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.

The 2013 season is closer than we realize. The Royals will feature a rebuilt rotation that likely includes 4 new starters. The most-watched prospects of 2012, Wil Myers and Jake Odorizzi are gone, the price required to rebuild the rotation.

The Royals still have Sal Perz, who has even more of a "star" look to him than a year ago. They still have Alcides Escobar, who was a little less SS jesus in 2012 but brought more at the plate. Billy Butler finally hit a number of home runs that matches his build and how hard he hits the ball. Alex Gordon did it again. Hosmer and Moose struggled.

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.

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?
2) When will Luke Hochevar be shown the door?
3) Does Hosmer bounce back?
4) Can Moustakas hit for a whole season like he did in the first half of 2012?
5) Who regresses?
6) Who plays 2B?
7) Can Jeff Francoeur be at least replacement level, rather than epic horrible level?
8) Will Dayton Moore survive to see 2014?
9) Will Danny Duffy come back healthy? And if he does, is he the same, better or worse?
10) And the big one: Has KC added enough to run down the big-money Detroit Tigers?

[Pablo]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Fair enough. But, in my view, the Royals should be in the playoff hunt this year. I won't flip my shit if we're eliminated in the final few games, but if we're, for all intents, out of it at the break, DM needs to be fired.

It's win or GTFO time.

Most definitely this.

[Three7s]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Well yeah, I was just responding to a comment.

Most people don't equate "crash and burn" with an 80-something win season.

You don't give up the farm for 80 wins. THAT is crash and burn.

[Unsmooth-Moment]

Originally Posted by Three7s

You don't give up the farm for 80 wins. THAT is crash and burn.

We weren't winning more than 80 with Myers either. We had to improve pitching. 2013 will probably be .500ish, but when we clear the Bruce Chen contract and the Frenchy contract, we should be able to put someone decent out in RF.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Unsmooth-Moment

We weren't winning more than 80 with Myers either. We had to improve pitching. 2013 will probably be .500ish, but when we clear the Bruce Chen contract and the Frenchy contract, we should be able to put someone decent out in RF.

Could have won more than 80 with Myers and the FA pitcher whom we could have signed with the money we wouldn't have foolishly committed elsewhere.

The trade really was that ****ing stupid. But it's done, and DM needs to be right.

[JASONSAUTO]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Could have won more than 80 with Myers and the FA pitcher whom we could have signed with the money we wouldn't have foolishly committed elsewhere.

The trade really was that ****ing stupid. But it's done, and DM needs to be right.

I'm still depressed over it. They traded both my hopes.
Posted via Mobile Device

[stonedstooge]

LeadHead Ned needs to go first if he can't keep this team above .500

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

I'm still depressed over it. They traded both my hopes.
Posted via Mobile Device

I agree. I honestly try my best not even to think about it because it still pisses me the **** off to near summer '09 levels of frustration.

Myers better drink from a dick sock, and Shields better be tits.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by stonedstooge

LeadHead Ned needs to go first if he can't keep this team above .500

Yeah. If he truly wants to play for more HRs, his meddling on offense must stop. No more bunts except in close/late situations against stud pitchers, and then only if it is a shitty hitter.

Moore went all in for this year. I hope it works.

[JASONSAUTO]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

I agree. I honestly try my best not even to think about it because it still pisses me the **** off to near summer '09 levels of frustration.

Myers better drink from a dick sock, and Shields better be tits.

I tear up when I think about it
Posted via Mobile Device

[siberian khatru]

Great stuff from Brett here:

http://kingsofkauffman.com/2013/01/2...ns-guest-post/

On his most memorable home runs: “The one in 80 [off of Goose Gossage in Game 3 of the ALCS] because I knew if we lost that game we were going to blow it. ..."

I felt the same way. If they didn't sweep the Yanks, they would've been swept in NY.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Three7s

You don't give up the farm for 80 wins. THAT is crash and burn.

It is not.

Crash and burn is ~95 losses. 80 wins would be disappointing to a lot of people.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by stonedstooge

LeadHead Ned needs to go first if he can't keep this team above .500

I really can't agree with this. This might be damning with faint praise, but Ned Yost has been the least-stupid manager we've had in over 16 years, maybe longer. We're more likely to get someone dumber than not. Thats on top of the fact that the game of baseball in the American League has one of the least-relevant coach/manager type of positions in major pro sports.

If anyone should hang for a bad season, it begins and ends with DM.

[Three7s]

Originally Posted by alnorth

It is not.

Crash and burn is ~95 losses. 80 wins would be disappointing to a lot of people.

When you go "all in" like DM has, it's playoffs or bust, not "oh well we went .500 so it was okay I guess." That's the same kind of BS that the Chiefs feed people.

[stevenidol]

Originally Posted by KevB

Keith Law's take:

Arizona's return boils down to this: One year of Martin Prado, six years of a fifth starter in Randall Delgado, two fringy prospects, and one non-prospect. If that sounds like a good deal to you, I have some beachfront property in Phoenix to sell you.

#Dbacks expect to sign new 3B Prado, a free agent after 2013, to long-term extension in the near future, source said. Only way deal was made

— Jack Magruder (@JackMagruder) - Fox Sports beat writer for the D'backs.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Three7s

When you go "all in" like DM has, it's playoffs or bust, not "oh well we went .500 so it was okay I guess." That's the same kind of BS that the Chiefs feed people.

I don't disagree.

That said, "crash and burn" is never, ever around .500, no matter what the circumstances, whether you are the Yankees or the Marlins.