2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread

[duncan_idaho]

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?

[OmahaChief]

"They're hot," Gomes said. "We've been hot. They gave us their best bullet and beat us by one run. It wasn't our best bullet. You saw that, but we're still hanging in there."

Eff Gomes. I hate Boston.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by Archie F. Swin

I think the Royals proved over the weekend that if they could snag a wildcard spot, they could win a playoff series. The buzz surrounding the Detroit series will be off the charts.

First things first, let's sweep the Miami traffickers.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by OmahaChief

"They're hot," Gomes said. "We've been hot. They gave us their best bullet and beat us by one run. It wasn't our best bullet. You saw that, but we're still hanging in there."

Eff Gomes. I hate Boston.

I hope their collective Duck Dynasty beards catch on fire and spread like an AID's tree throughout that Franchise.

[CaliforniaChief]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

I hope their collective Duck Dynasty beards catch on fire and spread like an AID's tree throughout that Franchise.

Those look ridiculous.

What's funny is that I don't think we're playing our best baseball yet, either. We left the bases loaded with 1 out in the 8th. Still having baserunning mistakes. We're down 2 starters. Our ace is a little off right now.

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by alnorth

According to baseball prospectus, the Royals now have a 6.9% chance of making the playoffs. (0.4% Division, 6.5% Wild Card, 0.2% chance of winning the world series)

That's preposterous. We aren't likely to win the division, but we have better than a 1 in 250 shot it.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

That's preposterous. We aren't likely to win the division, but we have better than a 1 in 250 shot it.

Their monte carlo simulations believe that the Royals are really a 78-84 team, and presume that they will play like one the rest of the way. They also presume that the Tigers will play like a 97-win team. If thats the case, then its easy to see how they get those small odds.

The playoff odds from ESPN probably presume that every team will continue to play like their current record, which is why they give the Royals a better chance.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Their monte carlo simulations believe that the Royals are really a 78-84 team, and presume that they will play like one the rest of the way. They also presume that the Tigers will play like a 97-win team. If thats the case, then its easy to see how they get those small odds.

The playoff odds from ESPN probably presume that every team will continue to play like their current record, which is why they give the Royals a better chance.

That's a legit way to look at it, especially given the history of the two clubs.

That said, it doesn't matter. The games are all played inside the white lines - not a computer. Just keep winning and let the chips fall where they may. In the mean time, this is just fun as shit to be discussing these topics in August. I hope we have this same legit opportunity in September.

[CaliforniaChief]

Alright, so here are the games that matter today, all times Central:


Florida at Kansas City (7:10 PM)
Koehler (3-7, 4.40) vs. Davis (5-9, 5.42)

Oakland at Toronto (11:37 AM)
Strally (6-6, 4.41) vs. Happ (2-2, 5.84)

Detroit at Chicago White Sox (7:10 PM)
Fister (10-5, 3.50) vs. (Sale 7-11, 2.77)

Baltimore at Arizona (8:40 PM)
Feldman (2-3, 5.70) vs. Miley (9-8, 3.56)

Cleveland at Minnesota (7:10 PM)
Salazar (1-0, 3.29) vs. Albers (1-0, 0.00)

Tampa Bay Idle

Meaning that with a win tonight, we would guarantee at least a half-game pickup on Tampa Bay, who could be moved into the 2nd WC spot today.

Go Jays, White Sox, D-backs, and Twins...
and of course, GO ROYALS!!!!!!!!

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Their monte carlo simulations believe that the Royals are really a 78-84 team, and presume that they will play like one the rest of the way. They also presume that the Tigers will play like a 97-win team. If thats the case, then its easy to see how they get those small odds.

The playoff odds from ESPN probably presume that every team will continue to play like their current record, which is why they give the Royals a better chance.

The Royals have played their py-thag hypothetical on the dot, 61-54. There is no luck here. They went 5-2 vs. Boston. They're also 5-3 vs Detroit already this year including 2-1 vs them before Detroit's 12 game streak. Royals as of today don't resemble a 78-84 team at all so I'm not sure what their analytics say. Do they take into account Frenchy and Getz being in there 2 months or do they factor the lineup as currently slated?

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

In his last 10 games, Hunter Dozier has a slash line of .520/.667/1.187 for Idaho Falls. He has 11 walks and seven strikeouts in that time.

Dozier got promoted to Lexington. Hope he keeps it up.

[WhawhaWhat]

Alex Avila on the 7-day DL. Won't be seeing him in the series with the Royals, too bad.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by OmahaChief

"They're hot," Gomes said. "We've been hot. They gave us their best bullet and beat us by one run. It wasn't our best bullet. You saw that, but we're still hanging in there."

Eff Gomes. I hate Boston.

Gomes needs to remember how to play routine fly balls before he decides to talk weak shit.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by Bowser

Gomes needs to remember how to play routine fly balls before he decides to talk weak shit.

Hey Gomes - KC went 5-2 against you this year. Eat a ****.

I hope we get a chance to meet them in the Playoffs.

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Hey Gomes - KC went 5-2 against you this year. Eat a ****.

I hope we get a chance to meet them in the Playoffs.

I still think the fix was in on that loss after the bombings. Herrera comes in walks a batter on four pitches and then gives up a bomb to Daniel Nava.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

I still think the fix was in on that loss after the bombings. Herrera comes in walks a batter on four pitches and then gives up a bomb to Napoli.

Nava