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?

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by alnorth

I was willing to give Hoch-the-reliever a chance since it was too late to cut him, but he was so God-awful last night, I'm completely done with him. Now I just hope he doesn't lose us a lot of games before he's out.

I was willing to give it a chance as well, but I had no hopes that it would help him.

His inability to pitch effectively out of the stretch and his inability to keep things simple and trust his stuff being the main culprits.

I supported the dude longer than many... but I'm done with it.

[DeezNutz]

Wow. Glad I fell asleep before the Hochevar meltdown. It's not surprising, though, since he's long been a mental midget.

[sedated]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

If they can convince some team desperate for a starting pitcher to trade them anything of value for Hochevar, they should do it and not look back.

A few pages back there was a report that said when the Royals were asked what it would take to trade Hoch, the Royals responded with “a lot”.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by sedated

A few pages back there was a report that said when the Royals were asked what it would take to trade Hoch, the Royals responded with “a lot”.

I remember that.

It's because Dayton Moore foolishly thinks other teams see the same thing he and his scouts do when they watch Hoch pitch.

Same deal as Kyle Davies. He's convinced other people in baseball will pounce on them... when really the most they'll offer is a short-leash minor league deal.

Luke Hochevar is to other baseball teams what Chris Volstad was to KC. Moore and co. just refuse to see it.

[CoMoChief]

Dont worry we can just run Chen out there and watch him lob 85mph meat pitches across the plate HS style.

[Cephalic Trauma]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Dont worry we can just run Chen out there and watch him lob 85mph meat pitches across the plate HS style.

I don't think I've ever seen you post something of this nature before. Great contribution!

[alnorth]

Our lineup picked up from where they left off yesterday, knocking the Reds around.

Royals up 5-2 in the 4th. Butler and Perez doubled, Cain tripled, homers by Gordon and Perez.

Salvador Perez could be the AL's catching superstar if he keeps this up.

[Nightfyre]

I love Salvy behind the plate- but if his bat gets too valuable, we will have to see about moving him, imo.

[SPchief]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

I love Salvy behind the plate- but if his bat gets too valuable, we will have to see about moving him, imo.

To where? Butler isn't going to play first everyday. I know they've been toying with the idea of Hosmer in right for the interleague games. But you can't do that full time.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

I love Salvy behind the plate- but if his bat gets too valuable, we will have to see about moving him, imo.

Unless he can play right, I don't know where we'd move him. He's also not just good on defense, he's great. He's big, so we may have to hold our breath and hope his knees hold up.

[Nightfyre]

DH'ing him may be the best option.

[alnorth]

Cain just doubled, halfway to the cycle.

Its not likely, but if Cain could somehow, someway be a great bat in the lineup, that unexpected bonus could shield the Royals from the impact of something going wrong somewhere else.

[Mama Hip Rockets]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

I love Salvy behind the plate- but if his bat gets too valuable, we will have to see about moving him, imo.

Yes. And the Packers should move Aaron Rodgers to wide receiver.

[Hootie]

what is Gordon's absolute ceiling this year?

how many homeruns?

I know we thought in the past he had 30 HR potential...any chance he turns some doubles into homers this year?

what do you guys think?

[Demonpenz]

Alex Gordons forearms and work ethic are huge, but I doubt I want to ever see him go after homeruns. He sucks when he pulls off the ball. Cain looked like a world beater with the brewers.