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.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by alnorth

WOW! Cain just smashed an epic bomb to dead center. Not sure if the dry air helped but damn!

Dry air actually has the opposite effect as humid air. The ball actually flies further in humid air. Has something to do with a water molecule weighing less than an oxygen or CO2 one, or something. I read it somewhere on some Mr. Wizard type site.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Yes, small sample size, and spring, but these guys did not have a spot locked up, so I wouldn't think they were screwing around with new pitches, all 3 of them are trying to make 2 spots (since Crow is out)

Mendoza 16.2IP, 1ER, 3BB, 16K
Paulino 11.2IP, 10ER, 5BB, 9K
Duffy 8.1IP, 7ER, 3BB, 9K (not counting his bad AAA game today)

Who is out, Paulino or Duffy? I don't think Paulino has any options, and our bullpen is kinda stacked, so doesn't it have to be Duffy in Omaha until someone inevitably fails?

I have no effing clue why you would pick any of those guys over Paulino. Paulino showed last year, both the eye test and through states that he should be at the very least the #4 man on the rotation. At the very least.

[Great Expectations]

AAA in AZ and spring training disagree w Mr Wizard.

[58kcfan89]

Originally Posted by alnorth

WOW! Cain just smashed an epic bomb to dead center. Not sure if the dry air helped but damn!

Can't freaking wait to see Cain trolling CF this year.

Opening Day can't get here quick enough...

[cabletech94]

Originally Posted by 58kcfan89

Can't freaking wait to see Cain trolling CF this year.

Opening Day can't get here quick enough...

+1 my friend.

[CaliforniaChief]

I wish I was a little more optimistic about our opening day matchup of Chen vs. Weaver.

But I AM excited for this season to get going!

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by BWillie007

Dry air actually has the opposite effect as humid air. The ball actually flies further in humid air. Has something to do with a water molecule weighing less than an oxygen or CO2 one, or something. I read it somewhere on some Mr. Wizard type site.

If its not the air, then its the air's impact on the ball, drying it out or something, because Arizona has been MLB's launching pad for a while, to the point where the D-Backs are wondering if they should use a humidor to store their balls in.

Anyway, regarding Cain's bomb, if you know Surprise stadium, his ball almost reached the flowers.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by BWillie007

I have no effing clue why you would pick any of those guys over Paulino. Paulino showed last year, both the eye test and through states that he should be at the very least the #4 man on the rotation. At the very least.

Because spring is more recent, and they were all competing for a job, not working on stuff with a spot assured. People rightfully downplay spring, but its not completely irrelevant. I wouldn't pick Duffy, but Mendoza's had a great spring. If its fool's gold fine, but he more than earned a chance to prove that he actually can pitch.

[alnorth]

couple pictures. Here's the center field, Cain's home run hit at about the top of the sun in the surprise city logo.

I also took a picture of the umpires because the home plate ump was friggen' huge. If he makes it to the majors, he'd be the tallest umpire in baseball. Every baseball player looked short standing next to him except Eric Hosmer (6'4"), who only looked a little shorter than him. His strike zone seemed to be about as big as he was, too.

[alnorth]

Should also mention Butler's blast, at the time I only knew it was launched to left, but couldn't see how far. Looking at replays, looks like he hit it further than Cain, out of the park. No, not out of the field of play, I mean literally out of the whole damned park, over the sidewalk behind the berm, and somewhere past the gate.

[Shogun]

I admit, I was pretty down on Cain before ST, but now I am really excited to see him rip it up, he definitely belongs in the show right now.

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Should also mention Butler's blast, at the time I only knew it was launched to left, but couldn't see how far. Looking at replays, looks like he hit it further than Cain, out of the park. No, not out of the field of play, I mean literally out of the whole damned park, over the sidewalk behind the berm, and somewhere past the gate.

Warning track power

[RockChalk]

Originally Posted by Dr. noonanbeermefever

Warning track power

TRADE HIM!

[AndChiefs]

Originally Posted by RockChalk

TRADE HIM!

Yeah I never understood the people saying that. He's only hitting .300 with 20 homers and 50 doubles!!??!?!?! We could find better at the local little league! Trade him and get someone better in here!

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

Originally Posted by AndChiefs

Yeah I never understood the people saying that. He's only hitting .300 with 20 homers and 50 doubles!!??!?!?! We could find better at the local little league! Trade him and get someone better in here!

He's too fat and slow so he's worthless./CP

Good for Billy and good for us that's his trimmed down, is in great shape (from reports) and is moving better too. He's never going to be fast. So what. He's there to DH and he's one of the best in the game at just plain hitting. If he were in NY he'd be a household name.