*** Official 2015 Royals Repository ***

[duncan_idaho]

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

Duncan's Official Team Record prediction: 90 wins
Duncan's Official Team MVP prediction: Eric Hosmer

I can't wait for this season to start. The AL Central should be a very entertaining race. I'll give brief thoughts on each team the Royals must contend with to make it back to the postseason - strengths and weaknesses.

Detroit Tigers:
Strength: The offense is still full of powerful hitters, and Miguel Cabrera may be healthier.
Weakness: Rotation is questionable after Price and Sanchez, bullpen continues to be horrible.

Cleveland Indians:
Strength: Great manager and a deep, versatile lineup.
Weakness: The rotation is a question mark past Corey Kluber, and even he has a few questions about him.

Chicago White Sox:
Strength: 1-2-3 combo of Sale, Quintana and Samardzija is pretty formidable. Offense is anchored by Jose Abreu, too.
Weakness: Defense still has major questions, and this team has 20 games to improve by if it really wants to make the playoffs.

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

Let's get this started!

[Hootie]

Originally Posted by Pasta Giant Meatball

Who would be dumb enough to think that?

I'll give you 1 guess

[DJJasonp]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Easy for me. I hate watching the draft.

Yeah,its not like they actually talk about the chiefs pick anyways.....remember last year?

"And here's the chiefs pick.........so anyways, we got johnny manziel's high school football coach on the line......bob, what you think about johnny to cleveland."

[Strongside]

I'm pretty sure both ESPN and NFL Network have a running, mandated joke to cut to commercial every time the Chiefs make a pick. I was shocked they didn't do it when we picked #1 overall.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Strongside

I'm pretty sure both ESPN and NFL Network have a running, mandated joke to cut to commercial every time the Chiefs make a pick. I was shocked they didn't do it when we picked #1 overall.

That's what happens when you make boring pick after boring pick over the course of several decades.

Oh, the Chiefs took another fattie with a first-round pick. Yaaaaaawn.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

I can't believe the Braves didn't trade us Upton for Colon

http://m.chiefsplanet.com/showthread.php?t=287806

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

That's what happens when you make boring pick after boring pick over the course of several decades.

Oh, the Chiefs took another fattie with a first-round pick. Yaaaaaawn.

Might be something to this, because I don't think they were in a commercial when the Chiefs picked Bowe, Dorsey, and Berry.

[Chromatic]

I can see half the board ripping their faces off over this

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by Chromatic

I can see half the board ripping their faces off over this

Seeing that half of the leagues fans seem to hate the Royals' "excessive" celebrations, I can't find much to disagree with here.

[Prison Bitch]

Rock was right on every single point he made

[Chromatic]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

Seeing that half of the leagues fans seem to hate the Royals' "excessive" celebrations, I can't find much to disagree with here.

I agree. The current Royals definitely play into the things Rock wants in baseball. Swagger, celebrations, and a non-apologetic attitude from finally being good after years in the gutter.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by Chromatic

I agree. The current Royals definitely play into the things Rock wants in baseball. Swagger, celebrations, and a non-apologetic attitude from finally being good after years in the gutter.

Can you imagine how much shit people would give an NFL team for starting a fight because someone did an endzone celebration after scoring a TD? Baseball is full of a bunch of pussies if you ask me. They get butthurt for things like this way to much. Dust yourself off, get better, and don't let them homer off you or beat the shit out of you if you don't want them celebrating. Don't get whine about it.

[tomahawk kid]

Originally Posted by Chromatic

I can see half the board ripping their faces off over this

The thing is - when you read between the lines and past the comedic quips - he's not wrong.

ESPECIALLY when he references the un-written rules of baseball.

I put this in another post, but I think the adherence to this BS is a HUGE reason why so many teams have a problem with the Royals right now.

The little gestures and celebrations are much more indicative of the game in Latin America - but it doesn't line up with Rock's reference to the "white way to play the game."

Setting that part of the discussion aside, the pace of play issue is huge as well. I don't know how we got here - but I don't remember games taking 3+ hours when I was a kid (I'm only 37). As a father to two young kids (soon to be 3) I can tell you its almost IMPOSSIBLE to keep them interested in a baseball game that long.

I mean, the Little K and the playground are great - but I want my kids to develop a love for the game, that results in them wanting to see the ROYALS, not play on the Merry Go Round.

I understand some of that will come with time (maybe not all) - but the pace of play certainly doesn't help matters in that regard.

[KCUnited]

I saw this on Monday night, had an entire extended black family sitting behind me. They were obviously new to the game, were decked out in all new Royals gear, and were trying to get the crowd hype like they probably saw it during the post season. I heard a couple of them comment on how tame and boring the crowd was, trying to compare it to Arrowhead crowds. You could almost hear the collective grown from over 50 baseball guy every time this family commented on the game.

They didn't know shit about the game but they were into every pitch, which is way better than know-it-all guy sitting behind you who'd rather flex his stat knowledge than cheer for somebody.

[Hootie]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

http://m.chiefsplanet.com/showthread.php?t=287806

that moronic decision by Bochy almost cost them the World Series ... I was exactly right in that entire thread if you go read it

[Al Bundy]

Chris Young had a solid response to the claim that the #Royals lack veteran leadership.... (1/4)

— Josh Vernier (@JoshVernier610) April 22, 2015

"We play the game the right way, and if they're envious of that or they have problems with that, that's they're issue, not ours.... (2/4)

— Josh Vernier (@JoshVernier610) April 22, 2015

We're going to keep doing what we do. ... Playing the game hard. ...That's insulting to say that another team doesn't have that... (3/4)

— Josh Vernier (@JoshVernier610) April 22, 2015

...You can look at the character of the individual saying that, and I think that that reflects poorly on them & that's enough said." #Royals

— Josh Vernier (@JoshVernier610) April 22, 2015