Royals *** Official Royals Repository, Part 4 *** - Page 209

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.

BWillie · 09-17-2015, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1moreTRich

Danny Duffy is going to the bullpen. He will get a chance to compete for a spot on the playoff roster. Jeremy Guthrie back to rotation.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) September 17, 2015

Don't like this one bit.

Chris Young > Danny Duffy > Jeremy Guthrie

Especially a rested Chris Young. ESPECIALLY.

BWillie · 09-17-2015, 03:25 PM

Career ERA leaders among active MLB pitchers of 1000 innings or more
1. Clayton Kershaw 2.4
2. Adam Wainwright 3.0
3. Madison Bumgarner 3.03
4. David Price 3.1
5. Felix Hernandez 3.12
6. Jordan Zimmerman 3.3
7. Johnny Cueto 3.3
8. Cole Hamels 3.32
9. Zach Greinke 3.4
10. Jared Weaver 3.4
11. Doug Fister 3.44
12. Matt Cain 3.5
13. Tim Hudson 3.5
14. Max Scherzer 3.5
15. Mat Latos 3.508
16. Justin Verlander 3.51
17. Jake Peavy 3.55
18. Jon Lester 3.56
19. Tim Lincecum 3.61
20. Gio Gonzalez 3.62
21. Yovani Gallardo 3.65
22. CC Sabathia 3.69
23. Chris Young 3.7

Alot of AL innings in there too for CY.

suzzer99 · 09-17-2015, 03:26 PM

At least Guts has a good game about every 3 outings. Duffy looks like dogshit right now.

Mama Hip Rockets · 09-17-2015, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1moreTRich

Danny Duffy is going to the bullpen. He will get a chance to compete for a spot on the playoff roster. Jeremy Guthrie back to rotation.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) September 17, 2015

Lex Luthor · 09-17-2015, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRock

Panic button? Duffy's a flaming dumpster fire. His only possible role in October will be out of the pen, so may as well let him get used to it and see how he does.

I agree. Maybe if he goes to the bullpen he can figure something out. What he is doing right now sure as hell isn't working.

**ChiTown** · 09-17-2015, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWillie

Career ERA leaders among active MLB pitchers of 1000 innings or more
1. Clayton Kershaw 2.4
2. Adam Wainwright 3.0
3. Madison Bumgarner 3.03
4. David Price 3.1
5. Felix Hernandez 3.12
6. Jordan Zimmerman 3.3
7. Johnny Cueto 3.3
8. Cole Hamels 3.32
9. Zach Greinke 3.4
10. Jared Weaver 3.4
11. Doug Fister 3.44
12. Matt Cain 3.5
13. Tim Hudson 3.5
14. Max Scherzer 3.5
15. Mat Latos 3.508
16. Justin Verlander 3.51
17. Jake Peavy 3.55
18. Jon Lester 3.56
19. Tim Lincecum 3.61
20. Gio Gonzalez 3.62
21. Yovani Gallardo 3.65
22. CC Sabathia 3.69
23. Chris Young 3.7

Alot of AL innings in there too for CY.

Neither one of those guys are the post season answer. They will be HR machines for our opponent in the Playoffs

suzzer99 · 09-17-2015, 03:47 PM

Well as long as we have Medlen, Volquez, Ventura and Cueto we won't need either.

Even if Cueto can't figure his shit out and we have to bench him we're looking at 1 start per series out of Young/Guthrie/Duffy. I'd take Young at home and Guts or Duffy on the road.

Young's problem is getting tired. There's no reason to burn him up eating innings right now imo. I know losing home field might suck but it's not worth burning out Young who we might really need to make a crucial playoff start.

siberian khatru · 09-17-2015, 03:47 PM

I'm assuming the Duffy move isn't so much to get better starts from the rotation as it is to get him acclimated to the bullpen.

But Guthrie over Young? I'm not sure what that means. That they're saving Young's arm for the postseason? Is Duffy now in competition with Young for a final bullpen spot on the postseason roster, and they don't want Young racking up innings in the rotation?

siberian khatru · 09-17-2015, 03:50 PM

I will say Duffy in the pen intrigues me (for the postseason). No worries about pacing himself and pitch counts and efficiency. Just let it fly for 2 or 3 innings.

suzzer99 · 09-17-2015, 03:50 PM

Pray for a bitterly cold October. How cold does it have to be for Toronto to close the dome? Can they close it whenever they want? Because they'd be idiots not to.

BWillie · 09-17-2015, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suzzer99

Well as long as we have Medlen, Volquez, Ventura and Cueto we won't need either.

Even if Cueto can't figure his shit out and we have to bench him we're looking at 1 start per series out of Young/Guthrie/Duffy. I'd take Young at home and Guts or Duffy on the road.

Young's problem is getting tired. There's no reason to burn him up eating innings right now imo. I know losing home field might suck but it's not worth burning out Young who we might really need to make a crucial playoff start.

I agree, but so many people were telling us that Young has NO CHANCE to start any playoff game. When rested, he's a very valuable player...and would be a great start in a cold game at Kaufman in the playoffs.

suzzer99 · 09-17-2015, 03:53 PM

Young would have no chance if not for Cueto's inexplicable swoon and Duffy's explicable swoon.

suzzer99 · 09-17-2015, 03:56 PM

Still really curious if Toronto closes the dome for the whole playoffs.

**ChiTown** · 09-17-2015, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suzzer99

Young would have no chance if not for Cueto's inexplicable swoon and Duffy's explicable swoon.

and Volquez last 7 games: 2-2, 5.23 ERA, 1-1 with a 7.20 ERA in 3 SEPT games

cosmo20002 · 09-17-2015, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1moreTRich

Danny Duffy is going to the bullpen. He will get a chance to compete for a spot on the playoff roster. Jeremy Guthrie back to rotation.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) September 17, 2015

A spot on the roster? Or a spot in the rotation?

Starting pitching has basically been a mess all year.

07-14-2015, 11:05 PM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $1390308	* 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: 21,166

09-17-2015, 03:25 PM	#3122
BWillie El Gato Gordo Loco Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Earth Casino cash: $2061241	Career ERA leaders among active MLB pitchers of 1000 innings or more 1. Clayton Kershaw 2.4 2. Adam Wainwright 3.0 3. Madison Bumgarner 3.03 4. David Price 3.1 5. Felix Hernandez 3.12 6. Jordan Zimmerman 3.3 7. Johnny Cueto 3.3 8. Cole Hamels 3.32 9. Zach Greinke 3.4 10. Jared Weaver 3.4 11. Doug Fister 3.44 12. Matt Cain 3.5 13. Tim Hudson 3.5 14. Max Scherzer 3.5 15. Mat Latos 3.508 16. Justin Verlander 3.51 17. Jake Peavy 3.55 18. Jon Lester 3.56 19. Tim Lincecum 3.61 20. Gio Gonzalez 3.62 21. Yovani Gallardo 3.65 22. CC Sabathia 3.69 23. Chris Young 3.7 Alot of AL innings in there too for CY. __________________ Who wants free money? Use the link below to sign up at Bovada, BetOnline, Black Chip Poker and Ignition. Contact me for private deals, spot bonuses, possible rakeback or any questions! Bovada, Ignition, BetOnline, Black Chip Poker: baldeaglepoker.com Bovada Poker is back! Get up to $500 poker deposit bonus.
Posts: 46,409

09-17-2015, 03:26 PM	#3123
suzzer99 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: L.A. Casino cash: $2594284	At least Guts has a good game about every 3 outings. Duffy looks like dogshit right now.
Posts: 27,314

09-17-2015, 03:47 PM	#3127
suzzer99 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: L.A. Casino cash: $2594284	Well as long as we have Medlen, Volquez, Ventura and Cueto we won't need either. Even if Cueto can't figure his shit out and we have to bench him we're looking at 1 start per series out of Young/Guthrie/Duffy. I'd take Young at home and Guts or Duffy on the road. Young's problem is getting tired. There's no reason to burn him up eating innings right now imo. I know losing home field might suck but it's not worth burning out Young who we might really need to make a crucial playoff start.
Posts: 27,314

09-17-2015, 03:47 PM	#3128
siberian khatru 21st Century Schizoid Fan Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The Gates of Delirium Casino cash: $2174950	I'm assuming the Duffy move isn't so much to get better starts from the rotation as it is to get him acclimated to the bullpen. But Guthrie over Young? I'm not sure what that means. That they're saving Young's arm for the postseason? Is Duffy now in competition with Young for a final bullpen spot on the postseason roster, and they don't want Young racking up innings in the rotation?
Posts: 69,329

09-17-2015, 03:50 PM	#3129
siberian khatru 21st Century Schizoid Fan Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The Gates of Delirium Casino cash: $2174950	I will say Duffy in the pen intrigues me (for the postseason). No worries about pacing himself and pitch counts and efficiency. Just let it fly for 2 or 3 innings.
Posts: 69,329

09-17-2015, 03:50 PM	#3130
suzzer99 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: L.A. Casino cash: $2594284	Pray for a bitterly cold October. How cold does it have to be for Toronto to close the dome? Can they close it whenever they want? Because they'd be idiots not to.
Posts: 27,314

09-17-2015, 03:53 PM	#3132
suzzer99 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: L.A. Casino cash: $2594284	Young would have no chance if not for Cueto's inexplicable swoon and Duffy's explicable swoon.
Posts: 27,314

09-17-2015, 03:56 PM	#3133
suzzer99 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: L.A. Casino cash: $2594284	Still really curious if Toronto closes the dome for the whole playoffs.
Posts: 27,314