand out as the sore thumb that he is so we can bring up Duffy or even Zimmer.

JohnnyV13 · 07-27-2013, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

I don't even think Will Smith is starting in AAA right now, which he should be.

I'd think if they trade Santana you could bring up Duffy (even though he hasnt looked good yet imo) and/or Will Smith to add to the rotation. Davis inevitably will be put in the pen

I think they moved Smith to the pen because they have better prospects for the rotation.

Right now, there will be a lot of candidates for 2014 rotation spots. Shields and Guthrie are givens. After them, you have:

Yordano Ventura
Kyle Zimmer
Danny Duffy
Felipe Paulino
Chris Dwyer
Luke Hochevar -- I KNOW, I know, but I guarantee you that Moore looks at him as a rotation candidate. I think their whole strategy for dealing with Hoch this season is to improve his confidence with runners on base.

And, that's excluding Davis whom you know DM thinks is a starting candidate as well.

**DeezNutz** · 07-27-2013, 03:20 PM

Longoria was hitting second today for the Rays. One guess who was third.

TambaBerry · 07-27-2013, 03:23 PM

Will you guys please stop with the Wil Meyers complaining. You're grown men whining, he is gone. Get over it.

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: 22,317

07-27-2013, 02:00 PM	#7669
ChiefsCountry The Insider Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Lake of the Ozarks Casino cash: $-1351248	I would feel a lot better if Lough was the 4th outfielder though.
Posts: 51,985

07-27-2013, 02:41 PM	#7671
siberian khatru 21st Century Schizoid Fan Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The Gates of Delirium Casino cash: $-1125050	A Regrettable Trade
Posts: 71,823

07-27-2013, 02:54 PM	#7676
SAUTO Shit Join Date: Jun 2008 Casino cash: $10039067	Santana is a "fringe 3 or number 4" ? Is Hamas nuts? Posted via Mobile Device
Posts: 55,715

07-27-2013, 03:02 PM	#7677
CaliforniaChief #RIPAce Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal Casino cash: $10715899	On paper, this is one of the most lopsided matchups all year. While I'd love to win and keep rolling, I almost want Davis to stand out as the sore thumb that he is so we can bring up Duffy or even Zimmer.
Posts: 17,443

07-27-2013, 03:23 PM	#7680
TambaBerry MVP Join Date: Jan 2013 Casino cash: $-1334459	Will you guys please stop with the Wil Meyers complaining. You're grown men whining, he is gone. Get over it.
Posts: 10,922