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?

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by CJizzles

Not sure what sort of ROI people are expecting with Luke.

Stanton plus prospects.

[Ceej]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

Stanton plus prospects.

At least.

[SPchief]

Originally Posted by CJizzles

Not sure what sort of ROI people are expecting with Luke.

Jim Johnson

[Ceej]

Originally Posted by SPchief

Jim Johnson

We'd more than likely have to trade our entire roster + George Brett.

**** it. I'm in!

[BWillie]

Dont want Aviles back but its almost worth it if u can give away Hochevar for next yr

[Ceej]

I'm not advocating Luke for Aviles. It was mentioned to me by a buddy of mine.

I wouldn't be upset with it though.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by CJizzles

I'm not advocating Luke for Aviles. It was mentioned to me by a buddy of mine.

I wouldn't be upset with it though.

Ergh, a .687 OPS with a .9 WAR?

Mediocre is miles better than Getz, I suppose.

However, knowing Dayton and his love for a terrible .OPS, he'll probably attach some B-level prospect to the deal which will invoke the wrath of us all.

[Ceej]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

Ergh, a .687 OPS with a .9 WAR?

Mediocre is miles better than Getz, I suppose.

Just thinking of viable options not named Kendrick or Wong.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by SPchief

Jim Johnson

woah now... let's not go overboard. Jim Johnson is the GOAT.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

Ergh, a .687 OPS with a .9 WAR?

Mediocre is miles better than Getz, I suppose.

However, knowing Dayton and his love for a terrible .OPS, he'll probably attach some B-level prospect to the deal which will invoke the wrath of us all.

This is what has me scared out of my mind as a fan of this team\org... that our GM is completely ****ing incompetent... so I have no faith that anything will get done.... In fact, I know he will do something desperate and stupid that hurts us in the long run.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by CJizzles

Just thinking of viable options not named Kendrick or Wong.

An intradivision trade with our competing team involving a player we've already released? Yeah, that has a snowball's chance of ever happening.

[Ceej]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

An intradivision trade with our competing team involving a player we've already released? Yeah, that has a snowball's chance of ever happening.

I think you over-read the part where my buddy mentioned it to me.

I don't foresee it happening either, but I brought it up for conversation purposes.

[WhawhaWhat]

Assembling Howie Kendrick Trade Packages

If the Royals aren't selling, as Passan tweeted yesterday, there's a good chance they're looking to add talent to their 25-man roster. Their weaknesses have been glaring all season long, with second base and outfield the problem areas.

They also have a good amount of starting pitching depth, which is what they'd likely dip into to acquire another bat. With Danny Duffy (pictured) in Triple-A after returning from Tommy John surgery, he'd likely be the next in line if the Royals were to need a starter. Felipe Paulino is also on the comeback trail from the same surgery.

They're not short in top pitching prospects either. Yordano Ventura and Kyle Zimmer, two potential front-line starters, could each push for a rotation spot by next season.

The point is they can trade their current "sixth starter" Duffy, who was starting to establish himself as a pretty good major league starter before the elbow injury, and still feel secure with the pitching depth they have.

And they'd be all set at second base through 2015 if they were to acquire Kendrick for Duffy, Johnny Giavotella (.805 OPS, 7 HR, 7 SB), who doesn't appear to be in Kansas City's future plans, and right-hander Kyle Smith, who is having a breakout season in High-A (2.85 ERA, 104.1 IP, 93 H, 29 BB, 96 K).


Royals get: 2B Howie Kendrick

Angels get: 2B Johnny Giavotella, RHP Kyle Smith, LHP Danny Duffy

They have the Orioles, Rockies, Tigers and A's as other teams they put trades together for.

[Prison Bitch]

Passan's proposal is about what I'd expect and it would be fair value for both teams.

[mr. tegu]

I would still prefer to keep Duffy over Ventura assuming he is healthy.