Royals 2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread - Page 259

duncan_idaho · 10:01 AM

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?

ChiefsCountry · 05-09-2013, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -King-

Lineup changed:

Escobar
Cain
Gordon
Butler
Posted via Mobile Device

Hopefully Gordon produces in the 3 spot. He hasn't in the past though.

Deberg_1990 · 05-09-2013, 02:47 PM

is it wrong that I'm starting to get a Mark Teahen vibe from Hosmer? Maybe everyone was wrong and hes basically just a slap hitter with average power?
Posted via Mobile Device

Cephalic Trauma · 05-09-2013, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Hopefully Gordon produces in the 3 spot. He hasn't in the past though.

I was surprised to find his stats were really similar in the 1 and 3 last year.
Batting 1: .379/.466/.845
Batting 3: .356/.462/.818

2011 is a different story though.

**alnorth** · 05-09-2013, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -King-

Lineup changed:

Escobar
Cain
Gordon
Butler
Posted via Mobile Device

I'm fine with this. I would have put Gordon #1 or #2, but it is more important to me that we have Gordon, Escobar, AND Cain at the top, in some order.

**alnorth** · 05-09-2013, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

is it wrong that I'm starting to get a Mark Teahen vibe from Hosmer? Maybe everyone was wrong and hes basically just a slap hitter with average power?
Posted via Mobile Device

I'm getting concerned about Hosmer. His power just inexplicably disappeared.

At least with Moose we always knew he had power, he wasn't great in 2012 but still slugged over .400 unlike Hosmer. Then this year the Royals identified a specific problem, followed by Moose rocking and rolling after working on said problem.

**DeezNutz** · 05-09-2013, 02:56 PM

Whenever the Royals claim to have identified a problem, I cannot help but roll my eyes.

**alnorth** · 05-09-2013, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Whenever the Royals claim to have identified a problem, I cannot help but roll my eyes.

Its kinda hard to argue against it, unless you have some pre-determined desire to always call BS on that.

Its not like the Royals engaged in revisionist history, they called their shot, a lot of people said "yeah right" or "we'll see" and boom, Moose goes off. Moose struggled for quite a while, so it'd be a hell of a coincidence.

**DeezNutz** · 05-09-2013, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnorth

Its kinda hard to argue against it, unless you have some pre-determined desire to always call BS on that.

Its not like the Royals engaged in revisionist history, they called their shot, a lot of people said "yeah right" or "we'll see" and boom, Moose goes off. Moose struggled for quite a while, so it'd be a hell of a coincidence.

With this isolated example, yes.

How many times, however, has Hoch been "fixed"?

ChiefsCountry · 05-09-2013, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnorth

I'm getting concerned about Hosmer. His power just inexplicably disappeared.

At least with Moose we always knew he had power, he wasn't great in 2012 but still slugged over .400 unlike Hosmer. Then this year the Royals identified a specific problem, followed by Moose rocking and rolling after working on said problem.

Hosmer IMO just needs time. He is only 23. Pro players don't hit their prime until 27. Gordon is a classic example of this. Just let him keeping hitting and it will eventually click.

duncan_idaho · 05-09-2013, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

is it wrong that I'm starting to get a Mark Teahen vibe from Hosmer? Maybe everyone was wrong and hes basically just a slap hitter with average power?
Posted via Mobile Device

Travis Lee is also a valid comparison if Hosmer's power never comes back.

Mama Hip Rockets · 05-09-2013, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCUnited

When do we see the Hosmer shift with 4 guys standing on the edge of the grass behind short?

Mama Hip Rockets · 05-09-2013, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -King-

Lineup changed:

Escobar
Cain
Gordon
Butler
Posted via Mobile Device

I like this.

Hootie · 05-09-2013, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thurman merman

I like this.

I took an awful large amount of shit for this lineup and now suddenly everyone is on board...

I see.

Ceej · 05-09-2013, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hootie

I took an awful large amount of shit for this lineup and now suddenly everyone is on board...

I see.

And here we go.

Nightfyre · 05-09-2013, 04:41 PM

If we are bumping Gordon out of the leadoff spot, he must be used to protect Billy, IMO.

Putting Butler/Gordon/Cain makes it much more difficult to pitch around either of our key bats. However, Esky in the leadoff spot is not a good call. He doesn't see enough pitches and only gets on base via hits.

12-11-2012, 09:59 AM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $1850308	2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread 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? Last edited by duncan_idaho; 07-15-2013 at 10:01 AM..
Posts: 21,051

05-09-2013, 02:47 PM	#3872
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3924454	is it wrong that I'm starting to get a Mark Teahen vibe from Hosmer? Maybe everyone was wrong and hes basically just a slap hitter with average power? Posted via Mobile Device
Posts: 66,914

05-09-2013, 04:41 PM	#3885
Nightfyre MVP Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Helena, MT Casino cash: $3738849	If we are bumping Gordon out of the leadoff spot, he must be used to protect Billy, IMO. Putting Butler/Gordon/Cain makes it much more difficult to pitch around either of our key bats. However, Esky in the leadoff spot is not a good call. He doesn't see enough pitches and only gets on base via hits.
Posts: 18,519

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