2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread

[duncan_idaho]

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?

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Coach

On a side note, Ned Yost is one soft bitch, who won't even challenge the ump on his shitty strike zone.

You got to protect your players, Ned, not sitting on the bench with your hand inside your pants, ala, Al Bundying it.

There were 2 other times he should have gave the Umps an earful. Had he done so on the first bad call perhaps they wouldn't have made the 2nd and 3rd bad calls?

[mr. tegu]

On Monday Dyson went 3-3 with two BB and he stole second four times. Yesterday he went 2-4.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

On Monday Dyson went 3-3 with two BB and he stole second four times. Yesterday he went 2-4.

Interesting note: As of today the Royals Major League club being in third place makes this the only team in the organization not in last or next to last (in their respective standings).

#bestfarmsysteminbaseball

[Prison Bitch]

Your w/l record really means nothing in the farm rankings.

[Mama Hip Rockets]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

On Monday Dyson went 3-3 with two BB and he stole second four times. Yesterday he went 2-4.

Hahaha. Minor league catchers trying to throw that guy out has to be a funny sight.

[KevB]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Interesting note: As of today the Royals Major League club being in third place makes this the only team in the organization not in last or next to last (in their respective standings).

#bestfarmsysteminbaseball

There are very few of our primary prospects performing at or above expectations. It's depressing.

[mr. tegu]

I thought I heard Myers was coming up soon? Anyone else have any news on that?

[gblowfish]

Originally Posted by KevB

There are very few of our primary prospects performing at or above expectations. It's depressing.

Just another day in the life of a happy, care free Royals fan...

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by KevB

There are very few of our primary prospects performing at or above expectations. It's depressing.

Yordano Ventura, Jorge Bonifacio (injured), Chris Dwyer, Miguel Almonte and Kyle Smith, and that's about it.

Calixte has been better of late, too (solid .771 OPS in May and June) but isn't hitting for as much power as I expected.

I guess Brickhouse has been pretty solid, too.

But Starling, Colon, Gio, and Zimmer and Selman have all been struggling, and there are some key and highly visible names in that grouping.

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Yordano Ventura, Jorge Bonifacio (injured), Chris Dwyer, Miguel Almonte and Kyle Smith, and that's about it.

Calixte has been better of late, too (solid .771 OPS in May and June) but isn't hitting for as much power as I expected.

I guess Brickhouse has been pretty solid, too.

But Starling, Colon, Gio, and Zimmer and Selman have all been struggling, and there are some key and highly visible names in that grouping.

And Ventura not exactly off to a flying start in AAA.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

And Ventura not exactly off to a flying start in AAA.

His first start was awesome (5 IP | 6 K | 1 H). Second one... he had a rough 2nd inning that elevated his pitch count and eventually knocked him out early.

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

His first start was awesome (5 IP | 6 K | 1 H). Second one... he had a rough 2nd inning that elevated his pitch count and eventually knocked him out early.

First start was also four walks, IIRC.

[GloryDayz]

Now hear this, now hear this:

Ned Yost is a pussy!

That is all.....

[Prison Bitch]

So basically Dayton's 7-year plan to be competitive by 2013 & 2014 has failed. All of his players suck balls. The only 5 good players he has were left by Baird (alex & billy) or acquired this offseason (santana, shields, guthrie's renewal).


8th year into this thing, and he STILL doesn't have his guys doing squat outside maybe Sal. Could any of us really have done any worse?

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

That's a problem with development and organizational philosophy above all else.