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?

[MeatRock]

I would trade Santana and a prospect or 2 this year for a proven MLB hitter. I would still like to see Ventura called up this year to see what he's got. We are going to need to damn near revamp the rotation again next year.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by tk13

This is where Deez and I fly off the rails in different directions. I don't know if there are pitching prospects... but most teams need to develop a pitcher or two on their own to compete. Unless you're gonna pull Dave Duncan out of the weeds and go win titles with guys like Suppan and Jeff Weaver. Of course the Royals have probably developed young pitchers worse than young hitters, which is saying something.

I would agree that development is key for any organization. Without major organizational changes, however, I'm of the mindset that KC simply cannot develop a pitcher.

Hell, Greinke doesn't even provide evidence to the contrary because he was in the league at 20/21.

[C3HIEF3S]

Originally Posted by MeatRock

I would trade Santana and a prospect or 2 this year for a proven MLB hitter. I would still like to see Ventura called up this year to see what he's got. We are going to need to damn near revamp the rotation again next year.

Any team trading for Santana is buying.. they won't trade any proven major league talent away while they're pushing to make the postseason.

[C3HIEF3S]

Looks like Jeter will be back for the Yankees tomorrow.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/ey...es-on-thursday

[Chiefspants]

This is a sad Giants' fan breaking down their signing of Frenchee, it's pretty glorious.

http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/201...ancoeur-giants

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

This is a sad Giants' fan breaking down their signing of Frenchee, it's pretty glorious.

http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/201...ancoeur-giants

The comments section is pretty damned funny

[Dartgod]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

This is a sad Giants' fan breaking down their signing of Frenchee, it's pretty glorious.

http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/201...ancoeur-giants

"The Natural"

[Prison Bitch]

“If I’m a homer and people say I’m a homer, well too bad because I cover this team for 142 games and I get attached to our royal blue! I hope it doesn’t come across that way but I’m certainly pulling for Billy Butler to hit a Billy Bomb with some barbeque sauce on it!”
Rex Hudler, 610 AM


Does anybody like this dork?

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

“If I’m a homer and people say I’m a homer, well too bad because I cover this team for 142 games and I get attached to our royal blue! I hope it doesn’t come across that way but I’m certainly pulling for Billy Butler to hit a Billy Bomb with some barbeque sauce on it!”
Rex Hudler, 610 AM


Does anybody like this dork?

I like him. He's entertaining to me.

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by petegz28

No one ever asks Yost why Esky continues to bat in the #2 spot?

Yet people here will bitch and moan if Hosmer hits at 2 instead.

[SPATCH]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

“If I’m a homer and people say I’m a homer, well too bad because I cover this team for 142 games and I get attached to our royal blue! I hope it doesn’t come across that way but I’m certainly pulling for Billy Butler to hit a Billy Bomb with some barbeque sauce on it!”
Rex Hudler, 610 AM


Does anybody like this dork?

Love Uncle Hud.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Yet people here will bitch and moan if Hosmer hits at 2 instead.

Who does?

[duncan_idaho]

Danny Duffy update:

6 IP | 1 ER | 2 K/3 BB last night.

Since his first outing in Omaha

3.34 ERA
1.25 WHIP
29 2/3 IP
27 K
12 BB

Getting closer. His numbers are pretty close now to what he was doing in his last stint at Omaha, in 2011.

Give him a few more starts and have him continue working on command, and he's probably ready for the show.

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Who does?

It was in a game thread a few days ago I think. Not going back to find it now.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Danny Duffy update:

6 IP | 1 ER | 2 K/3 BB last night.

Since his first outing in Omaha

3.34 ERA
1.25 WHIP
29 2/3 IP
27 K
12 BB

Getting closer. His numbers are pretty close now to what he was doing in his last stint at Omaha, in 2011.

Give him a few more starts and have him continue working on command, and he's probably ready for the show.

To the bullpen you go Davies.