Royals 2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread - Page 599

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?

Prison Bitch · 08-07-2013, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

Josh Vernier ‏@JoshVernier 1m
#Royals Duffy to start vs. Twins tomorrow. Says his stuff is "as good as it's ever been."
Retweeted by 610 Sports Radio- KC
Expand

His stuff has never been the issue.

mr. tegu · 08-07-2013, 07:36 AM

These next 5 games won't win us a playoff spot, but they sure can end our season. We must win tonight and at least split with Boston. If we win one or two games in the next five that would probably be too much to overcome.

**ChiTown** · 08-07-2013, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

These next 5 games won't win us a playoff spot, but they sure can end our season. We must win tonight and at least split with Boston. If we win one or two games in the next five that would probably be too much to overcome.

In my "race to get to 90 wins" post, I had us sweeping Minny and splitting the 4 game series with Bahhhston. So, to catch up, we are going to have to take 3 of 4 from the BoSox. Get r done gawdamnit!

mr. tegu · 08-07-2013, 07:47 AM

I am honestly not that worried about Cleveland and Baltimore. We get to play Cleveland and other than the Twinkies they have a pretty tough August. I tend to view Baltimore the same way. They have a tough August and have only been playing one game above .500 since the All-Star break.

Texas is who I am worried about. They could easily only lose 5 games the rest of the month. They have 7 with the Astros. 6 with the Mariners. 2 with the Brewers and Twinkies and 3 with the White Sox.

Now if somehow Tampa can find a way to lose and come back to the pack in the wildcard race and both spots open up, that would be a huge lifeline.

I think that if we continue to play good and don't screw up this week, that we will be past Cleveland and Baltimore by the end of this month. Then after that, we would just have one more team to track down for that last wildcard spot.

BlackHelicopters · 08-07-2013, 07:53 AM

Worried that the Boston series is going to end our hopes. Boston is a legitimate playoff team, and this series can prove whether we belong. Need to start another 9 out of 10 stretch tonight.

Great Expectations · 08-07-2013, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiTown

Well, I can assure you of this. We make it a shit ton more difficult on ourselves when we get SHUT THE **** OUT by a first time starting pitcher and our ace is on the mound. I was starting to get my hopes up going into last nights game, but that was my get real pill that I swallowed last night. I thnk the odds and our history speaks for itself.

I'm in the same boat. Why can't we hit left handers with 85 mph fastballs?

Three7s · 08-07-2013, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Great Expectations

I'm in the same boat. Why can't we hit left handers with 85 mph fastballs?

I bet Bruce Chen would no-hit us.

Archie F. Swin · 08-07-2013, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theelusiveeightrop

Worried that the Boston series is going to end our hopes. Boston is a legitimate playoff team, and this series can prove whether we belong. Need to start another 9 out of 10 stretch tonight.

we're not that close to the end of the season. We can't let a fluke start by Shields pop our balloon. We can safely assume that's an outlier.

**ptlyon** · 08-07-2013, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archie F. Swin

we're not that close to the end of the season. We can't let a fluke start by Shields pop our balloon.

This. One game isn't going to make or break getting to the playoffs.

You win some and lose some you shouldn't along the way. That's baseball.

Alot of games yet to be played. By the end of the month we will probably know our fate.

**RockChalk** · 08-07-2013, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archie F. Swin

we're not that close to the end of the season. We can't let a fluke start by Shields pop our balloon. We can safely assume that's an outlier.

Let's not go crazy with saying this was a "fluke" start. He hasn't been particularly sharp the past 2 months, so this ass-beating came as no surprise to me. He was long overdue for one.

Let's just hope he gets it corrected and his pitching starts trending towards his April/May figures

**RockChalk** · 08-07-2013, 08:29 AM

By the way, Santana is our ace. Not Shields.

No doubt in my mind that if we need a stop or somehow reach the wildcard 1-game playoff, I want Magic on the mound, not "Big Game" James

Prison Bitch · 08-07-2013, 08:30 AM

I thought his arm looked a bit tired in the Cleve start right before the end of the year, really laboring with high pitch counts. Then he was sharp again first start after the break vs. White Sox, but back to laboring in 2 vs Minny. Looks tired to me, cannot locate and getting no break on his changeup. Velocity is 90 on those fastballs too, not the 93ish he was working earlier.

WhawhaWhat · 08-07-2013, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

I thought his arm looked a bit tired in the Cleve start right before the end of the year, really laboring with high pitch counts. Then he was sharp again first start after the break vs. White Sox, but back to laboring in 2 vs Minny. Looks tired to me, cannot locate and getting no break on his changeup. Velocity is 90 on those fastballs too, not the 93ish he was working earlier.

Mike Boddicker talked about this on the Border Patrol this morning. He said every pitcher goes through periods in the season where you basically have a dead arm for 2 to 3 starts and you just have to push through.

He also talked about how at the beginning of the season you can pick up a whole gallon of milk, at the all-star break you can only pick up a half gallon, and by the end of the season you can only pick up a pint. Crazy what pitchers put their arm through.

**ptlyon** · 08-07-2013, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

He also talked about how at the beginning of the season you can pick up a whole gallon of milk, at the all-star break you can only pick up a half gallon, and by the end of the season you can only pick up a pint. Crazy what pitchers put their arm through.

He needs to quit masturbating and get himself a hockey mom stat

**ChiTown** · 08-07-2013, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockChalk

By the way, Santana is our ace. Not Shields.

No doubt in my mind that if we need a stop or somehow reach the wildcard 1-game playoff, I want Magic on the mound, not "Big Game" James

Call Shields what you will, but he's the lead dog in multiple ways on that Staff, not Santana. Not to mention, we didn't give up our Franchise RF'r for Santana.

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

08-07-2013, 07:36 AM	#8972
mr. tegu Forever Royal Join Date: Mar 2012 Casino cash: $-1658700	These next 5 games won't win us a playoff spot, but they sure can end our season. We must win tonight and at least split with Boston. If we win one or two games in the next five that would probably be too much to overcome.
Posts: 26,454

08-07-2013, 07:47 AM	#8974
mr. tegu Forever Royal Join Date: Mar 2012 Casino cash: $-1658700	I am honestly not that worried about Cleveland and Baltimore. We get to play Cleveland and other than the Twinkies they have a pretty tough August. I tend to view Baltimore the same way. They have a tough August and have only been playing one game above .500 since the All-Star break. Texas is who I am worried about. They could easily only lose 5 games the rest of the month. They have 7 with the Astros. 6 with the Mariners. 2 with the Brewers and Twinkies and 3 with the White Sox. Now if somehow Tampa can find a way to lose and come back to the pack in the wildcard race and both spots open up, that would be a huge lifeline. I think that if we continue to play good and don't screw up this week, that we will be past Cleveland and Baltimore by the end of this month. Then after that, we would just have one more team to track down for that last wildcard spot.
Posts: 26,454

08-07-2013, 07:53 AM	#8975
BlackHelicopters Spiraling down the Drain Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Dante's Ninth Circle Casino cash: $-669412	Worried that the Boston series is going to end our hopes. Boston is a legitimate playoff team, and this series can prove whether we belong. Need to start another 9 out of 10 stretch tonight. __________________ "We're both part of the same hypocrisy, Senator, but never think it applies to my family." "Fredo. You are my brother, and I love you. But never take sides against the Family again. Ever." 2019 Adopt a Chief - Travis Kelce #87
Posts: 33,262

08-07-2013, 08:29 AM	#8981
RockChalk Dirty Bit Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Lake of the Woods Casino cash: $1316002	By the way, Santana is our ace. Not Shields. No doubt in my mind that if we need a stop or somehow reach the wildcard 1-game playoff, I want Magic on the mound, not "Big Game" James __________________
Posts: 7,024

08-07-2013, 08:30 AM	#8982
Prison Bitch Rabbi Goldmann Join Date: Nov 2012 Casino cash: $5450159	I thought his arm looked a bit tired in the Cleve start right before the end of the year, really laboring with high pitch counts. Then he was sharp again first start after the break vs. White Sox, but back to laboring in 2 vs Minny. Looks tired to me, cannot locate and getting no break on his changeup. Velocity is 90 on those fastballs too, not the 93ish he was working earlier.
Posts: 87,025