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?

[Dartgod]

I'll be there. Haven't missed the last 5 years or so. Looks like the rain will hold off.

[SPchief]

I'll be there. Rain shouldn't be an issue. Anyone have a problem with me starting the gamethread?

[MeatRock]

Originally Posted by SPchief

I'll be there. Rain shouldn't be an issue. Anyone have a problem with me starting the gamethread?

I think Cabletech just started one.

[KevB]

I can't go due to work. Hopefully Santana takes care of business.

Down on the farm, Yordano Ventura and Kyle Smith had nice first starts. Offense has started slow throughout the organization, hopefully they'll pick it up soon.

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by KevB

I can't go due to work. Hopefully Santana takes care of business.

Down on the far, Yordano Ventura and Kyle Smith had nice first starts. Offense has started slow throughout the organization, hopefully they'll pick it up soon.

The offense has picked it up after the first few innings. I know they are being much more patient this year which is awesome because they are getting walks, but I would like to see some scoring before the fifth inning.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by KevB

I can't go due to work. Hopefully Santana allows fewer than 4 HR's today

fify

[Ceej]

Don't think we are going to make the trek this week.

We wanted to go up Wednesday, but an 80% chance of storms and a high of 44 degrees sounds miserable.

[ChiliConCarnage]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

fify

statistical improbability. I'm just holding out hope for 1 run moonshots

[bsp4444]

Ball should stay in Kauffman a little better than it did on the road.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by bsp4444

Ball should stay in Kauffman a little better than it did on the road.

Santana throws HR Derby pitches no matter where he is at.
#santanasucks

[BlackHelicopters]

Strong south wind will not be Santana's friend.

[DJ's left nut]

Duncan,

The Cardinals are getting some great returns on Matt Carpenter at 2b and his bat has always profiled extremely well for the next level, especially if he can stick at 2b. So with Carpenter looking more and more like a long-term possibility at 2b, we have a top 50 prospect 2b of our own named Kolten Wong that appears to be buried or at least expendable in our pursuit of a SS.

If you're DM and the Cards come calling with Wong, who's arguably ML ready right now at 2b, would you give up Calixte or Mondesi for him? You fellas still don't appear to have a great long-term 2b option on your roster and our needs appear to match up nicely here.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Duncan,

The Cardinals are getting some great returns on Matt Carpenter at 2b and his bat has always profiled extremely well for the next level, especially if he can stick at 2b. So with Carpenter looking more and more like a long-term possibility at 2b, we have a top 50 prospect 2b of our own named Kolten Wong that appears to be buried or at least expendable in our pursuit of a SS.

If you're DM and the Cards come calling with Wong, who's arguably ML ready right now at 2b, would you give up Calixte or Mondesi for him? You fellas still don't appear to have a great long-term 2b option on your roster and our needs appear to match up nicely here.

no and no lol

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Duncan,

The Cardinals are getting some great returns on Matt Carpenter at 2b and his bat has always profiled extremely well for the next level, especially if he can stick at 2b. So with Carpenter looking more and more like a long-term possibility at 2b, we have a top 50 prospect 2b of our own named Kolten Wong that appears to be buried or at least expendable in our pursuit of a SS.

If you're DM and the Cards come calling with Wong, who's arguably ML ready right now at 2b, would you give up Calixte or Mondesi for him? You fellas still don't appear to have a great long-term 2b option on your roster and our needs appear to match up nicely here.

Don't be trying take Getz out of our lineup! He had an almost HR yesterday. That is raw power!

[Nightfyre]

I think wong is way overrated. Could be just me though.