Royals 2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread - Page 490

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?

BWillie · 07-21-2013, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Smoke

I'm just happy we are talking meaningful baseball in July. Last time that happened I was 10 years old.

Its not meaningful. Im telling you now, the Royals have no shotbat the playoffs unless the Indians and Tigers plane runs into the side of a mountain.

Sure-Oz · 07-21-2013, 04:27 PM

Per Jon Morosi twitter-Sources: #Rangers have checked in with #Royals about Ervin Santana. He is a Garza alternative. Problem is, KC not ready to sell. @FoxSports1

siberian khatru · 07-21-2013, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

Per Jon Morosi twitter-Sources: #Rangers have checked in with #Royals about Ervin Santana. He is a Garza alternative. Problem is, KC not ready to sell. @FoxSports1

"C'mon, Dayton, we'll give you Profar!"

"Nope, we're competing!"

Nightfyre · 07-21-2013, 04:35 PM

Yea, Profar would bump Esky over to 2B and we would have one of the best keystone tandems pretty much ever.

**DeezNutz** · 07-21-2013, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

Yea, Profar would bump Esky over to 2B and we would have one of the best keystone tandems pretty much ever.

And put Escobar on notice if he cannot hit. Easier to replace 2B than SS.

Not convinced that we have the answer to SS on the roster.

siberian khatru · 07-21-2013, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

And put Escobar on notice if he cannot hit. Easier to replace 2B than SS.

Not convinced that we have the answer to SS on the roster.

I think we could carry his bat if we had above-average production at RF (Lough is near that right now, but I don't think he's a long-term solution) and 3B, average production at 2B and more typical years from Butler and Gordon.

As you can see, though, we have a lot of work to do offensively.

**ChiTown** · 07-21-2013, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

Per Jon Morosi twitter-Sources: #Rangers have checked in with #Royals about Ervin Santana. He is a Garza alternative. Problem is, KC not ready to sell. @FoxSports1

There is no chance we are going to catch either DET or CLE. ****ing sell already and let's get it going.i

BlackHelicopters · 07-21-2013, 04:51 PM

Esky has to be running out of time. His defense is average+. Playoffs? We are far from the playoffs. GMDM is delusional. 10 year plan.

Nightfyre · 07-21-2013, 05:25 PM

Esky's biggest problem at the plate is his approach. fortunately, that is coachable.

Nightfyre · 07-21-2013, 05:26 PM

Also, Profar is struggling just as badly as Esky at this point.

**DeezNutz** · 07-21-2013, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

Esky's biggest problem at the plate is his approach. fortunately, that is coachable.

Yeah, I don't really agree. His biggest problems are: 1. Zone awareness, which isn't coachable at this point. 2. A long swing, which can be refined, if the player is receptive to coaching.

Deberg_1990 · 07-21-2013, 05:38 PM

The problem is, Dayton has to be worried about saving his ass. Selling essentially means he's giving up on the season. Ain't gonna happen.

Fansy the Famous Bard · 07-21-2013, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

Esky's biggest problem at the plate is his approach. fortunately, that is coachable.

Or... in our case, very unfortunate.

58kcfan89 · 07-21-2013, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

The problem is, Dayton has to be worried about saving his ass. Selling essentially means he's giving up on the season. Ain't gonna happen.

If he keeps Santana (or any of our ML trade bait, for that matter), I'm somewhat confident that he may be on the hot seat, trying to sneak into the postseason this year to save himself for the future. If he starts selling, he's probably pretty confident that he's going to be back in 2014 and can play for the future. At least that's how I'm seeing it.

I certainly don't expect Glasshole to do anything, barring a ridiculous dropoff in the 2nd half of the season, but it's a nice thought. Just feel like we're kinda stuck. Dayton certainly isn't the one to turn KC into a contender, but I'm fairly sure Glasshole won't do anything as long as the team is in "striking distance" (aka within 10 games of Detroit, Cleveland, the Wild Card, or .500....).

Deberg_1990 · 07-21-2013, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 58kcfan89

If he keeps Santana (or any of our ML trade bait, for that matter), I'm somewhat confident that he may be on the hot seat, trying to sneak into the postseason this year to save himself for the future. If he starts selling, he's probably pretty confident that he's going to be back in 2014 and can play for the future. At least that's how I'm seeing it.

I certainly don't expect Glasshole to do anything, barring a ridiculous dropoff in the 2nd half of the season, but it's a nice thought. Just feel like we're kinda stuck. Dayton certainly isn't the one to turn KC into a contender, but I'm fairly sure Glasshole won't do anything as long as the team is in "striking distance" (aka within 10 games of Detroit, Cleveland, the Wild Card, or .500....).

Sadly, your probably right. 79-85 wins won't get us in the playoffs, but it might buy DM more time.......

Just kill me now.

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

07-21-2013, 04:35 PM	#7339
Nightfyre MVP Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Helena, MT Casino cash: $1368849	Yea, Profar would bump Esky over to 2B and we would have one of the best keystone tandems pretty much ever.
Posts: 18,647

07-21-2013, 04:51 PM	#7343
BlackHelicopters Spiraling down the Drain Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Dante's Ninth Circle Casino cash: $-669412	Esky has to be running out of time. His defense is average+. Playoffs? We are far from the playoffs. GMDM is delusional. 10 year plan. __________________ "We're both part of the same hypocrisy, Senator, but never think it applies to my family." "Fredo. You are my brother, and I love you. But never take sides against the Family again. Ever." 2019 Adopt a Chief - Travis Kelce #87
Posts: 33,262

07-21-2013, 05:25 PM	#7344
Nightfyre MVP Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Helena, MT Casino cash: $1368849	Esky's biggest problem at the plate is his approach. fortunately, that is coachable.
Posts: 18,647

07-21-2013, 05:26 PM	#7345
Nightfyre MVP Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Helena, MT Casino cash: $1368849	Also, Profar is struggling just as badly as Esky at this point.
Posts: 18,647

07-21-2013, 05:38 PM	#7347
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $344454	The problem is, Dayton has to be worried about saving his ass. Selling essentially means he's giving up on the season. Ain't gonna happen. __________________ Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning: Matt once made a very nice play in Seattle where he spun away from a pass rusher and hit Bowe off his back foot for a first down. One of the best plays Matt has ever made.
Posts: 68,401