*** Official Royals Repository, Part 4 ***

[duncan_idaho]

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.

[Hootie]

I think we should definitely give up on Medlen after 1 start ... especially since Simply Red concluded he couldn't handle AL lineups ... you know ... cuz 1 DH really changes things so dramatically !!!

Kershaw would be a nobody in the AL

[Hootie]

If you actually look at the advanced analytics ... Gordon was actually always a lot better than we all gave him credit for ... but hey, no one thought about 'WAR' back then ... it was home runs, batting average, RBI's ... everything else be damned

[srvy]

Originally Posted by tk13

While he's not George Brett, it's funny how it worked for Salvy too. His defense was supposed to be great but you wondered whether he could contribute offensively. If you'd dig up his minor league stats, he was not the power hitter he is now. You figured he'd be a guy who hits .235 with about 7 HRs but led the team defensively. His power numbers skyrocketed in the majors.

Funny this exact subject was brought up on the Border Patrol this morning to Mike Macfarland St Johns guest. SJ asked Mike why so many guys have just average numbers offensively and defensively in the minors then come up and look like a different player in the Majors.

He thought a lot of factors for better fielding and hitting and examples were better quality of pitching. Meaning in Majors guys are always around the plate. In fielding the upkeep of the playing surface no so many bad hops. Quality travel and sleeping arrangements leading to better rest. Had lots examples I dont know but sounded pretty good. Of course Major League pitching also catches up to guys once they figure you out they got you.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

I think we should definitely give up on Medlen after 1 start ... especially since Simply Red concluded he couldn't handle AL lineups ... you know ... cuz 1 DH really changes things so dramatically !!!

Kershaw would be a nobody in the AL

Ker-who?

Are you telling me outside of the American League I'm supposed to believe there's some other mythical group of other teams from all over the nation also playing baseball. Ha, that's rich!

[Prison Bitch]

"Yeah but at least Guts ate 3 IP tonight" - CPers

[WilliamTheIrish]

Originally Posted by Brainiac

I agree with you. However, I have to point out one notable exception: George Brett. I remember when he was called up from the minors: he had a reputation as a good fielding third baseman but only an average hitter. In over 1300 minor league plate appearances Brett hit .281 with 20 home runs.

I don't think anybody predicted greatness for him. It was amazing how much better he was in the major leagues than he was in the minor leagues. As I recall, he gave all of the credit to Charley Lau.

Actually Brett was known as a very average fielder. Below average really. If you watched him in 1975 through 1978, he flashed some signs he could be a good 3B. He could overthrow 1st base with either arm, as he was ambidextrous.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

"Yeah but at least Guts ate 3 IP tonight" - CPers

You are right we should have had Ventura go out there and pitch in that shit show, or had hdh pitch those innings that just really didn't matter...


Dumbass

[Al Bundy]

Guthrie shouldn't see the field again in Royal blue.

[Why Not?]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

Guthrie shouldn't see the field again in Royal blue.

Guthrie was used perfectly last night. In a mail it in role.

[okcchief]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

I plan to have his babies.

Get away from him slut! I'll pull your hair out!

[tk13]

Apparently Matt Harvey just told reporters he's always considered 180 IP his limit and refused to answer whether he'd pitch in the playoffs. Boras wins again. Mets fans are going to go insane.
Posted via Mobile Device

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by tk13

Apparently Matt Harvey just told reporters he's always considered 180 IP his limit and refused to answer whether he'd pitch in the playoffs. Boras wins again. Mets fans are going to go insane.
Posted via Mobile Device

"Dark Knight? More like The Joker!"

[TomBarndtsTwin]

Originally Posted by Why Not?

Guthrie was used perfectly last night. In a mail it in role.

This x1000.

Not sure why people are still bitching about JGuts.

He's been pulled from the rotation and is only being used in long relief/ mop-up duty in mostly meaningless September games.

He won't even sniff the playoff roster.


And, yes, his 3 IP last night DID help by keeping the Royals from having to use one of their more vital bullpen arms in a game that was already lost.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

Guthrie shouldn't see the field again in Royal blue.

He's this years Ibanez. Should've kept Blanton.

[chiefqueen]

Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish

Actually Brett was known as a very average fielder. Below average really. If you watched him in 1975 through 1978, he flashed some signs he could be a good 3B. He could overthrow 1st base with either arm, as he was ambidextrous.

Back then a joke going around was that if you were going to the Royals game and sitting behind the 1st base dugout you needed to go to Arrowhead & get helmet just in case one of Brett's throws nails you in the head.