Royals 2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread - Page 639

duncan_idaho · 10:01 AM

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 · 08-15-2013, 06:53 AM

I can start a new repository today if that's the preference. Seems like any mojo we were worried about slipped between Elliot Johnson's legs yesterday.

Dayton Moore's biggest issue, by far, is his extreme loyalty to bad baseball players and willingness to keep rostering them despite complete proof they are shitty.

Jeff Francoeur
Chris Getz
Ross Gload
Hiram Davies
Luke Hochevar
Horacio Ramirez
etc.

I think the only reason Johnson has survived this long is that he is the only guy on the team who can play SS other than Escobar.

Maybe with Bonifacio, that changes.

I know Bonifacio was terrible with Toronto this year. But he at least has some upside and success in his recent past.

duncan_idaho · 08-15-2013, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silock

He's not coming up this year, and maybe not even next. Get him surgery, move on.

Back to the MAJOR leagues . . .

If Zimmer doesn't have surgery, there's an excellent chance he's in the Royals rotation at some point next season. Possibly even out of spring training.

Silock · 08-15-2013, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

If Zimmer doesn't have surgery, there's an excellent chance he's in the Royals rotation at some point next season. Possibly even out of spring training.

In whose place?

Shields, Guthrie, Duffy, Chen or Santana (hoping we re-sign him)? Paulino? It's not like we need bullpen help.

C3HIEF3S · 08-15-2013, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silock

In whose place?

Shields, Guthrie, Duffy, Chen or Santana (hoping we re-sign him)? Paulino? It's not like we need bullpen help.

My guess is Chen.

AndChiefs · 08-15-2013, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S

My guess is Chen.

If he pitches like he has the rest of the year? You go with him out of spring training and let him pitch himself out of the spot.

duncan_idaho · 08-15-2013, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silock

In whose place?

Shields, Guthrie, Duffy, Chen or Santana (hoping we re-sign him)? Paulino? It's not like we need bullpen help.

I wouldn't count on either Chen or Santana being part of the rotation next year. And it's highly possible Zimmer surpasses Duffy early next year.

Also, if you want to contend, you really need at least 7 starters you can go with and feel comfortable. We've seen this in 2013 with Bruce Chen having to step into the rotation.

Prison Bitch · 08-15-2013, 07:16 AM

Dayton's biggest problem is he can't make trades. he had the crown jewel of about the last 5 years in Zack, and he gets a shitty SS who hits exactly like Berroa & Neifi plus a decent (but totally one dimensional) CF who is always banged up. That's it.

Yeah, that's it. With in-house options that were free. So when he turns around and gets James Shields giving up a legit player in Wil Myers it only proves that he's a clown while Andrew Friedman isn't.

Silock · 08-15-2013, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

I wouldn't count on either Chen or Santana being part of the rotation next year. And it's highly possible Zimmer surpasses Duffy early next year.

Also, if you want to contend, you really need at least 7 starters you can go with and feel comfortable. We've seen this in 2013 with Bruce Chen having to step into the rotation.

Maybe. But I doubt Dayton gives up on Davis in favor of Zimmer, even if Davis moves out of the rotation.

duncan_idaho · 08-15-2013, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silock

Maybe. But I doubt Dayton gives up on Davis in favor of Zimmer, even if Davis moves out of the rotation.

There's also the fact that if Zimmer has TJ now, he likely isn't back and ready to pitch until midseason 2015 at best. Possibly 2016.

KC's success beyond James Shields' contract relies on at least a few of KC's close-to-MLB starters (Danny Duffy, Will Smith, Yordano Ventura, Kyle Zimmer) being valued members of the rotation by that time.

SP depth for 2014 (assuming no Santana and no Chen)

1) James Shields
2) Jeremy Guthried
3) Danny Duffy
4) Wade Davis
5) Will Smith
6) Yordano Ventura
7) Kyle Zimmer

Considering that Davis, Smitha and Ventura are BIG question marks, Zimmer is important next season.

Silock · 08-15-2013, 07:56 AM

Well, hopefully, our run shows him and Glass that re-signing him and Santana would be a good business move.

We will come to the park if we have even a SLIGHTLY ABOVE AVERAGE team

duncan_idaho · 08-15-2013, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silock

Well, hopefully, our run shows him and Glass that re-signing him and Santana would be a good business move.

We will come to the park if we have even a SLIGHTLY ABOVE AVERAGE team

I'm not convinced signing Santana IS a good business move. It's probably going to take the same type of deal Anibal Sanchez received, which means 5 years, $80 million.

That's an incredibly risky deal for KC to commit to, in my opinion, considering the up-and-down nature of Santana's career.

Chen is much less risky. Wouldn't mind seeing them bring him back on a short-term deal, at all.

12-11-2012, 09:59 AM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $-89692	2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread 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? Last edited by duncan_idaho; 07-15-2013 at 10:01 AM..
Posts: 21,493

08-15-2013, 06:53 AM	#9571
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $-89692	I can start a new repository today if that's the preference. Seems like any mojo we were worried about slipped between Elliot Johnson's legs yesterday. Dayton Moore's biggest issue, by far, is his extreme loyalty to bad baseball players and willingness to keep rostering them despite complete proof they are shitty. Jeff Francoeur Chris Getz Ross Gload Hiram Davies Luke Hochevar Horacio Ramirez etc. I think the only reason Johnson has survived this long is that he is the only guy on the team who can play SS other than Escobar. Maybe with Bonifacio, that changes. I know Bonifacio was terrible with Toronto this year. But he at least has some upside and success in his recent past. __________________ "You gotta love livin', cause dying is a pain in the ass." ---- Sinatra
Posts: 21,493

08-15-2013, 07:16 AM	#9577
Prison Bitch Rabbi Goldmann Join Date: Nov 2012 Casino cash: $5450159	Dayton's biggest problem is he can't make trades. he had the crown jewel of about the last 5 years in Zack, and he gets a shitty SS who hits exactly like Berroa & Neifi plus a decent (but totally one dimensional) CF who is always banged up. That's it. Yeah, that's it. With in-house options that were free. So when he turns around and gets James Shields giving up a legit player in Wil Myers it only proves that he's a clown while Andrew Friedman isn't.
Posts: 87,025

08-15-2013, 07:56 AM	#9580
Silock MVP Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Overland Park Casino cash: $10020882	Well, hopefully, our run shows him and Glass that re-signing him and Santana would be a good business move. We will come to the park if we have even a SLIGHTLY ABOVE AVERAGE team
Posts: 19,908