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?

[P-90Rex]

Schierholtz is a decent option. Would obviously want someone with more pop, but it's not like we're going to get Sammy Sosa in his steroid days.

It will be interesting to see the other teams that drop from the race in the next few weeks. Hopefully we're not one of them.

[siberian khatru]

I don't think Schierholtz is much of an upgrade. Prior to this year, I think he pretty much was David Lough. He's slugging better this year, but that's park-driven -- he's OPSing 1.054 at Wrigley, .678 on the road.

[Cephalic Trauma]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

I wouldn't mind him, honestly....just looking for some right-handed pop. But yeah, he'd be an upgrade over where we are now.

Yeah, I overlooked the right-handed part.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

2013 Payrolls And Salaries For Every MLB Team......

Other takeaways might be that baseball is its own worst enemy, but like a cat it has nine lives.

You know baseball is an awesome sport because if it weren't there's no way a system as ****ed-up as this would survive...

It takes a LOT of very determined self-serving lawyers working for a few self-serving owners and many self-serving players (duh!!) to justify this abortion of equality and spirit of equal competition.

But alas, baseball will survive because it's just a fun sport...

[TambaBerry]

Baseball is so messed up, they need a salary cap. Paying a guy like Alex Rodriguez who cheats that much money is insanity.

[P-90Rex]

The other thing about Rios is when he signed his contract. I believe it was 2008? I would have put the Royals on my no trade list too (ok maybe I wouldn't have...but I'm trying to be objective). But now that they are contending would he be willing to waive that? So it depends on his motives there.

You could go for some like Ibanez, and move him to right...but I think his defense has gotten to Frenchy levels without the arm. Twins aren't trading Willingham to the Royals, and even if they were he won't be ready before the deadline.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

They also have Louis Coleman pitching very well at Omaha, and he's had success in the bigs in the past. And Everett Teaford could help in the bully, too. I agree, I think there's plenty of in-house options there.

The fact Louis Coleman has spent the entire season so far toiling at Omaha is criminal.

What's also criminal is that they have 3 lefties in the pen and not one of them is a true lefty specialist who is lights out against LHP. I know they THINK Tim Collins is that, but it completely ignores his history.

They need to make room for Coleman and either Donnie Joseph or Buddy Baumann.

Baumann's numbers against lefties really stand out... 7 2/3 IP, 20 K, 5 H, 2 BB.

So, basically, he has recorded 23 outs vs. LHH, and 20 of them have been Ks.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by P-90Rex

The other thing about Rios is when he signed his contract. I believe it was 2008? I would have put the Royals on my no trade list too (ok maybe I wouldn't have...but I'm trying to be objective). But now that they are contending would he be willing to waive that? So it depends on his motives there.

You could go for some like Ibanez, and move him to right...but I think his defense has gotten to Frenchy levels without the arm. Twins aren't trading Willingham to the Royals, and even if they were he won't be ready before the deadline.

Most no-trade lists are updated on a yearly basis. They typically are not set in stone based on when a contract was signed.

[P-90Rex]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Most no-trade lists are updated on a yearly basis. They typically are not set in stone based on when a contract was signed.

Did not know that. Good info. Thanks.

[tomahawk kid]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

In terms of moves that we can make, I'm a little concerned about Tim Collins and would think about Buddy Baumann or Donnie Joseph to face the lefties.

I think Coleman is worth a look, but would love to see Herrera get fixed too.

Coleman should of had Collin's spot a week ago.

[WhawhaWhat]

Just noticed that Ryne Stanek from Overland Park (Blue Valley High School) signed for $1.75 million with the Rays. Good for him.

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by P-90Rex

So if three weeks pass and Gio is hitting adequately and the Royals are still in the hunt, and assuming they are buyers at the deadline...what is the move they make? I would assume they need a right handed power bat for RF. Who will be available?

Bullpen needs help, but could be solved by Herrera's return, Duffy (whether Duffy himself or Davis moving there to make room for Duffy in the rotation), or other callups. Essentially, I don't see them going outside the system to solve bullpen issues.

Brian Wilson, former Giants closer, should be ready about the end of July to start pitching again. It would be cool to have him come in and be a 7th/8th inning guy down the stretch. Kauffman will help his numbers and get him a deal next year.

Also the Carl Crawford is coming off the DL for the Dodgers soon and they will have too many guys for 3 spots. No way they are getting rid of Kemp or Puig but I bet a deal can be made for Ethier or maybe, most likely not tough, Crawford.

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

The fact Louis Coleman has spent the entire season so far toiling at Omaha is criminal.

What's also criminal is that they have 3 lefties in the pen and not one of them is a true lefty specialist who is lights out against LHP. I know they THINK Tim Collins is that, but it completely ignores his history.

They need to make room for Coleman and either Donnie Joseph or Buddy Baumann.

Baumann's numbers against lefties really stand out... 7 2/3 IP, 20 K, 5 H, 2 BB.

So, basically, he has recorded 23 outs vs. LHH, and 20 of them have been Ks.

I had completely overlooked Baumann. Thanks.

Joseph's wildness still scares me. Although I haven't checked in a couple of weeks, has that improved at all?

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by tambaberry

Baseball is so messed up, they need a salary cap. Paying a guy like Alex Rodriguez who cheats that much money is insanity.

Why? Who did he cheat? The Yankees offered him that contract, he just signed it. If anything he was smart enough to fool them out of millions but that's the Yankees fault, not his.

Besides, the Yankees owners inherited their ballclub anyway from their dad. They got a 1B gift (tax free based on the laws at the time of pops' passing) that they didn't do squat to earn themselves. If anything, they're the ones who need a "salary cap". Alex at least earned most of his $$$ over his career.

[TambaBerry]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Why? Who did he cheat? The Yankees offered him that contract, he just signed it. If anything he was smart enough to fool them out of millions but that's the Yankees fault, not his.

Besides, the Yankees owners inherited their ballclub anyway from their dad. They got a 1B gift (tax free based on the laws at the time of pops' passing) that they didn't do squat to earn themselves. If anything, they're the ones who need a "salary cap". Alex at least earned most of his $$$ over his career.

Earned it by using performance enhancing drugs to make himself better. So, Lance Armstrong deserves to have all those titles?