2012 Kansas City Royals Repository Thread

[alnorth]

2012 Slogan: Our Time

A better, more accurate 2012 Slogan: It is Finally Next Year
(from Great Expectations)

An alternative slogan if you don't like that one: Someone has to win this crappy division
(from alnorth)

With the beginning of a new year, it is time for the 2012 version of the Royals Repository Thread. We've got Hosmer, we've got a 2011-dominating Gordon, we've got Moose, we've got hopefully a killer bullpen, we've got a stereotypical slow slugging DH, we've got easily one of the best defensive shortstops in the AL, we've got a promising catcher in Salvador Perez. Hell, we've got offense and promising prospects galore.

We do not have starting pitching.

Oh yeah, we've also got this:



Get ready for, (as of January 2012 anyway), one of the most confusing puzzles of a baseball season in recent Royals history. Will they suck? Maybe, I don't know. Will we be given a year of 0.500 baseball? Possibly, I don't know. Will they win the division and go to the playoffs for the first time in 27 years? For the first time in a long time, it could happen, I don't know. 92 losses, 92 wins, or anything in between would not surprise a lot of us.

Everything goes here except Gameday threads and really big news. If a giant story breaks, the Royals achieve some awesome milestone, or we sign/lose a highly significant player/coach/mascot/whatever, then it might also deserve its own thread. This being Chiefs Planet, please do not clutter the board with new threads about trivial Royals news or you will only annoy those who come here for just Chiefs football. If you aren't sure and its not a Gameday thread, it goes here.

What sort of stuff often goes here? SPchief explained it well, so I'll just copy that:

If you locate something of interest.. ANYTHING.. deals on apparel, best ways in/out of the stadium, giveaways, great stories from this season or from seasons gone by, rumors, trades, anything.... feel free to post it here.

[duncan_idaho]

Baseball Prospectus Top 10:

1) RF Wil Myers
2) SP Kyle Zimmer
3) CF Bubba Starling
4) SS Aldaberto Mondesi
5) SP Yordano Ventura
6) SP Jake Odorizzi
7) RF Jorge Bonifacio
8) 3B Cheslor Cuthbert
9) SP Miguel Almonte
10) SP Jason Adam

Also mentioned:
LHP Sam Selman, RHP Kyle Smith, LHP Mike Montgomery, C Cam Gallagher, LHP John Lamb, 2B/SS Christian Colon

My thoughts: I like Baseball Prospectus because it is the most aggressive scouting publication when it comes to ranking guys. It is less reliant on ranking more known quantities, like Baseball America.

Ranking Almonte this high is a great example of that. So is Cuthbert. Almonte is a "hot" riser who will get a chance to show he can stand up to a longer season this year. Having him this high shows a lot of trust in his stuff (because the production isn't there yet). Cuthbert is a guy who will finally get a chance to repeat a level after being the youngest guy in his league throughout his professional career.

The Royals have a collection of high upside guys (Who tend to have more risk) as BP sees it.

Myers is projected as a .280+, 25+ HR hitter, which is an All-Star caliber player (Ryan Braun lite has been thrown around, and that projection would bear it out).

Starling has the highest ceiling and highest risk, which I think we already knew. The guy could be Matt Kemp if everything works out (But probably with better defense).

Mondesi is so far away, it's hard to project some of the key things (basically, if he develops enough strength/power to succeed in the majors). Right now, I would PERSONALLY take him as a prospect over Francisco Lindor. Mondesi is younger and has more time to develop gap power, something Lindor hasn't really shown. Mondesi also flashes a better hit tool.

Noticeable guys left out:

RHP Angel Baez. Baez flashed impressive stuff at age 21 in Kane County and likely will start the season in Northwest Arkansas (Whose rotation likely is Zimmer, Ventura, Baez, Montgomery and Lamb to start the season. So, basically all the eggs for quick help will be in one basket). Must improve his control (30 BB in 80 IP at Kane County is the biggest worry spot).

SS Orlando Calixte. I'm really high on Calixte, whose value is driven by his bat. As a 20-year-old SS at Death Valley (Aka Wilmington, Delaware), he OPS'd .752, flashing workable OBP skills and good power. He probably can't stick at SS, but a move to 2B could help him rise quickly. Don't be surprised if he EXPLODES offensively when promoted to NWA (which probably happens around mid-season)

[Nightfyre]

I'm gonna have to read that tonight. I specifically looked yesterday and they hadn't posted it yet.

[KevB]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Baseball Prospectus Top 10:

1) RF Wil Myers
2) SP Kyle Zimmer
3) CF Bubba Starling
4) SS Aldaberto Mondesi
5) SP Yordano Ventura
6) SP Jake Odorizzi
7) RF Jorge Bonifacio
8) 3B Cheslor Cuthbert
9) SP Miguel Almonte
10) SP Jason Adam

Also mentioned:
LHP Sam Selman, RHP Kyle Smith, LHP Mike Montgomery, C Cam Gallagher, LHP John Lamb, 2B/SS Christian Colon

Not sure I get Lamb outside the top 10. If he'd had a torn rotator I could see it, but TJ is almost no more than a delay anymore. I'd think he'd be in place of Adam, who's more of a 3/4 ceiling whereas Lamb has a 2 ceiling.

I'm also excited about Selman. If he can continue to improve his control, he's got pretty significant upside. Will be interested to see him move up against guys his own age or older.

What have you heard on Elier Hernandez? I was very excited about that kid watching the one video of him on YouTube. He seemed to have "it". Size, bat speed.....ball jumped off his bat. Boy did he tank this season. But, he's young, it was his first season, and some Latin players take time to get acclimated.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by KevB

Not sure I get Lamb outside the top 10. If he'd had a torn rotator I could see it, but TJ is almost no more than a delay anymore. I'd think he'd be in place of Adam, who's more of a 3/4 ceiling whereas Lamb has a 2 ceiling.

I'm also excited about Selman. If he can continue to improve his control, he's got pretty significant upside. Will be interested to see him move up against guys his own age or older.

What have you heard on Elier Hernandez? I was very excited about that kid watching the one video of him on YouTube. He seemed to have "it". Size, bat speed.....ball jumped off his bat. Boy did he tank this season. But, he's young, it was his first season, and some Latin players take time to get acclimated.

Yeah, i had Lamb sixth on my own list (which is 35 pages back now). I'm still a big fan (especially if he gets a 2-3 mph bump from TJ like a lot of guys do these days).

Selman's control was very good in his debut last year. Hopefully, he has figured it out. Because the stuff is there (95 from the left side, good hook, OK change).

Hernandez struggled a lot in 2012, but the tools are still there. He's just 17 years old, and it will take a while for him to get there.

That's what makes a guy like Mondesi (Or Jurickson Profar) stand out so much, because of the way they succeed at a young age.

[Codered]

Bob Dutton‏@Royals_Report

Concerning @jonmorosi report that #Royals are interested in RHP Brett Myers…yes, am told at "kicking the tires" level. Made $11m in 2012.

[duncan_idaho]

I like this story better:

Royals still interested in Sanchez

Cliffs: Royals saying they have money to spend early at winter meetings. Talking about Anibal Sanchez...

[Codered]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

I like this story better:

Royals still interested in Sanchez

Cliffs: Royals saying they have money to spend early at winter meetings. Talking about Anibal Sanchez...

I would like that too, but I heard somewhere he is looking for 90/6?? That just seems like he is priced out of KC.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Codered

I would like that too, but I heard somewhere he is looking for 90/6?? That just seems like he is priced out of KC.

A week ago, the word was he was looking for 8 years, $120 million.

I don't know that KC could do 6/$90 million, but it wouldn't shock me if they did something like 4/$64 million.

[Shogun]

@Ken_Rosenthal

Free-agent reliever Joakim Soria close to signing two-year deal with #Rangers, sources tell me and @jonmorosi.

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal

Free-agent reliever Joakim Soria close to signing two-year deal with #Rangers, sources tell me and @jonmorosi.

[Shogun]

Originally Posted by ChiefsandO'sfan

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal

Free-agent reliever Joakim Soria close to signing two-year deal with #Rangers, sources tell me and @jonmorosi.

You're losin' your burst, O!

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by ChiefsandO'sfan

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal

Free-agent reliever Joakim Soria close to signing two-year deal with #Rangers, sources tell me and @jonmorosi.

Q

[Shogun]

@MLB

"They're just rumors." - Ned Yost on reports that @Royals are shopping Wil Myers: pic.twitter.com/TDFQoimH

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeymanCBS

mets asked red sox for top OF jackie bradley jr and top SS xander boegarts for dickey, according to @AdamRubinESPN


That's a lot for Dickey

[Shogun]

lol the mets are reeruns. nobody is gonna give up that much for a knuckleballer with limited amount of control left on his contract