Royals (New) 2013 Kansas City Royals Repository - Page 3

duncan_idaho · 08-15-2013, 08:13 AM

New thread, this time with more burst.

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?

**RockChalk** · 08-15-2013, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

It's a South Park reference.

Getz is marginally better than Giavotella at 2B. He has below-average range and a rag arm. He is sure-handed, though.

His base-running is solid but nothing special for a light-hitting middle infielder. HAve to get on base to take advantage of that, and he doesn't.

I'm not even sure it's marginally, anymore. And he may be "quick" around the bases, but I think he's a stupid base-runner

duncan_idaho · 08-15-2013, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeepSouth

So, when Moose and Cain return, can the Royals win with a platoon of Carrol (.300+ against LHP) and Bonifacio at 2nd?

I never watch South Park.

Sure. Assuming Cain and Moose don't fall off a cliff when coming back from the injuries.

Bonifacio MIGHT be able to handle the job straight up. Depends on how he adapts to the change of scenery.

Caroll is fine as a util guy who plays against lefties. Asking him to do anything more than that is a disaster.

mr. tegu · 08-15-2013, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Sure. Assuming Cain and Moose don't fall off a cliff when coming back from the injuries.

Bonifacio MIGHT be able to handle the job straight up. Depends on how he adapts to the change of scenery.

Caroll is fine as a util guy who plays against lefties. Asking him to do anything more than that is a disaster.

I presume the platoon at 2B will be Bonifacio and whoever survives of Getz and Johnson. I can't see Carrol playing over them especially since he would be our back up 3B.

CaliforniaChief · 08-15-2013, 09:34 AM

How can any serious baseball person even contemplate keeping "Lin" Elliot Johnson on a MLB roster, let alone a 40 man. DFA his worthless ass, there are at LEAST 4 better options in the system.

Gio, Colon, Falu, Seratelli

**RockChalk** · 08-15-2013, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

All of you naysayers and Neyers can GTFO and

Hey, I've been cheering for this team since my family moved here in '86. I watch every game that I can, winning or losing.

But I'm pissed off about yesterday, and the shit lineup we threw out there. I get that injuries have hurt us, but going to Detroit with 3 spots in our lineup guaranteed to be some form of Getz/Dyson/Carroll/Bonifacio just sucks. I get that the Omaha guys are "unknowns" at this point, but we KNOW that Getz and Carroll can't hit, period.

Plus in two of those Detroit games, you can replace Sal in the lineup with Kottaras. So we are going into our biggest series in 20 years with 3 good hitters (Hoz, Butler, Gordon) 3 guys hitting decent (Lough, Sal, Escobar) and 3 guys that could not hit if the ball was sitting on a stand.

duncan_idaho · 08-15-2013, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

How can any serious baseball person even contemplate keeping "Lin" Elliot Johnson on a MLB roster, let alone a 40 man. DFA his worthless ass, there are at LEAST 4 better options in the system.

Gio, Colon, Falu, Seratelli

Colon and Falu both can play SS, so they would make sense to promote and replace Johnson.

If I'm choosing between Getz and Johnson at the MLB level, though, and they haven't added another guy capable of playing SS, I keep Johnson because of his ability to play SS. Despite his error yesterday, I still believe Johnson is a better defender and base runner than Getz.

This whole situation is an excellent example of the danger of over-exposing a bench guy like Johnson, and why you can't just take a guy's production in a small sample size and project his WAR over a full season.

teedubya · 08-15-2013, 09:45 AM

Let's go Royals... losing 2/3 to the Marlins sucked balls. Let's win 4/5 against the Tigers.

Toadkiller · 08-15-2013, 09:46 AM

In on the new thread. Also in on the new 8 game winning streak starting tonight.

CaliforniaChief · 08-15-2013, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockChalk

Hey, I've been cheering for this team since my family moved here in '86. I watch every game that I can, winning or losing.

Oh we were all pissed off yesterday. It was an abomination. But it's over, and you can't let that stick with you. Not questioning anyone's fandom, just saying that it's time to move forward.

mr. tegu · 08-15-2013, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toadkiller

In on the new thread. Also in on the new 8 game winning streak starting tonight.

BigCatDaddy · 08-15-2013, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Step 1: Stop reading anything Lee Judge writes about the Royals or baseball in general.

Step 3: Profit.

Getz's defense and baserunning are SEVERELY overrated by the Royals' front office.

I noticed you left Paulino off the depth for 14. Are you writing him off? If healthy I think he is a solid to good starter, obviously IF is the key word there.

duncan_idaho · 08-15-2013, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

I noticed you left Paulino off the depth for 14. Are you writing him off? If healthy I think he is a solid to good starter, obviously IF is the key word there.

They don't have control of him after this year... he would need to accept a minor league deal at this point, in all likelihood.

Just not sure what becomes of him. I agree... if healthy, he's a solid piece in that rotation.

CaliforniaChief · 08-15-2013, 10:15 AM

So it looks like Duffy's going to get one of the starts tomorrow...and I'm fine with that. But do you think Ventura gets a shot this year?

cookster50 · 08-15-2013, 10:16 AM

You guys went from "No way, starting a new repository would mess up the mojo" to "Start a new repository and we get our mojo back" in two days. Bunch of flip flopping John Kerrys!

duncan_idaho · 08-15-2013, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

So it looks like Duffy's going to get one of the starts tomorrow...and I'm fine with that. But do you think Ventura gets a shot this year?

I don't think he's quite ready... pitched six shutout innings yesterday but walked five while doing it.

His command/control still have a way to go.

08-15-2013, 08:13 AM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $1760308	(New) 2013 Kansas City Royals Repository New thread, this time with more burst. 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?
Posts: 21,085

08-15-2013, 09:34 AM	#34
CaliforniaChief #RIPAce Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal Casino cash: $12422899	How can any serious baseball person even contemplate keeping "Lin" Elliot Johnson on a MLB roster, let alone a 40 man. DFA his worthless ass, there are at LEAST 4 better options in the system. Gio, Colon, Falu, Seratelli
Posts: 17,319

08-15-2013, 09:45 AM	#37
teedubya Most Valuable Poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Casino cash: $9480002	Let's go Royals... losing 2/3 to the Marlins sucked balls. Let's win 4/5 against the Tigers.
Posts: 36,651

08-15-2013, 09:46 AM	#38
Toadkiller Garlic make my feet stank! Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Washougal, WA Casino cash: $5854921	In on the new thread. Also in on the new 8 game winning streak starting tonight.
Posts: 2,048

08-15-2013, 10:15 AM	#43
CaliforniaChief #RIPAce Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal Casino cash: $12422899	So it looks like Duffy's going to get one of the starts tomorrow...and I'm fine with that. But do you think Ventura gets a shot this year?
Posts: 17,319

08-15-2013, 10:16 AM	#44
cookster50 Supreme Commander of My House Join Date: Apr 2004 Casino cash: $3173622	You guys went from "No way, starting a new repository would mess up the mojo" to "Start a new repository and we get our mojo back" in two days. Bunch of flip flopping John Kerrys!
Posts: 3,431