*** Official Royals Repository, Part 3 ***

[duncan_idaho]

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. Sean Manaea, LHP: I still believe in the upside here, even with the abbreviated start. 6-5 lefties with his combination of stuff and deception have the ability to pitch at the front of a rotation for a long time.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Cody Reed, LHP: Reed has popped up this year, forcing an early promotion to Northwest Arkansas. His stuff is legit, with mid-90s heat and a wipeout slider. Control still needs work, but a promising young arm (that makes Almonte much more tradeable)
6. John Lamb, LHP: Lamb has had a career resurgence in 2015, putting him back on the prospect map. He’s dominating at AAA and will be in the rotation mix in 2016, unless he suffers another setback. Fastball is back, changeup is improving, still working on the ability to throw the slider and curve for strikes when down in the count.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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!

11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. 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.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Don't forget Jake Odorizzi. We got him in that trade as well. He's a stud, and we got Davis for him.

Definitely. I was focusing on how he finally started scoping out fielders who were optimized to Kauffman's dimensions (and whether unintentionally or not, had fielding metrics that were off the chain).

But it's not my intention to take anything away from Odo. His role in the Shields trade has left a major impact on our current team.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

I had a Christian Bale level meltdown when the news of that trade dropped. I have never been happier to be so wrong about a trade.

The biggest thorn for me in that trade wasn't just that we were giving up Myers, it's that we were giving up Myers with a huge gaping hole in RF still. That didn't make sense at the time, especially coming off the the French Quarter era. Obviously GMDM's internal development process had enough red flags that they didn't think Myers was going to be the player the rest of baseball was thinking he would be... And it has worked out that way.

I'm less inclined to pound my head in my desk seeing Manaea's name mentioned in this deal for Zobrist. God-Damn-Dayton-Moore is on a winning streak in my mind.

[duncan_idaho]

That Greinke trade has worked out exactly as they (Dayton Moore, front office) hoped. I mean, if they don't get Alcides Escobar, that means the Royals would have been left counting on Colon at SS.

Hell, as little as a year ago, you had some who would argue the Brewers own that trade because they turned it into 1.5 years of Greinke and 6 of Jean Segura.

That Greinke trade has to be looked at as an A+ move at this point.

I was part of the initial freak-out about the Myers trade because it seemed like such an overpay for Shields based on initial impressions. But the more you dug into Shields after his big change in approach and the more you looked at Myers, the more it made sense.

Long view is always best...

[Coach]

Rusty Kuntz has agreed to give up No. 18 to Ben Zobrist. Kuntz will wear No. 81. I hope Zobrist pays him with "A League Of Their Own" DVD.

— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) July 28, 2015

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by Zeke

The biggest thorn for me in that trade wasn't just that we were giving up Myers, it's that we were giving up Myers with a huge gaping hole in RF still. That didn't make sense at the time, especially coming off the the French Quarter era. Obviously GMDM's internal development process had enough red flags that they didn't think Myers was going to be the player the rest of baseball was thinking he would be... And it has worked out that way.

That's why I'm less inclined to pound my head in my desk seeing Manaea's name mentioned in this deal for Zobrist. God-Damn-Dayton-Moore is on a winning streak in my mind.

On a side note, I legitimately feel for Myers right now. He re-injured his wrist this season and his rehab was just shut down by San Diego's upper management. Wrist injuries can be wreak havoc on young hitters (akin to shoulder problems for pitchers), and it would be terrible if a freak collision in the TB outfield damaged Wil's future trajectory.

He always seemed like a great guy, and has rooted for the Royals even after the trade, I genuinely wish him well and hope he makes a full recovery.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

I'm 22. Started following the team during the Tony Pena "believe" season of 2003. Scrawled the Royals website message board at the time and eventually found Scout. Fully transitioned to using Chiefsplanet as my primary Royals forum after getting alienated with Scout's perpetual negativity.

Awe, shit. You missed the chase for 3000 and his 2nd batting tittle.

[Valiant]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

That Greinke trade has worked out exactly as they (Dayton Moore, front office) hoped. I mean, if they don't get Alcides Escobar, that means the Royals would have been left counting on Colon at SS.

Hell, as little as a year ago, you had some who would argue the Brewers own that trade because they turned it into 1.5 years of Greinke and 6 of Jean Segura.

That Greinke trade has to be looked at as an A+ move at this point.

I was part of the initial freak-out about the Myers trade because it seemed like such an overpay for Shields based on initial impressions. But the more you dug into Shields after his big change in approach and the more you looked at Myers, the more it made sense.

Long view is always best...

i didn't like the trade at first. Relented and decided as long as we win a playoff game it was worth it. He did more than that. Our pitchers picked it up a level and he was a great leader and influence.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by BigMeatballDave

Awe, shit. You missed the chase for 3000 and his 2nd batting tittle.

Hoping October of 2015 gives me something similar to hold on to.

Edit: I also have to give due credit to my Mom. She's been a diehard Royals fan since the late 1970's (she always told me about how she listened to the 80' WS as a military brat in Alaska). She made it easy to get into the Royals as I had someone to listen to Denny and Ryan with every night.

[Eleazar]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

The Betancourt meltdown was truly legendary.

The forum itself had been mostly filled with George Brett era fans who had become jaded on the idea that the Royals would ever be competitive again. It generally didn't have the highs or complete meltdown lows of Chiefsplanet, but had a consistently negative response to every FO decision and it became difficult for me to process. There are a few exceptions (I think Al is/was on there as well), but eventually I got sick enough of a negativity that I called it quits.

I would guess that the community is now more optimistic about the team.

That is different than CP how?

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by Cochise

That is different than CP how?

You know that there were a few here who thought 2013 was nothing but a fluke and that Yordano & Duffy were pre-ordained busts and that this team would be nothing without a Beane/Friedman?

That was more or less the consensus on a lot of Royals pages after 2013. Anything remotely optimistic like "I don't think Vargas was that bad of a signing" or "I think Cain and Escobar have a good chance to bounce back" was met with overwhelming scorn and hostility.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by Cochise

That is different than CP how?

The Royals discussion on here can be pretty good.... the Chiefs discussion can be downright disturbing.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

You know that there were a few here who thought 2013 was nothing but a fluke and that Yordano & Duffy were pre-ordained busts and that this team would be nothing without a Beane/Friedman?

That was more or less the consensus on a lot of Royals pages after 2013. Anything remotely optimistic like "I don't think Vargas was that bad of a signing" or "I think Cain and Escobar have a good chance to bounce back" was met with overwhelming scorn and hostility.

30 years of the same rinse\repeat can do that to a fanbase.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by Zeke

The Royals discussion on here can be pretty good.... the Chiefs discussion can be downright disturbing.

Last year I realized that I now spend 95% of my time here talking about the Royals and KU. I still love the Chiefs, but I'll probably need to see Alex win us a playoff game before I'm sold on our current potential.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by Zeke

30 years of the same rinse\repeat can do that to a fanbase.

Understandable, but I was a sweet summer child who needed a bit more levity.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

Understandable, but I was a sweet summer child who needed a more levity.

There was a time that Levity was all we had as Royals fans.