Royals (New) 2013 Kansas City Royals Repository - Page 65

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?

Chiefspants · 09-17-2013, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

I would've given Wil Smith the start, although been tempted to throw in Luke for a spot start.

Luke, our setup man who has pitched 2 of the last 3? Right.

Prison Bitch · 09-17-2013, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

Luke, our setup man who has pitched 2 of the last 3? Right.

Um, I wouldn't have pitched him during that time, derrrr. Last nite was a waste throwing him in there. Now if they just found out Duffy was hurt yesterday and HAD to call someone up.....then yeah you can't shift Luke around. But if they found out 3 days ago they absolutely and easily could have.

**Dartgod** · 09-17-2013, 12:37 PM

Luke has pitched out of the bullpen the entire year. No way in hell I would ask him to start.

duncan_idaho · 09-17-2013, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPchief

He's been awful starting vs the Indians in his career

Just one start against them this year, that was not good but I wouldn't call it awful. He had 3 last year - two very good, one awful.

He's also a better pitcher than he was a year ago. Better control and better command of that slider.

I wouldn't run him out as the starter - mostly because he's been working out of the pen for 6 weeks - but he's a great backup/long relief option.

BigCatDaddy · 09-17-2013, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

I would've given Wil Smith the start, although been tempted to throw in Luke for a spot start.

Chiefspants · 09-17-2013, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Um, I wouldn't have pitched him during that time, derrrr. Last nite was a waste throwing him in there. Now if they just found out Duffy was hurt yesterday and HAD to call someone up.....then yeah you can't shift Luke around. But if they found out 3 days ago they absolutely and easily could have.

Surely you'd be comfortable with throwing Crow in the set up role for the next three days then, right?

Prison Bitch · 09-17-2013, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dartgod

Luke has pitched out of the bullpen the entire year. No way in hell I would ask him to start.

Sounds reminiscent of the fans who were adamant that Zack stay in the bullpen after he pitched so well coming back from his personal issues. Glad that MLB teams don't think that way.

Chiefspants · 09-17-2013, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Sounds reminiscent of the fans who were adamant that Zack stay in the bullpen after he pitched so well coming back from his personal issues. Glad that MLB teams don't think that way.

Prison Bitch · 09-17-2013, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

Surely you'd be comfortable with throwing Crow in the set up role for the next three days then, right?

I'd be fine with Coleman, sure.

Chiefspants · 09-17-2013, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

I'd be fine with Coleman, sure.

You realize we're talking about Ned Yost, right?

**Dartgod** · 09-17-2013, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Sounds reminiscent of the fans who were adamant that Zack stay in the bullpen after he pitched so well coming back from his personal issues. Glad that MLB teams don't think that way.

Zack Grienke as a starter =/= Luke Hochevar as a starter

God, you're a moron.

BigCatDaddy · 09-17-2013, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dartgod

Zack Grienke as a starter =/= Luke Hochevar as a starter

God, you're a moron.

He HAD to be trolling there.

Prison Bitch · 09-17-2013, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dartgod

Zack Grienke as a starter =/= Luke Hochevar as a starter

God, you're a moron.

Actually, they were similar elite draft prospects who struggled early as starters and it wasn't because of their "stuff". Zack's last year as a starter in 05 was nearly identical to Luke's last year. And his first year in the pen in 07 was statistically worse than Luke's this year:

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx...943&position=P
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx...943&position=P

As you know the Royals moved Zack to the rotation in Sept of that year. Both saw a huge spike in velocity out of the pen and became dominant. Nobody knows if/when Luke will become a starter but so far, the situations are extremely similar despite what the voices in your head are telling you.

Prison Bitch · 09-17-2013, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

You realize we're talking about Ned Yost, right?

Dayton should've forced him into using Coleman by optioning -0.2 back to Omaha where he wouldn't have been available to Yost.

BigCatDaddy · 09-17-2013, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Actually, they were similar elite draft prospects who struggled early as starters and it wasn't because of their "stuff". Zack's last year as a starter in 05 was nearly identical to Luke's last year. And his first year in the pen in 07 was statistically worse than Luke's this year:

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx...943&position=P
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx...943&position=P

As you know the Royals moved Zack to the rotation in Sept of that year. Both saw a huge spike in velocity out of the pen and became dominant. Nobody knows if/when Luke will become a starter but so far, the situations are extremely similar despite what the voices in your head are telling you.

Isn't there a slight age difference and body of work between the two when this happened? Zack is also a bulldog on the mound while Hoch is a big pussy.

08-15-2013, 08:13 AM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $1190308	(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

09-17-2013, 12:37 PM	#963
Dartgod Wasted away again... Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: in Margaritaville Casino cash: $6850000	Luke has pitched out of the bullpen the entire year. No way in hell I would ask him to start. __________________ If you shed a tear for me, please make it a tear of joy. -Joe Tracy (Nzoner) . .
Posts: 51,240