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04-05-2017, 10:55 AM | |
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*** Official 2017 Royals Repository ***
Chiefsplanet’s (Proposed) 2017 Season Title: One Last Ride
Midish-Season Update (Royals 51-47, 2nd Wild Card, 1.5 GB of ALC): We're halfway through 2017, and fittingly to the Chiefsplanet's 2017 Season Title, the Royals are all-in on what will likely be one final run with the current core. While many are worried the Royals will take a 2004 style tumble after this year, the farm system is hardly the barren wasteland it was during the Baird years. To see what's in the pipeline and what we have to look forward to, check out this exceptional list and analysis that Duncan put together of our system. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...htmlview#gid=0 While I had the honor of starting this thread this year, Duncan will always have a VIP pass to this OP, and can add more content at any time. 2017's Burning Questions Revisited: 1. What is the threshold between being “buyers” and “sellers” at the deadline? We're buyers, baby. In April, I argued that it would be a wise strategy for us to sell if we were 5 GB or worse, but that Dayton would likely add supplemental pieces for us to load up for another run if we were 1-2 GB. On July 24th, the Royals found themselves in sole possession of the 2nd wild card spot and 1.5 games back of the division. In April I said the Royals might pull the trigger on someone like Alex Cobb and resign Luke Hochevar, but since the Rays are also buyers and Luke's shoulder hasn't rebounded, this prediction hasn't come to fruition. Luckily, Dayton Moore again proved much more adept and creative than me by adding Trevor Cahill (good call, Duncan), Brandon Maurer and Ryan Buchter in a single trade. Giving us a solid starter to compete in 2017, and two relievers whom we will control through 2019 and 2021, respectively, keeping Moore's new vision through 2019-2020 intact. Moore has hinted that the Royals will continue to pursue the right deals if they're there, so the fun may not be over just yet. While we may not have the bullets to pull in a "star" like Cueto or Zo, Moore's adeptness may yet again net us what we need for another run in October. 2. Can Gordo and Moose bounce back to 2015 levels? In April I asked if Gordo could at least set the table at a 265/325/425 clip and if Moose could deliver damage around a 265/335/500 clip for an entire year. This season Mr. Moustakas has been the prospect that was promised, delivering at a 277/307/568 clip as of this update. Gordo, on the other hand, has put up an unbelievably abysmal line thus far. But, if there is a silver lining, it's that Gordo has performed at a 246/311/432 line since June 1st, and if he can continue to perform near that mark, he will be more than a valuable asset at the bottom of the lineup while he continues to provide the best LF defense in the league. 3. Can Ned Yost manage a bullpen? In April, I felt that despite the poor start, Royals bullpen would ultimately be "solid" this year, but the question was whether "solid" was good enough for Ned. I argued that the Royals needed Soria to bounce back and that Ned would need to start being strategic in his L/L and R/R matchups. While Ned has still made at times baffling and frustrating decisions with his starters (such as allowing Travis Wood to try to "get the win" and still insisting on sending Hammel out for the 6th, he's mostly done a good job). MASH: Minor/Moylan - Alexander - Soria - Herrera (Credit to C3HIEF3S for the origins of the phrase) have cemented into reliable pieces, and now that Herrera is showing signs of stabilizing, our dumping of Wood, our call up Flynn, and the acquisition of Buchter and Maurer, the Royals have the potential to enter October with one of the best and deepest bullpens in the postseason. 4. Will the Royals find a boost from an unexpected X-Factor to lift them to contention? Cool-Whit, Boni, Mike ****ing Minor, and Alexander have come up huge thus far. Cool Whit is, incredibly, is second on the team in WAR and has more than replaced Zo's presence on the team. They, like the X-Factors on the 2014-2015 teams, have been critical cogs as we've raced back to contention, while Cool-Whit and Boni also have provided a rosier outlook for this team's future. It's worth noting that Salvador Perez and Jason Vargas has been beasts on offense and the mound (along with Sal providing his customary defensive excellence), but I am still a bit wary of Salvy's annual Yost assisted offensive drought as the team moves into August, along with Vargy regressing to his averages. 5. Can Jorge Soler and Brandon Moss be productive contributors in Kauffman’s dimensions? Ouch, no, but the Royals shift to power-hitting in the juiced ball era looks like one that will pay off. Thankfully, Moss is showing signs of entering his seasonal hot streak where he becomes corn-fed Jesus for a month, and we'll need him hot to keep up with Cleveland down the stretch. While Jorge has been painful to watch in the majors, his scorching performance in AAA should give one a bright hope for the future. While some may disagree, I offer Moose, Hos, Gordo, and Duffy's struggles as exhibit A for why it is far too early to give up on Soler's potential. Bonus Question - Is Raul Mondesi truly ready to be an everyday player? Ha! Not even close. However, like Soler, his progress in AAA is incredibly encouraging. With ceilings like Lindor and floors being Esky being thrown out there, it's hard not to be excited about his future. The Picture Forward There are many reasons to be excited, and not only for 2017. The Royals emergence of Cool Whit, Bonifacio, and Scott Alexander, and the fact that we have pieces like Salvador Perez, Danny Duffy, Kelvin Herrera, Jorge Soler, Ryan Buchter, Brandon Maurer Cheslor Cuthbert, and Raul Mondesi until at least 2019 should leave one feeling pretty optimistic. Re-up Moose or Hos (and heck, re-sign Dyson while we're at it), and suddenly this team looks very much like one that could compete for the indefinite future. The Royals are all in again, buckle in and enjoy the ride. April OP:
Spoiler!
Last edited by Chiefspants; 08-02-2017 at 01:53 PM.. |
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04-27-2017, 09:15 PM | #571 | |
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04-27-2017, 09:15 PM | #572 |
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Not sure which season you're referring to, since it says "2013 14." This isn't basketball. He spent some time in AAA in 2013, at the age of 23. I'm not sure why that's relevant, since we were talking about 2014 previously. In 2014, he had a 1.41 ERA and gave up exactly zero home runs in 70 innings. I don't recall myself dreading him coming in at any point that season.
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04-27-2017, 09:17 PM | #573 |
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The class of 2013-2014 fans seem to be taking this start the hardest.
In a way, I understand, 2004 was a rough one for me. |
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04-28-2017, 08:36 AM | #574 | |
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What was Houston last year, at least 10 under at one time approaching June and finished just out of the playoffs. |
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04-28-2017, 08:43 AM | #575 | |
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I agree. But Jorge Soler isn't a "scrub" return. I was on record as thinking they should get more back, but those injury concerns surrounding Davis after last year damaged his value. Relievers are a weird commodity. They're one of the easiest things to find in baseball. Wade Davis' salary wasn't the issue or the reason he was traded. His impending free agency, the injury risk, the short shelf life of most elite relievers, the risk associated with signing him long term (due to the injury/shelf life of relievers), and the ability to get a really high value return were the reasons he was traded. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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04-28-2017, 08:44 AM | #576 | |
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The time is now.
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04-28-2017, 08:46 AM | #577 |
Stroking to the SB Champs!
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By the way, Karns is a shit bag. He's got to be replaced.
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04-28-2017, 08:47 AM | #578 |
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We're probably never going to see a 2014 bullpen again. Basically having three closers, all with sub-1.50 ERAs. I agree the bullpen needs to pitch better for sure, but if you're looking to relive that experience you might as well quit watching now. Hopefully you appreciated it when it happened. I'm not kidding
That's the beauty of baseball though. There's more than one way to win. It's not like football where you need a QB or basketball where you need a LeBron. The Royals won it their way, the Giants won it with Sergio Romo closing, and last year the Cubs won with a shaky Chapman and basically Mike Montgomery as their 2nd most reliable reliever. The Indians actually had the better bullpen and still didn't win. Every year is a different beast. |
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04-28-2017, 08:52 AM | #579 | |
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Yeah, collecting three of the five best relievers in a given season on one team again is highly unlikely to happen. Re: the short shelf life of elite relievers, Id point to Craig Kimbrel in Boston/San Diego. His start to his career in Atlanta was incredibly elite and even better than Mariano Rivera. Since the trade, he has gone from being HoF level to merely good. Guys like Rivera and Hoffman and Billy Wagner who are elite every year for a decade or more are exceptions, not rules. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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04-28-2017, 08:54 AM | #580 | |
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It's probably comparable to the Chiefs averaging about 7 points a game. |
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04-28-2017, 09:05 AM | #581 | |
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04-28-2017, 09:10 AM | #582 |
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04-28-2017, 10:31 AM | #583 |
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It has sure appeared that way for GMDM; yet for the Tigers (and others) it is one of the hardest things to find in baseball.
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04-28-2017, 12:03 PM | #584 | |
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He's right, I think. Lidge was awful the year after the Pinole home run and fairly mortal the year after that. He lost confidence in his slider after the HR and it was nearly three years before he recovered. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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04-28-2017, 06:01 PM | #585 |
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Will there be a game tonight?
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