2012 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread

[alnorth]

2012 Slogan: Our Time

A better, more accurate 2012 Slogan: It is Finally Next Year
(from Great Expectations)

An alternative slogan if you don't like that one: Someone has to win this crappy division
(from alnorth)

With the beginning of a new year, it is time for the 2012 version of the Royals Repository Thread. We've got Hosmer, we've got a 2011-dominating Gordon, we've got Moose, we've got hopefully a killer bullpen, we've got a stereotypical slow slugging DH, we've got easily one of the best defensive shortstops in the AL, we've got a promising catcher in Salvador Perez. Hell, we've got offense and promising prospects galore.

We do not have starting pitching.

Oh yeah, we've also got this:



Get ready for, (as of January 2012 anyway), one of the most confusing puzzles of a baseball season in recent Royals history. Will they suck? Maybe, I don't know. Will we be given a year of 0.500 baseball? Possibly, I don't know. Will they win the division and go to the playoffs for the first time in 27 years? For the first time in a long time, it could happen, I don't know. 92 losses, 92 wins, or anything in between would not surprise a lot of us.

Everything goes here except Gameday threads and really big news. If a giant story breaks, the Royals achieve some awesome milestone, or we sign/lose a highly significant player/coach/mascot/whatever, then it might also deserve its own thread. This being Chiefs Planet, please do not clutter the board with new threads about trivial Royals news or you will only annoy those who come here for just Chiefs football. If you aren't sure and its not a Gameday thread, it goes here.

What sort of stuff often goes here? SPchief explained it well, so I'll just copy that:

If you locate something of interest.. ANYTHING.. deals on apparel, best ways in/out of the stadium, giveaways, great stories from this season or from seasons gone by, rumors, trades, anything.... feel free to post it here.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Sink or swim time IMO with this guy. Call him up and toss him in the water.

I find it hard to believe he'll be as woeful as Sanchez.

No way, he's getting killed in AAA, I'd rather see him earn it first, and if he never earns it, fine. After a few more years let him go without ever seeing an inning in the majors.

His walks are way up, his strikeouts are way down and he's getting knocked around, I don't want any part of Montgomery right now. There's 3 or 4 other guys just in AAA alone that I'd rather see.

[duncan_idaho]

All right. So what the heck.

Luke Hochevar. Doing it again.

Most interesting thing I heard tonight was Luke saying the "fix" this year is the SAME "fix" they put in last year. Why the hell did you go away from it then, Nuke? Stop shaking off Crash and throw what he calls.

Will take him pitching at this level from now until the end of the year and into June next year before I buy him finally having it figured out.

[mr. tegu]

I got dibs on tomorrow's game thread after that performance tonight

[SPchief]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

All right. So what the heck.

Luke Hochevar. Doing it again.

Most interesting thing I heard tonight was Luke saying the "fix" this year is the SAME "fix" they put in last year. Why the hell did you go away from it then, Nuke? Stop shaking off Crash and throw what he calls.

Will take him pitching at this level from now until the end of the year and into June next year before I buy him finally having it figured out.

IDK, it's strange. Someone said he was tipping his pitches. So maybe he had relapsed into that to start the season. Either way, 3 great starts in a row.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by SPchief

IDK, it's strange. Someone said he was tipping his pitches. So maybe he had relapsed into that to start the season. Either way, 3 great starts in a row.

He basically said he went back to doing what he did when he kicked ass during the second half of 2011. That he used that approach but decided (on his own) in the offseason that he needed to throw more cutters.

I thought I still saw a lot of the slider tonight, but it was mostly fastball, curve, change, with the occasional slider mixed in.

He's actually in the middle of his best 9-start stretch. Ever.

[BWillie]

Royals authority had an article basically saying that Luke sticking to those core pitches the same as last year during his streak of good outings is a fallacy

[RockChalk]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

All right. So what the heck.

Luke Hochevar. Doing it again.

Most interesting thing I heard tonight was Luke saying the "fix" this year is the SAME "fix" they put in last year. Why the hell did you go away from it then, Nuke? Stop shaking off Crash and throw what he calls.

Will take him pitching at this level from now until the end of the year and into June next year before I buy him finally having it figured out.

Forgetting about last year's second half...

Could it just be that Luke got to face horrible offenses in Milwaukee and Houston, then a very flat-looking Tampa coming off a doubleheader and flight from the east coast?

Trust me, I hope we're going to see more of this stuff from him, but I'd like to see how he does against our old friends this weekend. And then against the Tigers.

[Great Expectations]

Originally Posted by RockChalk

Forgetting about last year's second half...

Could it just be that Luke got to face horrible offenses in Milwaukee and Houston, then a very flat-looking Tampa coming off a doubleheader and flight from the east coast?

Trust me, I hope we're going to see more of this stuff from him, but I'd like to see how he does against our old friends this weekend. And then against the Tigers.

Horrible or not he was pitching better than a league average pitcher by holding them to far below their average runs scored against starting pitchers.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by BWillie007

Royals authority had an article basically saying that Luke sticking to those core pitches the same as last year during his streak of good outings is a fallacy

Are you talking about this one?

It didn't really break down his pitch mix from last year - just showed that he still was throwing the cutter at the same rate as when he was getting knocked around.

Maybe I missed/am missing an article there. If I am, please link (I'd love to read that).

Craig did a great job breaking down the changes Hochevar made last year when he was pitching well in the second half. There was a significant difference in pitch mix, specifically an increase in throwing his slider.

Somehow, in his tinkering in the offseason, Hochevar messed up the nuclear slider. He's not throwing it now.

Anyway, I think most of what the Royals say about "fixing" hochevar is just a sideshow/cover. But what do you expect them to say. It's not like they're going to come out and say "He thinks too much and is inconsistent, and we don't know how to fix it."

[Infidel Goat]

Originally Posted by RockChalk

Forgetting about last year's second half...

Could it just be that Luke got to face horrible offenses in Milwaukee and Houston, then a very flat-looking Tampa coming off a doubleheader and flight from the east coast?

Trust me, I hope we're going to see more of this stuff from him, but I'd like to see how he does against our old friends this weekend. And then against the Tigers.

In Hochevar's last 9 starts, he has a 3.20 ERA. One very bad start (6 runs in 4 2/3 innings), 2 weaker starts (4 runs in 6 innings, twice) and everything else was pretty much 7 innings with 3 runs or less.

That's a pretty good stretch. I'm not saying he won't turn back into a pumpkin, but it's more than just Milwaukee/Houston...

[stonedstooge]

Local KC news trying to keep people from parking off stadium grounds for the All Star Game. What the **** is the deal with the Royals refusing to state what the parking prices are? The Royals PR man is interviewed this morning and says the $100 rate being circulated is false, but doesn't give what the true price is. I guess you will have to wait until you're in line to find out the price. Makes me sick that this is what our professional sports has come to. Gouge people for what you think you can get out of them. Greedy ****s

[Deberg_1990]

I was at the game last night with my BIL. What's funny is how casual fans think Hoch is some stud. When he was announced a guy behind us who claimed to be a 40 years Royals fan clapped wildly and stated " hes an awesome pitcher". My BIL and I just looked at each other and started laughing.

Anyhow, Luke pitched a great game, but ill wait until he does it over a complete season before I crown his ass.

During the post game interview they talked to him about the changes and he didn't seem all that excited about them. He was just like yea whatever, and acted very stubborn. I don't care for the guys demeanor.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

I was at the game last night with my BIL. What's funny is how casual fans think Hoch is some stud. When he was announced a guy behind us who claimed to be a 40 years Royals fan clapped wildly and stated " hes an awesome pitcher". My BIL and I just looked at each other and started laughing.

I think everyone should be forced to read and study bulletin boards sites so they will learn from us just how stupid they are.

I'm almost serious about that.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Dr. Johnny Fever

I think everyone should be forced to read and study bulletin boards sites so they will learn from us just how stupid they are.

I'm almost serious about that.

I talk with a lot of certainty when it comes to sports that I follow (baseball, college football and hoops, nfl). But I also spend a hell of a lot of my free time reading and discussing those things.

It amazes me sometimes how CERTAIN the more casual fans are that their opinion is correct.

Also, I think Dayton Moore should be forced to read more message boards. At least when it comes to Major League roster construction and acquisitions.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

I was at the game last night with my BIL. What's funny is how casual fans think Hoch is some stud. When he was announced a guy behind us who claimed to be a 40 years Royals fan clapped wildly and stated " hes an awesome pitcher". My BIL and I just looked at each other and started laughing.

Anyhow, Luke pitched a great game, but ill wait until he does it over a complete season before I crown his ass.

During the post game interview they talked to him about the changes and he didn't seem all that excited about them. He was just like yea whatever, and acted very stubborn. I don't care for the guys demeanor.
Posted via Mobile Device

I have a buddy like that. He's CONVINCED that this is the real Hoch, for no other reason than he really wants him to be. I told him that I'll take the three solid starts in a row, but to talk to me in August about the "great" Hochevar than. If he can keep this up through the summer, maybe I'll start to buy in. Maybe.