2013 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread

[duncan_idaho]

Proposed 2013 Slogan: Tigers: They're what's for dinner
Actual 2013 Slogan: Come to Play
A better, more accurate, or alternative slogan: All in, no panic, we promise.

Dayton Moore has pushed all his chips in and is riding on King/Jack suited, hoping it comes together, he gets some good luck, and he hits the nuts by the river card. There's potential, oh yes, there's potential. There's also risk.

At the midway point, Dayton is left counting on the river card. The flop and turn didn't help him, and he's looking at the Tigers holding a pair of Queens and the Indians holding a pair of 9s. His 2013 plan hasn't failed - yet - but the odds are not in his favor.

Burning questions updates below.

Burning Questions for 2013:

1) Will the improve rotation be improved enough? Does James Shields pitch like a fringe No. 1 away from Tampa Bay? Does Ervin Santana pitch to his highest upside in his walk year? Can Jeremy Guthrie build on his strong performance as a Royal in 2012? Can Wade Davis bring his new mentality- and velocity - back to the rotation?

Midseason check-in: Yes, the rotation is certainly improved enough. Shields has pitched like a fringe No. 1 and Santana is having his best season. Guthrie has horrible peripherals but has continued to perform well at his home park and eat innings on the road. Davis brought neither his kick-ass mentality or improved velocity back to the rotation and is in Luke Hochevar/Hiram Davies territory.

2) When will Luke Hochevar be shown the door?
Midseason check-in: It appears, never, at this point. Hochevar has been solid in non-leverage situations, though pretty much every time he has been used with men on base in an inning, it has been a disaster.

3) Does Hosmer bounce back?
Midseason check-in: It took some time, but Hosmer's performance from June 1 on is probably the most encouraging thing about the 2013 season so far.
4) Can Moustakas hit for a whole season like he did in the first half of 2012?
Midseason check-in: Nope. Moustakas was god-awful, then great for about 3 weeks, then god-awful again. He has been better since he started working with Brett and Grafol but still has a long way to go.
5) Who regresses?
Midseason check-in: Welp, Alicides Escobar is not a surprising name here (though Yost's stubborn insistence on hitting him second is ridiculous). Billy Butler is a surprise. He isn't having a terrible year - still contributing a lot to the offense - but he's not hitting for the average or power he has displayed over the past several years.
6) Who plays 2B?
Midseason check-in: A whole bunch of people, and not that great. Gio is at least getting a shot, though he once again is not doing much with it.
7) Can Jeff Francoeur be at least replacement level, rather than epic horrible level?
Midseason check-in: Hahahahahahahahahahaha
8) Will Dayton Moore survive to see 2014?
Midseason check-in: Outlook uncertain. Probably still around, unless the team completely tanks in the second half and he does something foolish. My guess - he sacrifices Ned Yost this offseason and gets one more shot with a new manager in 2014.
9) Will Danny Duffy come back healthy? And if he does, is he the same, better or worse?
Midseason check-in: Yes. Velocity looks the same, and it looks likely he is the same guy as before.
10) And the big one: Has KC added enough to run down the big-money Detroit Tigers?
Midseason check-in: Doesn't look like it, does it?

[WhawhaWhat]

Saw this on Deadspin and it made me laugh -

Chad Qualls Celebrates Like A Marlin Should.



The Marlins are a gift.

[tk13]

Originally Posted by alnorth

hey, I'm all on board the "closers are overrated" theory, but one of the exceptions is when you are chasing down 4 teams from 5 games back with 2 months to go and you are staring down the barrel of needing to win a bunch of 1-run games because of our light offense. If its 2015 and our window has closed and we can't win then sure, sell off the closer.

I think the bigger issue is the guy who is replacing him hasn't 100% proven he will keep the ball in the park. If Herrera was destroying worlds I'd consider the idea.
Posted via Mobile Device

[duncan_idaho]

Sounds like Kennedy is San Diego bound.

This could end up being a deal we look back at and wish KC had gotten involved in. Strong candidate to bounce back, I think. As long as he stops throwing at guys' heads.

[DJJasonp]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Sounds like Kennedy is San Diego bound.

This could end up being a deal we look back at and wish KC had gotten involved in. Strong candidate to bounce back, I think. As long as he stops throwing at guys' heads.

If you made that trade, it would give you the wiggle room to deal Santana (and hope Kennedy is a replacement for Santana's '13 production)......and get a legit 2B.

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

The Marlins are a gif

FYP

[Bowser]

We haven't flirted with .500 this late in the season since 2003, and we are literally going to sit on our hands today. I just don't understand.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by DJJasonp

If you made that trade, it would give you the wiggle room to deal Santana (and hope Kennedy is a replacement for Santana's '13 production)......and get a legit 2B.

Yes. And allow you to focus on adding a 2B or RF bat in FA and stay out of the thin SP pool.

2014 rotation:

Shields
Kennedy
Guthrie
Duffy
Davis (Zimmer, Ventura breathing down his neck).

Kennedy would have an excellent bounce-back chance in KC's park and with KC's defense behind him. And would be controlled through 2015, giving you a better bridge to post-Santana and post-Shields life.

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by Bowser

We haven't flirted with .500 this late in the season since 2003, and we are literally going to sit on our hands today. I just don't understand.

I think GMDM is making the right move. The only way I could see it being worth while for the Royals if they were able to acquire someone for the long run. It's not worth mortgaging the future for a PO run for a team that is on the fringe of being in the hunt. A month from now could be a different story, which could lead to Santana being dealt if they fall out of the hunt or see them acquire a rental if they are a game or 2 back from a WC or the division.

[Messier]

Originally Posted by Bowser

We haven't flirted with .500 this late in the season since 2003, and we are literally going to sit on our hands today. I just don't understand.

I agree.

I think the wrong approach is to say, things are going pretty good right now. Lets not rock the boat.

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

I think GMDM is making the right move. The only way I could see it being worth while for the Royals if they were able to acquire someone for the long run. It's not worth mortgaging the future for a PO run for a team that is on the fringe of being in the hunt. A month from now could be a different story, which could lead to Santana being dealt if they fall out of the hunt or see them acquire a rental if they are a game or 2 back from a WC or the division.

I think most of us are advocating trading for players who help us in 2014 at least, if not also 2015 (such as Kendrick or Kennedy). I agree, I'm not interested in a two-month rental unless it's basically a giveaway for a lottery ticket prospect.

[mr. tegu]

Reports seem to indicate we have inquired about Kendrick so we can at least know he wants to improve the 2B position. How badly is the question.

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

I think most of us are advocating trading for players who help us in 2014 at least, if not also 2015 (such as Kendrick or Kennedy). I agree, I'm not interested in a two-month rental unless it's basically a giveaway for a lottery ticket prospect.

I think the Royals are also in a much better position than the Indians. They won't be able to keep it up and the situation they are in pretty much forces them to be buyers.

[Chief_For_Life58]

i want MOARRR WINS!!!!

[Mama Hip Rockets]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Saw this on Deadspin and it made me laugh -

Chad Qualls Celebrates Like A Marlin Should.



The Marlins are a gift.

Do you have a link? I want to share this.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

I think most of us are advocating trading for players who help us in 2014 at least, if not also 2015 (such as Kendrick or Kennedy). I agree, I'm not interested in a two-month rental unless it's basically a giveaway for a lottery ticket prospect.

Yep, this.

Frankly I feel like us winning 9 of 11 to start the second half completely sent GMDM into a tailspin. We play well and show signs of life at a time he totally didn't expect it, and he is caught with his pants down in regards to improving the team THIS season to make a run. Maybe (hopefully) I'm completely wrong and we'll make a move soon, but it just doesn't have the "feel" of us getting anything done.