Royals 2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread - Page 609

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?

**Dartgod** · 08-09-2013, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saul Good

The Yankees have pretty well played themselves out of contention.

I'd be ok with them waking up long enough to sweep Detroit this weekend.

mr. tegu · 08-09-2013, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dartgod

Incredible that we are 16-4 since the All-Star break and lost a half game in the standings to Detroit.

It is one of those things best not thought about.

AussieChiefsFan · 08-09-2013, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theelusiveeightrop

No way in hell am I good with a split. This series is a measuring stick for the Royals, and BOSox too, to a certain extent. Anything less than 3/4 is unacceptable. Justin Maxwell be damned.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves here.

Fansy the Famous Bard · 08-09-2013, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AussieChiefsFan

Let's not get ahead of ourselves here.

it's at home, and we're freaking hot. Gotta ride that gravy train while you can.

Last night was a truly amazing moment for me. Myself, my wife (of 15 years), my 14 yr old son, and my Three daughters (ages 10, 8, and 5) were all in our living room glued to the Royals game... All Cheering loudly.

It was a sight to behold for me... First time I've had the whole family doing that. The excitement across the city is no freaking joke. There are so many people that have never had this feeling here before (for baseball).

Take a second, lean back.... and enjoy this moment fellas.

KevB · 08-09-2013, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dartgod

Incredible that we are 16-4 since the All-Star break and lost a half game in the standings to Detroit.

Heyman on Twitter just pointed out that we've won 16 of 18 and lost half a game. Entirely impossible to determine, but I have to think that's never happened in baseball.

**ptlyon** · 08-09-2013, 07:56 AM

Somebody needs to Nancy Kerrigan Detroit

AussieChiefsFan · 08-09-2013, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeke

it's at home, and we're freaking hot. Gotta ride that gravy train while you can.

Last night was a truly amazing moment for me. Myself, my wife (of 15 years), my 14 yr old son, and my Three daughters (ages 10, 8, and 5) were all in our living room glued to the Royals game... All Cheering loudly.

It was a sight to behold for me... First time I've had the whole family doing that. The excitement across the city is no freaking joke. There are so many people that have never had this feeling here before (for baseball).

Take a second, lean back.... and enjoy this moment fellas.

I agree, and yeah I am very much enjoying these wins. But to say that it is unacceptable to split with the 70 win Redsox is ludicrous.

Prison Bitch · 08-09-2013, 08:00 AM

That lineup sure looks toothless without Ortiz in there. It seems worse against LH pitchers for sure. I'd be quite tempted to push Shields back an extra day to rest his arm a tad, not pitch in 88 degree humidity, face good LH hitters Boston has. And just let him get Miami on Monday night.

Fansy the Famous Bard · 08-09-2013, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

That lineup sure looks toothless without Ortiz in there. It seems worse against LH pitchers for sure. I'd be quite tempted to push Shields back an extra day to rest his arm a tad, not pitch in 88 degree humidity, face good LH hitters, and get Miami on Monday night.

I was mulling something along this lines last night... possibly re-calling Will Smith to pitch tonight or tomorrow, then duffy again on Sunday... Using the heck out of Bueno, Teaford, Collins and possibly even Joseph against Boston's Lineup.

The RedSox Team OPS vs LHP is .715 as opposed to RHP which is .819. Try and neutralize Lefthanded batters Ellsbury, Carp, Ortiz, Holt, and Drew, as well as Switch Hitters Saltalphabet (.551 vs LHP / .864 vs RHP) and Nava (.608 vs LHP / .854 vs RHP). Even Napoli's and Gomes' splits are worse against LHP.

Stack it up.

**Dartgod** · 08-09-2013, 08:20 AM

Saltalphabet.

Fansy the Famous Bard · 08-09-2013, 08:24 AM

Jeez....

Royals Pitching this year has hit for an OPS of .571... which is better than our SS position which has hit for .561 on the year.

Damn.

Fansy the Famous Bard · 08-09-2013, 08:30 AM

The Royals are damned Hot having won 16 out of 20 since the All-Star Break. But it ain't the bats doing it.

Team OPS before break - .686
Team OPS after break - .698

While it's certainly better, not by much.

Pitchers have really stepped it up. Here is the opposing teams OPS before and after

opposing OPS before break - .725
opposing OPS after break - .624

Lots of props to Dave Eiland, Doug Henry and the pitching staff as a whole.

SPATCH · 08-09-2013, 08:57 AM

Salvy should be back soon, right?

tomahawk kid · 08-09-2013, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_spatula

Salvy should be back soon, right?

Supposed to catch a bullpen session Saturday, I believe.

WhawhaWhat · 08-09-2013, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomahawk kid

Supposed to catch a bullpen session Saturday, I believe.

Eligible to come off the DL on Sunday?

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: 22,314

08-09-2013, 07:56 AM	#9126
ptlyon Bono & Grbac wasn't enough Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Sioux City, IA Casino cash: $9473829	Somebody needs to Nancy Kerrigan Detroit __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Advertise here: $19.99 a month
Posts: 40,611

08-09-2013, 08:00 AM	#9128
Prison Bitch Rabbi Goldmann Join Date: Nov 2012 Casino cash: $5450159	That lineup sure looks toothless without Ortiz in there. It seems worse against LH pitchers for sure. I'd be quite tempted to push Shields back an extra day to rest his arm a tad, not pitch in 88 degree humidity, face good LH hitters Boston has. And just let him get Miami on Monday night.
Posts: 87,025

08-09-2013, 08:20 AM	#9130
Dartgod Wasted away again... Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: in Margaritaville Casino cash: $3820000	Saltalphabet. __________________ If you shed a tear for me, please make it a tear of joy. -Joe Tracy (Nzoner) . .
Posts: 52,169

08-09-2013, 08:24 AM	#9131
Fansy the Famous Bard I'm with the Banned Join Date: Feb 2009 Casino cash: $-923560	Jeez.... Royals Pitching this year has hit for an OPS of .571... which is better than our SS position which has hit for .561 on the year. Damn. __________________ Hi.
Posts: 6,393

08-09-2013, 08:30 AM	#9132
Fansy the Famous Bard I'm with the Banned Join Date: Feb 2009 Casino cash: $-923560	The Royals are damned Hot having won 16 out of 20 since the All-Star Break. But it ain't the bats doing it. Team OPS before break - .686 Team OPS after break - .698 While it's certainly better, not by much. Pitchers have really stepped it up. Here is the opposing teams OPS before and after opposing OPS before break - .725 opposing OPS after break - .624 Lots of props to Dave Eiland, Doug Henry and the pitching staff as a whole. __________________ Hi.
Posts: 6,393

08-09-2013, 08:57 AM	#9133
SPATCH birth of spatch Join Date: May 2008 Casino cash: $10006207	Salvy should be back soon, right?
Posts: 4,569