Royals (New) 2013 Kansas City Royals Repository - Page 94

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?

duncan_idaho · 09-25-2013, 02:20 PM

Beltran gets brought up because the pickings in the OF are extremely slim, especially if you're looking for power. That and his previous KC connection AND short-term contract outlook. Most of the available guys would be liveable in LF, but not so much in RF.

I wouldn't flip at a Lough/Maxwell approach as long as KC upgrades significantly at 2B. Sitting pat with Bonifacio, Lough and Maxwell would pin too much on internal improvement, which is dangerous.

Trade market likely will end up being the key. Michael Cuddyer, Howie Kendrick both make sense for KC (Cuddyer's ability to play RF AND 3B would be pretty nice.)

There's been non mention or movement on Cuddyer since the ASB, so I'm not sure if he makes it to the winter market, but he would be a good target.

Lineup vs. RHP

7 -Gordon
4 -Bonifacio
3- Hosmer
DH Butler
9 - Cuddyer
2- Perez
5- Moustakas
8- Cain/Dyson
6- Escobar

Lineup vs. LHP
7- Gordon
4- Bonifacio
3- Hosmer
DH-Butler
5 - Cuddyer
2 - Perez
9 - Maxwell
8 - Cain
6- Escobar

Great Expectations · 09-25-2013, 02:23 PM

Corey Hart?

We should have the money for Pence or Choo along with another SP.

Great Expectations · 09-25-2013, 02:26 PM

I wouldn't get that excited about Cuddyer, he will be 35 and leaving Coors field.

duncan_idaho · 09-25-2013, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Great Expectations

Corey Hart?

We should have the money for Pence or Choo along with another SP.

Pence/Choo both will command 15-20 million annually.

YEs, the Royals are getting more TV money and have a lot of money coming off the books, but they also will have a ton of players getting raises (Gordon, Butler, Shields, Hosmer, Escobar, Perez, Holland, Crow, Collins, Moustakas, Guthrie).

It's not just $25 million (TV) + $20 million (expiring contracts) to spend. More like $30 total.

Nightfyre · 09-25-2013, 02:31 PM

We may as well look at extending Hos this year, imo. His arbitration won't be cheap.

Chiefspants · 09-25-2013, 02:32 PM

I've thought this over a lot in the last few weeks, and if we have to choose between Shields or Santana, then I hope we resign Shields over this offseason.

If we could lock up Shields and land a Pence/Choo/Beltran with a Infante/Kendrick/Uribe, I'd feel pretty good about our chances to be contenders in 2015 and beyond (with some luck, we could make noise in 2014 as well).

Chiefspants · 09-25-2013, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

We may as well look at extending Hos this year, imo. His arbitration won't be cheap.

That would be a dream.

Prison Bitch · 09-25-2013, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

We may as well look at extending Hos this year, imo. His arbitration won't be cheap.

How many guys does Beane ever extend?

Chiefspants · 09-25-2013, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

How many guys does Beane ever extend?

How many World Series' has Beane participated in? I prefer Tampa's model over Oakland, let's sign the players young and do what we can to keep their careers in KC.

Great Expectations · 09-25-2013, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Pence/Choo both will command 15-20 million annually.

YEs, the Royals are getting more TV money and have a lot of money coming off the books, but they also will have a ton of players getting raises (Gordon, Butler, Shields, Hosmer, Escobar, Perez, Holland, Crow, Collins, Moustakas, Guthrie).

It's not just $25 million (TV) + $20 million (expiring contracts) to spend. More like $30 total.

The expiring contracts of Chen, Hoch, Santana, Getz, Frenchy, and Tejada are $32 million or so. I'd take 1/2 of that towards Pence/Choo.

Nightfyre · 09-25-2013, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

How many guys does Beane ever extend?

He had no problem inking Cespedes to a big deal.

ChiefsCountry · 09-25-2013, 02:35 PM

What would the Cardinals do?

duncan_idaho · 09-25-2013, 02:36 PM

One more name at 2B: Cuban emigre Alexander Guerrero.

Boras client. Was a lock to the Dodgers, but they have backed away and he is now open to all teams.

No idea if KC is in on him, but he supposedly is a good defender at 2B with 20-HR pop and good speed.

Shamelessly lifted from Royals scout site.

I wouldn't expect KC to sign either Pence or Choo, though I'd like the move. You're talking 5-6 years and probably $100 million altogether. Not sure if that's realistic.

**alnorth** · 09-25-2013, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FringeNC

What about Escobar? Can you really trot out a guy with a .550 OPS for 600+ ABs?

A good team can afford a no-hit all-glove SS, but we'd have to fix everything else. 2B needs to be at least OK, 3B needs to improve, and we need a great hitter in RF. Butler's obviously going nowhere, and will stay in DH whether we like it or not.

duncan_idaho · 09-25-2013, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Great Expectations

The expiring contracts of Chen, Hoch, Santana, Getz, Frenchy, and Tejada are $32 million or so. I'd take 1/2 of that towards Pence/Choo.

Chen - $4.5 million (likely replaced)
Hoch - $4.5 million (likely tendered, given a raise, possibly traded)
Getz - $1 million (gone)
Francoeur - $7.5 million
Tejada - $1 million (gone)
Santana - $12 million (need to spend a similar amount on a replacement in FA to truly contend)

Puts it right at $30 million, but about half of that needs to be allocated for a No. 2 pitcher and various spare parts (spare vet swing guy).

Just don't want people to look at the numbers and think KC has $50 million to spend. Not the case, and folks would be disappointed.

08-15-2013, 08:13 AM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $1300308	(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: 21,180

09-25-2013, 02:20 PM	#1396
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $1300308	Beltran gets brought up because the pickings in the OF are extremely slim, especially if you're looking for power. That and his previous KC connection AND short-term contract outlook. Most of the available guys would be liveable in LF, but not so much in RF. I wouldn't flip at a Lough/Maxwell approach as long as KC upgrades significantly at 2B. Sitting pat with Bonifacio, Lough and Maxwell would pin too much on internal improvement, which is dangerous. Trade market likely will end up being the key. Michael Cuddyer, Howie Kendrick both make sense for KC (Cuddyer's ability to play RF AND 3B would be pretty nice.) There's been non mention or movement on Cuddyer since the ASB, so I'm not sure if he makes it to the winter market, but he would be a good target. Lineup vs. RHP 7 -Gordon 4 -Bonifacio 3- Hosmer DH Butler 9 - Cuddyer 2- Perez 5- Moustakas 8- Cain/Dyson 6- Escobar Lineup vs. LHP 7- Gordon 4- Bonifacio 3- Hosmer DH-Butler 5 - Cuddyer 2 - Perez 9 - Maxwell 8 - Cain 6- Escobar __________________ "You gotta love livin', cause dying is a pain in the ass." ---- Sinatra
Posts: 21,180

09-25-2013, 02:23 PM	#1397
Great Expectations MVP Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Joplin, MO Casino cash: $13292338	Corey Hart? We should have the money for Pence or Choo along with another SP. __________________
Posts: 7,233

09-25-2013, 02:26 PM	#1398
Great Expectations MVP Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Joplin, MO Casino cash: $13292338	I wouldn't get that excited about Cuddyer, he will be 35 and leaving Coors field. __________________
Posts: 7,233

09-25-2013, 02:31 PM	#1400
Nightfyre MVP Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Helena, MT Casino cash: $3318849	We may as well look at extending Hos this year, imo. His arbitration won't be cheap.
Posts: 18,571

09-25-2013, 02:32 PM	#1401
Chiefspants World's Best Boss Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bronco Country Casino cash: $5654654	I've thought this over a lot in the last few weeks, and if we have to choose between Shields or Santana, then I hope we resign Shields over this offseason. If we could lock up Shields and land a Pence/Choo/Beltran with a Infante/Kendrick/Uribe, I'd feel pretty good about our chances to be contenders in 2015 and beyond (with some luck, we could make noise in 2014 as well).
Posts: 18,353

09-25-2013, 02:35 PM	#1407
ChiefsCountry The Insider Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Lake of the Ozarks Casino cash: $1858752	What would the Cardinals do?
Posts: 49,859

09-25-2013, 02:36 PM	#1408
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $1300308	One more name at 2B: Cuban emigre Alexander Guerrero. Boras client. Was a lock to the Dodgers, but they have backed away and he is now open to all teams. No idea if KC is in on him, but he supposedly is a good defender at 2B with 20-HR pop and good speed. Shamelessly lifted from Royals scout site. I wouldn't expect KC to sign either Pence or Choo, though I'd like the move. You're talking 5-6 years and probably $100 million altogether. Not sure if that's realistic. __________________ "You gotta love livin', cause dying is a pain in the ass." ---- Sinatra
Posts: 21,180