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?

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by Archie F. Swin

The hard reality is, Moustakas is breathing down the neck of his 25th birthday and he may not he may not realize his full MLB potential until the '15 or '16 season. I just hope he's with the Royals at that time.

If the experiences of Davies, Hochevar, Getz, Gordon, Francouer, etc show anything, is that "yes. Yes he will."

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Archie F. Swin

The hard reality is, Moustakas is breathing down the neck of his 25th birthday and he may not he may not realize his full MLB potential until the '15 or '16 season. I just hope he's with the Royals at that time.

If he doesn't start producing like his potential suggested he could next season, the only way he isn't in KC those years is if he is traded. Because he certainly won't be too expensive.

Moustakas is a big disappointment at this point. His D is better than I expected it to be, but I also expected him to hit for power that must be respected.

He's trending up, but it isn't a drastic or especially speedy trend. If he can get through August/September hitting .260 with 8-10 HR, I'll feel a lot better about starting Opening Day 2014 with him at 3B. This team can get along fine with Moustakas at 3B if he's a .260/20 HR hitter. He wouldn't be more than an average 3B at that point, but that would be a step up for him for most of this year.

The damage the dynamic duo of Jack Maloof and Andre David did to the major league club can't be overstated. I'm not normally a "blame the XXX coach" guy, but it's pretty clear those jackwagons did a LOT of harm to the younger guys.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Archie F. Swin

The hard reality is, Moustakas is breathing down the neck of his 25th birthday and he may not he may not realize his full MLB potential until the '15 or '16 season. I just hope he's with the Royals at that time.

You don't like his 4-57 or whatever he now is, with RISP?

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Angels asking price for Kendrick seems extremely high.

I've seen some Angels fans talking about a trade with KC and saying they'd want Ventura+Mondesi+Bonifacio.

Which is just a crazy amount of talent (two top 50, one top 100) to give up for a guy who is a nice player but not a star.

No thanks.

I would trade Ventura for him, plus Kyle Smith or whatnot. But Zimmer and Mondesi are off the table for me.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

I would trade Ventura for him, plus Kyle Smith or whatnot. But Zimmer and Mondesi are off the table for me.

Would we rather trade this type of package for Kendrick or for Wong?

[TambaBerry]

Kendrick

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Would we rather trade this type of package for Kendrick or for Wong?

I'd take either one.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Angels asking price for Kendrick seems extremely high.

I've seen some Angels fans talking about a trade with KC and saying they'd want Ventura+Mondesi+Bonifacio.

Which is just a crazy amount of talent (two top 50, one top 100) to give up for a guy who is a nice player but not a star.

No thanks.

Rany said it would likely take 1 really good prospect. Possibly Ventura, it just depends on if a team views him as a reliever or starter.

[WhawhaWhat]

Tigers picked up a bullpen piece, Jose Veras from Houston. Traded away AAA prospect, Danry Vasquez and player to be named later.

[Mama Hip Rockets]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

Acquring Kendrick may be easier than we're thinking, a few people on the Royals board suggested shipping Guthrie and Escobar straight up for Aybar and Kendrick.

Make it happen, DM!

A) A few people on a Royals board is not a realistic trade offer
B) That is a stupid trade anyway

[Cephalic Trauma]

Originally Posted by thurman merman

A) A few people on a Royals board is not a realistic trade offer
B) That is a stupid trade anyway

I think he was joking.

[WhawhaWhat]

Howie Kendrick for Danny Duffy, let's do it.

[Cephalic Trauma]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Howie Kendrick for Danny Duffy, let's do it.

THAT WON'T GET IT DONE UR STUPID.

[Cephalic Trauma]

If we stand pat, I'm probably going to stomp around and hold my breath for a really long time.

We either need to get a bat (Kendrick plz), or sell high on Santana and Hoch. Since we aren't doing the latter, we need a bat to even have a prayer.

[duncan_idaho]

If the Angels want a AAA SP for Kendrick, I'd much rather do (from a Royals perspective) Yordano Ventura as the main piece. I'm with Rany on this one. Duffy is lefthanded and more seasoned, and probably ready to play a significant part next year.