(New NEW) 2014 Royals Repository

[SPchief]

Let's get back sole possession tonight.

[WhawhaWhat]

Guthrie gave up a total of 8 ERs in 5 September starts. He gave up 6 in one start against Detroit. 2.40 ERA for the month.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Guthrie gave up a total of 8 ERs in 5 September starts. He gave up 6 in one start against Detroit. 2.40 ERA for the month.

and that sample size is so small, its completely worthless.

Guthrie didn't just figure it out 4 weeks ago and Vargas did not forget how to pitch. Vargas's FIP is also a lot lower, so it wasn't just luck this year, either.

[suzzer99]

Vargas been hit HARD, repeatedly his has two games. And Denny was saying his stuff has lost its movement. Maybe he's just worn out.

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by alnorth

and that sample size is so small, its completely worthless.

Guthrie didn't just figure it out 4 weeks ago and Vargas did not forget how to pitch. Vargas's FIP is also a lot lower, so it wasn't just luck this year, either.

Beginning Aug 1, Guthrie has given up 24 ERs in 11 starts. 3.06 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 3.33 K/BB.

Vargas has 11 starts and given up 31 ERs. 4.50 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 3.83 K/BB.

[Archie F. Swin]

So here's the big question once this season wraps. What can GMDM do to address our serious slugging issues?

We can assume Billy gets the boot. Willingham and Ibanez are surely gone. We have little to no trade value in the corners.

You just know Yost will fly the "Hoz and Moose's bats will come around" flag through April.

Do you think Dayton would sell the farm to get a big name bat? I haven't looked to see who will be a free agent.

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

Crow over Trout is worse.

That's unimaginable.

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

So go with Shields against Detroit and Vargas against Oakland? That's fine, but I'd go further than saying Vargas on a short leash...I'd give him 3 innings and then go to Hendriks, then turn back to Finnegan. Nobody splits their lineups like Oakland does. I'd even be into the idea of starting Hendriks and then going to Vargas after 2 innings.

Ned said Shields would go on short rest vs Detroit Monday. Has to be Vargas vs the A's on Tuesday.

[Kidd Lex]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

Ned said Shields would go on short rest vs Detroit Monday. Has to be Vargas vs the A's on Tuesday.

Anyone but Vargas right now, he's lost his mojo

[KChiefs1]

Wouldn't it be better if we didn't tie for the division?

Hear me out here.

Shields fully rested vs the A's on Tuesday at The K.
Duffy fully rested vs the Angels on Thursday in Anaheim.
Ventura fully rested vs the Angels on Friday in Anaheim.
Shields fully rested vs Angels on Sunday at The K.

I just like that better.

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

So if the Royals find themselves in the division tiebreaker game, who starts?

I would assume Ventura will have pitched Sunday and Duffy today. So your options are:

Shields on 3 days rest, Vargas (it would be his turn).

Or do you try a bullpen game? Hendriks for 2, Finnegan for 2, Frasor for 1, Coleman for 1, Herrera for 1, Davis for 1, Holland for 1?

I don't like any of those choices.

[Kidd Lex]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

Wouldn't it be better if we didn't tie for the division?

Hear me out here.

Shields fully rested vs the A's on Tuesday at The K.
Duffy fully rested vs the Angels on Thursday in Anaheim.
Ventura fully rested vs the Angels on Friday in Anaheim.
Shields fully rested vs Angels on Sunday at The K.

I just like that better.

No, because you are giving up two shots at the division series.

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

I've been told they want Shields and Vargas to pitch potential one-shot playoff games. Preference for Shields in the one game playoff and Vargas to open the following series.

It's a matter of "trusting" those guys more. I think beyond that, the goal is to get the ball to Ventura and Duffy.

I don't trust Vargas.

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by The God Hypothesis

Anyone but Vargas right now, he's lost his mojo

Exactly!

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

Crow over Trout is worse.

Considering Trout was drafted 13 picks later and passed on by several more teams and basically was Bubba Starling coming out of high school and was never connected to the Royals, it's hard to pick at this one.

Hindsight is 20/20, but this isn't the Royals' worst decision. That probably still goes to talking themselves into drafting Christian Colon in 2010 instead of sticking with Chris Sale at No. 4.

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Imagine this team with Rendon at 3B instead of Moose. Man oh man would we be a freaking beast.

Or Rendon at 2B, which also would be possible. I remember watching him slip in that draft and thinking KC would get either Bauer (who I was ga-ga for) or Bundy (same) because one of the teams in front of them would take Rendon, who was in the running to go first for much of that spring.

It's a damn shame Bubba Starling wasn't more committed to playing football. Or wasn't from somewhere else.

Originally Posted by Archie F. Swin

So here's the big question once this season wraps. What can GMDM do to address our serious slugging issues?

We can assume Billy gets the boot. Willingham and Ibanez are surely gone. We have little to no trade value in the corners.

You just know Yost will fly the "Hoz and Moose's bats will come around" flag through April.

Do you think Dayton would sell the farm to get a big name bat? I haven't looked to see who will be a free agent.

There isn't a ton of help in free agency in terms of power. Nelson Cruz will be a free agent, but will certainly be tagged with a qualifying offer and will cost much more than he did entering this season. I'd be rather shocked to see them go that route.

Melky Cabrera is probably the next-best offensive option in the OF, and he also will likely have a qualifying offer from an AL East team he seems to want to stay with.

Colby Rasmus is intriguing. He's going to be a FA, has the raw athleticism to handle any OF spot, and has legitimate 25 HR power. He's also a low average, high K hitter who's bad against LHP. KC would almost have to carry 5 OFs if it signed him, considering Dyson also struggles against lefties. It seems unlikely.

Beyond that, you're looking at someone like Michael Cuddyer, who would be a solid player but not a slugging superstar, or someone like Michael Morse, who would have to DH primarily (Morse playing RF would be a disaster).

Unless KC surprises the world and goes hard after Yasmany Tomas, who might get $100 million, or pulls off a trade, it doesn't look like KC will have many options for adding power in RF.

[Archie F. Swin]

Do the Astros have Chris Carter locked in for a while?