Royals (New) 2013 Kansas City Royals Repository - Page 69

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?

CaliforniaChief · 09-18-2013, 04:55 PM

We don't have to necessarily win 90. That's an arbitrary number. I'm now assuming that Cleveland is going to win one of the spots based on strength of schedule, leaving us, TB, Tex, Balt, and NYY to fight for the last one. We have a head-to-head chance with Tex coming up, and the East teams have to play Boston.

At this point, we probably need all 4 of the home games left, and then can afford to lose 1 or MAYBE 2 of the last 7.

Last night was a killer though. The last two losses to Cleveland should have been wins, and that's going to hurt for awhile.

Archie F. Swin · 09-18-2013, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raiderhader

I have felt completely crushed all day long. That game last night has just completely taken all of the wind out of my sails.

yup

CaliforniaChief · 09-18-2013, 04:58 PM

I was in a depressing meeting watching the score on Game Cast while it was all going down. I mean, I really thought the end was coming there.

Great Expectations · 09-18-2013, 09:22 PM

Great win, wondering why ned (based on interview) felt the need to play for a win at all cost tonight, but not last night.

**ChiTown** · 09-18-2013, 09:45 PM

Have to go 9-1 in our last 10 to get to 89 wins- which is what I still believe you will need to get a WC SPOT

Tytanium · 09-18-2013, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiTown

Have to go 9-1 in our last 10 to get to 89 wins- which is what I still believe you will need to get a WC SPOT

Lose one to Texas, sweep Seattle, sweep Sox. Doable if Salvy, Hosmer and Bonifacio stay hot. Would be nice if Dwyer started too and had some stuff. Sweeping the Rangers would be satisfying, though. That would knock them down hard out of the WC.

**AustinChief** · 09-18-2013, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiTown

Have to go 9-1 in our last 10 to get to 89 wins- which is what I still believe you will need to get a WC SPOT

If we sweep Texas I think we might be able to squeeze in with 2 losses. (Got to get lucky with Cleveland picking up some losses) BUT since we are playing Mariners(3) and Sox(4)... we really have no excuse for losing any more than that.

**AustinChief** · 09-18-2013, 09:50 PM

Gonna be VERY interesting to see where we stand Monday morning!

**ChiTown** · 09-18-2013, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tytanium

Lose one to Texas, sweep Seattle, sweep Sox. Doable if Salvy, Hosmer and Bonifacio stay hot. Would be nice if Dwyer started too and had some stuff.

Nope. We have to sweep the Rangers this weekend. Not sweeping the Indians made sweeping the Rangers a must

**Nzoner** · 09-18-2013, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinChief

Gonna be VERY interesting to see where we stand Monday morning!

One thing's for sure here with the Chiefs being on tomorrow night the big screen feature for Sunday could very well be Royals/Rangers surrounded by 6 NFL games on the smaller tv's.

Tytanium · 09-18-2013, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiTown

Nope. We have to sweep the Rangers this weekend. Not sweeping the Indians made sweeping the Rangers a must

The Rangers have quality pitching and some good bats. Seattle has mediocre pitching and okay bats. Sox have good pitching, less so without Peavy, and awful bats.

SPchief · 09-18-2013, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tytanium

Lose one to Texas, sweep Seattle, sweep Sox. Doable if Salvy, Hosmer and Bonifacio stay hot. Would be nice if Dwyer started too and had some stuff.

You're on crack if you think Dwyer is getting a start this year. Ventura's start last night was based on an odd circumstance. IF Duffy isn't available on Monday, then they'll either go back to Ventura or throw Mendoza out there.

Tytanium · 09-18-2013, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPchief

You're on crack if you think Dwyer is getting a start this year. Ventura's start last night was based on an odd circumstance. IF Duffy isn't available on Monday, then they'll either go back to Ventura or throw Mendoza out there.

God no, please not Mendoza. At least give Dwyer a chance. He's no ace, but they don't have good film on him and none of them have faced him.

CaliforniaChief · 09-18-2013, 10:46 PM

If they let Ventura sit and pitch Mendoza, that would be a fireable offense.

CaliforniaChief · 09-18-2013, 11:11 PM

Alright, so here's an optimistic look at the weekend. I want to sweep TEX, but I'll just assume we can win 2/3.

Royals win 2/3 from TEX.
Rangers lose at TB, lose 3/3 at KC.
Indians win 3/4 against HOU.
Yankees beat TOR, win 2/3 against SF.
Orioles lose at BOS, win 2/3 against TB.
TB beats TEX, loses 2/3 against BAL.

As a result, the standings Sunday night would be:
WC #1: Tampa Bay Rays 85-70 +.5
WC #2: Cleveland Indians 85-71 ----

Texas Rangers 83-72 -1.5
New York Yankees 83-73 -2.0
Baltimore Orioles 82-73 -2.5
Kansas City Royals 82-73 -2.5

In other words, we either need a sweep against TEX, which would pull us to within 1.5, or would need some unexpected help from HOU/SF...and then prepare to run the table at SEA and CWS.

08-15-2013, 08:13 AM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $1470308	(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: 21,147

09-18-2013, 04:55 PM	#1021
CaliforniaChief #RIPAce Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal Casino cash: $12322899	We don't have to necessarily win 90. That's an arbitrary number. I'm now assuming that Cleveland is going to win one of the spots based on strength of schedule, leaving us, TB, Tex, Balt, and NYY to fight for the last one. We have a head-to-head chance with Tex coming up, and the East teams have to play Boston. At this point, we probably need all 4 of the home games left, and then can afford to lose 1 or MAYBE 2 of the last 7. Last night was a killer though. The last two losses to Cleveland should have been wins, and that's going to hurt for awhile.
Posts: 17,326

09-18-2013, 04:58 PM	#1023
CaliforniaChief #RIPAce Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal Casino cash: $12322899	I was in a depressing meeting watching the score on Game Cast while it was all going down. I mean, I really thought the end was coming there.
Posts: 17,326

09-18-2013, 09:22 PM	#1024
Great Expectations MVP Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Joplin, MO Casino cash: $13412338	Great win, wondering why ned (based on interview) felt the need to play for a win at all cost tonight, but not last night. __________________
Posts: 7,228

09-18-2013, 09:45 PM	#1025
ChiTown Stroking to the SB Champs! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Flatlands of Kansas Casino cash: $3003962	Have to go 9-1 in our last 10 to get to 89 wins- which is what I still believe you will need to get a WC SPOT __________________
Posts: 39,362

09-18-2013, 09:50 PM	#1028
AustinChief Administrator Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Austin Casino cash: $2379112	Gonna be VERY interesting to see where we stand Monday morning!
Posts: 19,583

09-18-2013, 10:46 PM	#1034
CaliforniaChief #RIPAce Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal Casino cash: $12322899	If they let Ventura sit and pitch Mendoza, that would be a fireable offense.
Posts: 17,326

09-18-2013, 11:11 PM	#1035
CaliforniaChief #RIPAce Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal Casino cash: $12322899	Alright, so here's an optimistic look at the weekend. I want to sweep TEX, but I'll just assume we can win 2/3. Royals win 2/3 from TEX. Rangers lose at TB, lose 3/3 at KC. Indians win 3/4 against HOU. Yankees beat TOR, win 2/3 against SF. Orioles lose at BOS, win 2/3 against TB. TB beats TEX, loses 2/3 against BAL. As a result, the standings Sunday night would be: WC #1: Tampa Bay Rays 85-70 +.5 WC #2: Cleveland Indians 85-71 ---- Texas Rangers 83-72 -1.5 New York Yankees 83-73 -2.0 Baltimore Orioles 82-73 -2.5 Kansas City Royals 82-73 -2.5 In other words, we either need a sweep against TEX, which would pull us to within 1.5, or would need some unexpected help from HOU/SF...and then prepare to run the table at SEA and CWS. Last edited by CaliforniaChief; 09-18-2013 at 11:26 PM..
Posts: 17,326