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?

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by nychief

they are just playing with the new toy... lough will get his abs.

you don't PLAY when you are trying to make the playoffs for the first time in 25 years.

especially when you have a young and developing player

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Maxwell is a career .370 OB .455 slug against lefties, so it's not ridiculous to play him instead of Lough. Now, the wisdom or need to acquire Maxwell in the first place...? Yeah, those are legitimate questions.

I think he is the right-handed power option vs the left-handed speed option for OF backups.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

you don't PLAY when you are trying to make the playoffs for the first time in 25 years.

especially when you have a young and developing player

Well, not arguing with you.. just wanted to point out that Lough really isn't all that young. He's 27 and older than Billy Butler. It's not like he's a prospect or anything. He's almost 3 years older than Mous (who people have already given up on), and 4 years older than Hosmer.

[mr. tegu]

I guess as long as they don't make a habit of doing this with Maxwell and Lough I am okay with it. Today is a day game so there is that also. He could be a good pinch hitter for Dyson late in the game, then put Cain in on defense for him.

But there is no way they should make a straight up platoon between these guys based on the starting pitcher. I know some here may disagree but Lough could be an everyday RF for us in the future so letting him continue to prove it against both lefties and righties is the best thing to do, especially considering he has virtually no split in any category.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Well, not arguing with you.. just wanted to point out that Lough really isn't all that young. He's 27 and older than Billy Butler. It's not like he's a prospect or anything. He's almost 3 years older than Mous (who people have already given up on), and 4 years older than Hosmer.

fair enough

he's still developing at the MLB level though, could get better .... one of our better hitters already.

[mr. tegu]

Who's got the game thread? Just a little over 20 minutes until the start time.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

I guess as long as they don't make a habit of doing this with Maxwell and Lough I am okay with it. Today is a day game so there is that also. He could be a good pinch hitter for Dyson late in the game, then put Cain in on defense for him.

But there is no way they should make a straight up platoon between these guys based on the starting pitcher. I know some here may disagree but Lough could be an everyday RF for us in the future so letting him continue to prove it against both lefties and righties is the best thing to do, especially considering he has virtually no split in any category.

I think platooning them is exactly what they are going to do

I think you are going to see a constant rotation of Cain,Dyson,Lough,Maxwell in the outfield

makes Yost feel like he's doing something

[petegz28]

I ****ing knew it.....the first game Maxwell is available they bench Lough.

[Cephalic Trauma]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I ****ing knew it.....the first game Maxwell is available they bench Lough.

At least they gave you another thing to bitch about!

[TLO]

Anyone know where I can get the game on TV? Or a link to watch it on my laptop?

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Big Smoke

Anyone know where I can get the game on TV? Or a link to watch it on my laptop?

No TV today

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by Big Smoke

Anyone know where I can get the game on TV? Or a link to watch it on my laptop?

Vipbox is usually pretty reliable.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Cephalic Trauma

At least they gave you another thing to bitch about!

Anytime you feel like an anti-freeze cocktail, you just let me know and I will gladly make you one

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I ****ing knew it.....the first game Maxwell is available they bench Lough.

Hard to believe you would be one of the people overreact to the lineup.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Cephalic Trauma

At least they gave you another thing to bitch about!

He's right though


We just traded for a .250 hitter so we could pull a relatively young, productive .300 hitter out of the lineup.

On a team that struggles on offense.

Brilliant!!