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?

[Dartgod]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Yeah if we assume he does play nearly every game you would be right he'd end at .282. I assumed he'd only get 4 months but you are probably right that he's here to stay for good hell or high water.

Ok, just for fun, how many ABs do you think he gets in that 4 months?

[alnorth]

We may have forgotten, but a couple weeks ago, the Royals said they identified his problem (stepping into his swing too early, leading to weak popups) and were working on it.

It may be a coincidence, but in his last 10 games (I think, my math might be off) he's been batting .300/.400/.500

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by alnorth

We may have forgotten, but a couple weeks ago, the Royals said they identified his problem (stepping into his swing too early, leading to weak popups) and were working on it.

It may be a coincidence, but in his last 10 games (I think, my math might be off) he's been batting .300/.400/.500

9/30, 2 doubles, 1 HR, 5 BBs. Went back to the last Detriot game.

[Prison Bitch]

Don't they care to fix Hosmer?

[Dartgod]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Don't they care to fix Hosmer?

I know you're just trolling now, but have you seen how many balls Hos has hit HARD right at people lately?

[Archie F. Swin]

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Dartgod

I know you're just trolling now, but have you seen how many balls Hos has hit HARD right at people lately?

No. I know he hasn't hit a single HR yet. If Ross Gload were doing this people would go nuts. Anyway pinetarpress has a good article on what's killing him. Inside pitches. He can't turn on them. Saps his power. Has to adjust.

[WhawhaWhat]

Baltimore Forecast -

Today:
Showers and thundershowers likely. High 68F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph.

Tonight:
Showers and thundershowers this evening giving way to periods of light rain late. Low 62F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.

[stonedstooge]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Baltimore Forecast -

Today:
Showers and thundershowers likely. High 68F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph.

Tonight:
Showers and thundershowers this evening giving way to periods of light rain late. Low 62F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dartgod]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

No. I know he hasn't hit a single HR yet. If Ross Gload were doing this people would go nuts. Anyway pinetarpress has a good article on what's killing him. Inside pitches. He can't turn on them. Saps his power. Has to adjust.

I agree that Hosmer still has work to do. Comparing him to Ross Gload is ****ing stupid though.

If Gload was doing this, I would say it's just Ross ****ing Gload.

Are you ready to admit that you were just pulling numbers out your ass regarding Moose? I'm not sure why I even waste my time engaging you.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by Dartgod

I agree that Hosmer still has work to do. Comparing him to Ross Gload is ****ing stupid though.

If Gload was doing this, I would say it's just Ross ****ing Gload.

Are you ready to admit that you were just pulling numbers out your ass regarding Moose? I'm not sure why I even waste my time engaging you.

Hey, let's give him some credit, he did propose platooning Salvy, after all.

[CaliforniaChief]

I just scored 5 decent Upper Deck tickets to next Monday's game in Crapaheim for a total of $25 on StubHub. I am so pumped to get there and watch our Royals do work!

[Fairplay]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

Hey, let's give him some credit, he did propose platooning Salvy, after all.

and give the pitchers a black eye if they fail

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Dartgod

I agree that Hosmer still has work to do. Comparing him to Ross Gload is ****ing stupid though.

If Gload was doing this, I would say it's just Ross ****ing Gload.

Are you ready to admit that you were just pulling numbers out your ass regarding Moose? I'm not sure why I even waste my time engaging you.

Then don't. I really don't care what you do, it's not going to change the fact these guys are in a slump that isn't temporary. It goes back to last year, and frankly it's been so long since they were even above-replacement level players. You can laugh it off and say it's ok for them (but not Gload) to produce like they are, but other Royals fans completely disagree.


Regardless I can guarantee you the FO is worried about it. They know they can't win if these two don't snap out of it quickly. Even DM admitted they were worried about this when he said they (FO & scouts) were split on whether to demote Hos last May.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Archie F. Swin

Well what the mother**** is going on here?