(New) 2013 Kansas City Royals Repository

[duncan_idaho]

New thread, this time with more burst.

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?

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by sedated

Royals fans here seem pumped, but my friend in STL says 3/48 would make KC the dumbest franchise in history. I dont know what to think....

Nope. Your friend is wrong.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S

Buster Olney twitter: @Buster_ESPN: Other teams becoming convinced that Carlos Beltran is going to land with the Royals, on a deal of 3/$48 million.

So basically we could have afforded to keep him all these years.

[Sure-Oz]

This deal is stupid if they trade Butler and get no offense back.

It seems as if it's almost a certainty that Butler gets moved if this goes through.

[Dartgod]

Originally Posted by sedated

Royals fans here seem pumped, but my friend in STL says 3/48 would make KC the dumbest franchise in history. I dont know what to think....

Do you see where you went wrong here?

[Sure-Oz]

Fowler traded to Astros....Also the Tigers are looking hard at Choo. Royals have to get a bat to add to this offense.

Astros acquired OF Dexter Fowler and a PTBNL from the Rockies for RHP Jordan Lyles and OF Brandon Barnes.

The announcement was first made on the Rockies' official Twitter feed Tuesday evening. Fowler has been dangled by Colorado for several months and is now finally headed to Houston, where he will start in center field. The 27-year-old hit .263/.369/.407 with 12 homers and 19 steals in 119 games this past summer. He is under contract through 2015.

[Kidd Lex]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

This deal is stupid if they trade Butler and get no offense back.

It seems as if it's almost a certainty that Butler gets moved if this goes through.

Why do you say that it is a certainty?

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by The God Hypothesis

Why do you say that it is a certainty?

Sounds like the Royals would need to get rid of his $$$ to pay for Beltran. Also Beltran may need to DH at times.

[Coach]

Possible KC lineup with Beltran, if KC keeps Butler: LF Gordon, RF Beltran, 1B Hos, DH Butler, C Perez, CF Cain, 3B Moose, SS Escobar, 2B?.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 3, 2013

[penbrook]

Just trade Butler for a 2B

[P-90Rex]

I don't see his potential signing as a definite sign of trading Butler. How many days out of the field does Beltran really need? 20? 30?

We play what, 11 or so in a national league park. Billy sits the bench or plays for Hosmer depending on the pitcher. Or Beltran sits. I think this gives you more flexibility in the lineup, with all three playing together most of the time. I think lots of people are underestimating Beltran's ability to still play in the field.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by penbook

Just trade Butler for a 2B

Butler for Bautista?

[BlackHelicopters]

The lineup looks better with Butler still in it while adding Beltran.

[BlackHelicopters]

Starting pitcher and 2B please GMDM

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by theelusiveeightrop

The lineup looks better with Butler still in it while adding Beltran.

No Butler leaves a huge hole in the lineup. Pun intended.

[KevB]

Originally Posted by P-90Rex

I don't see his potential signing as a definite sign of trading Butler. How many days out of the field does Beltran really need? 20? 30?

We play what, 11 or so in a national league park. Billy sits the bench or plays for Hosmer depending on the pitcher. Or Beltran sits. I think this gives you more flexibility in the lineup, with all three playing together most of the time. I think lots of people are underestimating Beltran's ability to still play in the field.

I think you're overestimating Glass' willingness to add another $16M to the payroll with no off-set.