2012 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread

[alnorth]

2012 Slogan: Our Time

A better, more accurate 2012 Slogan: It is Finally Next Year
(from Great Expectations)

An alternative slogan if you don't like that one: Someone has to win this crappy division
(from alnorth)

With the beginning of a new year, it is time for the 2012 version of the Royals Repository Thread. We've got Hosmer, we've got a 2011-dominating Gordon, we've got Moose, we've got hopefully a killer bullpen, we've got a stereotypical slow slugging DH, we've got easily one of the best defensive shortstops in the AL, we've got a promising catcher in Salvador Perez. Hell, we've got offense and promising prospects galore.

We do not have starting pitching.

Oh yeah, we've also got this:



Get ready for, (as of January 2012 anyway), one of the most confusing puzzles of a baseball season in recent Royals history. Will they suck? Maybe, I don't know. Will we be given a year of 0.500 baseball? Possibly, I don't know. Will they win the division and go to the playoffs for the first time in 27 years? For the first time in a long time, it could happen, I don't know. 92 losses, 92 wins, or anything in between would not surprise a lot of us.

Everything goes here except Gameday threads and really big news. If a giant story breaks, the Royals achieve some awesome milestone, or we sign/lose a highly significant player/coach/mascot/whatever, then it might also deserve its own thread. This being Chiefs Planet, please do not clutter the board with new threads about trivial Royals news or you will only annoy those who come here for just Chiefs football. If you aren't sure and its not a Gameday thread, it goes here.

What sort of stuff often goes here? SPchief explained it well, so I'll just copy that:

If you locate something of interest.. ANYTHING.. deals on apparel, best ways in/out of the stadium, giveaways, great stories from this season or from seasons gone by, rumors, trades, anything.... feel free to post it here.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by Dr. Johnny Fever

al has done a bang up job the last 2 years. I have nothing but love for al. He seems to disappear for long stretches sometimes but I guess once the thread is started that's ok. duncan is more than qualified and seems to be here more. Just my take.

Duncan's devotion to this sad sack of a franchise definitely deserves some recognition.

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

Originally Posted by BWillie

I don't quite understand why ppl aren't willing to give up Myers if it nets us Lester or Schields for at least 3 years. Myers might not even be good once he gets here. We need pitching at this point more than anything. Honestly though, I'd dangle Bubba & Ventura as chips more than Myers and throw in Gio or something. Sell high on guys that probably won't be worth a shit.

At this risk of getting shit on for it I agree with this. Myers has great potential. He's done nothing at the major league level yet. (partially because he hasn't been given the chance granted) What's this team biggest need? Starting pitching. We all know it. We all lament it. You have to give up something to get something.

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

Duncan's devotion to this sad sack of a franchise definitely deserves some recognition.

Plus he just knows his shit and doesn't post emotional responses. I'm not saying alnorth isn't just as good... he is. duncan to me is the best and most informed baseball poster/Royals fan here though. JMO.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by BWillie

I don't quite understand why ppl aren't willing to give up Myers if it nets us Lester or Schields for at least 3 years. Myers might not even be good once he gets here. We need pitching at this point more than anything. Honestly though, I'd dangle Bubba & Ventura as chips more than Myers and throw in Gio or something. Sell high on guys that probably won't be worth a shit.

Because it wouldn't net three years of Lester or Shields.
Each is controlled for just two seasons. Myers' value is higher than that. If the Royals move him, they'd be looking for something like what the Yankees got back for Jesus Montero last offseason (though it can be argued Myers is likely to be more valuable because of his defensive versatility).

Lester can be removed from the equation. That's already been pretty well shot down on the Red Sox side of things (someone who works in the GM's office was quoted off the record that it would take Myers AND a pitching prospect).

The problem with Tampa is that while it has tons of surplus pitching, what the Rays need right now is MLB-ready hitting. And the Royals really begin and end with Myers (or Hosmer, Moustakas, Butler, Gordon). So it's tough to match up with Tampa.

I'd be all for flipping some lesser prospects to, say, Houston for a Bud Norris type. Who isn't a superstar, but would have a much more reasonable price tag (and is someone you can probably pick up with some B-grade prospects).

I thnk I said it earlier on here, but Myers for Shields only works (for KC) if Tampa is sending some significant stuff back with him (Chris Archer + one more good prospect).

[duncan_idaho]

Also... appreciate the compliments. I think this is the best board for Royals talk, honestly.

I can start the 2013 thread once the new year rolls around. Hopefully that one is a little happier (or a lot) than this one...

[Silock]

Originally Posted by Dr. Johnny Fever

At this risk of getting shit on for it I agree with this. Myers has great potential. He's done nothing at the major league level yet. (partially because he hasn't been given the chance granted) What's this team biggest need? Starting pitching. We all know it. We all lament it. You have to give up something to get something.

But what we get in return needs to be more than two years of aging pitcher.

[BlackHelicopters]

Just don't want GMDM to get fleeced. IMO, our #1 prospect has more value than just a starter that we can control for two years. GMDM holds a valuable card. Hope he knows it.

[siberian khatru]

This is an excellent piece from Royals Review that complements Mellinger's column:

http://www.royalsreview.com/2012/11/...pen-his-wallet

Some choice excerpts:

The idea the Royals have to clear payroll to add a player at this point in the offseason is questionable. According to Forbes, in 2011 (the most recent year where data is available) the Royals as a franchise are worth $354 million. The percentage of debt the Royals carry is around 15 percent, which is fairly low. Their revenues in 2011 were $161 million. Attendance was up marginally last year and throw in the windfall from the All-Star Game and you're looking at a nice increase for the just completed 2012 season.

We all know about the profits. Oh, the profits. The Glass family banked over $28 million dollars in 2011. That was built on the back of an insanely low payroll, thanks to the largesse of Gil Meche and a youth movement wholly supported by the fans.

According to the numbers obtained by Forbes, in the Dayton Moore era, the Royals have been operating at an annual profit of around $8 million. (2011 was certainly the outlier, buffeted by that low payroll. At least we hope it was an outlier.) While the cash registers have been ringing, the value of the team has gone from $282 million in 2006 to $354 million in 2011.

In other words, this franchise is in strong fiscal shape.

The idea that the Royals are up against their payroll ceiling for the 2013 season is complete and utter bullshit. It's insulting. It is a slap in the face of a fanbase that has, by and large, remained patient throughout The Process. Those who bought tickets. The ones who purchased merchandise. They attended FanFest. (Remember FanFest?) It is a mockery of an electorate that approved hundreds of millions in stadium renovations. If David Glass pushed his payroll to $80 million for next year, he would still make money. Would he make his normal $8 million? Probably not. But I would wager fielding a competitive team would boost attendance that could help absorb some of the cost. And with the success of other outlets, such as MLB Advanced Media, revenues are in fine shape.

In 2010, the Royals had a record Opening Day payroll of around $75 million. They still made $10 million on the season. They wouldn't - and shouldn't - have a problem with an $80 million payroll. But with an increase in revenue streams, really, a $90 million ceiling feels about right.

Yes, $90 million. The Royals are absolutely built to absorb that kind of payroll.

****

The Royals can still get creative with a free agent signing. We are entering our third season of The Process at the major league level. We have a fairly good idea about the first wave. We know the strengths and weaknesses. There are gaps to fill. David Glass and Dayton Moore had to have known there were going to be gaps. They had to have known that when the window of opportunity opened, they were going to have to act, separate from the draft and separate from player development. Yes, it stinks that every single pitching prospect has stalled. Yet, there absolutely had to have been a contingency plan in place to supplement The Process. To not would be akin to baseball malpractice. Sadly, it wouldn't be the first time such an act was committed in Kansas City.

[Ceej]

Royals trade Vinnie Mac and Clint Robinson to Pirates for a couple of Luises.

[BigCatDaddy]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Royals have traded right-hander Vin Mazzaro and first baseman Clint Robinson to the Pittsburgh Pirates for minor league pitchers Luis Santos and Luis Rico.

Mazzaro was 4-3 with a 5.73 ERA for the Royals while filling in as a spot starter because of injuries last season. Robinson struck out twice in his first four major league at-bats. Both were designated for assignment on Nov. 20.

The 21-year-old Santos pitched for both Dominican Pirates clubs last season, combining for a 6-3 record and a 2.44 ERA in 14 games, including 12 starts. In 62 2-3 innings, he allowed 42 hits, walked 20 and struck out 74 while holding opponents to a .184 average.

Rico, who turns 19 on Thursday, was 0-1 with a 7.04 ERA in 11 games for the Dominican Pirates last season.

[KevB]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Because it wouldn't net three years of Lester or Shields.
Each is controlled for just two seasons. Myers' value is higher than that. If the Royals move him, they'd be looking for something like what the Yankees got back for Jesus Montero last offseason (though it can be argued Myers is likely to be more valuable because of his defensive versatility).

The problem with Tampa is that while it has tons of surplus pitching, what the Rays need right now is MLB-ready hitting. And the Royals really begin and end with Myers (or Hosmer, Moustakas, Butler, Gordon). So it's tough to match up with Tampa.

I'd be all for flipping some lesser prospects to, say, Houston for a Bud Norris type. Who isn't a superstar, but would have a much more reasonable price tag (and is someone you can probably pick up with some B-grade prospects).

I thnk I said it earlier on here, but Myers for Shields only works (for KC) if Tampa is sending some significant stuff back with him (Chris Archer + one more good prospect).

Rany talked about the Montero/Pineda deal. His point was that Pineda, when traded, was very close to Lester/Shields in value but was under team control for FIVE more years. The Yanks also got a second interesting piece in the trade.

I like the Norris thought. His strikeout rate and k/bb rate makes me think he's better than his numbers.

[KevB]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

This is an excellent piece from Royals Review that complements Mellinger's column

We need people to continue pounding this drum so the public at large understands that small market doesn't equal no money anymore.

[Nightfyre]

They do need some room on the forty man. They had to protect like six guys from the rule 5 draft. This trade is pretty indicative that they are not going to move hos though.

[Nightfyre]

They do need some room on the forty man. They had to protect like six guys from the rule 5 draft. This trade is pretty indicative that they are not going to move hos though.

[Nightfyre]

They do need some room on the forty man. They had to protect like six guys from the rule 5 draft. This trade is pretty indicative that they are not going to move hos though.