We're gonna be awesome this year !

I predict we score 162 runs.

For kicks, I found the Royals-Twins 2014 thread after Wade Davis' error cost us the game. Being swept by the Twins dropped us to 4-7, and Chiefsplanet was a bit salty.




Even the experts said our 2014 bullpen was in major trouble:

Then check out what this dumbass said three months later.

This overall thread makes for some pretty cathartic reading. Our post-World Series meltdowns look like Fisher Price compared to this one. It's a long season, this year could still go in so many ways.

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=282971

http://i.imgur.com/FBVsjR5.jpg

I was there for the cold disappointment of opening day in MN...here's to hoping that:

-Mondesi's spring was more than a fluke
-Cain, Moose and Perez can stay healthy and produce all year
-Gordon returns to form
-The bullpen rallies and doesn't remind us of how spoiled we've been
-Soler comes back from injury and proves his potential
-Moss has Morales Magic
-Duffy shows his reliability as a front-end starter
-Our "depth" is more than AAAA
-Brayan Peña finds more mantises
-Colón keeps everyone hydrated

Big Smoke shouldn't start Royals game day threads.

Only 2 games in and many are giving up. It's only 1 quarter through a football game and we fumbled twice. But this team has the ability to win.

Let's put it this way, if the start of this Royals season is a Chiefs game, game 1/162 being the start of a 60 minute game, we are about 44.4 seconds into the football game. Let's say the Chiefs, in this scenario, down the kick in the endzone for a touchback and are starting on the 25 yard line with 60 minutes of the game left to play. The Royals losing the first two games of the season is the equivalent of Alex Smith handing the ball off to Ware and him getting tackled for a ~0.926 yard loss.

Right now at this very point of the Royals season, it's 2nd and 11 at our own 24 yard line.

Now if the Royals were to win tomorrow, it would **** this entire model up as it is based under the assumption that reaching the endzone is a perfect 162-0 season and them being winless right now simplifies this scenario. But for right now at this exact second, it's all I got. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Conversation

Sean Greene‏ @SeanGreeneWDEL

Former Wilmington Blue Rock Brandon Finnegan has retired 19 straight Phillies tonight.
8:33 PM · Apr 5, 2017

http://mlb.mlb.com/images/0/9/4/2045...D_1watzwpq.gif


But really, good for him. That guy will always and forever tell stories about 2014. He had a hell of a year that year.

What needs to happen: our bullpen pitches to our hitters, and both get back in a groove.

This team sucks.

The Astros will bash our skulls if we don't get ahead of their hitters at MMP.

I've decided to spoiler tag the 2011 prelude after the Royals first win this season.

I will have the five burning questions and analysis uploaded to the OP by Friday. Here's a sneak peak.

2017's Burning Questions

1. What is the threshold between being “buyers” or “sellers” at the deadline?
(This is an important question. The worst move if we're down 4-5 games again would be holding, imho).

2. Can Gordo and Moose bounce back to 2015 form?

3. Can Ned Yost manage a bullpen?

4. Will the Royals find a boost from an unexpected X-Factor to lift them to contention?

2014 X factors - Wade Davis, Kelvin Herrera, Danny Duffy and "Ace" Ventura
2015 X factors - Chris Young, Ryan Madson, Kendrys "Silver Slugger" Morales

5. Can Jorge Soler and Brandon Moss be productive contributors in Kauffman’s dimensions?

Bonus Question - Is Raul Mondesi truly ready to be an everyday player?

1. If we're more than 10 games out, you have to sell. I'd even say 7-8 games. As for buyers, that's a tough one, because there isn't a whole lot on the farm to give up to get anyone.

2. Moose can, but Gordon's too old to do much anymore, IMO. He might have a good stretch or two in him, but his best years are over.

3. No.

4. That better be a bullpen guy. Otherwise, it won't matter. Not seeing it at this point.

5. Better question. Can either of them not strike out at a ridiculous rate?

BQ. I haven't seen enough of him because of all the day games and my work schedule, but sure? The Royals have always been weak at second, other than the half-season of Zobrist.

I'm afraid the Gordon contract was our Kobe moment that is going to haunt us for a while.

I love Gordo - and he will forever be a royal legend for the game 1 bomb off Familia....but smart franchises know when to hold 'em, and when to fold 'em.

If there is one thing we all know about these guys, especially the hitters, it's that every single ****ing one of them is streaky as ****.

The pitching hopefully warms up and guys settle into their roles. However, this looks to be an average bullpen at best. Starting pitching is going to have to be better than years past.