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?

[petegz28]

I think half the problem is half this team buys into the marketing hype. Hosmer, Moose and French actually believe that not only are they "big leaguers" but that are great ones at that.

[Hootie]

they rebuilt so well

they gave big contracts to Swisher and Bourn and signed Aviles, Giambi, Mark Reynolds, Stubbs, Aviles and Brantley

what a great rebuild

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I think half the problem is half this team buys into the marketing hype. Hosmer, Moose and French actually believe that not only are they "big leaguers" but that are great ones at that.

I doubt that. Its obvious watching them. Moose and hos have no confidence
Posted via Mobile Device

[Hootie]

that's right

they signed Mike Aviles twice

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Hootie

they rebuilt so well

they gave big contracts to Swisher and Bourn and signed Aviles, Giambi, Mark Reynolds, Stubbs, Aviles and Brantley

what a great rebuild

And we continue to look up to them in the standings

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

I doubt that. Its obvious watching them. Moose and hos have no confidence
Posted via Mobile Device

Probably not now when they realized they have to produce and hype alone won't get them shit.

[Hootie]

Originally Posted by petegz28

And we continue to look up to them in the standings

again

I'm not even debating our incompetence.

I'm just trying to grasp how the Indians have done such a good job rebuilding teams year after year after year.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Hootie

again

I'm not even debating our incompetence.

I'm just trying to grasp how the Indians have done such a good job rebuilding teams year after year after year.

Compared to us? They have several times but I agree..in total they haven't done much

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Hootie

again

I'm not even debating our incompetence.

I'm just trying to grasp how the Indians have done such a good job rebuilding teams year after year after year.

Are you even following the conversation, Doofus? We're talking about a fellow small market club in our division who continually out-does us and who is able to put out damn competitive teams on a semi-regular basis. Some of which crack 90 wins.



Bashing them only makes you look dumber than you already are.

[Hootie]

again

I'm not bashing Cleveland. I'm not saying we're better than Cleveland.

I'm bashing a poster who typed out the following sentence:

"Cleveland doesn't tolerate losing."

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by Hootie

they certainly don't tolerate losing in Cleveland

Prison Douche is on his way to douche of the year award for 2013. Cleveland the one city in the country more snake bit than Kansas City when it comes to sports.

[Reaper16]

As htismaqe's old sig would say: better than bad ≠ good

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by Reaper16

As htismaqe's old sig would say: better than bad ≠ good

I miss that guy
Posted via Mobile Device

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Compared to us? They have several times but I agree..in total they haven't done much

We should set expectations for what accomplishments should be. If it's win the World Series than 2/3 of the teams in the league won't ever accomplish much. I don't really expect the Royals to win the WS or even get there really but I do expect a winning record ever few years. I mean long term your average should be 81-81 but we haven't done that in 18 of the last 19 years.


So it's rather funny watching Royals fans try and tear down fellow small markets who actually do try. Who do put out good products on a semi-regular basis. No actually it's embarrassing.

[Hootie]

it's almost as embarrassing as someone who would type something like "they don't tolerate losing in Cleveland."

wait

no, not even close to as embarrassing