Royals 2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread - Page 185

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?

**gblowfish** · 04-11-2013, 11:15 AM

Well, the JoCo's will tell you "who spends all the money at those sports venues...???"

They do spend some money, but more often than not they tailgate, go in on tickets they got from their company or one of their vendors, bitch about how long it took for them to get into the parking lot, then drive home after the 7th inning, because they don't want to pay their illegal alien babysitters and extra $1 an hour if they run late. They will buy gas in Missouri because it's always .10/gallon cheaper than Kansas.

BTW: usually this excludes K-State folks. Most of them are regular joes.

**gblowfish** · 04-11-2013, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

The older I get, the more ointments I need.

**alnorth** · 04-11-2013, 11:26 AM

Count me as a fan of the Truman Sports Complex. I have absolutely no desire, whatsoever, to have a downtown stadium. I do not believe it would sell more tickets, for every extra Joe you get who cuts out of work early and walks 8 blocks to see a game (if its not right next to your job, is it really that convenient?) you'll get a lot of out of towners decide to only go to 4 games that year instead of 5 or 6 because of the hassle of having to go downtown and find parking.

**ChiTown** · 04-11-2013, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Canada leeches the benefit of being on the doorstep of the most powerful military in the world. It is able to spend practically no money on national defense because it knows the U.S. would never allow a foreign military to screw with someone that shares that much border with the United States.

Johnson County leeches all the benefits of being part of a major city (arts, entertainment, transportation hub, etc) without contributing in any way to those things.

There is some serious misourah butt-hurtage in these posts.

**Saul Good** · 04-11-2013, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnorth

Count me as a fan of the Truman Sports Complex. I have absolutely no desire, whatsoever, to have a downtown stadium. I do not believe it would sell more tickets, for every extra Joe you get who cuts out of work early and walks 8 blocks to see a game (if its not right next to your job, is it really that convenient?) you'll get a lot of out of towners decide to only go to 4 games that year instead of 5 or 6 because of the hassle of having to go downtown and find parking.

Is that why nobody goes to Cubs games?

I don't think out of towners go to games to experience the parking at Royals games, but that's just one man's opinion.

Chiefspants · 04-11-2013, 11:40 AM

Duncan, are there any new developments on Starling? Or is he just still struggling to perform below average in low-a?

siberian khatru · 04-11-2013, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

Duncan, are there any new developments on Starling? Or is he just still struggling to perform below average in low-a?

I was just getting ready to post something on that.

He's off to a horrendous start, and the scouting reports are brutal.

It sounds like he needs to completely rebuild his swing.

I'm afraid he's eventually gonna quit and play college football.

I'm interested to see what Duncan has to say.

Jenson71 · 04-11-2013, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

I was just getting ready to post something on that.

He's off to a horrendous start, and the scouting reports are brutal.

It sounds like he needs to completely rebuild his swing.

I'm afraid he's eventually gonna quit and play college football.

I'm interested to see what Duncan has to say.

Sheesus. I hadn't been following.

**gblowfish** · 04-11-2013, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiTown

There is some serious misourah butt-hurtage in these posts.

All we're saying is, Jackson County puts its money where its mouth is, and serious people build serious things. That's all...

Chief_For_Life58 · 04-11-2013, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

I was just getting ready to post something on that.

He's off to a horrendous start, and the scouting reports are brutal.

It sounds like he needs to completely rebuild his swing.

I'm afraid he's eventually gonna quit and play college football.

I'm interested to see what Duncan has to say.

god damnit

seaofred · 04-11-2013, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Is that why nobody goes to Cubs games?

I don't think out of towners go to games to experience the parking at Royals games, but that's just one man's opinion.

I'm an out of towner, and part of the reason I go to Royals game is because of the parking lot.

WoodDraw · 04-11-2013, 12:06 PM

When we were having the big debate about the stadium (****ing years ago, I might add), people overlayed the TSC parking maps onto downtown. It was amazing how many people don't mind walking through massive parking lots, but put buildings around them and...blahhhh.

Parking isn't a problem downtown. I'm there all the time, and it's as easy as pie. The only people that complain are the ones that are used to parking in massive surface lots.

A downtown stadium would have been brilliant, but we lost that battle. So let's not talk about it for another 15 years or so when the owner bends the city over for more free money again.

duncan_idaho · 04-11-2013, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

Duncan, are there any new developments on Starling? Or is he just still struggling to perform below average in low-a?

It's all about his hit tool.

His defense in CF has actually been BETTER than expected. He's MLB-caliber currently and has multiple Gold Glove potential out there.

His speed is real, too, and his power is there. He even has flashed good plate discipline

He just struggles to make contact consistently. They did some work with his swing, but apparently he has either reverted or the changes have not had the desired effect.

It's funny... every critique and risk there was with Starling was present with Mike Trout as well (weak comp, hadn't played a ton of games, multi-sport guy).

siberian khatru · 04-11-2013, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

It's funny... every critique and risk there was with Starling was present with Mike Trout as well (weak comp, hadn't played a ton of games, multi-sport guy).

We are the Royals, yay.

Jenson71 · 04-11-2013, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seaofred

I'm an out of towner, and part of the reason I go to Royals game is because of the parking lot.

It's the only reason I go. Beautiful lot.

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

04-11-2013, 11:15 AM	#2761
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $16896178 VARSITY	Well, the JoCo's will tell you "who spends all the money at those sports venues...???" They do spend some money, but more often than not they tailgate, go in on tickets they got from their company or one of their vendors, bitch about how long it took for them to get into the parking lot, then drive home after the 7th inning, because they don't want to pay their illegal alien babysitters and extra $1 an hour if they run late. They will buy gas in Missouri because it's always .10/gallon cheaper than Kansas. BTW: usually this excludes K-State folks. Most of them are regular joes.
Posts: 41,011

04-11-2013, 11:26 AM	#2763
alnorth . Join Date: Dec 2002 Casino cash: $57156239	Count me as a fan of the Truman Sports Complex. I have absolutely no desire, whatsoever, to have a downtown stadium. I do not believe it would sell more tickets, for every extra Joe you get who cuts out of work early and walks 8 blocks to see a game (if its not right next to your job, is it really that convenient?) you'll get a lot of out of towners decide to only go to 4 games that year instead of 5 or 6 because of the hassle of having to go downtown and find parking. __________________ how many emo kids does it take to change a lightbulb? HOW MANY?! none they just sit in the dark and cry
Posts: 36,130

04-11-2013, 11:40 AM	#2766
Chiefspants World's Best Boss Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bronco Country Casino cash: $3584654	Duncan, are there any new developments on Starling? Or is he just still struggling to perform below average in low-a?
Posts: 19,383

04-11-2013, 12:06 PM	#2772
WoodDraw Veteran Join Date: Mar 2004 Casino cash: $10005059	When we were having the big debate about the stadium (****ing years ago, I might add), people overlayed the TSC parking maps onto downtown. It was amazing how many people don't mind walking through massive parking lots, but put buildings around them and...blahhhh. Parking isn't a problem downtown. I'm there all the time, and it's as easy as pie. The only people that complain are the ones that are used to parking in massive surface lots. A downtown stadium would have been brilliant, but we lost that battle. So let's not talk about it for another 15 years or so when the owner bends the city over for more free money again.
Posts: 3,785