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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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07-19-2017, 01:18 PM | #4126 | |
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07-19-2017, 01:21 PM | #4127 |
Wasted away again...
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I hope to God that he was just joking. Sadly though, I think he was not.
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07-19-2017, 01:39 PM | #4128 |
Stay positive, don't give up
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@Buster_ESPN: Royals are three games out of 1st in the AL Central, and they are asking around about 2 cost-effective starting pitchers and a reliever.
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07-19-2017, 01:39 PM | #4129 |
Stay positive, don't give up
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They better ask for a hitter too.
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07-19-2017, 01:40 PM | #4130 |
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07-19-2017, 01:41 PM | #4131 | |
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Takers? I'm not positive I'd do it because I think the reliever market right now is obscene and I might be able to peddle Rosenthal elsewhere for a top 30 prospect on his own. But if you're the Royals knowing that Rosenthal has another year of team control (and should be a goddamn MFing starting Fing pitcher anyway!!!), might that be enough?
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07-19-2017, 01:47 PM | #4132 | |
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07-19-2017, 01:48 PM | #4133 | |
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Your son is a bench warmer because of your weak genetics not because of the coach Norlin Mommsen is disgusting. |
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07-19-2017, 01:51 PM | #4134 |
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Honestly who in our farm system could we trade besides Mondesi who has any value?
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07-19-2017, 01:59 PM | #4135 | |
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Dark days are coming, lads. That system is hellishly bad and the White Sox are terrifying. If they can find 3 decent SPs from that lot of fireballers they have, they're the Astros in 3-4 years. Oh, and the Indians are still gonna be pretty good for the next 3 years or so (because somehow they tripped over a rock and landed on a 5 WAR player in Jose Ramirez). So from '18-'20 you'll have the Indians as a nasty piece to get around and from '20-'25 the White Sox are likely to be ascending before yet another rebuild. Meanwhile, in '17 bats appear to be available for the loose change in your couch and the Indians didn't get out of the gates clean. Salazar has lost his mind and I'm not convinced guys like Chisenhall have true staying power. 88 wins MIGHT do it. And with the costs of rental sticks evidently being shite anyway, take your picks for your pending FAs and ADD to that team. Make a run in '17 and hope to get lucky, get some picks, hope you can reload and then grab your ankles boyos because the next 3-5 years don't look too great.
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07-19-2017, 02:03 PM | #4136 | |
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They're not going to get a 10 year, $2 billion dollar deal like the Dodgers, nor a 10 year, $1 billion dollar deal like the Diamondbacks but they'll likely get a 10 year deal worth at least $700 million, if not $800 million. An extra $50 million in available cash this year would have made the difference from chasing a playoff spot to being able to have signed a few guys that could have actually made it much easier to reach the playoffs and win the division. When Jason Hammels is 4-14, your team is going to have difficulty staying in the race. They'd also be able to hang onto one, if not two, of their impending free agents. |
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07-19-2017, 02:15 PM | #4137 | |
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07-19-2017, 02:23 PM | #4138 | |
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When you've got a large field of teams within 1-5 games of each other for divisions and wildcards, why wouldn't you build up? |
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07-19-2017, 02:41 PM | #4139 | |
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But now networks have seen that those rights fees can be crippling and some normalcy is likely to return to the market. Sure, they'll still get a nice bump, but a team like the Royals (or anyone not in NY, Chicago or LA) can't just go into the market and buy a playoff contender. If the market really does require $8 million/WAR and a replacement level team is roughly a 48 win ballclub, then you need to spend $300 million/yr on free agents to get to a playoff level. So obviously that's not feasible for a team that's gonna need to go to the market to fill some some pretty significant holes. I think it's one of those things where the money may help keep them from being a 100 loss squad, but an extra $50 million gets, what, 6 wins on the market (and less every year)? What's that make them after this crop of guys prices/ages out? A 78 win team instead of a 72 win team? I really think they're better served pushing in this year because the rebuilding process is gonna be a tough one for them.
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07-19-2017, 02:52 PM | #4140 |
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I see Royals gear out here in LA all the time now. 5 years ago - not so much. I fear we're gonna be back to that by 2020.
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