Royals 2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread - Page 261

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?

**DeezNutz** · 05-09-2013, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnorth

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.

Escobar's OBP is hovering around .300, which isn't good enough for the lead-off spot. Ultimately, I think the Royals absolutely need to get Cain, Gordon, and Butler up in the first inning.

Still think Butler would be just fine in the two hole, too.

**doomy3** · 05-09-2013, 08:46 PM

A little Country Breakfast.

**LoneWolf** · 05-09-2013, 08:52 PM

What's with the Mr. T starter kit?

**alnorth** · 05-09-2013, 09:07 PM

I am very happy that the Royals are a half game back tonight. The next 7 days will be tough; we have the Yankees and Angels while they have the Indians and Astros.

Deberg_1990 · 05-09-2013, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Escobar's OBP is hovering around .300, which isn't good enough for the lead-off spot. Ultimately, I think the Royals absolutely need to get Cain, Gordon, and Butler up in the first inning.

Still think Butler would be just fine in the two hole, too.

Is it just me or do players not steal bases like they used to 20-30 years ago?

Seems guys like Willie Wilson, Vince Coleman and Henderson used to steal like 80-100 a year.

Coach · 05-09-2013, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Is it just me or do players not steal bases like they used to 20-30 years ago?

Seems guys like Willie Wilson, Vince Coleman and Henderson used to steal like 80-100 a year.

I think it has to do with more of catchers these days today has a very strong arm than they did in the past, but I'm just speculating.

**alnorth** · 05-09-2013, 09:48 PM

The umpires in the Angels @ Houston game just completely jacked up the rules.

In the 7th inning, Houston puts in a relief pitcher. Angels put in a pinch hitter in response. In response to that, Houston relieves the pitcher.

You can't do that. That is not an obscure rule, it is basic umpiring 101, and it is amazing that these MLB-level umpires screwed that rule up.

A relief pitcher must face one batter before being relieved, unless he's hurt. The game is currently being played under protest. The Angels just scored 3 in the 8th to take the lead so it might end up being no harm, no foul, but if Houston comes back to win, things are gonna get interesting. This was not a "judgment call" like that homer in the A's game, its a clear, blatant screw-up of the rules.

teedubya · 05-09-2013, 10:07 PM

Escobar is 0-5 from the lead off spot, so far...

**alnorth** · 05-09-2013, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Rany Jazayerli ‏@jazayerli 1h
Yesterday the umps missed a HR on replay, today they let a pitcher leave without facing a batter. Good luck raising the ante tomorrow, guys.

Direct quote from the Angels manager to the umpires immediately before he filed the protest: "you gotta be shitting me"

tk13 · 05-09-2013, 10:10 PM

Umps make mistakes all the time... but it's amazing we've had two of the more obvious screw ups in recent history on back to back nights.

**alnorth** · 05-09-2013, 10:13 PM

ok, bottom of the 9th. Rooting hard for the Astros to score 2 runs here, I wanna see the hilarity of an upheld protest.

**alnorth** · 05-09-2013, 10:18 PM

bah, Astros meekly went down 1-2-3, thats no fun.

tk13 · 05-09-2013, 10:43 PM

I don't know if it's more disturbing that the umps missed it or a major league manager didn't know that was a rule.

**alnorth** · 05-09-2013, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk13

I don't know if it's more disturbing that the umps missed it or a major league manager didn't know that was a rule.

The odd thing was that while the first reliever was making his warmup tosses and after the pinch-hitter went to the on-deck circle, the Houston manager went out and talked to the umpires for a long time. I don't know what in the world he said to convince them to ignore the rules, but when the umpires allowed him to bring in another reliever, then the Angels manager came out and had a long argument.

So, the umpires have some kind of explanation, but I don't see what it could possibly be. Once you start making your warm-up tosses, you are in the game.

Demonpenz · 05-09-2013, 10:46 PM

could have the dude fake an injury.

12-11-2012, 09:59 AM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $1740308	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: 21,091

05-09-2013, 08:46 PM	#3902
doomy3 Supporter Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $5363539	A little Country Breakfast.
Posts: 12,854

05-09-2013, 08:52 PM	#3903
LoneWolf Constable of Untruths Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Wichita Casino cash: $1721084	What's with the Mr. T starter kit?
Posts: 14,997

05-09-2013, 09:07 PM	#3904
alnorth . Join Date: Dec 2002 Casino cash: $57166239	I am very happy that the Royals are a half game back tonight. The next 7 days will be tough; we have the Yankees and Angels while they have the Indians and Astros. __________________ how many emo kids does it take to change a lightbulb? HOW MANY?! none they just sit in the dark and cry
Posts: 36,130

05-09-2013, 09:48 PM	#3907
alnorth . Join Date: Dec 2002 Casino cash: $57166239	The umpires in the Angels @ Houston game just completely jacked up the rules. In the 7th inning, Houston puts in a relief pitcher. Angels put in a pinch hitter in response. In response to that, Houston relieves the pitcher. You can't do that. That is not an obscure rule, it is basic umpiring 101, and it is amazing that these MLB-level umpires screwed that rule up. A relief pitcher must face one batter before being relieved, unless he's hurt. The game is currently being played under protest. The Angels just scored 3 in the 8th to take the lead so it might end up being no harm, no foul, but if Houston comes back to win, things are gonna get interesting. This was not a "judgment call" like that homer in the A's game, its a clear, blatant screw-up of the rules. __________________ how many emo kids does it take to change a lightbulb? HOW MANY?! none they just sit in the dark and cry Last edited by alnorth; 05-09-2013 at 10:03 PM..
Posts: 36,130

05-09-2013, 10:07 PM	#3908
teedubya Most Valuable Poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Casino cash: $9480002	Escobar is 0-5 from the lead off spot, so far...
Posts: 36,652

05-09-2013, 10:10 PM	#3910
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $1972500	Umps make mistakes all the time... but it's amazing we've had two of the more obvious screw ups in recent history on back to back nights.
Posts: 54,947

05-09-2013, 10:13 PM	#3911
alnorth . Join Date: Dec 2002 Casino cash: $57166239	ok, bottom of the 9th. Rooting hard for the Astros to score 2 runs here, I wanna see the hilarity of an upheld protest. __________________ how many emo kids does it take to change a lightbulb? HOW MANY?! none they just sit in the dark and cry
Posts: 36,130

05-09-2013, 10:18 PM	#3912
alnorth . Join Date: Dec 2002 Casino cash: $57166239	bah, Astros meekly went down 1-2-3, thats no fun. __________________ how many emo kids does it take to change a lightbulb? HOW MANY?! none they just sit in the dark and cry
Posts: 36,130

05-09-2013, 10:43 PM	#3913
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $1972500	I don't know if it's more disturbing that the umps missed it or a major league manager didn't know that was a rule.
Posts: 54,947

05-09-2013, 10:46 PM	#3915
Demonpenz I got Rice cookin in the micro Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Apartment "G UNIT!" Casino cash: $3112136	could have the dude fake an injury. __________________
Posts: 54,273