*** Official 2015 Royals Repository ***

[duncan_idaho]

In this thread: All things related to the AL Champions.

Duncan's Official Team Record prediction: 90 wins
Duncan's Official Team MVP prediction: Eric Hosmer

I can't wait for this season to start. The AL Central should be a very entertaining race. I'll give brief thoughts on each team the Royals must contend with to make it back to the postseason - strengths and weaknesses.

Detroit Tigers:
Strength: The offense is still full of powerful hitters, and Miguel Cabrera may be healthier.
Weakness: Rotation is questionable after Price and Sanchez, bullpen continues to be horrible.

Cleveland Indians:
Strength: Great manager and a deep, versatile lineup.
Weakness: The rotation is a question mark past Corey Kluber, and even he has a few questions about him.

Chicago White Sox:
Strength: 1-2-3 combo of Sale, Quintana and Samardzija is pretty formidable. Offense is anchored by Jose Abreu, too.
Weakness: Defense still has major questions, and this team has 20 games to improve by if it really wants to make the playoffs.

The Royals will be a division winner IF ...
1) Ventura and Duffy combine for 375+ innings of high-quality work
2) Eric Hosmer delivers on his potential with a FULL season of success rather than bursts
3) The deeper bullpen lessens the critical load on Herrera, Davis and Holland
4) Lorenzo Cain stays healthy
5) Either Alex Rios or Kendrys Morales bounces back to 2013 form

Let's get this started!

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

It's pretty hard to make a strong throw on the turn when the baserunner is in your lap. Forces you to throw off of your back foot. I'm not going to kill him for that play.

You'd need pretty elite arm strength for a MI (and especially for a 2B) to successfully execute that double play, in that situation. Jon Schoop of Baltimore comes to mind as a current example of what you'd need. Mark Grudzielanek would be a recent historical, Royals-centric example.

Infante is clearly still hurt and I honestly think he should be DLed for 15-30 days to get completely healthy rather than trying to play him through it and hope it gets better as he goes along.

Thing is...we have a guy on the bench with an elite (for 2B) arm. I will admit that Escobar didn't foo Infante any favors by under handing the throw from so far away, though.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Thing is...we have a guy on the bench with an elite (for 2B) arm. I will admit that Escobar didn't foo Infante any favors by under handing the throw from so far away, though.

Colon has a good arm, but he is not in the Schoop/Grudz/Gordon Beckham territory. He's above-average for a 2B (below average for a SS), but Colon doesn't have a cannon.

That's still better than what Infante has at the moment, but I don't think Colon turns that double play, either.

I think we get spoiled with the Royals... that last night is the hardest situation in which to turn a double-play. Unless you've tried to turn two in that situation, I don't think you can really appreciate how hard it is.

1. The ball wasn't a perfect double-play ball, even though it was hit hard.
2. A fast runner got a good job and got into the 2B's feet, making him throw off his back foot.
3. The batter was a fast runner.

Escobar using the hard underhand whip was a perfectly acceptable choice there (he got that over there at about 50 MPH and put it right on the money).

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by Canofbier

I'm not really understanding the degree of hate Infante is getting right now. The guy has hit into a handful of tough-luck outs and it's been two games. Let's give him a little while longer before we crucify him - if he's playing healthy this year and gets anywhere near his career norms, he'll be a productive player for our offense.

For one year a team with no chance - like say the Twins ought to let a message board set the lineup and make player moves. Every day like 5 guys would be moving to or from the minors.

[Saul Good]

I'm not trying to crucify Infante over that play, though I don't agree that it would have taken an amazing play to get the runner. My point is that, if you're a complete black hole at the plate, you'd better bring something to the table defensively.

Infante lacks both range and arm strength. If Colon isn't better than a guy who can't hit and is a mediocre 2B, frankly I'd rather trade him for Justin Upton.

[tk13]

The good news is this team is off to such a good start the only thing we have to complain about is the #9 hitting 2nd baseman who is still way better than most of the players we've had at that position over the last decade.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by tk13

The good news is this team is off to such a good start the only thing we have to complain about is the #9 hitting 2nd baseman who is still way better than most of the players we've had at that position over the last decade.

[KChiefs1]

Last nights game was the highest rated show on TV last night in KC.

[kstater]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

Last nights game was the highest rated show on TV last night in KC.

Pfft. What'd they do in New York?/Prison Bitch

[SPchief]

Originally Posted by kstater

Pfft. How much per ad did they bring in/Prison Bitch

FYP

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

I'm not trying to crucify Infante over that play, though I don't agree that it would have taken an amazing play to get the runner. My point is that, if you're a complete black hole at the plate, you'd better bring something to the table defensively.

Infante lacks both range and arm strength. If Colon isn't better than a guy who can't hit and is a mediocre 2B, frankly I'd rather trade him for Justin Upton.

It wouldn't have taken an amazing play, but the degree of difficulty was high, even with good execution. Escobar played the hop perfectly and made a perfect feed (it was firm, on-target, paced appropriately for the distance). Infante turned it quickly and released the ball quickly. He didn't get as much on it as he normally would because Micah Johnson was in his lap.

For comparison's sake, the next time you get a chance to go outside and throw a ball around, do this:

First:
Have someone flip you a ball or mimic being flipped to the ball. Take one step to your left (or right, if you're a lefty) and then turn over your non-dominant shoulder, take one step forward, and throw the ball as hard/accurately as you can.

Next:
Do the same, except at the end, take a step BACK instead of to the left, then throw, then put as much on the throw as you can while releasing as quickly as possible.

You're probably talking about 10-12 MPH difference on the throw.

Originally Posted by tk13

The good news is this team is off to such a good start the only thing we have to complain about is the #9 hitting 2nd baseman who is still way better than most of the players we've had at that position over the last decade.

#FirstPlaceProblems
#DefendingLeagueChampsProblems

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by tk13

The good news is this team is off to such a good start the only thing we have to complain about is the #9 hitting 2nd baseman who is still way better than most of the players we've had at that position over the last decade.

The bad news is that we've had Infante come up to the plate with 8 runners on base in two games, and he has 0 RBIs.

In 8 at bats this season, he's come to the plate with a runner on THIRD BASE three times already.

Escobar has been amazing at the top of the order. Infante needs to turn the lineup over every once in a while. That's not too much to ask from a guy making 7,500,000 this season.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

The bad news is that we've had Infante come up to the plate with 8 runners on base in two games, and he has 0 RBIs.

In 8 at bats this season, he's come to the plate with a runner on THIRD BASE three times already.

Escobar has been amazing at the top of the order. Infante needs to turn the lineup over every once in a while. That's not too much to ask from a guy making 7,500,000 this season.

We are 2 games into the season. 2.

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

It wouldn't have taken an amazing play, but the degree of difficulty was high, even with good execution. Escobar played the hop perfectly and made a perfect feed (it was firm, on-target, paced appropriately for the distance). Infante turned it quickly and released the ball quickly. He didn't get as much on it as he normally would because Micah Johnson was in his lap.

For comparison's sake, the next time you get a chance to go outside and throw a ball around, do this:

First:
Have someone flip you a ball or mimic being flipped to the ball. Take one step to your left (or right, if you're a lefty) and then turn over your non-dominant shoulder, take one step forward, and throw the ball as hard/accurately as you can.

Next:
Do the same, except at the end, take a step BACK instead of to the left, then throw, then put as much on the throw as you can while releasing as quickly as possible.

You're probably talking about 10-12 MPH difference on the throw.



#FirstPlaceProblems
#DefendingLeagueChampsProblems

I played 2B for years and years. I'm very familiar with the mechanics involved there.

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

We are 2 games into the season. 2.

We're 179 games into his Royals career, and he's struggling to stay above a .600 OPS. Meanwhile, our top 5 draft pick is sitting on the bench along with his .900 OPS (in an admittedly very small sample size).

[alnorth]

If he's hurt, then he should probably go on the DL until he's 100%, but aside from that the biggest problem with giving up on Infante is he's under contract through 2017. Assuming we pay him his buyout for the 2018 option, we're on the hook for over $25MM.

The Royals are not going to give the job to Colon until they are absolutely certain that Infante is really going to play like he did in 2014.