(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?

[ChiTown]

Bob Dutton ‏@Royals_Report 3m
#Royals confirm, with an open date Thursday, they'll skip LHP Danny Duffy's next turn in rotation in hopes of better match-ups.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Archie F. Swin

Have any of the "experts" analyzed 2012 Esky v 2013 Esky to explain why he has struggled at the plate?

I'm not an expert, but my take...

Between Yost's offseason demand for "Moar power!" and the complete incompetence of Jack Maloof and Andre David, I think his focus at the plate changed a lot.

His early success hitting for power also created some false tendencies for him.

I think he started trying to pull the ball more and hit the ball farther/longer, and lost his ability to drive the ball to the opposite field.

Escobar is at his best taking a Jeter-type approach at the plate. Focus on hitting the ball inside-out, driving it to right field, and staying short to the ball.

His swing has gotten long and loopy, which is one reason why he fouls off so many pitches.

Basically, he completely lost the identity as a hitter that he displayed last season. Confidence is an important thing in the major leagues, and it's tough to recover from.

I'd like to see him try to close his stance and see if that doesn't help him drive the ball a little better. He has the wrists and bat speed to be effective with the Jeter approach.

The nice thing about that Jeter approach is that it makes the guy a real pest in handling pitches away. And eventually, pitchers start trying to come inside... and that's when you can try to yank the ball.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by KevB

He's not just having a down year, he has completely collapsed. He's been a worse hitter than Getz to put it in perspective.

Alshittys.


Last night was the first good day at the plate in about 2 months for the guy. As Rany finally agreed the other night, it's time to seriously consider moving on from him.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Alshittys.


Last night was the first good day at the plate in about 2 months for the guy. As Rany finally agreed the other night, it's time to seriously consider moving on from him.

Going to be tough. The SS market this offseason looks awful. I think Escobar might be their best option and think it IS possible for him to bounce back... but if you're really trying to contend, a backup plan MUST be in place.

Rany's idea of trading for J.J. Hardy is a pipe dream. The Orioles have no incentive to move him (as they're trying to win), and they'd need a 3B solution back. Unless they love Moustakas - and KC is willing to trade him - I don't think that works. Also, if Baltimore is amenable to moving him, I think other teams match up better with the O's needs (SP, 3B).

It wouldn't be AWFUL to try a flyer on Jhonny Peralta in the FA market, with the plan of him being the starting 2B. If Escobar continues to hit at the level he has shown since about mid-May, you can try sliding Peralta over to SS and going with Bonifacio at 2B.

Would be better than going into next season with Bonifacio and Colon as your only real alternatives at SS.

[Prison Bitch]

Not much out there, and yes the Hardy suggestion was laughably dumb.

[Prison Bitch]

So Holland has a 2.8 war. He is now 42-45 in saves 93%. The last decade in MLB the average has been between 65-69% each year. If we applied that rate to Holland we'd see a conversion rate of 30-45. Or a whopping 12 games worse.


I realize it's not apples-to-apples and the Royals would in fact win some of the games a lesser closer would've flubbed. But to me, Holland is worth far more than 2.8 war. If we know real, actual closers are only getting 67% we can assume a replacement guy would be worse. Which only widens the gap between Holland. Where am I going wrong?

[Nightfyre]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

So Holland has a 2.8 war. He is now 42-45 in saves 93%. The last decade in MLB the average has been between 65-69% each year. If we applied that rate to Holland we'd see a conversion rate of 30-45. Or a whopping 12 games worse.


I realize it's not apples-to-apples and the Royals would in fact win some of the games a lesser closer would've flubbed. But to me, Holland is worth far more than 2.8 war. If we know real, actual closers are only getting 67% we can assume a replacement guy would be worse. Which only widens the gap between Holland. Where am I going wrong?

You make an interesting point. I guess it is somewhat mitigated by the fact that some blown saves are tied up and then its a 50/50 chance to be a loss. Or he loses the lead and the team comes back in the bottom of the ninth.

[KChiefs1]

Boston beating Tampa Bay is HUGE!

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by -King-

So if Yankees and Royals win today, we'll be tied at 2.5 back with Baltimore and Cleveland? What's the tie breaker for that?
Posted via Mobile Device

Harold Reynolds said there be a one game playoff before the one game playoff.

[SPchief]

2 games back bitches!

[Demonpenz]

2 games back!

[TLO]

Is this real life?

[C3HIEF3S]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

Harold Reynolds said there be a one game playoff before the one game playoff.

The WC could potentially be a nightmare when it comes down to tie breakers.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Lets do this!

[SPchief]

We've made up 8.5 games in the last 18 days