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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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05-24-2017, 09:06 AM | #1306 |
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I haven't been able to watch the Royals unless they're on espn or fox sports 1. I got rid of cable and don't have fox sports kc. So, I really had no clue
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05-24-2017, 09:16 AM | #1307 |
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05-24-2017, 09:22 AM | #1308 |
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Yeah, his arm is ok, but his range and mobility in the OF are truly suspect. He looks like a future DH that can sub in the OF from time to time.
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05-24-2017, 10:01 AM | #1309 | |
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05-24-2017, 10:13 AM | #1310 |
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It's not ignorant. With our offense, it'd be like putting a dress on a Pig. I think that's the point - it would not have made a huge difference.....thus far.
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05-24-2017, 10:22 AM | #1311 | |
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To think this team would have a winning record solely having Davis back is ignorant. They'd likely have 2-3 more wins than they do currently. They still wouldn't be a very good team this year.
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05-24-2017, 10:29 AM | #1312 | |
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You have to look at the whole, not focus on one thing. We went through stretches during our two WS seasons where pitching absolutely carried this team when they struggled offensively for long periods of time. The early offensive woes are nothing new with this group. The difference this year is that we don't have that dominating BP or even dominating pitching staff as a whole. There were times when our Rotation wasn't a very good rotation but they helped us through rough offensive stretches. This year we have a poor rotation AND a terrible bullpen. Weren't able to steal wins like this team needs when they go through their bad stretches. Now that they are hitting somewhat, we'll play .500+ ball but it won't be good enough to make the post-season and recover from the crap stretch(s). Having Wade and\or Holly this season during that span would have been a lot bigger difference making than I think you all are acknowledging.
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05-24-2017, 10:32 AM | #1313 | |
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Again, we've seen this with this group before but we had bullpen that helped us through those stretches without too much damage having occurred.
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05-24-2017, 10:41 AM | #1314 | |
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05-24-2017, 10:47 AM | #1315 |
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There's also a LOT of 20/20 going on with Holland and Davis.
Holland threw once for teams and he was awful. Lots of teams that needed BP help passed on him. Kudos to the Rockies for taking a chance, but at that time you couldn't blame anyone for saying no. Plus, the Rockies gave him a chance to close, which he wanted, and which he wouldn't get here. Davis would've been traded last July if not for his arm problems. He had red flags sticking out of his elbow, and for the Royals to have held on to him and risk getting nothing for him in his walk year would've been a huge gamble. If it had gone a different way, Moore would've been crucified for hanging on too long despite the warning signs, for being too sentimental, etc. Davis looks 100 percent healthy right now, but let's wait until the end of the season to gauge that trade. |
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05-24-2017, 10:48 AM | #1316 |
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I'm not going to argue on the BP, but our starting pitching this year has been pretty good, outside of Hammel and Chris Young. To this point in the season, it's better than the 2015 staff.
2014: 3.60 ERA, 1.27 WHIP 2015: 4.34 ERA, 1.37 WHIP 2017: 3.83 ERA, 1.30 WHIP EDIT to add: Our starting staff currently ranks #4 in the AL and #7 in all of MLB. I wouldn't call that "poor".
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05-24-2017, 10:51 AM | #1317 |
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The offensive woes we are talking about had Kansas City on pace to be the worst offense in baseball history. Including the dead ball era.
Even the Royals 14 and 15 pens can't overcome that over the span of an entire month. Would the Royals be at least a few games better with Davis and Holland on the team? Absolutely! But 7+? No. The games just aren't there. And again, Holland added means no Minor. So you have to subtract 25 elite reliever innings from the mix in the process. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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05-24-2017, 10:53 AM | #1318 |
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I'll also say: Though I will defend the Soler-Davis trade and continue to say it needs more time for a true/final evaluation, that doesn't mean it's the path I would have taken.
If I was trading Davis, it would have been for a younger player, with fewer restrictions on what I was getting back in return. That would have maxed out the return a little more than targeting a player with 4+ years of control and MlB experience. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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05-24-2017, 10:53 AM | #1319 |
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I know Holland wasn't coming back. But people are saying that, hypothetically, having Holland and Davis on this current team wouldn't make a big difference. That's where I'm disagreeing.
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05-24-2017, 12:45 PM | #1320 | |
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