*** Official 2015 Royals Repository ***

[duncan_idaho]

In this thread: All things related to the AL Champions.

Duncan's Official Team Record prediction: 90 wins
Duncan's Official Team MVP prediction: Eric Hosmer

I can't wait for this season to start. The AL Central should be a very entertaining race. I'll give brief thoughts on each team the Royals must contend with to make it back to the postseason - strengths and weaknesses.

Detroit Tigers:
Strength: The offense is still full of powerful hitters, and Miguel Cabrera may be healthier.
Weakness: Rotation is questionable after Price and Sanchez, bullpen continues to be horrible.

Cleveland Indians:
Strength: Great manager and a deep, versatile lineup.
Weakness: The rotation is a question mark past Corey Kluber, and even he has a few questions about him.

Chicago White Sox:
Strength: 1-2-3 combo of Sale, Quintana and Samardzija is pretty formidable. Offense is anchored by Jose Abreu, too.
Weakness: Defense still has major questions, and this team has 20 games to improve by if it really wants to make the playoffs.

The Royals will be a division winner IF ...
1) Ventura and Duffy combine for 375+ innings of high-quality work
2) Eric Hosmer delivers on his potential with a FULL season of success rather than bursts
3) The deeper bullpen lessens the critical load on Herrera, Davis and Holland
4) Lorenzo Cain stays healthy
5) Either Alex Rios or Kendrys Morales bounces back to 2013 form

Let's get this started!

[BigMeatballDave]

Did Lawrie get anything, or are they gonna have to plunk that pussy again?

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

I imagine they'll let that suspension sit in appeal at least until Holland is back, but we'll see.

They've got a pretty good case for appealing, since there is a lot of "intent" that is questionable. If any part of the suspension was handed down based on perceived actions after the pitch, he can speak/tell his side of the story on it at appeal.

They'll reduce it to three on appeal. Pretty much exactly what I figured. 5 games is fine for a SP suspension. It's too much for a reliever who could miss 3-4 potential appearances.

[kstater]

I get the suspension. Can justify the fine to Ventura, but if you're gonna fine him, why not Lawrie and Kazmir?

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by kstater

I get the suspension. Can justify the fine to Ventura, but if you're gonna fine him, why not Lawrie and Kazmir?

No intent on the part of either them (although Kazmir can be debated). There clearly was on the part of Ventura and Herrera. That's the difference.

[big nasty kcnut]

Well only hit 3 players compared to 14 times out guys got and we get a guy suspended five games I would appealed that crap and say that Herrera only pointing at his head to say think about your action.

[beer bacon]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

No intent on the part of either them (although Kazmir can be debated). There clearly was on the part of Ventura and Herrera. That's the difference.

Lawrie wasn't aiming for the bag. He certainly meant to slide into Alcides. He's also the only one that actually caused a serious injury. The guy that actually didn't hit anybody is the one that got suspended. Can somebody post the gif of the slide again?

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by beer bacon

Lawrie wasn't aiming for the bag. He certainly meant to slide into Alcides. He's also the only one that actually caused a serious injury. The guy that actually didn't hit anybody is the one that got suspended. Can somebody post the gif of the slide again?

Of course he wasn't aiming for the bag. Players slide all the time into players at 2B to break up double plays. Doesn't mean there was any intent to injure on his part. I wouldn't have expected anything for him.

[Silock]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

No intent on the part of either them (although Kazmir can be debated). There clearly was on the part of Ventura and Herrera. That's the difference.

No intent on Lawrie's slide? GMAFB.

[Dartgod]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Of course he wasn't aiming for the bag. Players slide all the time into players at 2B to break up double plays. Doesn't mean there was any intent to injure on his part. I wouldn't have expected anything for him.

Spikes high?

Suuuuure...

[Silock]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Of course he wasn't aiming for the bag. Players slide all the time into players at 2B to break up double plays. Doesn't mean there was any intent to injure on his part. I wouldn't have expected anything for him.

Studs up, nowhere near the bag. There was no double play. Escobar wasn't even blocking the bag. He was off to the side. He meant to slide through Escobar. Whether or not he meant to take him out for multiple games is largely irrelevant. He intended to slide through the man and not the bag, which makes that a dangerous and reckless play worthy of a fine and or suspension.

[beer bacon]

So you're saying Lawrie knowingly committed an act that injured Escobar. Did Lawrie not intend to do what he did? When you do something reckless that injures others, you should be responsible for the result of your actions.

[ChiefsCountry]

Geez. Some of you just are rambling on about nothing. Nobody gets suspended for a hard slide into second. Nobody.

The other times we got plunked. All of them expect 1 was not intentional. Only a ****ing moron would think other wises. Kazmir's might have been intentional but more than likely its not. Everybody in the world knows Ventura and Herrera's were intentional. Ventura's was payback which only got a fine. Herreas was pure intent which caused the suspension. I wish our fans would wake the **** up and realize what happened because its making us look pretty stupid.

[KC_Connection]

Being reckless is a huge difference from having intent (especially in a situation where they are divvying out fines and suspensions). It was never going to happen and I'm not sure why anybody would have thought it would.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by Silock

Studs up, nowhere near the bag. There was no double play. Escobar wasn't even blocking the bag. He was off to the side. He meant to slide through Escobar. Whether or not he meant to take him out for multiple games is largely irrelevant. He intended to slide through the man and not the bag, which makes that a dangerous and reckless play worthy of a fine and or suspension.

Hell, Delmon Young did basically the same thing to Devon Travis in a game I was watching last week. Went at the man and not the bag. The only difference is that Travis didn't get hurt (although he stayed down for a while). It happens all the time. Recklessness isn't going to get anybody suspended.

[Silock]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Recklessness isn't going to get anybody suspended.

And therein lies the problem. He was going in with intent to hit the MAN with his CLEATS. That's not a baseball play. The fact that it never gets dealt with by MLB means basically that the Royals will always come out on the losing end of that deal. The other team injures the guy with no repercussions, and then we plunk him and get suspended. It's a lose-lose. If nothing ever happens, then we should just barrel over everyone all the time. **** it!