Royals *** Official Royals Repository, Part 4 *** - Page 259

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.

Molitoth · 10-03-2015, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk13

Buehrle's been struggling hard these last two months. There were legitimate questions about him being in the playoff rotation. I think people were assuming it'd be Price/Stroman/Dickey/Estrada.

If he's actually going to retire though he has to have some kind of injury. It sounds like behind Buerhle will be Hutchison... who is 13-5 but got taken out of the rotation because he had a 5.50ish ERA. Doesn't look like Toronto is going to kill themselves to win tomorrow.

I'm guessing that having an ass beater offense, whom is scoring like 72+ runs a night, can pad some pitchers W-L record.

tk13 · 10-03-2015, 10:10 PM

Just for the record, Buehrle has a 4.92 ERA since August 1st. He's really been struggling, but it's flown under the radar because the team has been winning so many games. His ERA since Sept. 1 has been 5.67.

As for our game, the Twins are going to start Ricky Nolasco, who got hurt in May and just came off the DL and pitched out of the bullpen the other night. He has not started a game since May 25th and is expected to be limited to about 50 pitches.

teedubya · 10-03-2015, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S

While the A.L. Central champs are playing in Target Field, Trevor Vance & Co. are readying the field for Thursday. pic.twitter.com/Whj9NMq38G
— Mike Swanson (@Swanee54) October 3, 2015

My new phone background.

tk13 · 10-03-2015, 10:11 PM

Ricky Nolasco, not Kyle Gibson, will start tomorrow against Royals, with pitch limit of roughly 50. It's been 126 days since his last start.
— Phil Miller (@MillerStrib) October 3, 2015

WhawhaWhat · 10-03-2015, 10:14 PM

I feel the same way as the Rangers do about the wave.

KC_Connection · 10-03-2015, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

It does say he isn't expected to be included on the postseason roster.

But that doesn't preclude somebody from getting hurt and him being on the roster for the next series.

KC_Connection · 10-03-2015, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk13

Buehrle's been struggling hard these last two months. There were legitimate questions about him being in the playoff rotation. I think people were assuming it'd be Price/Stroman/Dickey/Estrada.

If he's actually going to retire though he has to have some kind of injury. It sounds like behind Buerhle will be Hutchison... who is 13-5 but got taken out of the rotation because he had a 5.50ish ERA. Doesn't look like Toronto is going to kill themselves to win tomorrow.

My guess is he's been pitching hurt for quite some time. There were even whispers about that in April and they've only gotten louder the last few months. The other four have been pitching too well for him to be included anyway, though.

And yeah, the Jays skipping Price this series tells you all you need to know about where their primary motivation lies.

**Anyong Bluth** · 10-03-2015, 11:01 PM

Game 1 isn't until Thursday? Putting Price out there even on a pitch count would be a smart option if they wanted to.

When was his last start? They're not going to keep him from pitching on that many days off. I'd assume he's gonna have a session between now and his next start?
But , I guess that depends on the pitcher. Some guys get rusty if they're sat too long before appearances, but I don't know if Price is one of those guys or if he will benefit from a fresh arm with the time off...

Prison Bitch · 10-03-2015, 11:09 PM

They rested Price but played Donaldson, Bautista and Encarnacion? I'd be pissed if I were those guys having to play while Price gets to rest.

tk13 · 10-03-2015, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anyong Bluth

Game 1 isn't until Thursday? Putting Price out there even on a pitch count would be a smart option if they wanted to.

When was his last start? They're not going to keep him from pitching on that many days off. I'd assume he's gonna have a session between now and his next start?
But , I guess that depends on the pitcher. Some guys get rusty if they're sat too long before appearances, but I don't know if Price is one of those guys or if he will benefit from a fresh arm with the time off...

He's going to be on 11 days rest. He'll be the first pitcher to start game 1 of the playoffs on 11+ days rest since 1939. I'm not sure anyone knows what to expect.

KC_Connection · 10-03-2015, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anyong Bluth

Game 1 isn't until Thursday? Putting Price out there even on a pitch count would be a smart option if they wanted to.

When was his last start? They're not going to keep him from pitching on that many days off. I'd assume he's gonna have a session between now and his next start?
But , I guess that depends on the pitcher. Some guys get rusty if they're sat too long before appearances, but I don't know if Price is one of those guys or if he will benefit from a fresh arm with the time off...

He threw some to Tulowitzki on Friday. Simulated game. They asked him if he wanted to start an actual game this weekend and he said no.

KC_Connection · 10-03-2015, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

They rested Price but played Donaldson, Bautista and Encarnacion? I'd be pissed if I were those guys having to play while Price gets to rest.

Well they all missed two straight games on Wednesday and Thursday. And I think Edwin wants to play this weekend so he can hit 40 HRs (which would make them the first threesome in MLB to do that in about 20 years).

Considering they are planning to throw out Buehrle (on 1 day's rest) and Hutchison, they may bench some of the offensive starters again. Don't think it will be a total skeleton lineup like in Baltimore, though.

KC_Connection · 10-03-2015, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk13

He's going to be on 11 days rest. He'll be the first pitcher to start game 1 of the playoffs on 11+ days rest since 1939. I'm not sure anyone knows what to expect.

People are already bitching about this among the Toronto fans/media, so you know if it goes wrong, the organization/Price will take some shit for it. If Price doesn't think he needs the work, though, I think you have to trust him.

teedubya · 10-03-2015, 11:34 PM

Looks like Toronto was 43-17 since the Tulo trade. With them losing 3 of last 4.

teedubya · 10-03-2015, 11:34 PM

That means they were 42-14 when they clinched. That's insane.

07-14-2015, 11:05 PM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $1260308	* 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: 21,184

10-03-2015, 10:10 PM	#3872
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $1502500	Just for the record, Buehrle has a 4.92 ERA since August 1st. He's really been struggling, but it's flown under the radar because the team has been winning so many games. His ERA since Sept. 1 has been 5.67. As for our game, the Twins are going to start Ricky Nolasco, who got hurt in May and just came off the DL and pitched out of the bullpen the other night. He has not started a game since May 25th and is expected to be limited to about 50 pitches.
Posts: 55,056

10-03-2015, 10:11 PM	#3874
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $1502500	Ricky Nolasco, not Kyle Gibson, will start tomorrow against Royals, with pitch limit of roughly 50. It's been 126 days since his last start. — Phil Miller (@MillerStrib) October 3, 2015
Posts: 55,056

10-03-2015, 10:14 PM	#3875
WhawhaWhat MVP Join Date: Feb 2013 Casino cash: $1081116	I feel the same way as the Rangers do about the wave.
Posts: 17,478

10-03-2015, 11:01 PM	#3878
Anyong Bluth Deus ambulans inter homines Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chicago Casino cash: $9649340	Game 1 isn't until Thursday? Putting Price out there even on a pitch count would be a smart option if they wanted to. When was his last start? They're not going to keep him from pitching on that many days off. I'd assume he's gonna have a session between now and his next start? But , I guess that depends on the pitcher. Some guys get rusty if they're sat too long before appearances, but I don't know if Price is one of those guys or if he will benefit from a fresh arm with the time off... __________________ Suck it, *beautiful*
Posts: 14,918

10-03-2015, 11:09 PM	#3879
Prison Bitch Rabbi Goldmann Join Date: Nov 2012 Casino cash: $5450159	They rested Price but played Donaldson, Bautista and Encarnacion? I'd be pissed if I were those guys having to play while Price gets to rest.
Posts: 87,025

10-03-2015, 11:34 PM	#3884
teedubya Most Valuable Poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Casino cash: $9460002	Looks like Toronto was 43-17 since the Tulo trade. With them losing 3 of last 4.
Posts: 36,664

10-03-2015, 11:34 PM	#3885
teedubya Most Valuable Poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Casino cash: $9460002	That means they were 42-14 when they clinched. That's insane.
Posts: 36,664