Royals *** Official Royals Repository, Part 4 *** - Page 160

duncan_idaho · 10:46 PM

In this thread: All things related to the AL Champions.

Duncan's Official Team Record prediction: 90 wins
One month in: Looking strong
All Star Break: Looking strong, probably should adjust up to 93-94 wins.
Duncan's Official Team MVP prediction: Eric Hosmer
One month in: Upstaged by his best friend MIKE MOOTACOS, MAN. Tell us bout your hittin, bro!
All Star Break: Lorenzo Cain starting to run away with this one.

Division Preview
Clearly, overlooking the Twins was a mistake at this point. I still don't believe in that team long-term, but they're starting to get that Magic Season twinkle about them.

Detroit is toast. Garbage rotation beyond Price and Sanchez, Miggy out.

And Cleveland... Cleveland still is dangerous if it ever clicks offensively, because the starting pitching is good enough for them to real off a 15-5 stretch and get right back into the playoff picture.

The Royals will be a division winner IF ...
1) Ventura and Duffy combine for 375+ innings of high-quality work
2) Eric Hosmer delivers on his potential with a FULL season of success rather than bursts
3) The deeper bullpen lessens the critical load on Herrera, Davis and Holland
4) Lorenzo Cain stays healthy
5) Either Alex Rios or Kendrys Morales bounces back to 2013 form

The first of these is clearly not going to happen. The second looked good through the end of May but is now eating Cain's dust (Hosmer has still been improved this year, though, lessening his valley. If he has a really hot second half, he can get right back in it). Item three is definitely the case. Item four should probably be first at this point. And Morales has more than bounced back.

Duncan’s Top 20 for mid-season 2015:

Spoiler!

1. Raul Adalberto Mondesi, SS, BOTH: Tools, tools, tools. RA has tools galore. At his best, he’s an All-Star SS who plays elite D, hits 15-20 HR, swipes 40 bags, and is an ideal 1, 2 or 3 hitter. At his worst, I think he looks a lot like Alcides Escobar. Plate discipline is his biggest challenge at this point, but evaluators are confident that will come with time. Clear No. 1
2. Kyle Zimmer, RHP: He’s pitching again and staying healthy, which is nice. He’s pitcing out of the bullpen to build back his arm strength, which is less nice. But still has that high upside, just a lower floor now. Ideally, the team will use him as a bullpen weapon in September (because he has earned it) and then give him a chance to transition back to starting for 2016.
3. Miguel Almonte, RHP: Still love the body, FB/CH combo. Results aren’t eye popping, but he’s still low enough and early enough in the development to prize those things over performance. Still a solid No. 3 starter upside, and just a year and some change away from potentially being ready to contribute at the MLB level.
4. Jorge Bonifacio, RF, RH: Emilio’s little brother got off to a horrible start in 2015 but has heated up as the season went on. He also is translating BP power to game power for the first time, with 15 HR just past the mid-way point of his season. Despite his disappointing 2014, he has a chance to build his way back into legit prospect status – and still is only 22. Next challenge for him should be Omaha, but that may wait for the start of the 2014 season.
5. Scott Blewett, RHP: Blewett has a nice two –pitch mix already and is off to a strong start. With his size (6-6) and a good fastball/curveball combo, Blewett could eventually turn into a good No. 3 starter, with a MLB-average changeup.
6. Nolan Watson, RHP: The Royals’ 2015 sandwich pick is a polished prep arm who is adding velocity and explosiveness to a good, polished base. Likely to move quickly.
7. Ashe Russell, RHP: The 2015 top pick probably needs more work than Watson, but the upside is really nice. Again, advanced two-pitch mix that will depend on him adding a changeup. Could be a very good NO. 2 if it all adds up.

Spoiler!

8. Bubba Starling, CF, RH: Starling has been up and down this year but put himself back on the map by greatly improving his K rate while also improving across the slash line as a hitter. His defense and baserunning are MLB ready; if Starling can work himself into a league average hitter, he can be a solid MLB regular who plays great D in CF while hitting 15 HR and swiping 20 bags.
9. Balbino Fuenmayor, 1B/DH, RH: The Balbino came out of basically nowhere in 2015 to earn a Futures Game spot. Big power and an improved two-strike approach have turned the late bloomer into a legit prospect. He’s blocked at the MLB level currently by Eric Hosmer and Kendrys Morales, but Fuenmayor’s combination of power hitting and good average/strike zone control makes him intriguing.
10. Cheslor Cuthbert, 3B, RH: Cheslor probably is not going to be the star KC was hoping for when signing him out of Nicaragua, but he does look like he can be a solid reserve for an MLB club. Good defense at 3B paired with a solid plate approach and some gap power plays fine off the bench. He becomes a lot more interesting if they think he can stick as a 2B, which they have experimented with.
11. Chase Vallot, C/DH/1B: I really like Vallot’s power and plate discipline combo. His bat will probably force him from behind the plate, but he’s held his own despite being extremely young for every level he has faced.
12. Alfredo Escalera-Maldonado, OF, RH: Escalera-Maldonado earned a promotion to Wilmington at age 20, which is pretty advanced movement for that age. He’s an athletic outfielder who has shown some plate discipline at an early age, which is encouraging. Doesn’t sound like he can stick in CF long term for KC, but his bat has become one to watch.
13. Pedro Fernandez, RHP: I haven’t seen much of him, but like the reports I’ve heard on his fastball and general makeup. Could become the next Almonte/Mondesi, though he’s more likely to land in the pen than either of them.
14. Elier Hernandez, OF, RH: Elier Hernanez teamed with Escalera-Maldonado in breaking out at Low-A and earning a promotion to Wilmington. It’s still early for this guy – he is just 20 years old – but he doesn’t take walks and hasn’t developed the prodigious power many thought he had the potential for. Still worth watching.
15. Hunter Dozier, 3B, RH: Dozier is reworking his swing mid-season, which generally will cause production to do what his has done: Nose dive. The changes he made entering the season (seemingly geared towards increasing his power production) were a disaster, and now he’s trying to get back to what he used to be. Still looks great and checks most of the scouting boxes, but the performance hasn’t matched, and it almost knocked him out of the list.
16. Christian Binford, RHP: After a breakthrough 2014, Binford struggled mightily at AAA and suffered a demotion. His upside remains similar – a back-end starter who can eat innings – but Binford’s lack of velocity and reliance on command have caught up to him so far.
17. Marten Gasparini, OF, SH: Gasparini is intriguing because of his speed and athleticism. He’s a LOOOOONG ways from the majors and young for his level, but reports on his bat speed, swing, and speed remain positive enough to keep him on the bubble.

KChiefs1 · 08-31-2015, 06:52 PM

Well I assume he is put on the postseason roster.

**Anyong Bluth** · 08-31-2015, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

Could this be the greatest Royals team in history?

KC now has played about 80% of its regular-season schedule (130 of 162 games). After 130 games, KC is 80-50, or .615 ball.

After 110 games, KC was 66-44, or .600 ball. KC has went 14-6 over its last 20 games, or ..700 ball.

KC has 32 games left on its 2015 regular season schedule.

If KC goes 17-15 then it will finish at 97-65 and tie the franchise record for 2nd-most wins in a season (1980). That's extremely likely.

If KC goes 20-12, then it will finish at 100-62 and set a new franchise record for 2nd most wins in a season. That's still possible.

If KC goes 22-10, then it will finish at 102-60 and tie the franchise record for all-time wins in a season (1977). That's tougher, but remember KC has gone 14-6 for its last 20 games.

And if KC goes 23-9, then it will set a new franchise record for wins in a season with 103. Difficult but doable.

Ned has done an EXCELLENT job of keeping the guys engaged, hungry and yet loose in spite of the fact that there hasn’t been an AL Central race since the all-star break. Before last year I was a Yost skeptic, but he deserves mad props this year and I'll be the first to feast on a little crow and give Ned his props.

Dayton Moore through the acquisitions of Johnny Cueto and Ben Zobrist, has made the team better and more capable in the post season. KC maintains a good lead for AL home field as well (more on that later).

I continue to be impressed EVERY GAME by this team's immense amount of versatility, more so than any other team in the AL, and that will pay dividends in the playoffs when KC might need a HR, a base hit, a stolen base, heads-up base running, and/or advancing runners with outs. The starting pitching is rounding into form, and more kudos to Yost for moving Medlen to the starting rotation. Cueto, Ventura, Volquez, Duffy, and Medlen looks pretty good for the rest of the regular season, and probably Duffy or Medlen can be moved back to the bullpen during the playoffs. And the KC bullpen, despite an imperceptible burp here and there, is STILL the KC bullpen. The team continues to play excellent defense.

When one looks at the other 2 division leaders (Houston and Toronto), so much of their offenses (as good as they are) rest on hitting HRs. But what will they do when the long ball ain’t comin’? If KC gets AL home field, Kauffman Stadium won't give either Houston or Toronto any cheap HRs. I don’t think their starting rotations, 1-4, are as good as KC’s. And neither team plays the kind of defense KC does.

I see no reason this team can't win it all. I know short series can lead to upsets(2014 Royals) but this team has every base covered & I believe this is going to be a nice ride for the next 2 months.

We are witnessing greatness...enjoy it!

Doesn't matter, I've heard that for every game Toronto scores 10 or more runs they're going to be awarded 2 wins.

At their pace, we're screwed for the #1 spot on the AL.

penbrook · 08-31-2015, 06:55 PM

This signing is interesting. If he's playing RF I'm all for it

big nasty kcnut · 08-31-2015, 06:56 PM

So he replaces Rios?

Why Not? · 08-31-2015, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by penbrook

This signing is interesting. If he's playing RF I'm all for it

Has to be the thinking, right? Dayton and Ned clearly have had enough of both Infante and Rios. They were given 130 games.

tk13 · 08-31-2015, 06:58 PM

Yep, he's not a good defensive player, which is the only catch. But:

- This puts Rios on the spot, if they don't outright cut him tonight.

- Gomes has an .878 OPS against LHP. Dayton knows what he's doing. That's our weakness. Here's a guy they can put in the lineup who mashes lefties.

- We're looking at an AL playoffs with potentially:
TOR: Price/Buerhle
HOU: Keuchel/Kazmir
TEX: Hamels/Holland
All lefties.

-We can now put Zobrist at 2B and Gomes in RF and have zero weak spots in the order, save maybe Escobar. I wonder if this is a response to the Blue Jays, just trying to give the offense a little extra push. Gomes also has a ton of playoff experience.

BigCatDaddy · 08-31-2015, 07:01 PM

Gomes/Dyson platoon?

Mama Hip Rockets · 08-31-2015, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach

Yes, an outfielder. Oversight on my part. My apologies. Not sure why I said catcher, considering the Royals were looking for one.

Probably thinking of Yan Gomes from Cleveland.

**Anyong Bluth** · 08-31-2015, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chefsos

Did you guys ever wonder if you were living in the Good Old Days right now? No? Well, you should. Because you are. Take it all in, as much as you can.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish

I'm loving every single (non DVR) pitch. Attended 13 games. It's like I'm reliving the glory days of my youth.

It's why I give pete so much shit. Although to his credit, he's never experienced anything like this in back to back baseball seasons. And, as I've posted numerous times previously this year is just icing. Last year will never be repeated. We were underdogs, nobodies who gave one incredible performance after another.

I had to hold back tears of joy at the WC game. This season, even if it culminates in a WS title, can never make me feel as good as last year.

Last year was amazing. This year has been like a great little gift for 162+ days to enjoy.

I've savored the season for sure! I've only missed 2 games so far this season. Granted, some games I haven't been able to watch the entire 9 innings, but I've seen probably 85% of it in total.

Mama Hip Rockets · 08-31-2015, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Molitoth

This. We've heard "The Jays can't keep this up" for far too long now.
The harsh truth is, they are the best team in the AL right now and if we have to see them in the playoffs, they already have the confidence that they can whoop our asses.

If we had taken more games from them this season, I wouldn't be as worried.

How long is "right now"? A month? Why do we care who has been the best team for a month? The Royals have been the better team this year by a pretty decent margin.

**Anyong Bluth** · 08-31-2015, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

On an unrelated note:

Commissioner Manfred could reinstate Shoeless Joe Jackson tomorrow.

Sign him!

tk13 · 08-31-2015, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Gomes/Dyson platoon?

They could also just use him as a bopper off the bench. Kind of a Josh Willingham role from last year.

SPchief · 08-31-2015, 07:08 PM

Gomes now knows he has to catch balls in the outfield and not jump into the CF and missing the ball completely right?

**Anyong Bluth** · 08-31-2015, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk13

Well it's not letting that embed at the moment, so I'll try this.

For the love of ELEVATION. http://t.co/bM9dfKoalq #Outlaw pic.twitter.com/171xF4cARJ
— MLB (@MLB) August 31, 2015

Beltran did it better.

stonedstooge · 08-31-2015, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPchief

Gomes now knows he has to catch balls in the outfield and not jump into the CF and missing the ball completely right?

IF IT'S HIT IN THE AIR TO YOUR RIGHT, JUST STAY THE HELL OUT OF MY WAY/LoCain

07-14-2015, 11:05 PM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $1210308	* Official Royals Repository, Part 4 * In this thread: All things related to the AL Champions. Duncan's Official Team Record prediction: 90 wins One month in: Looking strong All Star Break: Looking strong, probably should adjust up to 93-94 wins. Duncan's Official Team MVP prediction: Eric Hosmer One month in: Upstaged by his best friend MIKE MOOTACOS, MAN. Tell us bout your hittin, bro! All Star Break: Lorenzo Cain starting to run away with this one. Division Preview Clearly, overlooking the Twins was a mistake at this point. I still don't believe in that team long-term, but they're starting to get that Magic Season twinkle about them. Detroit is toast. Garbage rotation beyond Price and Sanchez, Miggy out. And Cleveland... Cleveland still is dangerous if it ever clicks offensively, because the starting pitching is good enough for them to real off a 15-5 stretch and get right back into the playoff picture. The Royals will be a division winner IF ... 1) Ventura and Duffy combine for 375+ innings of high-quality work 2) Eric Hosmer delivers on his potential with a FULL season of success rather than bursts 3) The deeper bullpen lessens the critical load on Herrera, Davis and Holland 4) Lorenzo Cain stays healthy 5) Either Alex Rios or Kendrys Morales bounces back to 2013 form The first of these is clearly not going to happen. The second looked good through the end of May but is now eating Cain's dust (Hosmer has still been improved this year, though, lessening his valley. If he has a really hot second half, he can get right back in it). Item three is definitely the case. Item four should probably be first at this point. And Morales has more than bounced back. Duncan’s Top 20 for mid-season 2015: Spoiler! 1. Raul Adalberto Mondesi, SS, BOTH: Tools, tools, tools. RA has tools galore. At his best, he’s an All-Star SS who plays elite D, hits 15-20 HR, swipes 40 bags, and is an ideal 1, 2 or 3 hitter. At his worst, I think he looks a lot like Alcides Escobar. Plate discipline is his biggest challenge at this point, but evaluators are confident that will come with time. Clear No. 1 2. Kyle Zimmer, RHP: He’s pitching again and staying healthy, which is nice. He’s pitcing out of the bullpen to build back his arm strength, which is less nice. But still has that high upside, just a lower floor now. Ideally, the team will use him as a bullpen weapon in September (because he has earned it) and then give him a chance to transition back to starting for 2016. 3. Miguel Almonte, RHP: Still love the body, FB/CH combo. Results aren’t eye popping, but he’s still low enough and early enough in the development to prize those things over performance. Still a solid No. 3 starter upside, and just a year and some change away from potentially being ready to contribute at the MLB level. 4. Jorge Bonifacio, RF, RH: Emilio’s little brother got off to a horrible start in 2015 but has heated up as the season went on. He also is translating BP power to game power for the first time, with 15 HR just past the mid-way point of his season. Despite his disappointing 2014, he has a chance to build his way back into legit prospect status – and still is only 22. Next challenge for him should be Omaha, but that may wait for the start of the 2014 season. 5. Scott Blewett, RHP: Blewett has a nice two –pitch mix already and is off to a strong start. With his size (6-6) and a good fastball/curveball combo, Blewett could eventually turn into a good No. 3 starter, with a MLB-average changeup. 6. Nolan Watson, RHP: The Royals’ 2015 sandwich pick is a polished prep arm who is adding velocity and explosiveness to a good, polished base. Likely to move quickly. 7. Ashe Russell, RHP: The 2015 top pick probably needs more work than Watson, but the upside is really nice. Again, advanced two-pitch mix that will depend on him adding a changeup. Could be a very good NO. 2 if it all adds up. Spoiler! 8. Bubba Starling, CF, RH: Starling has been up and down this year but put himself back on the map by greatly improving his K rate while also improving across the slash line as a hitter. His defense and baserunning are MLB ready; if Starling can work himself into a league average hitter, he can be a solid MLB regular who plays great D in CF while hitting 15 HR and swiping 20 bags. 9. Balbino Fuenmayor, 1B/DH, RH: The Balbino came out of basically nowhere in 2015 to earn a Futures Game spot. Big power and an improved two-strike approach have turned the late bloomer into a legit prospect. He’s blocked at the MLB level currently by Eric Hosmer and Kendrys Morales, but Fuenmayor’s combination of power hitting and good average/strike zone control makes him intriguing. 10. Cheslor Cuthbert, 3B, RH: Cheslor probably is not going to be the star KC was hoping for when signing him out of Nicaragua, but he does look like he can be a solid reserve for an MLB club. Good defense at 3B paired with a solid plate approach and some gap power plays fine off the bench. He becomes a lot more interesting if they think he can stick as a 2B, which they have experimented with. 11. Chase Vallot, C/DH/1B: I really like Vallot’s power and plate discipline combo. His bat will probably force him from behind the plate, but he’s held his own despite being extremely young for every level he has faced. 12. Alfredo Escalera-Maldonado, OF, RH: Escalera-Maldonado earned a promotion to Wilmington at age 20, which is pretty advanced movement for that age. He’s an athletic outfielder who has shown some plate discipline at an early age, which is encouraging. Doesn’t sound like he can stick in CF long term for KC, but his bat has become one to watch. 13. Pedro Fernandez, RHP: I haven’t seen much of him, but like the reports I’ve heard on his fastball and general makeup. Could become the next Almonte/Mondesi, though he’s more likely to land in the pen than either of them. 14. Elier Hernandez, OF, RH: Elier Hernanez teamed with Escalera-Maldonado in breaking out at Low-A and earning a promotion to Wilmington. It’s still early for this guy – he is just 20 years old – but he doesn’t take walks and hasn’t developed the prodigious power many thought he had the potential for. Still worth watching. 15. Hunter Dozier, 3B, RH: Dozier is reworking his swing mid-season, which generally will cause production to do what his has done: Nose dive. The changes he made entering the season (seemingly geared towards increasing his power production) were a disaster, and now he’s trying to get back to what he used to be. Still looks great and checks most of the scouting boxes, but the performance hasn’t matched, and it almost knocked him out of the list. 16. Christian Binford, RHP: After a breakthrough 2014, Binford struggled mightily at AAA and suffered a demotion. His upside remains similar – a back-end starter who can eat innings – but Binford’s lack of velocity and reliance on command have caught up to him so far. 17. Marten Gasparini, OF, SH: Gasparini is intriguing because of his speed and athleticism. He’s a LOOOOONG ways from the majors and young for his level, but reports on his bat speed, swing, and speed remain positive enough to keep him on the bubble. Last edited by duncan_idaho; 10-06-2015 at 10:46 PM..
Posts: 21,201

08-31-2015, 06:52 PM	#2386
KChiefs1 I’m a Mahomo! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Mid-Missouri Casino cash: $6771021	Well I assume he is put on the postseason roster. __________________
Posts: 54,038

08-31-2015, 06:55 PM	#2388
penbrook LEGEND! Join Date: Feb 2013 Casino cash: $10033840	This signing is interesting. If he's playing RF I'm all for it
Posts: 16,409

08-31-2015, 06:56 PM	#2389
big nasty kcnut The pizza king of kansas Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Somewhere in the u.s.a. Casino cash: $1070900	So he replaces Rios? __________________ When it's grim, be the grim reaper and go get it. Adopt a chiefs Travis Kelce. You woke up the wrong mother****er!
Posts: 18,934

08-31-2015, 06:58 PM	#2391
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $1452500	Yep, he's not a good defensive player, which is the only catch. But: - This puts Rios on the spot, if they don't outright cut him tonight. - Gomes has an .878 OPS against LHP. Dayton knows what he's doing. That's our weakness. Here's a guy they can put in the lineup who mashes lefties. - We're looking at an AL playoffs with potentially: TOR: Price/Buerhle HOU: Keuchel/Kazmir TEX: Hamels/Holland All lefties. -We can now put Zobrist at 2B and Gomes in RF and have zero weak spots in the order, save maybe Escobar. I wonder if this is a response to the Blue Jays, just trying to give the offense a little extra push. Gomes also has a ton of playoff experience.
Posts: 55,071

08-31-2015, 07:01 PM	#2392
BigCatDaddy The Beast Inside Your Head Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Parts Unknown Casino cash: $1479122	Gomes/Dyson platoon?
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08-31-2015, 07:08 PM	#2398
SPchief In Search of a Life Join Date: Feb 2004 Casino cash: $1402905	Gomes now knows he has to catch balls in the outfield and not jump into the CF and missing the ball completely right? __________________ http://give.somo.org/site/TR/Plunge/...nal&fr_id=1244 ^^^^^^^^^^ Click here to help with a special cause. Please help me out
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