Royals *** Official Royals Repository, Part 3 *** - Page 76

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.

ROYC75 · 07-24-2015, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

For our 5th pitcher it was a fantastic performance.

We need an ace.

Naw come on, Aces don't matter!

cosmo20002 · 07-24-2015, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk13

Plus we're playing 18 games in 17 days during the hottest time of the year. Ned seems to be trying to make sure we aren't gassed by September. Amazed he gave Perez a Friday night off.

Yeah, it's hot, but geez...I'm not saying it isn't physically demanding, but it isn't football.
Esky and Omar never seem to get days off. Salvy, sure. Cain, maybe. But Moose needs another day off? Hosmer? He's even got a short walk to get to his position!

And how are Moose and Hosmer going to sit at the same time? Cuthbert at 3rd...Morales to 1st...and...Dyson is going to DH? Maybe Moose can at least DH, if he isn't too tired.

C3HIEF3S · 07-24-2015, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

Yeah, it's hot, but geez...I'm not saying it isn't physically demanding, but it isn't football.
Esky and Omar never seem to get days off. Salvy, sure. Cain, maybe. But Moose needs another day off? Hosmer? He's even got a short walk to get to his position!

And how are Moose and Hosmer going to sit at the same time? Cuthbert at 3rd...Morales to 1st...and...Dyson is going to DH? Maybe Moose can at least DH, if he isn't too tired.

I wouldn't mind sending Dyson to center and having Cain DH in that scenario. Can't hurt to get him some rest.

cosmo20002 · 07-24-2015, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S

I wouldn't mind sending Dyson to center and having Cain DH in that scenario. Can't hurt to get him some rest.

That would actually make sense, if Ned insists on Yosting us and sitting Moose and Hos together. Hopefully we won't need to score any runs that day.

big nasty kcnut · 07-24-2015, 11:17 PM

I know something up. David Price girlfriend is here in kansas city. I know you will say cowher buying a house in leawood but she legit his girlfriend. Anyway she wasn't supposed to get to kansas till fall to watch the kansas state wildcats game. yet she now in kansas city instead of detroit. Take it with a grain of salt. Something up.

cosmo20002 · 07-24-2015, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big nasty kcnut

I know something up. David Price girlfriend is here in kansas city. I know you will say cowher buying a house in leawood but she legit his girlfriend. Anyway she wasn't supposed to get to kansas till fall to watch the kansas state wildcats game. yet she now in kansas city instead of detroit. Take it with a grain of salt. Something up.

wut
What does Kansas State have to do with this?

C3HIEF3S · 07-24-2015, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

wut
What does Kansas State have to do with this?

If I am looking the correct person up, it appears David Price's gf is a K-State grad.
Here's her Twitter (I think):
https://twitter.com/kstatetif

big nasty kcnut · 07-24-2015, 11:38 PM

yep! you got it.

cosmo20002 · 07-25-2015, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S

If I am looking the correct person up, it appears David Price's gf is a K-State grad.
Here's her Twitter (I think):
https://twitter.com/kstatetif

So...K-state grad appears in KC area...that is definitely odd. VERY odd...
Well, it would be pretty cool if he joins her here in the next couple days.

suzzer99 · 07-25-2015, 12:33 AM

David Price is the ugliest major league baseball player since Willie "ET" McGee.

tk13 · 07-25-2015, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

Yeah, it's hot, but geez...I'm not saying it isn't physically demanding, but it isn't football.
Esky and Omar never seem to get days off. Salvy, sure. Cain, maybe. But Moose needs another day off? Hosmer? He's even got a short walk to get to his position!

And how are Moose and Hosmer going to sit at the same time? Cuthbert at 3rd...Morales to 1st...and...Dyson is going to DH? Maybe Moose can at least DH, if he isn't too tired.

We've played 9 games in 8 days and one of those was 13 innings. I'd imagine regardless of the job, most people would be a bit tired if they worked 17 days in a row and had two double shifts in that span. We only have something like 5 days off the entire second half. I don't think it's that outrageous. Sure football is more punishing, but baseball is probably more grueling in terms of attrition. You just don't get any recovery time.

Lex Luthor · 07-25-2015, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

Yeah, it's hot, but geez...I'm not saying it isn't physically demanding, but it isn't football.
Esky and Omar never seem to get days off. Salvy, sure. Cain, maybe. But Moose needs another day off? Hosmer? He's even got a short walk to get to his position!

And how are Moose and Hosmer going to sit at the same time? Cuthbert at 3rd...Morales to 1st...and...Dyson is going to DH? Maybe Moose can at least DH, if he isn't too tired.

Cosmo Cowherd.

58kcfan89 · 07-25-2015, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk13

We've played 9 games in 8 days and one of those was 13 innings. I'd imagine regardless of the job, most people would be a bit tired if they worked 17 days in a row and had two double shifts in that span. We only have something like 5 days off the entire second half. I don't think it's that outrageous. Sure football is more punishing, but baseball is probably more grueling in terms of attrition. You just don't get any recovery time.

Not to mention the All Stars we had didn't have much of an All Star Break...

Prison Bitch · 07-25-2015, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk13

I agree he started terribly, but it's been exactly two months since the Yankees game. Over those two months he's given us 5+ innings in 10 straight starts. He's posted a 4.25 ERA with 15 BB and 37 K.

He's probably going to finish 2nd on the team in IP for the 3rd straight year. He's been a solid back of the rotation innings eater. Those cost money these days.

Should've been 5 without the great relay play to the plate. Maybe more with the great plays Cain made. Either way he was peppered like crazy.

The Astros got Scott Kazmier. Royals got Jack Schitt.

**Anyong Bluth** · 07-25-2015, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Should've been 5 without the great relay play to the plate. Maybe more with the great plays Cain made. Either way he was peppered like crazy.

The Astros got Scott Kazmier. Royals got Jack Schitt.

But it wasn't. Hypothetical runs are just like hypothetical touchdowns. It's like fantasy football rationale.

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

07-24-2015, 11:17 PM	#1130
big nasty kcnut The pizza king of kansas Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Somewhere in the u.s.a. Casino cash: $-2079100	I know something up. David Price girlfriend is here in kansas city. I know you will say cowher buying a house in leawood but she legit his girlfriend. Anyway she wasn't supposed to get to kansas till fall to watch the kansas state wildcats game. yet she now in kansas city instead of detroit. Take it with a grain of salt. Something up. __________________ When it's grim, be the grim reaper and go get it. Adopt a chiefs Travis Kelce. You woke up the wrong mother****er!
Posts: 19,371

07-24-2015, 11:38 PM	#1133
big nasty kcnut The pizza king of kansas Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Somewhere in the u.s.a. Casino cash: $-2079100	yep! you got it. __________________ When it's grim, be the grim reaper and go get it. Adopt a chiefs Travis Kelce. You woke up the wrong mother****er!
Posts: 19,371

07-25-2015, 12:33 AM	#1135
suzzer99 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: L.A. Casino cash: $-655716	David Price is the ugliest major league baseball player since Willie "ET" McGee.
Posts: 28,357