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?

[Al Bundy]

Originally Posted by penbook

Naturals manager Brian Poldberg said Kyle Zimmer was pulled because he was complaining of "stiffness," and they were being extra cautious.

Steven Davis ‏@Steven_Davis3 5m

.@nwanaturals pitcher Kyle Zimmer taken out after 2 innings as a precaution after feeling arm stiffness

Today was a GREAT day for us Royals fans.

[C3HIEF3S]

Originally Posted by the_spatula

When does Moose come back?

If I remember correctly Vernier said that Moose might be able to pinch hit if needed for the Tigers series. Doesn't really answer the question, but that's all I know.

[MVChiefFan]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

Lose a series to Boston, Detroit, Baltimore? Fine. This was unacceptable. We have missed two golden opportunities the past two days. If we just don't play terrible we win them and are sitting 3 games back of both wildcard spots and are ahead of all the other contenders.

Instead we are 5 back of both spots and only 0.5 ahead of the freaking Yankees. Add in the fact that the biggest series we have had since 1985 is shaping up to be an absolute disaster, well, it's hard to stay positive right now.

If we don't make the playoffs it is likely by just a few games and these past two turds will be the first ones that we think of on our couch watching the Chiefs matriculate 5 yards at a time instead of watching playoff baseball.

I totally understand and agree fully. I just can't give up. And I don't mean that in some weird, homeristic, tears in my eyes, chokin' up kind of way... I seriously feel that we're capable of taking three from Detroit. If we get swept or win only one game then I may throw in the towel, but I'm just not gonna say it's over yet.

[SPATCH]

Honestly, though... 22 games ago if someone would have said we would go on a 17-5 run I would have been ecstatic. Looking back, I'm not really going to trip about where those losses came from.

We just need to regroup.

[C3HIEF3S]

Originally Posted by MVChiefFan

I totally understand and agree fully. I just can't give up. And I don't mean that in some weird, homeristic, tears in my eyes, chokin' up kind of way... I seriously feel that we're capable of taking three from Detroit. If we get swept or win only one game then I may throw in the towel, but I'm just not gonna say it's over yet.

I can see where you're coming from. With a full, healthy lineup I would be right there with you, but not with our current players out. I'm trying to remain as optimistic as possible, but this series tomorrow is HUGE and if these past 2 games are any indication of anything, ouch.

These injuries, if they haven't already, are going to just kill us though, I think. Lorenzo Cain is a nearly irreplaceable glove in CF, Moustakas is miles better than anyone we trot out at the 3b position until he is back, and Tejada's injury kills for obvious reasons at 2nd.

I probably just pointed out obvious things, but i'm still trying to get over this ****ing series. I just don't think, that with our current lineup, we are that big of a threat to the Tigers. BUT, maybe our pitching can carry the team like they have for most of the year, who knows.

[MVChiefFan]

Originally Posted by the_spatula

Honestly, though... 22 games ago if someone would have said we would go on a 17-5 run I would have been ecstatic. Looking back, I'm not really going to trip about where those losses came from.

We just need to regroup.

Yeah, I guess that's what I'm trying to say. Sure, we really crapped out with this series but I just feel anything is possible with this team.

[MVChiefFan]

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S

I can see where you're coming from. With a full, healthy lineup I would be right there with you, but not with our current players out. I'm trying to remain as optimistic as possible, but this series tomorrow is HUGE and if these past 2 games are any indication of anything, ouch.

These injuries, if they haven't already, are going to just kill us though, I think. Lorenzo Cain is a nearly irreplaceable glove in CF, Moustakas is miles better than anyone we trot out at the 3b position until he is back, and Tejada's injury kills for obvious reasons at 2nd.

I probably just pointed out obvious things, but i'm still trying to get over this ****ing series. I just don't think, that with our current lineup, we are that big of a threat to the Tigers. BUT, maybe our pitching can carry the team like they have for most of the year, who knows.

You're absolutely right. If anything does us in it's gonna be these ridiculously untimely injuries.

[penbrook]

We need Moose and Cain back ASAP. Plus get a second baseman from FA. Perhaps a Ryan Theriot.

[SPATCH]

Hell, I'd take Brandon Inge at this point. He hasn't batted worth a shit for a while, but at least he's got a history of hacing some pop from the right side... idk

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by MVChiefFan

I totally understand and agree fully. I just can't give up. And I don't mean that in some weird, homeristic, tears in my eyes, chokin' up kind of way... I seriously feel that we're capable of taking three from Detroit. If we get swept or win only one game then I may throw in the towel, but I'm just not gonna say it's over yet.

I can't and haven't given up either. Back before they ever went on this stretch I made a post that they would be making a movie out of this season because I just had/have a feeling that something special is going to happen this season.

But as we sit right now it is really hard to see it happening. Obviously the Detroit series could be the rallying point that turns the tables and we finally catch up to them by doing it ourselves since we got no help all this time. But with all these injuries it could also put us in an impossible hole to get out of.

[tk13]

This upcoming series has far more weight than what happened today. No doubt today sucked hard though. But you can't call the season over after 1 bad game when the team's coming off a 17-3 stretch.

[Great Expectations]

The injuries suck, DM's response to them sucks worse

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by Great Expectations

The injuries suck, DM's response to them sucks worse

That pretty much sums it up.

[C3HIEF3S]

I wish we would try Lough out in center, I think he could do it he has good speed. Then that opens us up to playing Maxwell in right and still have Lough in the lineup. Thoughts?

Someone mentioned either in a game thread or previously in this one, but it would go something as follows:

Vs RHP
Dyson- CF, Lough- RF

Vs LHP
Lough- CF, Maxwell- RF

[MVChiefFan]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

I can't and haven't given up either. Back before they ever went on this stretch I made a post that they would be making a movie out of this season because I just had/have a feeling that something special is going to happen this season.

But as we sit right now it is really hard to see it happening. Obviously the Detroit series could be the rallying point that turns the tables and we finally catch up to them by doing it ourselves since we got no help all this time. But with all these injuries it could also put us in an impossible hole to get out of.

I do remember the movie post you made...that was good stuff!!! We'll call this series the "Bobby takes out Daniel's knee in the karate tournament and all hope is lost" point in the movie. Here's to a great ending Mr. Tegu!!!