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?

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Great Expectations

If Paulino gets an uptick in velocity he would be our 2nd best starter for sure, maybe even pushing Shields some.

Velo has never been an issue for him. Even if he doesn't get an uptick, if he just recovers what he had, he's in good shape.

If you look at his career velocity averages, Paulino has sat at 95.2 over the course of his career (whether as a starter or reliever). Biggest variance was a few years back, when it was 95.4.

The guy throws flat GAS. Even his two-seam fastball hums.

Looking at his stats, it appears he should work off of his slider, two-seamer and changeup much more, and reduce use of his 4-seam fastball, which has been flat and hittable.

[DJ's left nut]

Yeah - since when did Paulino need to work on his velocity?

When he was getting shuffled in and out of the rotation in Houston, his issue was always his command. The kid threw hard; he just had no idea where it was going. There was also some concern about his stamina in those days, but it looks like he's turned a corner there.

Teach Paulino some control and he's a potential #3 starter on a legitimate contender. Even last year, when he was pitching well, he wasn't commanding well and that kind of guy can get blown apart at any given time. That's not someone you really want starting a playoff game for you if you can avoid it.

[alnorth]

not sure if repost, but the White Sox have lost Gordon Beckham for 6 weeks.

[Great Expectations]

If his velocity goes up 1-2% he goes from being a good number 3 guy like has been for us to high end 2/low end 1.

[Ceej]

Some I am planning on heading to the game Sunday afternoon.

Hells yeah, mofuggas.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Great Expectations

If his velocity goes up 1-2% he goes from being a good number 3 guy like has been for us to high end 2/low end 1.

If his velocity goes up 1-2% he's still a guy that throws hard and has mediocre control. In other words, he's still a 4th starter.

Paulino isn't a 'good #3 guy' until he can throw strikes for a full season or in the post-season.

And I'm not sure how you can expect a guy that already throws 95 to just add velocity in his late 20s.

[silver5liter]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

Luckily, we have a new man who won't let that **** fly.

sadly he completely whiffed on that punch lol

[WhawhaWhat]

Joel Goldberg ‏@goldbergkc
#Royals lineup vs LHP Happ: Gordon 7 Escobar 6 Butler DH Perez 2 Moose 5 Frenchy 9 Cain 8 Tejada 3 Johnson 4 Mendoza 1

Hosmer benched for Miguel Tejada.

[LoneWolf]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Joel Goldberg ‏@goldbergkc
#Royals lineup vs LHP Happ: Gordon 7 Escobar 6 Butler DH Perez 2 Moose Frenchy 9 Cain 8 Tejada 3 Johnson 4 Mendoza 1

Hosmer benched for Miguel Tejada.

Actually isn't it Getz benched for Tejada and Hosmer for Johnson?

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

Actually isn't it Getz benched for Tejada and Hosmer for Johnson?

Tejada is playing first, Johnson is playing second.

[LoneWolf]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Tejada is playing first, Johnson is playing second.

Sorry, didn't see that.

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

Sorry, didn't see that.

But did you do it on purpose?

[LoneWolf]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

But did you do it on purpose?

Yes, you should charge my post and cause a forum clearing brawl.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

If his velocity goes up 1-2% he's still a guy that throws hard and has mediocre control. In other words, he's still a 4th starter.

Paulino isn't a 'good #3 guy' until he can throw strikes for a full season or in the post-season.

And I'm not sure how you can expect a guy that already throws 95 to just add velocity in his late 20s.

Might be looking for a post-TJ velocity bump, which is not unheard of.

Paulino has a pretty standard walk rate of around 11.5 percent, whether as a Royal or prior to coming to KC. That's about 25 percent higher than league average (8.5-9.0 percent)

He also strikes out better than league average, averaging about 2 more K/9 than average (about 29 percent higher than the league average 6.5).

You're right. If he could cut a walk a game while retaining that high K rate, Paulino is a guy who suddenly becomes a good No. 2/excellent No. 3 type pitcher. Would require Eiland to work some magic with him, though.

[sedated]

I almost forgot about this – did anyone hear Frank White on 810 yesterday (around 5pm)?

Early in the interview, he says Gordon needs to be moved away from batting leadoff.

Later, answering a question that had nothing to do with the lineup, he says:
- Move Gordon down to the 4 spot
- Switch Escobar and Getz (Escobar to 8, Getz to 2)
- “Let Butler, Gordon, and Frenchy drive the lineup”

Frank’s priorities seem to be off – his lineup choice is based on nothing but years of experience.