2012 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread

[alnorth]

2012 Slogan: Our Time

A better, more accurate 2012 Slogan: It is Finally Next Year
(from Great Expectations)

An alternative slogan if you don't like that one: Someone has to win this crappy division
(from alnorth)

With the beginning of a new year, it is time for the 2012 version of the Royals Repository Thread. We've got Hosmer, we've got a 2011-dominating Gordon, we've got Moose, we've got hopefully a killer bullpen, we've got a stereotypical slow slugging DH, we've got easily one of the best defensive shortstops in the AL, we've got a promising catcher in Salvador Perez. Hell, we've got offense and promising prospects galore.

We do not have starting pitching.

Oh yeah, we've also got this:



Get ready for, (as of January 2012 anyway), one of the most confusing puzzles of a baseball season in recent Royals history. Will they suck? Maybe, I don't know. Will we be given a year of 0.500 baseball? Possibly, I don't know. Will they win the division and go to the playoffs for the first time in 27 years? For the first time in a long time, it could happen, I don't know. 92 losses, 92 wins, or anything in between would not surprise a lot of us.

Everything goes here except Gameday threads and really big news. If a giant story breaks, the Royals achieve some awesome milestone, or we sign/lose a highly significant player/coach/mascot/whatever, then it might also deserve its own thread. This being Chiefs Planet, please do not clutter the board with new threads about trivial Royals news or you will only annoy those who come here for just Chiefs football. If you aren't sure and its not a Gameday thread, it goes here.

What sort of stuff often goes here? SPchief explained it well, so I'll just copy that:

If you locate something of interest.. ANYTHING.. deals on apparel, best ways in/out of the stadium, giveaways, great stories from this season or from seasons gone by, rumors, trades, anything.... feel free to post it here.

[Saul Good]

Gordon got robbed of a hit or two, but that's baseball. Even if one of those got through, it doesn't change the fact that he's struck out in half of his ABs.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

I'm going to wait for a deeper sample size than three games before I start worrying about Gordon, Moose and/or Cain (just like I'll wait for a bigger sample size before I start thumping the chest about Quintero's XB power).

Gordon had multiple stretches last year similar to this one. He did square up a few balls in the series, he just had bad luck. Pujols and Kendrick both robbed a hit from him, too. If he is 2/11 in that series rather than 0/11, we're not having this talk. I'm still seeing the same approach from him that was successful last year - shorter swing, more aggressive with fastballs in the zone.

Moustakas is traditionally a slow starter, and I'm not going to worry much unless we get into May with him below the Mendoza line.

Cain has a long swing and is susceptible to the strikeout. This is not anything we didn't know coming into the season. It's worth giving him some more time, certainly. He also has some pop and stung several balls that didn't drop.

Too early to worry, IMO. Just like it's too soon to think Bruce Chen is going to dominate this year.

My thoughts exactly. Gordon was a couple of insane plays from getting some nice hits.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Gordon got robbed of a hit or two, but that's baseball. Even if one of those got through, it doesn't change the fact that he's struck out in half of his ABs.

Gordon's Ks are high for that series, but most of that has to do with facing Jered Weaver and Danny Haren in the first two games (5/6 Ks came against them).

My point is just that one series is not enough to make any major reactions off of.

If Gordon maintains that sort of K pace for a week or even a month, then maybe you have something to be concerned about.

[duncan_idaho]

Just because I had 5 minutes to kill before starting a conference call...

There were five times last season in which Gordon K'd 6 times in a three-game span, and about twice as many times where he K'd 5 times in a three-game span.

He's a high strikeout guy. Expect Alex to K around 20-25 percent of the time. But that's fine, considering the punch he brings to the table when he makes contact.

[Saul Good]

I still think Gordon's going to have a good year, but I'm concerned with how overmatched he's looked so far.

[mr. tegu]

Anyone going to the home opener?

[Codered]

I know it's only one game .... but, looking at the Royals starting staff and the future. When do you start thinking about offering Luke a contract?

He has never been consistent, but if he does put together a pretty good year his price will continue to raise.

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by Codered

I know it's only one game .... but, looking at the Royals starting staff and the future. When do you start thinking about offering Luke a contract?

He has never been consistent, but if he does put together a pretty good year his price will continue to raise.

I think that is a good point. What is his contract situation like? I think that he is solid starter in baseball. May not be a true Ace, but if he is your third or fourth you are in pretty dang good shape. He is someone we should keep around, especially considering he is so experienced compared to a lot of the guys we are expecting to make big contributions.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

I still think Gordon's going to have a good year, but I'm concerned with how overmatched he's looked so far.

Overmatched is a stretch, man. He's having good at-bats. Overmatched is going up there and getting blown away on three straight pitches (see what Crow did to Kendrick/Pujols/Hunter in the 7th on Friday).

Way too early to react to one series. Especially when two of the top 10 pitchers in the American League were throwing for the opposition.

[ChiefsCountry]

Physioc I like alot already. He is a really good announcer. He is great for both radio and tv. Hudler will grow on me. He reminds me alot of Al Harbosky on the Cardinals tv games.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

I think that is a good point. What is his contract situation like? I think that he is solid starter in baseball. May not be a true Ace, but if he is your third or fourth you are in pretty dang good shape. He is someone we should keep around, especially considering he is so experienced compared to a lot of the guys we are expecting to make big contributions.

Hochevar is arb eligible currently but controlled through 2015 (Baseball Reference is a great tool).

If he gets to the All-Star break and is continuing to pitch the way he did in the second half of 2011, I think you start looking at extending him (and he's a solid No. 2/good No. 3 pitcher).

With his increased emphasis on throwing his excellent slider more often (pumping up his K/9) and the mixing in of his cutter (which is going to mimic the slider coming out of the hand and make both harder to hit) and a solid curveball (which is a nice tool to change eye levels and unbalance hitters), he's a different pitcher than the guy who just pounded the zone with two-seamers and lived on location/good defense behind him.

[Demonpenz]

I am mindly concerned with Alex Gordon pressing and maybe last year was a mild fluke. Atleast he is in good shape and passes the eye test of looking like he can play good baseball.

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

I am mindly concerned with Alex Gordon pressing and maybe last year was a mild fluke. Atleast he is in good shape and passes the eye test of looking like he can play good baseball.

I think all of Royals nation is rooting hard for Gordon, now that he has his extension and really is a home grown Royal that we can expect to see for a while still in a Royals uniform.

We need all these guys to progress so that the team succeeds and we can sign all of these young guys to extensions and keep them as Royals to keep this thing going (assuming it gets started). It has been so sick the past 10 years dreaming of an outfield made up Damon, Dye, and Beltran. That said, I love this team that we have now.

[DeezNutz]

I don't like that Yost is talking about sitting Gordon four games into the season. Such speculation has the suggestion of panic.

Dude had a bad series; that's baseball. No question he should be in the starting lineup. If he has a bad couple of weeks, then he needs a mental break. But not now.

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

I don't like that Yost is talking about sitting Gordon four games into the season. Such speculation has the suggestion of panic.

Dude had a bad series; that's baseball. No question he should be in the starting lineup. If he has a bad couple of weeks, then he needs a mental break. But not now.

I haven't seen or heard that but that is asinine after 3 games, especially considering is defense and that most of us here recognize that he had some solid contact swings that were unfortunately accompanied by bad luck.