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?

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by Canofbier

My favorite comment on Deadspin: "It was originally four Royals, but the technology doesn't yet exist to sufficiently slow down Billy Butler's eating."

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

One positive thing I will say: you can tell Brett has been working with Hos and Moose. If he can have a similar impact on Salvy/Esky/Butler/Gordon, the lineup will be extremely potent.

Esky? You can't make chicken salad outta chicken sh&t.

[Nightfyre]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

My hope for the week (I think):

1) Lose 3/4 to the O's (one win coming behind a STRONG start from Ervin Santana)
2) Begin shopping Ervin Santana
3) Work on a deal with Texas. I just talked about this on the scout board, but Santana's trade value is likely right around Matt Garza's. If they could get Mike Olt and Neil Ramirez from the Rangers for Santana, I think that's a move worth exploring.

Olt is struggling this year but is only 18 months removed from being a higher-regarded prospect than Jurickson Profar. He's a RH power bat who could be transitioned to RF as soon as they acquired. Potentially, he could start in RF for KC in 2014.

Ramirez has great stuff but hasn't put it all together yet. Near-MLB rotation depth.

High-risk, high-reward type deal. If it went RIGHT and Olt contends for AL RotY in 2014 (think Mark Trumbo - similar hitters) while Ramirez offers rotation help and upside, you're in pretty good shape on that deal.

If we could swing a deal for Olt or Profar out of Santana and put together a deal for Castellanos centered around Holland, we easily have one of the highest potential line-ups in MLB.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Esky? You can't make chicken salad outta chicken sh&t.

This....

[BlackHelicopters]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Esky? You can't make chicken salad outta chicken sh&t.

Esky's time has to be nearing an end. Sadly, right now, he is the best option.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

If we could swing a deal for Olt or Profar out of Santana and put together a deal for Castellanos centered around Holland, we easily have one of the highest potential line-ups in MLB.

First: Major kudos for correct use of "Centered." You made this old grammar nazi/copy editor happy.

Second: I'd be happy with the first one. I don't think they would do Profar for a short-term pitching boost, but they'd do Olt.

Honestly, I love Profar and would love to get hands on him. But if I can do Santana and nothing else for Olt and maybe another piece or two, I wouldn't be upset with that.

Not sure what Detroit would offer for Holland, but you'd think they would have to overpay. Castellanos is about their only major piece in the minors, so you'd think he would have to be involved.

With Holland, their odds of winning the WS this year and next increase dramatically, I think.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by theelusiveeightrop

Esky's time has to be nearing an end. Sadly, right now, he is the best option.

'Nuff said...

[WhawhaWhat]

Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeymanCBS
Garza has been scratched from start tonite, and deal with #rangers is close, as @Ken_Rosenthal reported

Can't wait to see what the Royals could have had.

[WhawhaWhat]

[Nightfyre]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Can't wait to see what the Royals could have had.

Remember when we could have traded Soria for Derek Holland? Yea...

[tk13]

Sounds like Mike Olt, CJ Edwards, and a player to be named.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by tk13

Sounds like Mike Olt, CJ Edwards, and a player to be named.

Great deal for the Cubs and fantasy owners who have Mike Olt on their team.

Will be tough to look back on for KC.

[BlackHelicopters]

Incompetent GMDM.

[BlackHelicopters]

[BlackHelicopters]

28 years