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?

[Sure-Oz]

Just like Hochevar....

I hope a few more starts he will do well but i think if duffy is healthy get him up soon and move davis to the pen. Help 2 spots

[TLO]

What about Paulino? Am I missing the news on him or is there nothing out there?

[SPchief]

Originally Posted by Big Smoke

What about Paulino? Am I missing the news on him or is there nothing out there?

His shoulder was bothering him after his simulated game again so they postponed his rehab stint again.

[Demonpenz]

Paulinoaki

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by sedated

People said Lough’s upside was David DeJesus, and that’s exactly what he’s been so far – a .300 hitter with speed that’s almost good enough to be in CF.

I think the “super utility” and “4th OF” comments are anticipating a drop-off in production. If he continues I don’t see why he can’t be an everyday guy (albeit on a team without the funds to have all-stars at every position – ideally we’d like more power from RF, but we can’t have everything and a .300 hitter is a nice consolation.)

He's played well enough that he needs to prove that he's a fourth outfielder. Until we trade for Stanton, of course.

Then Low and Penz can go **** themselves.

[Demonpenz]

Better than bad doesn't equal good I suppose.

[DeezNutz]

And, FTR, when the topic of semi-shitty outfielders comes up, it often seems that Cain stands outside of these discussions, and he shouldn't. He has done little to separate himself meaningfully from the likes of Dyson and Lough.

Thus, when we trade a bunch of "pitching prospects" for Stanton, it will be a 3-for-all in the octagon of semi-worthlessness at the 'Lil K, the new home of the Frenchy Quarter. To commemorate, RF has been slightly sunk in comparison to the rest of the diamond.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

And, FTR, when the topic of semi-shitty outfielders comes up, it often seems that Cain stands outside of these discussions, and he shouldn't. He has done little to separate himself meaningfully from the likes of Dyson and Lough.

Thus, when we trade a bunch of "pitching prospects" for Stanton, it will be a 3-for-all in the octagon of semi-worthlessness at the 'Lil K, the new home of the Frenchy Quarter. To commemorate, RF has been slightly sunk in comparison to the rest of the diamond.

Cain has been 'ok' offensively and pretty good defensively. I still want to see more from a 26 yr old CF'er. Atleast be a Mike Cameron batting .260-270 with around 20 HR and good defense

[Three7s]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

Cain has been 'ok' offensively and pretty good defensively. I still want to see more from a 26 yr old CF'er. Atleast be a Mike Cameron batting .260-270 with around 20 HR and good defense

Cain is, basically, Michael Tucker right now.

[Archie F. Swin]

Now would be a good time for the Royals to play the best baseball they can. If only they had some kind of home field advantage. Hopefully the locals will turn out for this important series.

[RockChalk]

13 games until the break. We need to go 8-5 to get us to .500 (46-46) at the break. If we can do that, I think we'll be within 3 to 4 games and then anything can happen.

8 wins seems pretty doable, but it starts with taking both series at home.

[Mr_Tomahawk]

Make or Break series begins tonight.

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by RockChalk

13 games until the break. We need to go 8-5 to get us to .500 (46-46) at the break. If we can do that, I think we'll be within 3 to 4 games and then anything can happen.

8 wins seems pretty doable, but it starts with taking both series at home.

We have got to beat Cleveland at least two out of three starting today. A sweep would be fantastic!

[Mama Hip Rockets]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

And, FTR, when the topic of semi-shitty outfielders comes up, it often seems that Cain stands outside of these discussions, and he shouldn't. He has done little to separate himself meaningfully from the likes of Dyson and Lough.

Word up. Cain has been absolutely horrible the past few weeks. Since June 11 he is hitting .130 with 1 HR, 2 RBI, and 18 K in 54 at-bats (1 K per 3 AB).

[Mama Hip Rockets]

Originally Posted by RockChalk

13 games until the break. We need to go 8-5 to get us to .500 (46-46) at the break. If we can do that, I think we'll be within 3 to 4 games and then anything can happen.

8 wins seems pretty doable, but it starts with taking both series at home.

I will be bringing my good luck with me to four of these games. Going to three in New York and one in Cleveland. I anticipate they will win all of these games 13 to 0.