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?

[alnorth]

James Shields in the 1st inning:

F-4
K
K

[Ebolapox]

he threw a tornado? an Ef-4?

[Great Expectations]

I find myself pulling for gio, but it looks like there won't be much of a difference with either one.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Ebolapox

he threw a tornado? an Ef-4?

yeah, not sure if 2 years of him is worth 6+ years of Wil Myers, but he's badass.

[alnorth]

Shields second inning:

F-9
K, 2-3
K

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by alnorth

yeah, not sure if 2 years of him is worth 6+ years of Wil Myers, but he's badass.

One thing I will say is that I am positive the current players think it is worth it. I am sure by them trading away such value for Shields they feel that the organization is confident that they are ready to win now and they don't need to wait on some young unproven guy.

[bsp4444]

OK, time to start talking extension with Shields.

[alnorth]

Bit of A's defensive hilarity: one of our random minor leaguers who wont make the team was picked off by the pitcher at first, but no one was covering second, so the ball was thrown into left field.

[alnorth]

3rd inning for Shields:

F-7
5-3
F-8

[alnorth]

Salvador Perez led off the 4th with a double

[Strongside]

Shields is a manchild. It's strange to see someone with that kind of command on our team.

[CaliforniaChief]

There's been very little not to love coming from Surprise this spring.

[alnorth]

Max Ramirez, who is utterly blocked in AAA and who we should probably try to trade, doubled home Perez.

Gio just singled home Ramirez, Royals up 3-0

[Strongside]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Max Ramirez, who is utterly blocked in AAA and who we should probably try to trade, doubled home Perez.

Gio just singled home Ramirez, Royals up 3-0

Our timely hitting has been a huge plus this Spring. Hopefully that carries over, because it was non-existant last year.

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by Strongside

Our timely hitting has been a huge plus this Spring. Hopefully that carries over, because it was non-existant last year.

I am really hoping that is a reflection of the more aggressive style of offenses they are supposed to be playing this season. Way too many meatballs went over the plate last season when all the pressure was on the opposing pitchers.