Royals *** Official Royals Repository, Part 3 *** - Page 15

duncan_idaho · 07-14-2015, 11:05 PM

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

Duncan's Official Team Record prediction: 90 wins
One month in: Looking strong
All Star Break: Looking strong, probably should adjust up to 93-94 wins.
Duncan's Official Team MVP prediction: Eric Hosmer
One month in: Upstaged by his best friend MIKE MOOTACOS, MAN. Tell us bout your hittin, bro!
All Star Break: Lorenzo Cain starting to run away with this one.

Division Preview
Clearly, overlooking the Twins was a mistake at this point. I still don't believe in that team long-term, but they're starting to get that Magic Season twinkle about them.

Detroit is toast. Garbage rotation beyond Price and Sanchez, Miggy out.

And Cleveland... Cleveland still is dangerous if it ever clicks offensively, because the starting pitching is good enough for them to real off a 15-5 stretch and get right back into the playoff picture.

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

The first of these is clearly not going to happen. The second looked good through the end of May but is now eating Cain's dust (Hosmer has still been improved this year, though, lessening his valley. If he has a really hot second half, he can get right back in it). Item three is definitely the case. Item four should probably be first at this point. And Morales has more than bounced back.

Duncan’s Top 20 for mid-season 2015:

Spoiler!

1. Raul Adalberto Mondesi, SS, BOTH: Tools, tools, tools. RA has tools galore. At his best, he’s an All-Star SS who plays elite D, hits 15-20 HR, swipes 40 bags, and is an ideal 1, 2 or 3 hitter. At his worst, I think he looks a lot like Alcides Escobar. Plate discipline is his biggest challenge at this point, but evaluators are confident that will come with time. Clear No. 1
2. Sean Manaea, LHP: I still believe in the upside here, even with the abbreviated start. 6-5 lefties with his combination of stuff and deception have the ability to pitch at the front of a rotation for a long time.
3. Kyle Zimmer, RHP: He’s pitching again and staying healthy, which is nice. He’s pitcing out of the bullpen to build back his arm strength, which is less nice. But still has that high upside, just a lower floor now. Ideally, the team will use him as a bullpen weapon in September (because he has earned it) and then give him a chance to transition back to starting for 2016.
4. Miguel Almonte, RHP: Still love the body, FB/CH combo. Results aren’t eye popping, but he’s still low enough and early enough in the development to prize those things over performance. Still a solid No. 3 starter upside, and just a year and some change away from potentially being ready to contribute at the MLB level.
5. Cody Reed, LHP: Reed has popped up this year, forcing an early promotion to Northwest Arkansas. His stuff is legit, with mid-90s heat and a wipeout slider. Control still needs work, but a promising young arm (that makes Almonte much more tradeable)
6. John Lamb, LHP: Lamb has had a career resurgence in 2015, putting him back on the prospect map. He’s dominating at AAA and will be in the rotation mix in 2016, unless he suffers another setback. Fastball is back, changeup is improving, still working on the ability to throw the slider and curve for strikes when down in the count.
7. Jorge Bonifacio, RF, RH: Emilio’s little brother got off to a horrible start in 2015 but has heated up as the season went on. He also is translating BP power to game power for the first time, with 15 HR just past the mid-way point of his season. Despite his disappointing 2014, he has a chance to build his way back into legit prospect status – and still is only 22. Next challenge for him should be Omaha, but that may wait for the start of the 2014 season.
8. Scott Blewett, RHP: Blewett has a nice two –pitch mix already and is off to a strong start. With his size (6-6) and a good fastball/curveball combo, Blewett could eventually turn into a good No. 3 starter, with a MLB-average changeup.
9. Nolan Watson, RHP: The Royals’ 2015 sandwich pick is a polished prep arm who is adding velocity and explosiveness to a good, polished base. Likely to move quickly.
10. Ashe Russell, RHP: The 2015 top pick probably needs more work than Watson, but the upside is really nice. Again, advanced two-pitch mix that will depend on him adding a changeup. Could be a very good NO. 2 if it all adds up.

Spoiler!

11. Bubba Starling, CF, RH: Starling has been up and down this year but put himself back on the map by greatly improving his K rate while also improving across the slash line as a hitter. His defense and baserunning are MLB ready; if Starling can work himself into a league average hitter, he can be a solid MLB regular who plays great D in CF while hitting 15 HR and swiping 20 bags.
12. Balbino Fuenmayor, 1B/DH, RH: The Balbino came out of basically nowhere in 2015 to earn a Futures Game spot. Big power and an improved two-strike approach have turned the late bloomer into a legit prospect. He’s blocked at the MLB level currently by Eric Hosmer and Kendrys Morales, but Fuenmayor’s combination of power hitting and good average/strike zone control makes him intriguing.
13. Cheslor Cuthbert, 3B, RH: Cheslor probably is not going to be the star KC was hoping for when signing him out of Nicaragua, but he does look like he can be a solid reserve for an MLB club. Good defense at 3B paired with a solid plate approach and some gap power plays fine off the bench. He becomes a lot more interesting if they think he can stick as a 2B, which they have experimented with.
14. Chase Vallot, C/DH/1B: I really like Vallot’s power and plate discipline combo. His bat will probably force him from behind the plate, but he’s held his own despite being extremely young for every level he has faced.
15. Alfredo Escalera-Maldonado, OF, RH: Escalera-Maldonado earned a promotion to Wilmington at age 20, which is pretty advanced movement for that age. He’s an athletic outfielder who has shown some plate discipline at an early age, which is encouraging. Doesn’t sound like he can stick in CF long term for KC, but his bat has become one to watch.
16. Pedro Fernandez, RHP: I haven’t seen much of him, but like the reports I’ve heard on his fastball and general makeup. Could become the next Almonte/Mondesi, though he’s more likely to land in the pen than either of them.
17. Elier Hernandez, OF, RH: Elier Hernanez teamed with Escalera-Maldonado in breaking out at Low-A and earning a promotion to Wilmington. It’s still early for this guy – he is just 20 years old – but he doesn’t take walks and hasn’t developed the prodigious power many thought he had the potential for. Still worth watching.
18. Hunter Dozier, 3B, RH: Dozier is reworking his swing mid-season, which generally will cause production to do what his has done: Nose dive. The changes he made entering the season (seemingly geared towards increasing his power production) were a disaster, and now he’s trying to get back to what he used to be. Still looks great and checks most of the scouting boxes, but the performance hasn’t matched, and it almost knocked him out of the list.
19. Christian Binford, RHP: After a breakthrough 2014, Binford struggled mightily at AAA and suffered a demotion. His upside remains similar – a back-end starter who can eat innings – but Binford’s lack of velocity and reliance on command have caught up to him so far.
20. Marten Gasparini, OF, SH: Gasparini is intriguing because of his speed and athleticism. He’s a LOOOOONG ways from the majors and young for his level, but reports on his bat speed, swing, and speed remain positive enough to keep him on the bubble.

C3HIEF3S · 07-17-2015, 10:34 AM

@McCulloughStar: Alex Gordon is here in Chicago. No crutches. "Gordo, what are you doing here?" Cain shouted when he saw him.

Hootie · 07-17-2015, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S

So it's either Guthrie or Young going to the pen. I bet Blanton gets DFA'd (is he out of options?) and Young goes to the pen for the time being.

Blanton ran out of options approximately 6 years ago

Mama Hip Rockets · 07-17-2015, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnorth

I really don't get it either. I thought the whole idea was to sign him and hope he can replace whoever failed in the 1st half

So basically, he can replace pretty much anybody but Volquez or Young.

**alnorth** · 07-17-2015, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk13

But you still need a starter who can go 6 or 7 and match up with the other team's ace. Shields didn't pitch great, and we didn't win it all. That's exactly my point. Although to Shields' credit he grinded through the clinching game of the ALDS, and had a strong game against Bumgarner in Game 5... we just got completely shut down on offense.

Games 2 and 3 also count, though. Thats more what I'm worried about, if we don't add an arm (this trade only replaces one), then heaven help us if someone gets hurt or falls apart.

Hootie · 07-17-2015, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unsmooth-Moment

I hope we get to see Lamb pitch at some point today.

You want us to lose by 5+ today in 1 game?

**alnorth** · 07-17-2015, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thurman merman

So basically, he can replace pretty much anybody but Volquez or Young.

Apparently not, unless Andy is wrong!

Fansy the Famous Bard · 07-17-2015, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcchiefsus

Medlen goes to the pen. Meanwhile, our starting rotation still sucks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unsmooth-Moment

I hope we get to see Lamb pitch at some point today.

It's like they are teasing us.

Fansy the Famous Bard · 07-17-2015, 10:40 AM

Lamb is pitching extremely well right now. He's got a hot hand. Give him the mound, and let's see if we can ride a win or two out of him while he has it going.

Hootie · 07-17-2015, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnorth

Games 2 and 3 also count, though. Thats more what I'm worried about, if we don't add an arm (this trade only replaces one), then heaven help us if someone gets hurt or falls apart.

the fact that you don't recognize that Cueto is like a Bumgarner and Duffy is a guy who can't even make a postseason rotation is alarming

Cueto, with our park and our defense, would be the best pitcher we've had since Greinke won his Cy Young.

Cueto pitches in Cincy, a HR derby ballpark, and hasn't sniffed a 3 ERA in years. Not only that, he's a guy who will pitch 7-8 innings every time out with our defense behind him.

He's a no brainer.

And the simple fact we have people who think Danny Duffy will net us Johnny Cueto is hilarious to me. And the fact some people wouldn't trade Duffy to get Cueto back is even more hilarious to me.

Hootie · 07-17-2015, 10:42 AM

I'll give Ventura the benefit of the doubt since he has done it and was a true ace in our last postseason run ... but he's throwing 95 now instead of 98.

You wanna know why he's being hit this year? Because of that. Whoever has told him tot throw 95 instead of 98 should be punched in the face. His secondary stuff isn't respectable enough so now that he can't get outs with his 98-100 MPH heat he's not nearly as effective. This also plays into his head, since he's used to being able to just rely on 100 MPH and that is that. Now? You miss your spot with 95 and you pay.

duncan_idaho · 07-17-2015, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnorth

I really don't get it either. I thought the whole idea was to sign him and hope he can replace whoever failed in the 1st half, I did not think we were signing a late-season relief pitcher who might start in 2016.

The plan initially was for Medlen to be used as rotation depth this year and as a rotation member next year. It's a thin line to walk... building up his innings enough to hope to get 180+ out of him next year but not over-stressing the repaired elbow.

Like I said earlier, they can always move him into the rotation in the coming weeks. There will be opportunities where he might be needed:

1) Duffy continues to be inconsistent and is sent back down
2) Ventura (same)
3) Any injury (Vargas goes back to DL, anyone else gets hurt)
4) Chris Young fades

Unsmooth-Moment · 07-17-2015, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

You want us to lose by 5+ today in 1 game?

How about win by 5+?

BWillie · 07-17-2015, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

You'd think Royals fans who are 6 months removed from being Bumgarnered would realize how important an actual ace pitcher could be especially with our defense, park and pen

I actually think it's less important if you have our park, pitching and defense. More important if you are in a tin can like Fenway and have people that bobble the ball all over. Then you need an ace to be able to strike people out more than letting people put the ball in play.

For us, you can just have your starter throw 4-5 innings, and be more effective than making him worry about his pitch count and pressure to go 7. Just have your starter face the first order the 1st two times and then put in your dominant bullpen. Every single time a pitcher faces the line up an additional time their batting avg and OPS goes WAY up.

Prison Bitch · 07-17-2015, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S

@McCulloughStar: Alex Gordon is here in Chicago. No crutches. "Gordo, what are you doing here?" Cain shouted when he saw him.

Absolutely false. I was just told that Alex could not go to Cinci because he was "re-habbing". So this story is bunk

Hootie · 07-17-2015, 10:48 AM

PB, you realize you can begin rehabbing torn muscles immediately, right?

07-14-2015, 11:05 PM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $-1979692	* Official Royals Repository, Part 3 * In this thread: All things related to the AL Champions. Duncan's Official Team Record prediction: 90 wins One month in: Looking strong All Star Break: Looking strong, probably should adjust up to 93-94 wins. Duncan's Official Team MVP prediction: Eric Hosmer One month in: Upstaged by his best friend MIKE MOOTACOS, MAN. Tell us bout your hittin, bro! All Star Break: Lorenzo Cain starting to run away with this one. Division Preview Clearly, overlooking the Twins was a mistake at this point. I still don't believe in that team long-term, but they're starting to get that Magic Season twinkle about them. Detroit is toast. Garbage rotation beyond Price and Sanchez, Miggy out. And Cleveland... Cleveland still is dangerous if it ever clicks offensively, because the starting pitching is good enough for them to real off a 15-5 stretch and get right back into the playoff picture. 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 The first of these is clearly not going to happen. The second looked good through the end of May but is now eating Cain's dust (Hosmer has still been improved this year, though, lessening his valley. If he has a really hot second half, he can get right back in it). Item three is definitely the case. Item four should probably be first at this point. And Morales has more than bounced back. Duncan’s Top 20 for mid-season 2015: Spoiler! 1. Raul Adalberto Mondesi, SS, BOTH: Tools, tools, tools. RA has tools galore. At his best, he’s an All-Star SS who plays elite D, hits 15-20 HR, swipes 40 bags, and is an ideal 1, 2 or 3 hitter. At his worst, I think he looks a lot like Alcides Escobar. Plate discipline is his biggest challenge at this point, but evaluators are confident that will come with time. Clear No. 1 2. Sean Manaea, LHP: I still believe in the upside here, even with the abbreviated start. 6-5 lefties with his combination of stuff and deception have the ability to pitch at the front of a rotation for a long time. 3. Kyle Zimmer, RHP: He’s pitching again and staying healthy, which is nice. He’s pitcing out of the bullpen to build back his arm strength, which is less nice. But still has that high upside, just a lower floor now. Ideally, the team will use him as a bullpen weapon in September (because he has earned it) and then give him a chance to transition back to starting for 2016. 4. Miguel Almonte, RHP: Still love the body, FB/CH combo. Results aren’t eye popping, but he’s still low enough and early enough in the development to prize those things over performance. Still a solid No. 3 starter upside, and just a year and some change away from potentially being ready to contribute at the MLB level. 5. Cody Reed, LHP: Reed has popped up this year, forcing an early promotion to Northwest Arkansas. His stuff is legit, with mid-90s heat and a wipeout slider. Control still needs work, but a promising young arm (that makes Almonte much more tradeable) 6. John Lamb, LHP: Lamb has had a career resurgence in 2015, putting him back on the prospect map. He’s dominating at AAA and will be in the rotation mix in 2016, unless he suffers another setback. Fastball is back, changeup is improving, still working on the ability to throw the slider and curve for strikes when down in the count. 7. Jorge Bonifacio, RF, RH: Emilio’s little brother got off to a horrible start in 2015 but has heated up as the season went on. He also is translating BP power to game power for the first time, with 15 HR just past the mid-way point of his season. Despite his disappointing 2014, he has a chance to build his way back into legit prospect status – and still is only 22. Next challenge for him should be Omaha, but that may wait for the start of the 2014 season. 8. Scott Blewett, RHP: Blewett has a nice two –pitch mix already and is off to a strong start. With his size (6-6) and a good fastball/curveball combo, Blewett could eventually turn into a good No. 3 starter, with a MLB-average changeup. 9. Nolan Watson, RHP: The Royals’ 2015 sandwich pick is a polished prep arm who is adding velocity and explosiveness to a good, polished base. Likely to move quickly. 10. Ashe Russell, RHP: The 2015 top pick probably needs more work than Watson, but the upside is really nice. Again, advanced two-pitch mix that will depend on him adding a changeup. Could be a very good NO. 2 if it all adds up. Spoiler! 11. Bubba Starling, CF, RH: Starling has been up and down this year but put himself back on the map by greatly improving his K rate while also improving across the slash line as a hitter. His defense and baserunning are MLB ready; if Starling can work himself into a league average hitter, he can be a solid MLB regular who plays great D in CF while hitting 15 HR and swiping 20 bags. 12. Balbino Fuenmayor, 1B/DH, RH: The Balbino came out of basically nowhere in 2015 to earn a Futures Game spot. Big power and an improved two-strike approach have turned the late bloomer into a legit prospect. He’s blocked at the MLB level currently by Eric Hosmer and Kendrys Morales, but Fuenmayor’s combination of power hitting and good average/strike zone control makes him intriguing. 13. Cheslor Cuthbert, 3B, RH: Cheslor probably is not going to be the star KC was hoping for when signing him out of Nicaragua, but he does look like he can be a solid reserve for an MLB club. Good defense at 3B paired with a solid plate approach and some gap power plays fine off the bench. He becomes a lot more interesting if they think he can stick as a 2B, which they have experimented with. 14. Chase Vallot, C/DH/1B: I really like Vallot’s power and plate discipline combo. His bat will probably force him from behind the plate, but he’s held his own despite being extremely young for every level he has faced. 15. Alfredo Escalera-Maldonado, OF, RH: Escalera-Maldonado earned a promotion to Wilmington at age 20, which is pretty advanced movement for that age. He’s an athletic outfielder who has shown some plate discipline at an early age, which is encouraging. Doesn’t sound like he can stick in CF long term for KC, but his bat has become one to watch. 16. Pedro Fernandez, RHP: I haven’t seen much of him, but like the reports I’ve heard on his fastball and general makeup. Could become the next Almonte/Mondesi, though he’s more likely to land in the pen than either of them. 17. Elier Hernandez, OF, RH: Elier Hernanez teamed with Escalera-Maldonado in breaking out at Low-A and earning a promotion to Wilmington. It’s still early for this guy – he is just 20 years old – but he doesn’t take walks and hasn’t developed the prodigious power many thought he had the potential for. Still worth watching. 18. Hunter Dozier, 3B, RH: Dozier is reworking his swing mid-season, which generally will cause production to do what his has done: Nose dive. The changes he made entering the season (seemingly geared towards increasing his power production) were a disaster, and now he’s trying to get back to what he used to be. Still looks great and checks most of the scouting boxes, but the performance hasn’t matched, and it almost knocked him out of the list. 19. Christian Binford, RHP: After a breakthrough 2014, Binford struggled mightily at AAA and suffered a demotion. His upside remains similar – a back-end starter who can eat innings – but Binford’s lack of velocity and reliance on command have caught up to him so far. 20. Marten Gasparini, OF, SH: Gasparini is intriguing because of his speed and athleticism. He’s a LOOOOONG ways from the majors and young for his level, but reports on his bat speed, swing, and speed remain positive enough to keep him on the bubble.
Posts: 22,389

07-17-2015, 10:34 AM	#211
C3HIEF3S Let's Get Weird Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Austin Casino cash: $9910098	@McCulloughStar: Alex Gordon is here in Chicago. No crutches. "Gordo, what are you doing here?" Cain shouted when he saw him.
Posts: 15,232

07-17-2015, 10:40 AM	#218
Fansy the Famous Bard I'm with the Banned Join Date: Feb 2009 Casino cash: $-1013560	Lamb is pitching extremely well right now. He's got a hot hand. Give him the mound, and let's see if we can ride a win or two out of him while he has it going. __________________ Hi.
Posts: 6,444

07-17-2015, 10:42 AM	#220
Hootie Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Casino cash: $10004900	I'll give Ventura the benefit of the doubt since he has done it and was a true ace in our last postseason run ... but he's throwing 95 now instead of 98. You wanna know why he's being hit this year? Because of that. Whoever has told him tot throw 95 instead of 98 should be punched in the face. His secondary stuff isn't respectable enough so now that he can't get outs with his 98-100 MPH heat he's not nearly as effective. This also plays into his head, since he's used to being able to just rely on 100 MPH and that is that. Now? You miss your spot with 95 and you pay.
Posts: 56,356

07-17-2015, 10:48 AM	#225
Hootie Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Casino cash: $10004900	PB, you realize you can begin rehabbing torn muscles immediately, right?
Posts: 56,356