Royals 2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread - Page 260

duncan_idaho · 10:01 AM

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?

MeatRock · 05-09-2013, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJizzles

And here we go.

He can't help it. It's his Diva personality.

teedubya · 05-09-2013, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

If we are bumping Gordon out of the leadoff spot, he must be used to protect Billy, IMO.

Putting Butler/Gordon/Cain makes it much more difficult to pitch around either of our key bats. However, Esky in the leadoff spot is not a good call. He doesn't see enough pitches and only gets on base via hits.

Putting Butler BEFORE Gordon is ****ing stupid. Butler is slow as hell and will clog the bases and we won't score nearly as many runs.

teedubya · 05-09-2013, 04:47 PM

So, is tonight game #4 of this season's inevitable 12 game losing streak / death march?

stonedstooge · 05-09-2013, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hootie

I took an awful large amount of shit for this lineup and now suddenly everyone is on board...

I see.

Ah, we have had this argument last year. Don't think you were the first to suggest it

Nightfyre · 05-09-2013, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teedubya

Putting Butler BEFORE Gordon is ****ing stupid. Butler is slow as hell and will clog the bases and we won't score nearly as many runs.

You would rather the opposing pitcher not even have to worry about facing Butler?

stonedstooge · 05-09-2013, 04:52 PM

I was hoping Ned would DH for Frenchy and let the pitchers bat

MeatRock · 05-09-2013, 04:53 PM

I care more about moving Cain, arguably our hottest hitter right now, to the 2 spot than moving Gordon to the 3rd spot. I like maximizing Cain's AB's.

**alnorth** · 05-09-2013, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hootie

I took an awful large amount of shit for this lineup and now suddenly everyone is on board...

I see.

Your reasoning (driving in runs) is still wrong.

If the new lineup means Cain gets more AB, its an improvement.

MeatRock · 05-09-2013, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnorth

Your reasoning (driving in runs) is still wrong.

If the new lineup means Cain gets more AB, its an improvement.

^ This

Deberg_1990 · 05-09-2013, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Hosmer IMO just needs time. He is only 23. Pro players don't hit their prime until 27. Gordon is a classic example of this. Just let him keeping hitting and it will eventually click.

Hochevar just needs more time. We have identified a flaw in his delivery.

stonedstooge · 05-09-2013, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Hochevar just needs more time. We have identified a flaw in his delivery.

COOL. You notice it on tape again Ned?

Mama Hip Rockets · 05-09-2013, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hootie

I took an awful large amount of shit for this lineup and now suddenly everyone is on board...

I see.

I gave you no shit.

Hootie · 05-09-2013, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnorth

Your reasoning (driving in runs) is still wrong.

If the new lineup means Cain gets more AB, its an improvement.

Disagree. The object of the game is to score runs. You load your lineup so that the guys who get on base hit in front of the guys with the highest .OPS

Your highest .OPS guys need to be at 3 and 4

Deberg_1990 · 05-09-2013, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hootie

I took an awful large amount of shit for this lineup and now suddenly everyone is on board...

I see.

No shits were given by me.

**alnorth** · 05-09-2013, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hootie

Disagree. The object of the game is to score runs. You load your lineup so that the guys who get on base hit in front of the guys with the highest .OPS

Your highest .OPS guys need to be at 3 and 4

Having more AB >>>> the very small benefit of having Cain and Escobar in front of him. Gordon won at least one game, precisely because he was at the top of the order and got the extra AB, and last night he would have been up as the potential game-winner with a man on base without the double play.

I'll sacrifice a few Gordon AB to get Cain up there more, if thats the furthest Yost is willing to go.

12-11-2012, 09:59 AM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $1780308	2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread 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? Last edited by duncan_idaho; 07-15-2013 at 10:01 AM..
Posts: 21,077

05-09-2013, 04:47 PM	#3888
teedubya Most Valuable Poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Casino cash: $9490002	So, is tonight game #4 of this season's inevitable 12 game losing streak / death march?
Posts: 36,649

05-09-2013, 04:52 PM	#3891
stonedstooge Arf! Arf! Arf! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: North Casino cash: $6084173	I was hoping Ned would DH for Frenchy and let the pitchers bat __________________ 2013 ADOPT A CHIEF Eric Kush "Often is a word I seldom use"--JP
Posts: 25,283

05-09-2013, 04:53 PM	#3892
MeatRock Seasons in the Abyss Join Date: Jan 2010 Casino cash: $10010596	I care more about moving Cain, arguably our hottest hitter right now, to the 2 spot than moving Gordon to the 3rd spot. I like maximizing Cain's AB's.
Posts: 4,746