Royals 2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread - Page 258

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?

Fansy the Famous Bard · 05-09-2013, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

I don't know enough about this player to comment, but there have been two short pop-ups in shallow RF/foul territory, and Johnson has been no where to be found.

Is he getting a bad break on these balls? He's not slow, so where in the **** is he on balls that he clearly has the best chance at?

He's scared to death of frenchy's bumbling ass.

KCUnited · 05-09-2013, 01:57 PM

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

duncan_idaho · 05-09-2013, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

I don't know enough about this player to comment, but there have been two short pop-ups in shallow RF/foul territory, and Johnson has been no where to be found.

Is he getting a bad break on these balls? He's not slow, so where in the **** is he on balls that he clearly has the best chance at?

I think those have been a combination of bad breaks and positioning at the pitch.

His range on IF ground balls is excellent. I'll take that trade off, I think.

tk13 · 05-09-2013, 02:13 PM

I've been thinking the same thing with Hosmer. I actually thought maybe he should move to the 2 spot. His OBP hasn't been terrible, he's just not hitting for power. And he can steal a base here and there. Put him in front of Butler and Gordon and see what happens.
Posted via Mobile Device

**DeezNutz** · 05-09-2013, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

I think those have been a combination of bad breaks and positioning at the pitch.

His range on IF ground balls is excellent. I'll take that trade off, I think.

For sure. I was wondering if these slight miscues were indications that he's not a particularly instinctive player.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk13

I've been thinking the same thing with Hosmer. I actually thought maybe he should move to the 2 spot. His OBP hasn't been terrible, he's just not hitting for power. And he can steal a base here and there. Put him in front of Butler and Gordon and see what happens.
Posted via Mobile Device

This doesn't seem like a bad plan. My goodness if Hosmer doesn't hit into terrible luck on a consistent basis, though.

GoHuge · 05-09-2013, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Call up Gio. Put Dyson in CF.

Call it a lineup.

I don't know why we can''t call up Lough and give him a shot in RF. Dude handles CF in AAA just fine is 410/517/927 and he can't get a look? If there was ever a guy kicking down the ****ing door it would be him........especially with this organization. He's blocked by Dyson (hitting .250) and Frenchy? That's ****ing insane! We need guys that can hit at their position. The only guys on the big league club that do are Johnson (in his limited chances), Gordon, Cain, Perez, and Escobar. Butler-no.....Moose-no (but lookin better), Hosmer-no, Getz-no, and Frenchy-hell no.

Why the **** Frenchy and Getz are sacred cows I do not understand. This organization can't say they are serious about winning with these two in the starting lineup. Gio has done nothing with his chances when he's gotten them, but Getz is by no means a better option.

Release Frenchy and Getz and get Gio and Lough up. There is no justifying keeping anybody that isn't getting it done with the bat in the lineup for their defense because this "really good defense" is next to last in the AL. Give me some guys that can hit the ball.

Pitt Gorilla · 05-09-2013, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

This doesn't seem like a bad plan. My goodness if Hosmer doesn't hit into terrible luck on a consistent basis, though.

THIS. When I've been able to see the games, Hos doesn't get many hits, but he hits the ball HARD. That's got to pay off at some point.

Hootie · 05-09-2013, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -King-

Lineup changed:

Escobar
Cain
Gordon
Butler
Posted via Mobile Device

Well I know baseball so...duh.

BigCatDaddy · 05-09-2013, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Full lineup:

6 - Escobar
9 - Cain
7 - Gordon
DH - Butler
3 - Hosmer
2 - Perez
5 - Moustakas
4 - Johnson
8 - Dyson

If they're going to focus on speed and defense to play to the K, Elliott Johnson should absolutely be the starter at 2B unless they bring up Gio or trade for someone else.

Johnson is truly a plus defender at 2B and his range is a real benefit/run saver. He also has a plus arm for the position, so he can make plays when ranging up the middle.

Gordon/Dyson/Cain should be a really elite OF defense. Francoeur can play against lefties. And that's about it.

I'd swap Moose and Hos and keep Elliot and Dyson in there for a bit. An on fire Moose will give Billy some protection.

Nightfyre · 05-09-2013, 02:30 PM

Hosmer is waiting to explode offensively. It has to happen.

Prison Bitch · 05-09-2013, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

I still don't like Hosmer and his .333 SLG hitting in the middle of the lineup. Hell, put HIM at leadoff, Esco 2nd, Gordon 3, Butler 4, CAIN 5, etc. I don't care that much about hitting righties back-to-back.

Pitchers HATE facing Eric. They know that the next ball has a very strong possiblity of being rocketed back at their feet.

TLO · 05-09-2013, 02:33 PM

Time to break this losing streak

Great Expectations · 05-09-2013, 02:37 PM

How does Butler not hit his position?

siberian khatru · 05-09-2013, 02:37 PM

I heard Mike Boddicker on 810 the other morning and he was talking about Hos, said with his stance right now he can ONLY hit it to left, and without power. He said if he keeps that up he won't hit more than 2 homers this year.

He also said it's something that's easily fixed, like in three days.

Dutton thinks they're just trying to get Hos to make consistent contact before they let him open his hips and pull the ball. I hope that's the plan. I hope it's not simply to keep his avg afloat with singles to left to buoy his confidence. At some point, for the team's sake, he has to hit with power.

I mean, look at his spray charts this year. He hit 19 homers his rookie year, and even in a bad year last year he hit 14. This year ... zip so far, hardly any long flyball outs either.

For the team to succeed, he's got to hit 20-25, IMO. If not that, at worst he'd have to hit .300 with 40-50 doubles. But a .275 singles hitter? Won't cut it.

Cephalic Trauma · 05-09-2013, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Pitchers HATE facing Eric. They know that the next ball has a very strong possiblity of being rocketed back at their feet.

HEY LOOK AT ME! YEAH, ME. GIVE ME ATTENTION. ERIC HOSMER SUCKS LOL.

12-11-2012, 09:59 AM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $1830308	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: 21,056

05-09-2013, 01:57 PM	#3857
KCUnited Cheat Death Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Land of Drincoln Casino cash: $2368244	When do we see the Hosmer shift with 4 guys standing on the edge of the grass behind short?
Posts: 33,870

05-09-2013, 02:13 PM	#3859
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $2062500	I've been thinking the same thing with Hosmer. I actually thought maybe he should move to the 2 spot. His OBP hasn't been terrible, he's just not hitting for power. And he can steal a base here and there. Put him in front of Butler and Gordon and see what happens. Posted via Mobile Device
Posts: 54,911

05-09-2013, 02:30 PM	#3865
Nightfyre MVP Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Helena, MT Casino cash: $3718849	Hosmer is waiting to explode offensively. It has to happen.
Posts: 18,525

05-09-2013, 02:33 PM	#3867
TLO Life is changing.. Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: NW Missouri Casino cash: $1994900	Time to break this losing streak
Posts: 38,840

05-09-2013, 02:37 PM	#3868
Great Expectations MVP Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Joplin, MO Casino cash: $13762338	How does Butler not hit his position? __________________
Posts: 7,213

05-09-2013, 02:37 PM	#3869
siberian khatru 21st Century Schizoid Fan Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The Gates of Delirium Casino cash: $2624950	I heard Mike Boddicker on 810 the other morning and he was talking about Hos, said with his stance right now he can ONLY hit it to left, and without power. He said if he keeps that up he won't hit more than 2 homers this year. He also said it's something that's easily fixed, like in three days. Dutton thinks they're just trying to get Hos to make consistent contact before they let him open his hips and pull the ball. I hope that's the plan. I hope it's not simply to keep his avg afloat with singles to left to buoy his confidence. At some point, for the team's sake, he has to hit with power. I mean, look at his spray charts this year. He hit 19 homers his rookie year, and even in a bad year last year he hit 14. This year ... zip so far, hardly any long flyball outs either. For the team to succeed, he's got to hit 20-25, IMO. If not that, at worst he'd have to hit .300 with 40-50 doubles. But a .275 singles hitter? Won't cut it.
Posts: 69,122