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.

[Mama Hip Rockets]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

I will say it now.. anyone who think the Royals are contending for ANYTHING this year are morons.

Despite a 12-game losing streak, a boatload of injuries, and a vastly underachieving offense, they are still only 5.5 games back. Way too early to be counting them out.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by Dave

This division is fairly shitty.

They could win it.

Hahahahahahahah

Hahahahahaha

Breath

Hahahahahahha

Hahahahahaha

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by BWillie007

Hahahahahahahah

Hahahahahaha

Breath

Hahahahahahha

Hahahahahaha

They are 5.5 games back. This is a very weak division.

And, since the losing streak, they are 28-23.

I know you're not very bright, but try to keep up.

[BigRock]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

I would imagine it's because the Royals are attempting to cover something up. With Paulino done for the season the Royals should consider themselves out of it and begin selling.

Paulino talked to reporters Friday afternoon and said it happened during his rehab start. He said it just started hurting. He kept pitching and then it really started hurting.

I suppose the possibility exists that he's lying to protect an incompetent medical staff that ruined his elbow, although in that case you would think he'd be angry and not an immediate part of the cover-up. But regardless, he seemed to say everything there was to say, so I'm not sure what kind of additional explaination anyone is waiting for.

[Al Bundy]

Originally Posted by thurman merman

Despite a 12-game losing streak, a boatload of injuries, and a vastly underachieving offense, they are still only 5.5 games back. Way too early to be counting them out.

If we still had Paulino going I wouldn't be, but when you lose your best starting pitcher it is bad news.

[Al Bundy]

I do like the optimism of Royals fans, but losing Paulino is the death nail for this team.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

I do like the optimism of Royals fans, but losing Paulino is the death nail for this team.

He only had 7 starts, and the team won in 4 of his starts. While it is a blow, it's not death.

[WilliamTheIrish]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

I do like the optimism of Royals fans, but losing Paulino is the death nail for this team.

Death knell.

[Kyle DeLexus]

Originally Posted by Dave

He only had 7 starts, and the team won in 4 of his starts. While it is a blow, it's not death.

This is what I don't get. Bundy is acting like Paulino is Verlander or something. Apologies to those that have bundy on ignore.

[Al Bundy]

Originally Posted by Kyle DeLexus

This is what I don't get. Bundy is acting like Paulino is Verlander or something. Apologies to those that have bundy on ignore.

The best starter they had. Now it is up to Mazzaro, Hoch, Chen, Mendoza and god knows who else.

[tomahawk kid]

I'd say the chances of Teaford getting recalled, as well as Odorizzi getting called up just went up. I don't think there's anyone else in Omaha that could help. Monty has an ERA north of 4.

[lewdog]

Bundy will never go on ignore! Dude makes me feel better about things because not even I get as negative about the Royals as he does.

[stonedstooge]

Injury = Opportunity for others

[duncan_idaho]

Well, the one bright side that MIGHT come out of this whole thing...

It probably forces Moore to make some moves for pitching in the offseason. Whether he'll be able to get aggressive and pursue top guys in FA, I don't know. But it certainly makes the idea of swapping some farm system excess a bit more palatable, I'd think.

I just posted this on the scout board, but if my plan was followed, here's how the rotation would break out over the next few years:

2013

Garza - controlled through 2014 (2018 if you extend him again)
(question: If you could get him for a package centered around Mike Montgomery and Jorge Bonifacio, do you do it? I'd strongly consider it)

Brandon McCarthy - controlled through 2016. Signed as a FA (4 years, $40 million)

Bruce Chen - controlled through 2013

Jake Odorizzi - controlled through 2018

Filler (Mazzero, Teaford, Chris Dwyer, Hochevar, Adcock, etc.) The idea here would be to get through the first half, and hopefully get a nice contribution from one of John Lamb, Danny Duffy or Felipe Paulino in the second half.

2014

Garza (2018)
McCarthy (2016)
Odorizzi (2018)
Paulino/Duffy
Lamb (with Zimmer, Yordano Ventura, Jason Adam, Dwyer, Adcock, etc. all knocking on the door).

Adding two quality arms - not true aces, really, but good pitchers - puts the Royals in a position where SP is no longer a glaring weakness of the team in 2013, and by 2014, a position where the Royals have some QUALITY depth in the rotation ranks.

It would be an extreme positive if they could get Kyle Zimmer healthy and then see him go kick down doors this year (earn his way to starting 2013 at AA).

[alnorth]

I strongly doubt that the Royals are winning the division this year, enough to be willing to bet $100 with 1:5 odds on it. (bet 5 to win 1) I do think the hitting will come around, but the pitching just isn't there at all, and its going to be infuriating to watch the Royals fail to take advantage in such an incredible down year for the division.

That said, if you simulated the rest of this season 1,000 times, I think they might win it a few percent of the time, so its not impossible, but at this point I'm only hoping that we're still idly speculating if they could win it when August rolls around.