Royals 2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread - Page 311

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?

siberian khatru · 05-24-2013, 08:33 AM

Just a quick Frenchy rant:

It seems as if Moore and Yost believe Frenchy is a historically good player going through an aberrational slump, and each time he gets a hit it convinces them that he is about to turn the corner and return to his established level of performance. So they keep trotting him out there.

0-for-12, followed by a bloop single -- ah, gotta start him tomorrow because THIS MAY BE THE ONE TO GET HIM GOING. Followed by another 0-for-12, BUT THEN ANOTHER HIT! So he's now 2-for-24, but all they focus on are those two hits, not the 22 (ugly, unproductive) outs.

What's so maddening about that is they believe 2011 is his established level, when it's an outlier. Yet they cling to that despite voluminous evidence that their belief is wrong.

Furthermore, for guys who pooh-pooh statistical analysis and instead use their scout's eyes, they are still blinding themselves to reality. I could maybe, MAYBE buy Yost ignoring the numbers by saying "Yeah, but he's had lots of good swings, good at-bats, it's just a matter of time before they pay off." But the fact is HE HASN'T had good at-bats. He has perhaps the WORST at-bats on the team (well, next to Moose), swinging early and often in the count at bad stuff, and he can't even hit the good stuff anymore. If nothing else, in the past he could occasionally drive a fastball; he can't even do that anymore. He can't even hit lefties anymore. He doesn't walk, doesn't move runners over, doesn't score runners from third with a fly ball, doesn't work a pitcher, doesn't help turn the lineup over -- none of the "little things."

Yet he starts several times a week, even against righties. It's just maddening.

Prison Bitch · 05-24-2013, 08:48 AM

While everyone was busy worshipping Dayton for building the best farm system in 30 years, nobody stopped to notice that he wasn't adding any organizational depth at all. Where are the AAAA players you need to call on during the season? Dayton didn't worry about them, and so we're completely screwed when young players flop.

SPATCH · 05-24-2013, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

While everyone was busy worshipping Dayton for building the best farm system in 30 years, nobody stopped to notice that he wasn't adding any organizational depth at all. Where are the AAAA players you need to call on during the season? Dayton didn't worry about them, and so we're completely screwed when young players flop.

At this point Falu, Gio, and Lough should be playing everyday at 3B, 2B, and RF respectively.

Send Moose down and DFA Francouer.

This lineup needs a freaking jolt.

There has to be somebody on the FA scrap heap that we can get to play RF, or something. We just need some new blood out there.

**gblowfish** · 05-24-2013, 09:00 AM

When I read the paper this AM, GMDM was saying don't panic, this is the same team that went 17-10.

Don't
Panic.

My prediction for this team was they would win 75 games. That's three more than last year. Right now I'm wondering if they'll avoid losing 90. Last year they were 72-90, so if they win 73 games, the Royals will spin that as progress.

Moose has been a .180 or worse hitter. If you're not going to send him down, how can you NOT have him watch film of his at-bats, and work with him to figure out what is wrong? Tony Gwynn was a film room warrior.

Frenchy is just at the end of the road. He's not getting to balls in the outfield, he can't catch up with the fastball, he strikes out with guys on base, he's just used up. Yet, they'll keep him around all year because they have to pay him $7 million, so they'll just keep trotting him out there till the $7 million is spent and all the Frenchy Quarter T-Shirts are given away.

Hosmer IS NOT Ross Gload. OK?
That's an insult to Ross Gload.

Gload's career batting average was .281 with an OBP of .325.
Hosmer's career batting average is .263 with an OBP of .321.

Esky and Salvy has been worse on defense this year. Royals have gone over 30 innings without hitting a homer as a team.

The NL average slugging pct is higher than the Royals. And that's a league where the pitcher bats.

Time to hire those four new hitting coaches. Or should we hire eight? Or Sixteen? Thirty Two???

Fansy the Famous Bard · 05-24-2013, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

Just a quick Frenchy rant:

It seems as if Moore and Yost believe Frenchy is a historically good player going through an aberrational slump, and each time he gets a hit it convinces them that he is about to turn the corner and return to his established level of performance. So they keep trotting him out there.

0-for-12, followed by a bloop single -- ah, gotta start him tomorrow because THIS MAY BE THE ONE TO GET HIM GOING. Followed by another 0-for-12, BUT THEN ANOTHER HIT! So he's now 2-for-24, but all they focus on are those two hits, not the 22 (ugly, unproductive) outs.

What's so maddening about that is they believe 2011 is his established level, when it's an outlier. Yet they cling to that despite voluminous evidence that their belief is wrong.

Furthermore, for guys who pooh-pooh statistical analysis and instead use their scout's eyes, they are still blinding themselves to reality. I could maybe, MAYBE buy Yost ignoring the numbers by saying "Yeah, but he's had lots of good swings, good at-bats, it's just a matter of time before they pay off." But the fact is HE HASN'T had good at-bats. He has perhaps the WORST at-bats on the team (well, next to Moose), swinging early and often in the count at bad stuff, and he can't even hit the good stuff anymore. If nothing else, in the past he could occasionally drive a fastball; he can't even do that anymore. He can't even hit lefties anymore. He doesn't walk, doesn't move runners over, doesn't score runners from third with a fly ball, doesn't work a pitcher, doesn't help turn the lineup over -- none of the "little things."

Yet he starts several times a week, even against righties. It's just maddening.

Last night was the epitomy of the Frenchy era here. Tight game, late innings, leading off the inning, we need a good at bat. He sees 3 fastballs down the middle and looks like a fool on all 3 pitches. He walks back to the dugout and Ned pats him on the butt saying "good at bat"

Prison Bitch · 05-24-2013, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gblowfish

Hosmer IS NOT Ross Gload. OK?
That's an insult to Ross Gload.

Gload's career batting average was .281 with an OBP of .325.
Hosmer's career batting average is .263 with an OBP of .321.

Quit stealing my material brah.

duncan_idaho · 05-24-2013, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_spatula

At this point Falu, Gio, and Lough should be playing everyday at 3B, 2B, and RF respectively.

Send Moose down and DFA Francouer.

This lineup needs a freaking jolt.

There has to be somebody on the FA scrap heap that we can get to play RF, or something. We just need some new blood out there.

Only part I disagree with is Falu.

If you're talking about a switch hitter at Omaha with position versatility who should be promoted to potentially add to the offense, I think you're talking about Seratelli rather than Falu.

Gio can play 3B.

Fansy the Famous Bard · 05-24-2013, 09:12 AM

Falu has been able to play SS\3B\2B all at Omaha the past couple years. Whether he's a capable 3B glove or not I don't know, but he has certainly manned that position with regularity in the past.

P-90Rex · 05-24-2013, 09:32 AM

Preaching "Don't panic" is the most overused phrase in sports on a floundering team.

If a ship is taking on water, the captain says "remain calm, don't panic!" But then he tries to do something salvage the situation. This front office isn't trying to fix anything. Don't panic means don't make any irrational decisions. It doesn't mean watch the ship take on water and hope it turns into submarine!

Demoting Moose is not a panic move, it's a rational one.

WhawhaWhat · 05-24-2013, 09:46 AM

Danny Duffy is starting for the Naturals on Sunday. 30-day rehab assignment, then they have to option him or activate him.

duncan_idaho · 05-24-2013, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeke

Falu has been able to play SS\3B\2B all at Omaha the past couple years. Whether he's a capable 3B glove or not I don't know, but he has certainly manned that position with regularity in the past.

I'm not worried about his glove. In fact, I'm sure he'd be a better option defensively at 3B than either Gio or definitely Seratelli.

I just don't buy him contributing as much with the bat as either of those guys.

**petegz28** · 05-24-2013, 09:54 AM

Yeah, don't panic...we jus went from 7 games over .500 to 2 games under .500 in less than 3 weeks and against sub-.500 teams.

Nothing to worry about

SPATCH · 05-24-2013, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Only part I disagree with is Falu.

If you're talking about a switch hitter at Omaha with position versatility who should be promoted to potentially add to the offense, I think you're talking about Seratelli rather than Falu.

Gio can play 3B.

Even better. We need to make some offensive minded adjustments ASAFP.

DJ's left nut · 05-24-2013, 10:31 AM

Ladies and Gentlemen: The Kansas City Royals Television Network Graphics Department:

How many errors can you spot?

CaliforniaChief · 05-24-2013, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Ladies and Gentlemen: The Kansas City Royals Television Network Graphics Department:

How many errors can you spot?

OMG That's HORRIBLE. My son's 7th grade Power Point class is blushing.

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

05-24-2013, 08:33 AM	#4651
siberian khatru 21st Century Schizoid Fan Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The Gates of Delirium Casino cash: $-1125050	Just a quick Frenchy rant: It seems as if Moore and Yost believe Frenchy is a historically good player going through an aberrational slump, and each time he gets a hit it convinces them that he is about to turn the corner and return to his established level of performance. So they keep trotting him out there. 0-for-12, followed by a bloop single -- ah, gotta start him tomorrow because THIS MAY BE THE ONE TO GET HIM GOING. Followed by another 0-for-12, BUT THEN ANOTHER HIT! So he's now 2-for-24, but all they focus on are those two hits, not the 22 (ugly, unproductive) outs. What's so maddening about that is they believe 2011 is his established level, when it's an outlier. Yet they cling to that despite voluminous evidence that their belief is wrong. Furthermore, for guys who pooh-pooh statistical analysis and instead use their scout's eyes, they are still blinding themselves to reality. I could maybe, MAYBE buy Yost ignoring the numbers by saying "Yeah, but he's had lots of good swings, good at-bats, it's just a matter of time before they pay off." But the fact is HE HASN'T had good at-bats. He has perhaps the WORST at-bats on the team (well, next to Moose), swinging early and often in the count at bad stuff, and he can't even hit the good stuff anymore. If nothing else, in the past he could occasionally drive a fastball; he can't even do that anymore. He can't even hit lefties anymore. He doesn't walk, doesn't move runners over, doesn't score runners from third with a fly ball, doesn't work a pitcher, doesn't help turn the lineup over -- none of the "little things." Yet he starts several times a week, even against righties. It's just maddening.
Posts: 71,821

05-24-2013, 08:48 AM	#4652
Prison Bitch Rabbi Goldmann Join Date: Nov 2012 Casino cash: $5450159	While everyone was busy worshipping Dayton for building the best farm system in 30 years, nobody stopped to notice that he wasn't adding any organizational depth at all. Where are the AAAA players you need to call on during the season? Dayton didn't worry about them, and so we're completely screwed when young players flop.
Posts: 87,025

05-24-2013, 09:00 AM	#4654
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $16896178 VARSITY	When I read the paper this AM, GMDM was saying don't panic, this is the same team that went 17-10. Don't Panic. My prediction for this team was they would win 75 games. That's three more than last year. Right now I'm wondering if they'll avoid losing 90. Last year they were 72-90, so if they win 73 games, the Royals will spin that as progress. Moose has been a .180 or worse hitter. If you're not going to send him down, how can you NOT have him watch film of his at-bats, and work with him to figure out what is wrong? Tony Gwynn was a film room warrior. Frenchy is just at the end of the road. He's not getting to balls in the outfield, he can't catch up with the fastball, he strikes out with guys on base, he's just used up. Yet, they'll keep him around all year because they have to pay him $7 million, so they'll just keep trotting him out there till the $7 million is spent and all the Frenchy Quarter T-Shirts are given away. Hosmer IS NOT Ross Gload. OK? That's an insult to Ross Gload. Gload's career batting average was .281 with an OBP of .325. Hosmer's career batting average is .263 with an OBP of .321. Esky and Salvy has been worse on defense this year. Royals have gone over 30 innings without hitting a homer as a team. The NL average slugging pct is higher than the Royals. And that's a league where the pitcher bats. Time to hire those four new hitting coaches. Or should we hire eight? Or Sixteen? Thirty Two???
Posts: 41,011

05-24-2013, 09:12 AM	#4658
Fansy the Famous Bard I'm with the Banned Join Date: Feb 2009 Casino cash: $-923560	Falu has been able to play SS\3B\2B all at Omaha the past couple years. Whether he's a capable 3B glove or not I don't know, but he has certainly manned that position with regularity in the past. __________________ Hi.
Posts: 6,391

05-24-2013, 09:32 AM	#4659
P-90Rex Starter Join Date: Jun 2012 Casino cash: $10004985	Preaching "Don't panic" is the most overused phrase in sports on a floundering team. If a ship is taking on water, the captain says "remain calm, don't panic!" But then he tries to do something salvage the situation. This front office isn't trying to fix anything. Don't panic means don't make any irrational decisions. It doesn't mean watch the ship take on water and hope it turns into submarine! Demoting Moose is not a panic move, it's a rational one.
Posts: 43

05-24-2013, 09:46 AM	#4660
WhawhaWhat MVP Join Date: Feb 2013 Casino cash: $-678884	Danny Duffy is starting for the Naturals on Sunday. 30-day rehab assignment, then they have to option him or activate him.
Posts: 18,321

05-24-2013, 09:54 AM	#4662
petegz28 Supporter Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Olathe, Ks Casino cash: $-865873	Yeah, don't panic...we jus went from 7 games over .500 to 2 games under .500 in less than 3 weeks and against sub-.500 teams. Nothing to worry about
Posts: 132,186

05-24-2013, 10:31 AM	#4664
DJ's left nut Sauntering Vaguely Downwards Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Columbia, Mo Casino cash: $-620901	Ladies and Gentlemen: The Kansas City Royals Television Network Graphics Department: How many errors can you spot? __________________ "If there's a god, he's laughing at us.....and our football team..." "When you look at something through rose colored glasses, all the red flags just look like flags."
Posts: 66,686