Royals 2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread - Page 569

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?

**DeezNutz** · 07-31-2013, 05:30 PM

Anyway, Santana was never really on the table since the Royals are "in it." However, I think the teams could have exchanged prospects, and this could have made sense for both sides.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 07-31-2013, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Rany generally argues that moving to the AL adds 1 to an ERA. I'm not sure what he's using to make this argument, though, so I'm not going to back it.

However, common sense says that facing an 8-man lineup every night would make things a bit easier, not to mention facing anemic offenses like Chicago and Pitts.

'13 Santana would be having a statistically disgusting year for you guys.

The Twins and CHW both have worse offenses than the two you mentioned.

**DeezNutz** · 07-31-2013, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

The Twins and CHW both have worse offenses than the two you mentioned.

Twins are higher than the Pirates in runs scored. Detroit is 1 and Cleveland is 3. No one in the top 10 in your division, aside from STL.

The Sox are terrible, of course, so no argument there.

**alnorth** · 07-31-2013, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

xFIP adjusts for league average.

xFIP = ((13*(Flyballs * League-average HR/FB rate))+(3*(BB+HBP))-(2*K))/IP + constant

A pitcher in the junior league will give up fewer flyballs.

Mama Hip Rockets · 07-31-2013, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

Royals Acquire Decent Platoon Outfielder, Pay Real Price

by Dave Cameron - July 31, 2013

With or without Maxwell, the Royals aren’t going to the postseason this year, so at best, he pushes them a little closer to .500.

This Dave Cameron guy seems like a bit of a dummy.

A) The Royals are 5 games out in the wild card with two months to go, and he states that they are not going to the postseason like it's a sure thing.
B) They are already over .500.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 07-31-2013, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Twins are higher than the Pirates in runs scored. Detroit is 1 and Cleveland is 3. No one in the top 10 in your division, aside from STL.

The Sox are terrible, of course, so no argument there.

Pirates are at 416, Twins 415, but the Twins have played fewer games, so your point stands.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 07-31-2013, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnorth

A pitcher in the junior league will give up fewer flyballs.

According to whom?

duncan_idaho · 07-31-2013, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Santana's slider is a devastating pitch, and he's pitched well this year, but his fastball is mediocre. Wacha's fastball already grades out as a superior pitch. His change is not in the same class, but he also has a developing curve.

Furthermore, you have to think about what we'd be asking Santana to do: hold down a rotation spot until rosters expand. The difference between Santana and Kelly is significant, but marginal over the course of a month.

I don't know why Royals fans expect the Cardinals to act desperate and irrationally. Dayton Moore is your GM, not ours.

Oh, I don't expect the Cardinals to fall over for Santana. But he'd slot in 3rd in that rotation (and maybe even second considering he is a more consistent innings eater than either Miller or Lynn, who have both had several short-stint starts this year).

I don't think you get the same prod from either Wacha or Martinez as you would from Santana, but that doesn't mean I think you should have given up Wong for him.

Archie F. Swin · 08-01-2013, 06:53 AM

I think we can all agree the White Sox are a really bad baseball team....really bad. The ChiSox go to Detroit tomorrow...the Indians are at Miami.

Fansy the Famous Bard · 08-01-2013, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archie F. Swin

I think we can all agree the White Sox are a really bad baseball team....really bad. The ChiSox go to Detroit tomorrow...the Indians are at Miami.

strange things can happen in pennant races... how many times did we pop up and screw a team with in our own division during august\september when we were 25 out at the time.

Mama Hip Rockets · 08-01-2013, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archie F. Swin

I think we can all agree the White Sox are a really bad baseball team....really bad. The ChiSox go to Detroit tomorrow...the Indians are at Miami.

mr. tegu · 08-01-2013, 08:27 AM

The Indians are pitching Masterson today. Our only hope is that Dunn goes beast mode off of the righty. It is the free game of the day today for anyone that wants to watch despite the slim chances of them losing.

mr. tegu · 08-01-2013, 08:45 AM

Since the Royals will be making the playoffs this season I don't think this thread is going to last the rest of the season. It seems to be getting sick.

DJ's left nut · 08-01-2013, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/royal...ay-real-price/

The Nationals acquired Scott Hairston for low-level pitching prospect Ivan Pineyro.

...

However, to get Maxwell, the Royals gave up Kyle Smith, who Marc Hulet rated as their #10 prospect heading into the season. Smith has been excellent in high-A Wilmington this year, and is probably not far away from being ready for Double-A. He’s undersized, but the stuff and the results are there, and the Astros are clearly not shy about taking chances on short dudes who can play.

Smith isn’t any kind of elite prospect and might turn out to be nothing in the long run...

This is the kind of thing that annoys be about sportswriting.

What exactly is Kyle Smith if not a low-level pitching prospect? Why is Pineyro the throwaway line whereas Smith is a huge loss?

Smith is a 20 yr old kid that's pitching well in high A right now. Pineyro is 21 yr old kid that is also pitching well in high A right now, but actually has a little size and projectability.

The Nationals gave up a guy that's very very similar to Smith, but with fewer innings under his belt at high A. And Hairston is older, more expensive and under team control for less time. He's also not the defender that Maxwell is.

I'm not saying that this justifies the Royals move but what I am saying is that the market for a legitimate plus defensive OFer and lefty mauler was much higher than this author suggests. Sure, guys like that would ideally be found in FA, but that didn't happen so now you have to actually give up something to get one.

It's just a silly article. Should Moore have made the move at all? Well that's a fair question - are the Royals really a platoon RFer away from challenging for the division/WC? But did Moore truly overpay? No, he really didn't.

WhawhaWhat · 08-01-2013, 09:26 AM

Bob Dutton ‏@Royals_Report 12m
#Royals vs. Minn LHP Diamond: Gordon 7, Hosmer 3, Butler DH, Perez 2, Cain 8, Tejada 4, Moustakas 5, Maxwell 9, Escobar 6 and Shields 1.

Cain back in the lineup, no word yet on the move to add Maxwell to the roster.

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: 21,053

08-01-2013, 06:53 AM	#8529
Archie F. Swin This is the way Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Casino cash: $9975673	I think we can all agree the White Sox are a really bad baseball team....really bad. The ChiSox go to Detroit tomorrow...the Indians are at Miami. __________________ "No Two People Will Do It The Same, You got It Down...When You Appear to Be In Pain!"
Posts: 11,800

08-01-2013, 08:27 AM	#8532
mr. tegu Forever Royal Join Date: Mar 2012 Casino cash: $2061300	The Indians are pitching Masterson today. Our only hope is that Dunn goes beast mode off of the righty. It is the free game of the day today for anyone that wants to watch despite the slim chances of them losing.
Posts: 24,015

08-01-2013, 08:45 AM	#8533
mr. tegu Forever Royal Join Date: Mar 2012 Casino cash: $2061300	Since the Royals will be making the playoffs this season I don't think this thread is going to last the rest of the season. It seems to be getting sick.
Posts: 24,015

08-01-2013, 09:26 AM	#8535
WhawhaWhat MVP Join Date: Feb 2013 Casino cash: $1671116	Bob Dutton ‏@Royals_Report 12m #Royals vs. Minn LHP Diamond: Gordon 7, Hosmer 3, Butler DH, Perez 2, Cain 8, Tejada 4, Moustakas 5, Maxwell 9, Escobar 6 and Shields 1. Cain back in the lineup, no word yet on the move to add Maxwell to the roster.
Posts: 17,172