Royals *** Official Royals Repository, Part 3 *** - Page 51

duncan_idaho · 07-14-2015, 11:05 PM

In this thread: All things related to the AL Champions.

Duncan's Official Team Record prediction: 90 wins
One month in: Looking strong
All Star Break: Looking strong, probably should adjust up to 93-94 wins.
Duncan's Official Team MVP prediction: Eric Hosmer
One month in: Upstaged by his best friend MIKE MOOTACOS, MAN. Tell us bout your hittin, bro!
All Star Break: Lorenzo Cain starting to run away with this one.

Division Preview
Clearly, overlooking the Twins was a mistake at this point. I still don't believe in that team long-term, but they're starting to get that Magic Season twinkle about them.

Detroit is toast. Garbage rotation beyond Price and Sanchez, Miggy out.

And Cleveland... Cleveland still is dangerous if it ever clicks offensively, because the starting pitching is good enough for them to real off a 15-5 stretch and get right back into the playoff picture.

The Royals will be a division winner IF ...
1) Ventura and Duffy combine for 375+ innings of high-quality work
2) Eric Hosmer delivers on his potential with a FULL season of success rather than bursts
3) The deeper bullpen lessens the critical load on Herrera, Davis and Holland
4) Lorenzo Cain stays healthy
5) Either Alex Rios or Kendrys Morales bounces back to 2013 form

The first of these is clearly not going to happen. The second looked good through the end of May but is now eating Cain's dust (Hosmer has still been improved this year, though, lessening his valley. If he has a really hot second half, he can get right back in it). Item three is definitely the case. Item four should probably be first at this point. And Morales has more than bounced back.

Duncan’s Top 20 for mid-season 2015:

Spoiler!

1. Raul Adalberto Mondesi, SS, BOTH: Tools, tools, tools. RA has tools galore. At his best, he’s an All-Star SS who plays elite D, hits 15-20 HR, swipes 40 bags, and is an ideal 1, 2 or 3 hitter. At his worst, I think he looks a lot like Alcides Escobar. Plate discipline is his biggest challenge at this point, but evaluators are confident that will come with time. Clear No. 1
2. Sean Manaea, LHP: I still believe in the upside here, even with the abbreviated start. 6-5 lefties with his combination of stuff and deception have the ability to pitch at the front of a rotation for a long time.
3. Kyle Zimmer, RHP: He’s pitching again and staying healthy, which is nice. He’s pitcing out of the bullpen to build back his arm strength, which is less nice. But still has that high upside, just a lower floor now. Ideally, the team will use him as a bullpen weapon in September (because he has earned it) and then give him a chance to transition back to starting for 2016.
4. Miguel Almonte, RHP: Still love the body, FB/CH combo. Results aren’t eye popping, but he’s still low enough and early enough in the development to prize those things over performance. Still a solid No. 3 starter upside, and just a year and some change away from potentially being ready to contribute at the MLB level.
5. Cody Reed, LHP: Reed has popped up this year, forcing an early promotion to Northwest Arkansas. His stuff is legit, with mid-90s heat and a wipeout slider. Control still needs work, but a promising young arm (that makes Almonte much more tradeable)
6. John Lamb, LHP: Lamb has had a career resurgence in 2015, putting him back on the prospect map. He’s dominating at AAA and will be in the rotation mix in 2016, unless he suffers another setback. Fastball is back, changeup is improving, still working on the ability to throw the slider and curve for strikes when down in the count.
7. Jorge Bonifacio, RF, RH: Emilio’s little brother got off to a horrible start in 2015 but has heated up as the season went on. He also is translating BP power to game power for the first time, with 15 HR just past the mid-way point of his season. Despite his disappointing 2014, he has a chance to build his way back into legit prospect status – and still is only 22. Next challenge for him should be Omaha, but that may wait for the start of the 2014 season.
8. Scott Blewett, RHP: Blewett has a nice two –pitch mix already and is off to a strong start. With his size (6-6) and a good fastball/curveball combo, Blewett could eventually turn into a good No. 3 starter, with a MLB-average changeup.
9. Nolan Watson, RHP: The Royals’ 2015 sandwich pick is a polished prep arm who is adding velocity and explosiveness to a good, polished base. Likely to move quickly.
10. Ashe Russell, RHP: The 2015 top pick probably needs more work than Watson, but the upside is really nice. Again, advanced two-pitch mix that will depend on him adding a changeup. Could be a very good NO. 2 if it all adds up.

Spoiler!

11. Bubba Starling, CF, RH: Starling has been up and down this year but put himself back on the map by greatly improving his K rate while also improving across the slash line as a hitter. His defense and baserunning are MLB ready; if Starling can work himself into a league average hitter, he can be a solid MLB regular who plays great D in CF while hitting 15 HR and swiping 20 bags.
12. Balbino Fuenmayor, 1B/DH, RH: The Balbino came out of basically nowhere in 2015 to earn a Futures Game spot. Big power and an improved two-strike approach have turned the late bloomer into a legit prospect. He’s blocked at the MLB level currently by Eric Hosmer and Kendrys Morales, but Fuenmayor’s combination of power hitting and good average/strike zone control makes him intriguing.
13. Cheslor Cuthbert, 3B, RH: Cheslor probably is not going to be the star KC was hoping for when signing him out of Nicaragua, but he does look like he can be a solid reserve for an MLB club. Good defense at 3B paired with a solid plate approach and some gap power plays fine off the bench. He becomes a lot more interesting if they think he can stick as a 2B, which they have experimented with.
14. Chase Vallot, C/DH/1B: I really like Vallot’s power and plate discipline combo. His bat will probably force him from behind the plate, but he’s held his own despite being extremely young for every level he has faced.
15. Alfredo Escalera-Maldonado, OF, RH: Escalera-Maldonado earned a promotion to Wilmington at age 20, which is pretty advanced movement for that age. He’s an athletic outfielder who has shown some plate discipline at an early age, which is encouraging. Doesn’t sound like he can stick in CF long term for KC, but his bat has become one to watch.
16. Pedro Fernandez, RHP: I haven’t seen much of him, but like the reports I’ve heard on his fastball and general makeup. Could become the next Almonte/Mondesi, though he’s more likely to land in the pen than either of them.
17. Elier Hernandez, OF, RH: Elier Hernanez teamed with Escalera-Maldonado in breaking out at Low-A and earning a promotion to Wilmington. It’s still early for this guy – he is just 20 years old – but he doesn’t take walks and hasn’t developed the prodigious power many thought he had the potential for. Still worth watching.
18. Hunter Dozier, 3B, RH: Dozier is reworking his swing mid-season, which generally will cause production to do what his has done: Nose dive. The changes he made entering the season (seemingly geared towards increasing his power production) were a disaster, and now he’s trying to get back to what he used to be. Still looks great and checks most of the scouting boxes, but the performance hasn’t matched, and it almost knocked him out of the list.
19. Christian Binford, RHP: After a breakthrough 2014, Binford struggled mightily at AAA and suffered a demotion. His upside remains similar – a back-end starter who can eat innings – but Binford’s lack of velocity and reliance on command have caught up to him so far.
20. Marten Gasparini, OF, SH: Gasparini is intriguing because of his speed and athleticism. He’s a LOOOOONG ways from the majors and young for his level, but reports on his bat speed, swing, and speed remain positive enough to keep him on the bubble.

**DeezNutz** · 07-21-2015, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

Rangers have made Gallardo available.

How did that work out for the A's last year???

Sure-Oz · 07-21-2015, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

How did that work out for the A's last year???

I personally think Latos would be a solid guy to go for...cueto injury concern is scary. Still probably have to make a push.

Prison Bitch · 07-21-2015, 07:32 PM

It's an interesting dichotomy we have here on this board: everyone simultaneously points to Bumgarner as proof you need an "ace", but turn right around and warn about how "ace" Lester failed.

duncan_idaho · 07-21-2015, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

I'm not in tune with baseball as much of the fans (barring at least two exceptions) are here on this forum, but I can't believe Moore and Yost were really counting on Medlen being a SP at this stage in the season.

The idea *had to have been* was long relief to close out the year and then roll with him next season in the rotation.

That was absolutely the plan. It's changed a little bit due to the problems with the rotation.

Rams Fan · 07-21-2015, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Oh, so you're saying that we shouldn't trade Cain for a starting pitcher? Because that's about the ****ing level of ****ing stupidity that Oakland demonstrated last year.

I'm going to lose my shit if someone brings up an Oakland comparison again because it doesn't apply.

They also acquired Samardzija as well as Hammels from the Cubs for Russell, a AAAA guy and a player who was picked in the 1st in 2013.

It's one thing to go all out on Price or Kazmir; it's another to go all out on Price AND Kazmir. Price would probably cost at least as much as Lester, if not more, due to being in the division and Kazmir is a free agent at the end of the year. Both of which would ****ing cost a premium.

So, who do the Royals give up for Price? And for Kazmir without going full reerun?

**DeezNutz** · 07-21-2015, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

They also acquired Samardzija as well as Hammels from the Cubs for Russell, a AAAA guy and a player who was picked in the 1st in 2013.

It's one thing to go all out on Price or Kazmir; it's another to go all out on Price AND Kazmir. Price would probably cost at least as much as Lester, if not more, due to being in the division and Kazmir is a free agent at the end of the year. Both of which would ****ing cost a premium.

So, who do the Royals give up for Price? And for Kazmir without going full reerun?

What the hell are you saying, man?

You are aware of why the A's trade was flawed and a completely irrelevant comparison to what the Royals are trying to do? Yes, they traded for a pitcher. What they gave up is not comparable to what the Royals would sacrifice.

Rams Fan · 07-21-2015, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

What the hell are you saying, man?

You are aware of why the A's trade was flawed and a completely irrelevant comparison to what the Royals are trying to do? Yes, they traded for a pitcher. What they gave up is not comparable to what the Royals would sacrifice.

I responded to a post saying the Royals should trade for Kazmir and Price. My point is that I think trading for both is foolish. Trading for one of those 2, IMO, isn't foolish while trading for both is. I used the A's as an example because they had the best record in baseball at the time of the Lester trade(comparable to the Royals having the best record in the AL currently) after having done the trade with the Cubs.

Hootie · 07-21-2015, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

I responded to a post saying the Royals should trade for Kazmir and Price. My point is that I think trading for both is foolish. Trading for one of those 2, IMO, isn't foolish while trading for both is. I used the A's as an example because they had the best record in baseball at the time of the Lester trade(comparable to the Royals having the best record in the AL currently) after having done the trade with the Cubs.

The reason the A's fell off the map is because Donaldson and Moss fell completely off the map on the 2nd half. Moss was about the worst hitting regular in baseball (mostly due to injury). They stopped scoring runs.

Coach · 07-21-2015, 08:05 PM

Don't forget his 3 RBIs and that he now is hitting .400 https://t.co/V5SZC85WcH
— Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) July 22, 2015

Fansy the Famous Bard · 07-21-2015, 08:28 PM

Balbino is 3-3 with 4 RBi's tonight, now.

Batting .411 since the promotion.

BWillie · 07-21-2015, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeke

Balbino is 3-3 with 4 RBi's tonight, now.

Batting .411 since the promotion.

He finished the nightcap going 6 for 7 with 4 RBIs.

Fansy the Famous Bard · 07-21-2015, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWillie

He finished the nightcap going 6 for 7 with 4 RBIs.

wtf is wrong with him? couldn't get that seventh hit?

C3HIEF3S · 07-21-2015, 09:16 PM

Taking 2/3 from the Pirates would be awesome. Good news is we have a definite pitching advantage tomorrow night with Volquez going.

big nasty kcnut · 07-21-2015, 09:17 PM

man close game as hard as me holding a dump to see the royals score!

C3HIEF3S · 07-21-2015, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big nasty kcnut

man close game as hard as me holding a dump to see the royals score!

07-14-2015, 11:05 PM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $-1949692	* Official Royals Repository, Part 3 * In this thread: All things related to the AL Champions. Duncan's Official Team Record prediction: 90 wins One month in: Looking strong All Star Break: Looking strong, probably should adjust up to 93-94 wins. Duncan's Official Team MVP prediction: Eric Hosmer One month in: Upstaged by his best friend MIKE MOOTACOS, MAN. Tell us bout your hittin, bro! All Star Break: Lorenzo Cain starting to run away with this one. Division Preview Clearly, overlooking the Twins was a mistake at this point. I still don't believe in that team long-term, but they're starting to get that Magic Season twinkle about them. Detroit is toast. Garbage rotation beyond Price and Sanchez, Miggy out. And Cleveland... Cleveland still is dangerous if it ever clicks offensively, because the starting pitching is good enough for them to real off a 15-5 stretch and get right back into the playoff picture. The Royals will be a division winner IF ... 1) Ventura and Duffy combine for 375+ innings of high-quality work 2) Eric Hosmer delivers on his potential with a FULL season of success rather than bursts 3) The deeper bullpen lessens the critical load on Herrera, Davis and Holland 4) Lorenzo Cain stays healthy 5) Either Alex Rios or Kendrys Morales bounces back to 2013 form The first of these is clearly not going to happen. The second looked good through the end of May but is now eating Cain's dust (Hosmer has still been improved this year, though, lessening his valley. If he has a really hot second half, he can get right back in it). Item three is definitely the case. Item four should probably be first at this point. And Morales has more than bounced back. Duncan’s Top 20 for mid-season 2015: Spoiler! 1. Raul Adalberto Mondesi, SS, BOTH: Tools, tools, tools. RA has tools galore. At his best, he’s an All-Star SS who plays elite D, hits 15-20 HR, swipes 40 bags, and is an ideal 1, 2 or 3 hitter. At his worst, I think he looks a lot like Alcides Escobar. Plate discipline is his biggest challenge at this point, but evaluators are confident that will come with time. Clear No. 1 2. Sean Manaea, LHP: I still believe in the upside here, even with the abbreviated start. 6-5 lefties with his combination of stuff and deception have the ability to pitch at the front of a rotation for a long time. 3. Kyle Zimmer, RHP: He’s pitching again and staying healthy, which is nice. He’s pitcing out of the bullpen to build back his arm strength, which is less nice. But still has that high upside, just a lower floor now. Ideally, the team will use him as a bullpen weapon in September (because he has earned it) and then give him a chance to transition back to starting for 2016. 4. Miguel Almonte, RHP: Still love the body, FB/CH combo. Results aren’t eye popping, but he’s still low enough and early enough in the development to prize those things over performance. Still a solid No. 3 starter upside, and just a year and some change away from potentially being ready to contribute at the MLB level. 5. Cody Reed, LHP: Reed has popped up this year, forcing an early promotion to Northwest Arkansas. His stuff is legit, with mid-90s heat and a wipeout slider. Control still needs work, but a promising young arm (that makes Almonte much more tradeable) 6. John Lamb, LHP: Lamb has had a career resurgence in 2015, putting him back on the prospect map. He’s dominating at AAA and will be in the rotation mix in 2016, unless he suffers another setback. Fastball is back, changeup is improving, still working on the ability to throw the slider and curve for strikes when down in the count. 7. Jorge Bonifacio, RF, RH: Emilio’s little brother got off to a horrible start in 2015 but has heated up as the season went on. He also is translating BP power to game power for the first time, with 15 HR just past the mid-way point of his season. Despite his disappointing 2014, he has a chance to build his way back into legit prospect status – and still is only 22. Next challenge for him should be Omaha, but that may wait for the start of the 2014 season. 8. Scott Blewett, RHP: Blewett has a nice two –pitch mix already and is off to a strong start. With his size (6-6) and a good fastball/curveball combo, Blewett could eventually turn into a good No. 3 starter, with a MLB-average changeup. 9. Nolan Watson, RHP: The Royals’ 2015 sandwich pick is a polished prep arm who is adding velocity and explosiveness to a good, polished base. Likely to move quickly. 10. Ashe Russell, RHP: The 2015 top pick probably needs more work than Watson, but the upside is really nice. Again, advanced two-pitch mix that will depend on him adding a changeup. Could be a very good NO. 2 if it all adds up. Spoiler! 11. Bubba Starling, CF, RH: Starling has been up and down this year but put himself back on the map by greatly improving his K rate while also improving across the slash line as a hitter. His defense and baserunning are MLB ready; if Starling can work himself into a league average hitter, he can be a solid MLB regular who plays great D in CF while hitting 15 HR and swiping 20 bags. 12. Balbino Fuenmayor, 1B/DH, RH: The Balbino came out of basically nowhere in 2015 to earn a Futures Game spot. Big power and an improved two-strike approach have turned the late bloomer into a legit prospect. He’s blocked at the MLB level currently by Eric Hosmer and Kendrys Morales, but Fuenmayor’s combination of power hitting and good average/strike zone control makes him intriguing. 13. Cheslor Cuthbert, 3B, RH: Cheslor probably is not going to be the star KC was hoping for when signing him out of Nicaragua, but he does look like he can be a solid reserve for an MLB club. Good defense at 3B paired with a solid plate approach and some gap power plays fine off the bench. He becomes a lot more interesting if they think he can stick as a 2B, which they have experimented with. 14. Chase Vallot, C/DH/1B: I really like Vallot’s power and plate discipline combo. His bat will probably force him from behind the plate, but he’s held his own despite being extremely young for every level he has faced. 15. Alfredo Escalera-Maldonado, OF, RH: Escalera-Maldonado earned a promotion to Wilmington at age 20, which is pretty advanced movement for that age. He’s an athletic outfielder who has shown some plate discipline at an early age, which is encouraging. Doesn’t sound like he can stick in CF long term for KC, but his bat has become one to watch. 16. Pedro Fernandez, RHP: I haven’t seen much of him, but like the reports I’ve heard on his fastball and general makeup. Could become the next Almonte/Mondesi, though he’s more likely to land in the pen than either of them. 17. Elier Hernandez, OF, RH: Elier Hernanez teamed with Escalera-Maldonado in breaking out at Low-A and earning a promotion to Wilmington. It’s still early for this guy – he is just 20 years old – but he doesn’t take walks and hasn’t developed the prodigious power many thought he had the potential for. Still worth watching. 18. Hunter Dozier, 3B, RH: Dozier is reworking his swing mid-season, which generally will cause production to do what his has done: Nose dive. The changes he made entering the season (seemingly geared towards increasing his power production) were a disaster, and now he’s trying to get back to what he used to be. Still looks great and checks most of the scouting boxes, but the performance hasn’t matched, and it almost knocked him out of the list. 19. Christian Binford, RHP: After a breakthrough 2014, Binford struggled mightily at AAA and suffered a demotion. His upside remains similar – a back-end starter who can eat innings – but Binford’s lack of velocity and reliance on command have caught up to him so far. 20. Marten Gasparini, OF, SH: Gasparini is intriguing because of his speed and athleticism. He’s a LOOOOONG ways from the majors and young for his level, but reports on his bat speed, swing, and speed remain positive enough to keep him on the bubble.
Posts: 22,376

07-21-2015, 07:32 PM	#753
Prison Bitch Rabbi Goldmann Join Date: Nov 2012 Casino cash: $5450159	It's an interesting dichotomy we have here on this board: everyone simultaneously points to Bumgarner as proof you need an "ace", but turn right around and warn about how "ace" Lester failed.
Posts: 87,025

07-21-2015, 08:05 PM	#759
Coach Champs! Join Date: Mar 2004 Casino cash: $3798476	Don't forget his 3 RBIs and that he now is hitting .400 https://t.co/V5SZC85WcH — Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) July 22, 2015 __________________ Super Bowl IV, LIV, LVII & LVIII Champions 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, & 2025 AFC Champions 1985 & 2015 Major League Baseball World Series Champions 1980, 1985, 2014, & 2015 Major League Baseball American League Champions 2015 American League Central Division Champs
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07-21-2015, 08:28 PM	#760
Fansy the Famous Bard I'm with the Banned Join Date: Feb 2009 Casino cash: $-983560	Balbino is 3-3 with 4 RBi's tonight, now. Batting .411 since the promotion. __________________ Hi.
Posts: 6,421

07-21-2015, 09:16 PM	#763
C3HIEF3S Let's Get Weird Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Austin Casino cash: $9910098	Taking 2/3 from the Pirates would be awesome. Good news is we have a definite pitching advantage tomorrow night with Volquez going.
Posts: 15,232

07-21-2015, 09:17 PM	#764
big nasty kcnut The pizza king of kansas Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Somewhere in the u.s.a. Casino cash: $-2049100	man close game as hard as me holding a dump to see the royals score! __________________ When it's grim, be the grim reaper and go get it. Adopt a chiefs Travis Kelce. You woke up the wrong mother****er!
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