Royals (New) 2013 Kansas City Royals Repository - Page 206

duncan_idaho · 08-15-2013, 08:13 AM

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?

**alnorth** · 12-05-2013, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

I think this closes the door on a Beltran deal. IF you were looking at Beltran, it would be as your everyday RF, which he's still able to do and give you a serious bat.
I'm not sure if I like it or not. He's a solid player...but is he going to help that much offensively? Are his numbers THAT much better than the Lough/Maxwell platoon?

It obviously does not close the door. We would not have gone through all the hoopla to the point where everyone in the media now expects the Royals to sign him, only to turn right around, go "never mind" with Aoki.

DM obviously wants Aoki *AND* Beltran. He all but flat-out told Dutton that the 3/48 offer is still on the table. Aoki can play CF, and Cain probably gets traded.

Mr. Laz · 12-05-2013, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWillie

So now we have way to many outfielders. Gordon, Maxwell, Cain, Aoki, Lough. Didnt we acquire some other swingin dick too?

isn't Dyson still around?

Moore doesn't like Lough apparently, he needs to just move on and see if he can find a team that actually wants him.

**gblowfish** · 12-05-2013, 02:00 PM

Why not just send Cain down to Omaha in case one of the main line guys get injured? Is he out of options?

At least Frenchy is out of the mix now. Thank GOD for that!

siberian khatru · 12-05-2013, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

I think this closes the door on a Beltran deal. IF you were looking at Beltran, it would be as your everyday RF, which he's still able to do and give you a serious bat.

I dunno, Moore was quoted today as saying he was still looking for a middle-of-the-order bat, and Buster Olney said yesterday Beltran told him during the season that he "absolutely" was ready to start DHing. Now, maybe Beltran meant part-time, and maybe he's changed his mind.

I still think it's not out of the question they sign Beltran to DH 1/2 to 2/3 of the time, giving them lots of flexibility in the OF and at DH, and that they trade Butler for a 2B and/or SP.

It's also possible for THIS YEAR they keep both Beltran and Butler, load up for 2014, then dump Butler in 2015.

I wouldn't close the door on anything yet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

I'm not sure if I like it or not. He's a solid player...but is he going to help that much offensively? Are his numbers THAT much better than the Lough/Maxwell platoon?

I think having Aoki's .355 OBP at leadoff every day is better for us offensively than a Lough/Maxwell platoon.

tyton75 · 12-05-2013, 02:12 PM

I have a feeling that Dayton is just getting warmed up... wait and see what happens with Beltran; then I would imagine seeing a bunch of domino's start to fall.

**alnorth** · 12-05-2013, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gblowfish

Why not just send Cain down to Omaha in case one of the main line guys get injured? Is he out of options?

At least Frenchy is out of the mix now. Thank GOD for that!

Cain, Maxwell, and Lough are all out of options.

Mr. Laz · 12-05-2013, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyton75

I have a feeling that Dayton is just getting warmed up... wait and see what happens with Beltran; then I would imagine seeing a bunch of domino's start to fall.

You really think they could still get Beltran too?

maybe one of our dozen outfielders can play 2nd base

**alnorth** · 12-05-2013, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ComoLaz

You really think they could still get Beltran too?

maybe one of our dozen outfielders can play 2nd base

Unless Texas comes out of nowhere, it looks very likely to me. Its pretty well known that Boston and New York will not go to 3 years, and we're the only team crazy enough to make him that offer.

tyton75 · 12-05-2013, 02:28 PM

I'd imagine if he can seal up Beltran, there would be a flurry of trades with Dyson, Cain, Lough, maybe even Butler and some mid relievers.

Just the feeling I get. Get everything you 'need' to get, then trade for the ancillary pieces that will make the team better in the future.

**Saul Good** · 12-05-2013, 02:49 PM

This smells a lot like we are going to sign Beltran and trade Butler. Carlos will rotate between RF and DH. Gordon will play LF every day. Cain will play CF until his glass vagina shatters. Beltran will play in RF. Aoki will spell Beltran and Cain getting 100 or so starts, mostly in RF if Cain stays healthy.

Alternatively, Cain could be packaged with Butler in a trade.

sedated · 12-05-2013, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saul Good

This smells a lot like we are going to sign Beltran and trade Butler. Carlos will rotate between RF and DH. Gordon will play LF every day. Cain will play CF until his glass vagina shatters. Beltran will play in RF. Aoki will spell Beltran and Cain getting 100 or so starts, mostly in RF if Cain stays healthy.

I was kind of thinking the same thing. Load up on OFs, then rotate them all in the DH spot.

BigCatDaddy · 12-05-2013, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saul Good

This smells a lot like we are going to sign Beltran and trade Butler. Carlos will rotate between RF and DH. Gordon will play LF every day. Cain will play CF until his glass vagina shatters. Beltran will play in RF. Aoki will spell Beltran and Cain getting 100 or so starts, mostly in RF if Cain stays healthy.

Alternatively, Cain could be packaged with Butler in a trade.

What do you think they are looking at for Butler? 2nd base?

I think we keep him. Taking that bat out of a lineup with trouble scoring runs just doesn't seem smart.

duncan_idaho · 12-05-2013, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

I think this closes the door on a Beltran deal. IF you were looking at Beltran, it would be as your everyday RF, which he's still able to do and give you a serious bat.
I'm not sure if I like it or not. He's a solid player...but is he going to help that much offensively? Are his numbers THAT much better than the Lough/Maxwell platoon?

Yes.

You can feel pretty confident you're going to get .285/.355/.400 from Aoki. If he plays RF, he's probably going to be a about a 0.5-1.0 dWAR player (depending on the metric at which you look). You're looking at a 3 WAR player overall, who contributes on both offense and defense.

Neither Lough nor Maxwell is a sure thing. Lough's defense was entirely defense driven, and I'm not sure I buy it being that valuable.

Maxwell is a really nice platoon type piece, but there are big warning signs regarding his performance against RHP.

BlackHelicopters · 12-05-2013, 03:05 PM

Four letter network confirming Aoki for W Smith deal.

duncan_idaho · 12-05-2013, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saul Good

This smells a lot like we are going to sign Beltran and trade Butler. Carlos will rotate between RF and DH. Gordon will play LF every day. Cain will play CF until his glass vagina shatters. Beltran will play in RF. Aoki will spell Beltran and Cain getting 100 or so starts, mostly in RF if Cain stays healthy.

Alternatively, Cain could be packaged with Butler in a trade.

If they trade Butler, there's no need to rotate Aoki at all. He's your everyday RF and Beltran is your everyday DH.

Aoki is a lock to play 150 games, if healthy, next year. Unless his production drops off the table.

Even if that comes at the expense of Lorenzo Cain.

08-15-2013, 08:13 AM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $1210308	(New) 2013 Kansas City Royals Repository 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?
Posts: 21,201

12-05-2013, 02:00 PM	#3078
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $17586178 VARSITY	Why not just send Cain down to Omaha in case one of the main line guys get injured? Is he out of options? At least Frenchy is out of the mix now. Thank GOD for that!
Posts: 40,852

12-05-2013, 02:12 PM	#3080
tyton75 Veteran Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: KC North Casino cash: $5658386	I have a feeling that Dayton is just getting warmed up... wait and see what happens with Beltran; then I would imagine seeing a bunch of domino's start to fall. __________________
Posts: 3,280

12-05-2013, 02:28 PM	#3084
tyton75 Veteran Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: KC North Casino cash: $5658386	I'd imagine if he can seal up Beltran, there would be a flurry of trades with Dyson, Cain, Lough, maybe even Butler and some mid relievers. Just the feeling I get. Get everything you 'need' to get, then trade for the ancillary pieces that will make the team better in the future. __________________
Posts: 3,280

12-05-2013, 02:49 PM	#3085
Saul Good Quit your bullshit Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bored of winning Casino cash: $10052799	This smells a lot like we are going to sign Beltran and trade Butler. Carlos will rotate between RF and DH. Gordon will play LF every day. Cain will play CF until his glass vagina shatters. Beltran will play in RF. Aoki will spell Beltran and Cain getting 100 or so starts, mostly in RF if Cain stays healthy. Alternatively, Cain could be packaged with Butler in a trade. __________________ Today is not a good day to be a pussy.
Posts: 41,870

12-05-2013, 03:05 PM	#3089
BlackHelicopters Spiraling down the Drain Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Dante's Ninth Circle Casino cash: $2240588	Four letter network confirming Aoki for W Smith deal. __________________ "We're both part of the same hypocrisy, Senator, but never think it applies to my family." "Fredo. You are my brother, and I love you. But never take sides against the Family again. Ever." 2019 Adopt a Chief - Travis Kelce #87
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