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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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07-05-2017, 11:44 AM | #3301 |
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07-05-2017, 11:45 AM | #3302 |
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See, one thing I think this "oh, no, 2018 and 19 are going to be terrible!" Thoughts or comments fail to account for is that the royals have some very high upside young talent in Soler and Mondesi who are not prospect eligible any more and therefore fall off lists. If Mondesi was prospect eligible, he's a top 20 guy now that his offensive production is finally matching his tools. Another thing it doesn't account for is the core that will still be here (Duffy, Perez, and a lot of solid other players). Another thing it doesn't account for is what the team will do in free agency. Maybe the royals keep Moustakas. That changes the optics a lot. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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07-05-2017, 11:46 AM | #3303 |
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Such a dumb ****ing take. If they make the Playoffs and make a deep run, who gives a **** what '18, '19 & '20 look like. I suspect that we are rebuilding after 2017 anyway. So, why not go for it while you have the opportunity?
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07-05-2017, 11:47 AM | #3304 |
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J Guts will always have a special place in Royals history
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07-05-2017, 11:49 AM | #3305 |
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07-05-2017, 11:49 AM | #3306 | |
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Quote:
Great post! Those were excellent moves. Zobrist was amazing and provided a huge lift with his bat and positive winning attitude. Like you said- maybe - but I think our odds would have been cut in half. Royals have been playing great ball, you can tell they are really jelling as a team. This division is up for grabs, winning that would be a nice springboard into the playoffs where the Royals have shown they can beat teams that look better on paper. |
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07-05-2017, 11:52 AM | #3307 |
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Yankee fans...
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07-05-2017, 11:56 AM | #3308 |
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07-05-2017, 11:58 AM | #3309 | |
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07-05-2017, 11:59 AM | #3310 |
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07-05-2017, 12:04 PM | #3311 |
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FOUR ACES BEAT A ROYAL FLUSH AMIRITE?
It's great to have exciting baseball back in KC this summer. About 2015, I highly doubt we win the WS without Zo or Cueto. We all know of Zo's heroics in the postseason (the doubles record, the Game 6 homer off Price, etc, etc) but I don't know if we win the Astros series without Cueto. We likely roll with a Ventura, Volquez and Young rotation without Cueto. If Volquez gets rushed for 5 runs in his second hypothetical start against the Stros, it changes the entire complexion of Game 5. "But Chiefspant, we scored 7 runs in Game 5, it wouldn't have mattered if the Astros scored 5." It would have, if we were down 5-0 instead of 2-0, everything changes about Game 5. The Astros pitch sequencing to us would have been completely different, McHugh wouldn't have faced the anxiety he had holding down a 1 run lead in the 5th, and AJ Hinch wouldn't have felt pressured to make an agressive pull of his soft tossing starter that gave our fastball loving lineup fits in Game 1. Without Cueto, there are many reasons to suspect that we faced long odds topping one of our worst match-ups of 2015 in a do or die game. This same logic applies to the World Series, if we roll with a Volquez, Ventura, Young and Medlen rotation and Ventura gets bombed in Game 2, this entire series shifts as well. Cueto's incredible two hitter against the Mets in Game 2 gave our bullpen critical rest and allowed them to load up for the trip to Queens, and we all know how crucial our pen was there. Last edited by Chiefspants; 07-05-2017 at 12:40 PM.. |
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07-05-2017, 12:06 PM | #3312 | |
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07-05-2017, 12:06 PM | #3313 |
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07-05-2017, 12:14 PM | #3314 |
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07-05-2017, 12:17 PM | #3315 |
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