Royals (New) 2013 Kansas City Royals Repository - Page 255

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?

C3HIEF3S · 12-13-2013, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theelusiveeightrop

One more starting veteran pitcher would really be nice.

This. If somehow, someway we can get either Santana back or maybe Samardzija then I would be ecstatic. I have no doubt that our lineup is better this year, but our rotation still has some question marks in Duffy and Ventura.

BlackHelicopters · 12-13-2013, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

They're just so expensive that small markets really can't afford them. How many bottom 10 revenue teams have pitchers making more than 10m? It's a rarity. Shields is an anomaly for teams like us. The Oakland model of 1-2 bounce back vets and 3 young cheap developed guys is what we should ( and probably will) do after Shields leaves.

If Vargas can give us 180 innings of decent production then he's worth it. I assume that was important to DM knowing he's losing 230 from Shields next season and has to plug that. Duffy and Ventura sure font look like innings eaters

I am willing to give Duffy and Ventura the benefit of the doubt, at this point.

BWillie · 12-13-2013, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianfo

We weren't getting him for three. Yankees offered more per year for three. I have no idea why you guys constantly wanna be negative. We were in a pennant race last year for christ sake. I've waited 28 years for competitive baseball in KC. GMDM did as good of a job most people on ChiefsPlanet would do. (and that is a really big improvement) Get on board or GTFO.

I'm fully on board with trading Billay fatass if you can find a trade partner.

FYP

Maybe he's learning he goes on? Ever since AFTER the Schields Myers trade he hasn't been a complete reerun.

BlackHelicopters · 12-13-2013, 08:08 PM

If only Moose could hit .275...

siberian khatru · 12-13-2013, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnorth

As Rany said (glass half full), if you look at it as 3/30 with a free 4th year, its not bad. If he sucks in the 4th year, just cut him.

At least it's not 4-$40M. I like the player, especially for our all-in year of 2014.

Brianfo · 12-13-2013, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

They're just so expensive that small markets really can't afford them. How many bottom 10 revenue teams have pitchers making more than 10m? It's a rarity. Shields is an anomaly for teams like us. The Oakland model of 1-2 bounce back vets and 3 young cheap developed guys is what we should ( and probably will) do after Shields leaves.

If Vargas can give us 180 innings of decent production then he's worth it. I assume that was important to DM knowing he's losing 230 from Shields next season and has to plug that. Duffy and Ventura sure font look like innings eaters

You have just lost your own argument. Congrats. That's hard to do.

Mr. Laz · 12-13-2013, 08:17 PM

I think Bonifacio overachieved last year, so we needed something.

can't have a lineup that's 1/3 punchless ... escobar,dyson,bonifacio just killed us last year

Prison Bitch · 12-13-2013, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianfo

You have just lost your own argument. Congrats. That's hard to do.

Wtf are you talking about? I don't believe Vargas will give us 180+ of decent pitching, so there's no contradiction whatsoever.

FringeNC · 12-13-2013, 08:25 PM

If infante has an .800 ops next year, good deal. .700, bad deal.

Brianfo · 12-13-2013, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Wtf are you talking about? I don't believe Vargas will give us 180+ of decent pitching, so there's no contradiction whatsoever.

Go to bed young man.

You have been owned.

You're used to it. ASTP

tk13 · 12-13-2013, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Wtf are you talking about? I don't believe Vargas will give us 180+ of decent pitching, so there's no contradiction whatsoever.

I don't know why you think that. Maybe he won't... but he's been a decent pitcher for the last 4 years. Didn't get to 180 last year but gone at least 150 that last four years and posted a 4ish ERA every year. Not great... but if you're going to argue about eating innings, that's exactly what the Vargas signing was. The other guys like Hughes were the high risk/reward guys. I think Hughes has only pitched 150 innings once or twice. If Vargas gives us 180-190 innings and posts a 4.00 ERA that's solid.

**DeezNutz** · 12-13-2013, 08:29 PM

2B has been upgraded. For this, I'm grateful. Decent player and contract.

Mizzou_8541 · 12-13-2013, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnorth

Average. Just good enough to not be a defensive liability.

Ok, how good is his glove as compared to Chris Getz?

tk13 · 12-13-2013, 08:35 PM

As for the Infante deal... the $30 million probably isn't that bad, the 4 years is a bit long, but that's the free agent game now. Especially when trying to get someone to reject the Yankees to come to KC.

I guess if you consider we paid $210 million less than Seattle just did for a 2B, we didn't do that bad. I like that DM's has at least added some depth, we have some options offensively now in both the infield and outfield. And we definitely won't have a black hole at 2B like Getz three or four times a week. Not sure we'll field a great offense, but it's definitely more legit... and if Moose can at least become a 20 HR guy again it could be pretty solid.

Sure-Oz · 12-13-2013, 09:03 PM

Are the Royals done adding pieces? I assume so

08-15-2013, 08:13 AM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $1200308	(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

12-13-2013, 08:08 PM	#3814
BlackHelicopters Spiraling down the Drain Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Dante's Ninth Circle Casino cash: $2240588	If only Moose could hit .275... __________________ "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
Posts: 31,763

12-13-2013, 08:17 PM	#3817
Mr. Laz Don't Tease Me Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: KS Casino cash: $11047037	I think Bonifacio overachieved last year, so we needed something. can't have a lineup that's 1/3 punchless ... escobar,dyson,bonifacio just killed us last year __________________
Posts: 95,626

12-13-2013, 08:25 PM	#3819
FringeNC MVP Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: NC Casino cash: $1306014	If infante has an .800 ops next year, good deal. .700, bad deal.
Posts: 10,174

12-13-2013, 08:35 PM	#3824
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $1442500	As for the Infante deal... the $30 million probably isn't that bad, the 4 years is a bit long, but that's the free agent game now. Especially when trying to get someone to reject the Yankees to come to KC. I guess if you consider we paid $210 million less than Seattle just did for a 2B, we didn't do that bad. I like that DM's has at least added some depth, we have some options offensively now in both the infield and outfield. And we definitely won't have a black hole at 2B like Getz three or four times a week. Not sure we'll field a great offense, but it's definitely more legit... and if Moose can at least become a 20 HR guy again it could be pretty solid.
Posts: 55,071