Royals 2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread - Page 459

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?

**gblowfish** · 07-12-2013, 02:03 PM

I don't know what's more frustrating. The years when we had offense but no starting pitching to speak of (usually lose 8-5); or now that we have pitching and no offense (losing 4-2).

At least with pitching, you feel like you have a chance. There's been so many times we've had guys on 2nd and 3rd with no outs and didn't score. That rips your heart out. But I keep thinking that eventually these guys will hit. And at least we're only single digits out of first at the AS Break. Usually we're 10-12 games out and buried in last by July. So I do count our blessings that at least we're mediocre, and not God-Awful this far in. Baby steps...

Imagine... Optimism from George Blowfish. Somebody slap me!

KCUnited · 07-12-2013, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gblowfish

I don't know what's more frustrating. The years when we had offense but no starting pitching to speak of (usually lose 8-5); or now that we have pitching and no offense (losing 4-2).

Of the 2, I prefer good pitching and no offense. If we're going to lose, I'd rather it happen in less than 3 hours so I can get on to other things.

**gblowfish** · 07-12-2013, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCUnited

Of the 2, I prefer good pitching and no offense. If we're going to lose, I'd rather it happen in less than 3 hours so I can get on to other things.

Yep, me too.
And I appreciate good pitching and defense. It just makes me nuts when we can't move a runner or sac fly. But it is what it is.

**ChiTown** · 07-12-2013, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

Escobar out of 2-hole, hitting 7th tonite.

Gordon 7, Hosmer 3, Butler DH, Perez 2, Moustakas 5, Lough 9, Escobar 6, Johnson 4, Dyson 8.

Is there a reason Lough can't hit in the 2-hole?

ChiefsCountry · 07-12-2013, 02:36 PM

Good pitching will win you a lot more games. Remember how stacked we were earlier this decade with Beltran, Damon, Dye, Sweeney, Randa yet we still sucked. This is our best staff since 1994 with Appier, Cone, Gubs, and Gordon.

BigCatDaddy · 07-12-2013, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiTown

Is there a reason Lough can't hit in the 2-hole?

Ned would stroke out at the thought of 3 left handers in a row. His whole obsession with the L/R thing is probably why Escobar was at the two spot period.

sedated · 07-12-2013, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gblowfish

I don't know what's more frustrating. The years when we had offense but no starting pitching to speak of (usually lose 8-5); or now that we have pitching and no offense (losing 4-2).

Kind of like no offense (1990’s Chiefs) or no defense (2002-2004 Chiefs). We’ve been tortured every way possible in this city.

siberian khatru · 07-12-2013, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Ned would stroke out at the thought of 3 left handers in a row. His whole obsession with the L/R thing is probably why Escobar was at the two spot period.

That's exactly it.

EDIT: Well, that and Ned thinks you need someone who can "handle the bat" at No. 2.

**DeezNutz** · 07-12-2013, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiTown

Is there a reason Lough can't hit in the 2-hole?

I wouldn't freak if he were in the 2 hole, but tonight's lineup gets our three best the most ABs, and this is all I really care about.

**ChiTown** · 07-12-2013, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

That's exactly it.

EDIT: Well, that and Ned thinks you need someone who can "handle the bat" at No. 2.

Yeah, Esky is a real wizard at that bat handling thing. F that. lough makes contact and has a knack for finding he big hit. Get him up there at the 2 spot, bat Belly 3 and Hos 4.

siberian khatru · 07-12-2013, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiTown

Yeah, Esky is a real wizard at that bat handling thing. F that. lough makes contact and has a knack for finding he big hit. Get him up there at the 2 spot, bat Belly 3 and Hos 4.

I just don't think I can trust Lough to bunt a runner over from 2nd to 3rd in the first inning.

**gblowfish** · 07-12-2013, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

I just don't think I can trust Lough to bunt a runner over from 2nd to 3rd in the first inning.

HOMERS KILL RALLEYS!!!

CaliforniaChief · 07-12-2013, 03:56 PM

I don't think Lough is patient enough yet to hit #2. Not that Hosmer isn't prone to jumping early, but he's growing into that.

Right now, I like Hosmer hitting 2nd.

**DeezNutz** · 07-12-2013, 04:01 PM

Lough: .297/.315/.449
Hosmer: .287/.336/.432

Lough's OBP is too dependent upon the base hit, and thus it's not really much of an argument to say that Hosmer is the better hitter, therefore needing more ABs.

duncan_idaho · 07-12-2013, 04:12 PM

Much better lineup construction.

On days when Perez sits and you need to shuffle things, Gio can hit 2nd.

12-11-2012, 09:59 AM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $1840308	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

07-12-2013, 02:03 PM	#6871
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $17686178 VARSITY	I don't know what's more frustrating. The years when we had offense but no starting pitching to speak of (usually lose 8-5); or now that we have pitching and no offense (losing 4-2). At least with pitching, you feel like you have a chance. There's been so many times we've had guys on 2nd and 3rd with no outs and didn't score. That rips your heart out. But I keep thinking that eventually these guys will hit. And at least we're only single digits out of first at the AS Break. Usually we're 10-12 games out and buried in last by July. So I do count our blessings that at least we're mediocre, and not God-Awful this far in. Baby steps... Imagine... Optimism from George Blowfish. Somebody slap me!
Posts: 40,830

07-12-2013, 02:36 PM	#6875
ChiefsCountry The Insider Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Lake of the Ozarks Casino cash: $2408752	Good pitching will win you a lot more games. Remember how stacked we were earlier this decade with Beltran, Damon, Dye, Sweeney, Randa yet we still sucked. This is our best staff since 1994 with Appier, Cone, Gubs, and Gordon.
Posts: 49,528

07-12-2013, 03:56 PM	#6883
CaliforniaChief #RIPAce Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal Casino cash: $12422899	I don't think Lough is patient enough yet to hit #2. Not that Hosmer isn't prone to jumping early, but he's growing into that. Right now, I like Hosmer hitting 2nd.
Posts: 17,319

07-12-2013, 04:12 PM	#6885
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $1840308	Much better lineup construction. On days when Perez sits and you need to shuffle things, Gio can hit 2nd. __________________ "You gotta love livin', cause dying is a pain in the ass." ---- Sinatra
Posts: 21,051