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.

The 2013 season is closer than we realize. The Royals will feature a rebuilt rotation that likely includes 4 new starters. The most-watched prospects of 2012, Wil Myers and Jake Odorizzi are gone, the price required to rebuild the rotation.

The Royals still have Sal Perz, who has even more of a "star" look to him than a year ago. They still have Alcides Escobar, who was a little less SS jesus in 2012 but brought more at the plate. Billy Butler finally hit a number of home runs that matches his build and how hard he hits the ball. Alex Gordon did it again. Hosmer and Moose struggled.

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.

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?
2) When will Luke Hochevar be shown the door?
3) Does Hosmer bounce back?
4) Can Moustakas hit for a whole season like he did in the first half of 2012?
5) Who regresses?
6) Who plays 2B?
7) Can Jeff Francoeur be at least replacement level, rather than epic horrible level?
8) Will Dayton Moore survive to see 2014?
9) Will Danny Duffy come back healthy? And if he does, is he the same, better or worse?
10) And the big one: Has KC added enough to run down the big-money Detroit Tigers?

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by Strongside

I know we're 6 games in, but I can't help but be a little excited by this team so far.

Royals took the sting off the Chiefs sucking in the late 70s and 80s. Maybe history can repeat.

[Dr. Facebook Fever]

I'm going all in again. OK... I pretty never DON'T go all in... but I like this team to be headed in the right direction finally really well.

I love the Shields, Davis, Santana, Guthrie signings. I love that our starting pitching may actually be good enough to make Hochevar the odd man out finally. I love Hosmers new kiss approach. I love Sal. I love Moose. I love Alex. I love Billy. Escobar. The vet presence of Tejada. Holland as closer. Good middle relief. There's a lot to love about this club.

Will it mean playoffs? I don't know. There are several clubs to jump. But finally we're putting together a real major league team. The efforts have been and are being made.

I'm so excited for baseball. Go Royals.

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by Nzoner

Anxious to get to Vegas and see the over/under they have set for total wins.

It's set at 78.5. Easy money.

[cabletech94]

Originally Posted by Nzoner

Anxious to get to Vegas and see the over/under they have set for total wins.

i'll be in vegas next week (if this bout of the gout doesn't kill me, seriously).

i'd but money on that. how do i go about collecting if i win?

[Nightfyre]

bet enough to make it worth your while to go back and collect it.

[Cephalic Trauma]

Originally Posted by Paniero

Undefeated in 2013. Book it.

Booked.

Wait, what?

[alnorth]

Ervin Santana: 2IP 1H 0R 1BB 2K

[alnorth]

Apparently Getz launched a no-doubt bomb over the right field fence.

Your move, Gio.

[Cephalic Trauma]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Apparently Getz launched a no-doubt bomb over the right field fence.

Your move, Gio.

Check the bat. Bet it's corked.

[gblowfish]

Apparently some pitcher accidentally hit Getz' bat really really hard....

[CJizzles]

Getz must have been hitting off of a tee where the infield and outfield meet.

[SPchief]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Apparently Getz launched a no-doubt bomb over the right field fence.

Your move, Gio.

Was he hitting from 2nd?

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by SPchief

Was he hitting from 2nd?

Thats Arizona for ya, I guess.

[DeezNutz]

Getz has 2 HRs. In his ****ing ML career.

But luckily his glove is replacement level, so he plays.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Getz has 2 HRs. In his ****ing ML career.

But luckily his glove is replacement level, so he plays.

I'm holding out hope that Christian Colon forces his way into the job this year. It's a slim hope, propped up by his late-season performance in Omaha and his RotY play in his winter league.

I don't expect him to be a star, and drafting him No. 4 overall just looks bad at this point. But I think he can give you more at 2B than Getz defensively (Better arm, more range) and if he can OPS .750, he can be a solid 7/8/9 hitter and positive contributor.