Royals 2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread - Page 207

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?

duncan_idaho · 04-22-2013, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

I'm glad some of you don't run professional sports teams.

Hosmer and Moustakas are just the latest whipping boys. I'm sure the next time Greg Holland has a rough outing, he'll be right back there.

ChiefsCountry · 04-22-2013, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Codered

Oh brother ... I always love when somebody says this. Yes, because fans can't discuss sports related things.

A discussion is fine but heat of the moment lets cut this player, demote this player crap is just crap especially in a sport like baseball where things generally play themselves out of the long course of a season.

bsp4444 · 04-22-2013, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Hosmer to the 2-hole. I'm telling you guys...

Yost will never do it, because he's a baseball philistine and wants a contact/sacrifice/speed guy there, but I really think taking the Tony La Russa approach would help in this case.

Hosmer...who is rolling over the top of everything and hitting weak ground balls to second in the 2 spot? Sounds like a recipe for a lot of DP's to me.

kcjayhawks5 · 04-22-2013, 12:21 PM

I think the biggest issue with Moose so far is that he seems to fly open on nearly every pitch. It's a terrible habit and it's very tough to fix it quickly. He opens his shoulders and hips so much that his bat essentially is dragging through the zone and it's causing him to pop everything up. Hosmer has the same problem, but he has had the same swing since he's been called up. If he doesn't change then it won't be long until teams start to put the shift on him like teams do to Big Papi.

Moose will get it figured out but I'm afraid that it won't be until after the break. Hope I'm wrong, but his mechanics are horrible right now.

Codered · 04-22-2013, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

A discussion is fine but heat of the moment lets cut this player, demote this player crap is just crap especially in a sport like baseball where things generally play themselves out of the long course of a season.

What does it hurt to discuss what is best for the team. We all have different opinions and that's what makes it fun. If we were in charge of a franchise we would all obviously see things in a complete different light.

Deberg_1990 · 04-22-2013, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

I'm glad some of you don't run professional sports teams.

Yes, because its doubtful anyone here could have ran it as successfully as the Royals have over the past 20 years.

Demonpenz · 04-22-2013, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Yes, because its doubtful anyone here could have ran it as successfully as the Royals have over the past 20 years.

Billy Butler played left field for a time.

**alnorth** · 04-22-2013, 12:49 PM

I think this is the simplest way I can put it. You need to ask yourself this question: if (insert player name here) went 3/4 tomorrow with a double and a home run, would I change my mind about sending him down?

If the answer is yes, its probably too early. No one gets sent down in April, and its rare for someone to get sent down in May.

Right now, Moose is hitting .158/.226/.193. If he had that day described above, which is a good day, but not insane, his line jumps to .197/.258/.298. In one single day, his OPS jumps 137 points.

duncan_idaho · 04-22-2013, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnorth

I think this is the simplest way I can put it. You need to ask yourself this question: if (insert player name here) went 3/4 tomorrow with a double and a home run, would I change my mind about sending him down?

If the answer is yes, its probably too early. No one gets sent down in April, and its rare for someone to get sent down in May.

Right now, Moose is hitting .158/.226/.193. If he had that day described above, which is a good day, but not insane, his line jumps to .197/.258/.298. In one single day, his OPS jumps 137 points.

Exactly!

And what I'm saying with Hosmer is not that I'm happy with his current level of progress so much as that I'm ENCOURAGED by recent signs.

The fact he had 2 hits yesterday to the left side of the field (and also made a few more outs on balls hit to that side, one hit sharply) is a positive sign. Especially considering they were the result of a balanced swing focused on shooting the ball the other way.

As for turning over on the ball... yes, he has done that this season, but not at the same rate as a year ago, and he is showing signs of overcoming that.

He is being more selective at the plate, swinging hard at pitches he can drive, and trying to go the other way with two strikes/pitches on the outer half.

**Dartgod** · 04-22-2013, 01:20 PM

I hate off days!

Strongside · 04-22-2013, 01:30 PM

Here's how much repect we get from ESPN...

We take 2 of 3 from the Red Sox, and 1 of 2 from the number 1 team. They move up 8 spots in the power rankings, and we drop 1. Uhhhh....

Nightfyre · 04-22-2013, 01:32 PM

AndChiefs · 04-22-2013, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strongside

Here's how much repect we get from ESPN...

We take 2 of 3 from the Red Sox, and 1 of 2 from the number 1 team. They move up 8 spots in the power rankings, and we drop 1. Uhhhh....

Tigers moved up one as well. Makes sense.

Strongside · 04-22-2013, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndChiefs

Tigers moved up one as well. Makes sense.

I haven't been so pumped about a series in a long while. I hope we bury Detroit's dicks in the dirt.

Archie F. Swin · 04-22-2013, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strongside

Here's how much repect we get from ESPN...

at least we're there!

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

04-22-2013, 12:21 PM	#3094
kcjayhawks5 Veteran Join Date: Jul 2005 Casino cash: $2325609	I think the biggest issue with Moose so far is that he seems to fly open on nearly every pitch. It's a terrible habit and it's very tough to fix it quickly. He opens his shoulders and hips so much that his bat essentially is dragging through the zone and it's causing him to pop everything up. Hosmer has the same problem, but he has had the same swing since he's been called up. If he doesn't change then it won't be long until teams start to put the shift on him like teams do to Big Papi. Moose will get it figured out but I'm afraid that it won't be until after the break. Hope I'm wrong, but his mechanics are horrible right now.
Posts: 1,399

04-22-2013, 12:49 PM	#3098
alnorth . Join Date: Dec 2002 Casino cash: $57156239	I think this is the simplest way I can put it. You need to ask yourself this question: if (insert player name here) went 3/4 tomorrow with a double and a home run, would I change my mind about sending him down? If the answer is yes, its probably too early. No one gets sent down in April, and its rare for someone to get sent down in May. Right now, Moose is hitting .158/.226/.193. If he had that day described above, which is a good day, but not insane, his line jumps to .197/.258/.298. In one single day, his OPS jumps 137 points. __________________ 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

04-22-2013, 01:20 PM	#3100
Dartgod Wasted away again... Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: in Margaritaville Casino cash: $3820000	I hate off days! __________________ If you shed a tear for me, please make it a tear of joy. -Joe Tracy (Nzoner) . .
Posts: 52,169

04-22-2013, 01:30 PM	#3101
Strongside Mahomes or GTFO Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: KC Casino cash: $4364282	Here's how much repect we get from ESPN... We take 2 of 3 from the Red Sox, and 1 of 2 from the number 1 team. They move up 8 spots in the power rankings, and we drop 1. Uhhhh.... __________________
Posts: 13,237

04-22-2013, 01:32 PM	#3102
Nightfyre MVP Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Helena, MT Casino cash: $1368849
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