Royals 2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread - Page 123

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?

MVChiefFan · 03-26-2013, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Bruce Chen got pulled from his start today. Sugar Ray Marimon get the start against the Mariners instead. More to come says Bob Dutton.

Well, unfortunately, if we traded him alone we probably won't get much in return. The best case would be that he's a throw in with a bunch of minor leaguers for Stanton!!! At worst he's just injured, which is still ok because it paves the way for Mendoza to be our #5, which is what I prefer anyway. All that being said...COME ON STANTON!!!

AndChiefs · 03-26-2013, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sedated

Do they pull pitchers from spring training when they have been traded? Seems that would just be a regular season thing.

Would probably depend on the wishes of the other team. For example, if its the rangers they might just want him to walk across the parking lot and pitch for them. Or the royals might want to make sure he doesn't get freakishly injured in today's game before they can finalize the trade.

**alnorth** · 03-26-2013, 09:09 AM

According to Dutton, its beginning to look like Chen has been beaten by Mendoza for #5, but that is not yet confirmed. Chen has been listed as available from the bullpen.

AndChiefs · 03-26-2013, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnorth

According to Dutton, its beginning to look like Chen has been beaten by Mendoza for #5, but that is not yet confirmed. Chen has been listed as available from the bullpen.

Too bad. I was hoping for a trade. He's served us well but his time is up.

**alnorth** · 03-26-2013, 09:14 AM

If it really turns out that the Royals have selected Mendoza over Hoch and Chen, then the Royals should be praised.

You don't normally reward people for doing obvious things, but we've got a dumb dog who needs to be praised for not crapping on the floor.

mr. tegu · 03-26-2013, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnorth

If it really turns out that the Royals have selected Mendoza over Hoch and Chen, then the Royals should be praised.

You don't normally reward people for doing obvious things, but we've got a dumb dog who needs to be praised for not crapping on the floor.

Archie F. Swin · 03-26-2013, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnorth

According to Dutton, its beginning to look like Chen has been beaten by Mendoza for #5, but that is not yet confirmed. Chen has been listed as available from the bullpen.

But why yank Chen for today, six days from opening day?

**alnorth** · 03-26-2013, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archie F. Swin

But why yank Chen for today, six days from opening day?

If he's not starting, then he ought to get used to coming out of the bullpen. If Mendoza's not ready to go today, then let some minor league starter get in some work.

WhawhaWhat · 03-26-2013, 09:21 AM

Confirmed by the Royals, Mendoza is starter #5. Chen in the bullpen.

**ChiTown** · 03-26-2013, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnorth

If it really turns out that the Royals have selected Mendoza over Hoch and Chen, then the Royals should be praised.

You don't normally reward people for doing obvious things, but we've got a dumb dog who needs to be praised for not eating his own crap on the floor.

FIFY

**alnorth** · 03-26-2013, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Rany Jazayerli ‏@jazayerli 1m Congratulations to Luis Mendoza for winning the 5th starter's spot. Congratulations to the Royals for picking talent over tenure.

Looks like the dumb dog praise has begun.

duncan_idaho · 03-26-2013, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnorth

If it really turns out that the Royals have selected Mendoza over Hoch and Chen, then the Royals should be praised.

You don't normally reward people for doing obvious things, but we've got a dumb dog who needs to be praised for not crapping on the floor.

Exactly.

I would be mildly surprised but would not argue with making Mendoza the No. 5. It also would be a strong departure for Moore, to go with a guy who doesn't "Look" the part.

Chen's spring performance is discouraging. Might be a case of not being the same without Bob McCLure around to play "soft-tossing lefty whisperer," I guess.

Side note: Did anyone else almost vomit listening to Hud and Moore gush about Hochevar "blowing it out" and throwing 96-97 from the bullpen?

I'd set the over/under on games before Hochevar is brought in with men on base and costs the Roylas a game on 3.5.

**ChiTown** · 03-26-2013, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnorth

According to Dutton, its beginning to look like Chen has been beaten by Mendoza for #5, but that is not yet confirmed. Chen has been listed as available from the bullpen.

I like Mendoza and what he brings. I think he is a quality #5 with a little upside.

**alnorth** · 03-26-2013, 09:26 AM

My rage is against Hoch-the-starter. If that pitcher is gone, I'm willing to see what happens with Hoch-the-reliever. Baseball is full of failed starters who turn into great 1-inning guys.

**ChiTown** · 03-26-2013, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnorth

Looks like the dumb dog praise has begun.

- I really dig this rotation, minus the fact that there isn't a lefty in the group. That's okay though. I'll take quality over that metric any day

12-11-2012, 09:59 AM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $1760308	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: 21,085

03-26-2013, 09:09 AM	#1833
alnorth . Join Date: Dec 2002 Casino cash: $57166239	According to Dutton, its beginning to look like Chen has been beaten by Mendoza for #5, but that is not yet confirmed. Chen has been listed as available from the bullpen. __________________ how many emo kids does it take to change a lightbulb? HOW MANY?! none they just sit in the dark and cry
Posts: 36,130

03-26-2013, 09:14 AM	#1835
alnorth . Join Date: Dec 2002 Casino cash: $57166239	If it really turns out that the Royals have selected Mendoza over Hoch and Chen, then the Royals should be praised. You don't normally reward people for doing obvious things, but we've got a dumb dog who needs to be praised for not crapping on the floor. __________________ how many emo kids does it take to change a lightbulb? HOW MANY?! none they just sit in the dark and cry
Posts: 36,130

03-26-2013, 09:21 AM	#1839
WhawhaWhat MVP Join Date: Feb 2013 Casino cash: $1591116	Confirmed by the Royals, Mendoza is starter #5. Chen in the bullpen.
Posts: 17,230

03-26-2013, 09:26 AM	#1844
alnorth . Join Date: Dec 2002 Casino cash: $57166239	My rage is against Hoch-the-starter. If that pitcher is gone, I'm willing to see what happens with Hoch-the-reliever. Baseball is full of failed starters who turn into great 1-inning guys. __________________ how many emo kids does it take to change a lightbulb? HOW MANY?! none they just sit in the dark and cry
Posts: 36,130