Royals ****Royals vs. Indians 7-20 Game Thread**** - Page 8

**Bowser** · 07-20-2016, 12:23 PM

We've already given up our obligatory home run this game. Royals are down 1-0 in the first.

**Bob Dole** · 07-20-2016, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk13

I wonder if DM needs to do something drastic just to rattle everyone a bit. Maybe something like trading Volquez. There's still a long way to go, like 70 games left. If you rattle off a 7 game winning streak things look much different. Not sure if our starting pitching can pull that off though.

Not giving up this number of home runs in a pitcher's park.

Good lord.

GloryDayz · 07-20-2016, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hog Farmer

The Gordon decision was right.

Gordon just has a problem. A BIG problem.

I appreciate your optimism.

siberian khatru · 07-20-2016, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk13

I wonder if DM needs to do something drastic just to rattle everyone a bit. Maybe something like trading Volquez. There's still a long way to go, like 70 games left. If you rattle off a 7 game winning streak things look much different. Not sure if our starting pitching can pull that off though.

Or the offense.

This isn't 2014. The new long ball climate alone has sabotaged our starting pitching, and our bullpen isn't as long or dominant -- HDH was historically good, and SHD (or HHD or wahtever) is just really good.

It's doable, yes, but there's so much that has to happen to make it work. I wish the deadline were later, but it is what it is. I'd give them til the end of this homestand to get it together, go 5-1 or something. Otherwise, I'd sell some if the return can help for 2017 and beyond.

But I also would be looking to buy assets that can help in 2017 and beyond, particularly club controlled pitching (Matt Moore? A bullpen piece?). They're going to need at least one SP next year, two unless you have great confidence in Vargas to step right back in. The FA market next year isn't good, and it just keeps getting more and more expensive too.

Deberg_1990 · 07-20-2016, 06:11 PM

Kennedy would make a nice #4 or 5 starter

Prison Bitch · 07-20-2016, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Kennedy would make a nice #4 or 5 starter

Not even that. He was 87th out of 96 qualifiers in FIP. And that's before today!

**PHOG** · 07-20-2016, 06:38 PM

MLB doesn't like the Royals? Juice them balls boys...

tk13 · 07-20-2016, 06:51 PM

Maybe we just need to bring Raul Ibanez back then. Today is actually the 2 year anniversary of his speech.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 07-20-2016, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

Or the offense.

This isn't 2014. The new long ball climate alone has sabotaged our starting pitching, and our bullpen isn't as long or dominant -- HDH was historically good, and SHD (or HHD or wahtever) is just really good.

It's doable, yes, but there's so much that has to happen to make it work. I wish the deadline were later, but it is what it is. I'd give them til the end of this homestand to get it together, go 5-1 or something. Otherwise, I'd sell some if the return can help for 2017 and beyond.

But I also would be looking to buy assets that can help in 2017 and beyond, particularly club controlled pitching (Matt Moore? A bullpen piece?). They're going to need at least one SP next year, two unless you have great confidence in Vargas to step right back in. The FA market next year isn't good, and it just keeps getting more and more expensive too.

Don't take this as a "bash the Royals" post, but they have a lot of issues that were masked by aberrations.

Offensively, they were 3rd in the league in OPS in high leverage situations and 15th in low leverage. That is extremely fortunate, and it carried them to a lot of wins beyond their true talent level.

The starting pitching was buoyed by Chris Young and Volquez significantly outpitching their peripherals. Young was one of the worst pitchers in baseball last year and got away with it. Volquez was merely average but got the results of a very good pitcher. That might hold up for a year or a large part of one, but it's not sustainable over the long run.

I definitely agree that the Royals should trade Volquez, especially since he's had a middling year and has another option left. However, I also think they should consider moving Davis. They only have him for one more year after this, and a 2016 rental of Davis plus all of 2017 and the comp pick his receiving team would get when he likely turns down the QO and signs a free agent deal could fetch the Royals a significant return, perhaps enough to restock the system with some of the arms they gave up for last year's rentals of Cueto and Zobrist.

Chiefspants · 07-20-2016, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Don't take this as a "bash the Royals" post, but they have a lot of issues that were masked by aberrations.

Offensively, they were 3rd in the league in OPS in high leverage situations and 15th in low leverage. That is extremely fortunate, and it carried them to a lot of wins beyond their true talent level.

The starting pitching was buoyed by Chris Young and Volquez significantly outpitching their peripherals. Young was one of the worst pitchers in baseball last year and got away with it. Volquez was merely average but got the results of a very good pitcher. That might hold up for a year or a large part of one, but it's not sustainable over the long run.

I definitely agree that the Royals should trade Volquez, especially since he's had a middling year and has another option left. However, I also think they should consider moving Davis. They only have him for one more year after this, and a 2016 rental of Davis plus all of 2017 and the comp pick his receiving team would get when he likely turns down the QO and signs a free agent deal could fetch the Royals a significant return, perhaps enough to restock the system with some of the arms they gave up for last year's rentals of Cueto and Zobrist.

While this move makes sense, and could potentially extend our window well beyond 2017, I do not think Dayton is going to have it in him to do it. This organization is not going to do anything to potentially compromise our chances in 2017.

Why Not? · 07-21-2016, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Don't take this as a "bash the Royals" post, but they have a lot of issues that were masked by aberrations.

Offensively, they were 3rd in the league in OPS in high leverage situations and 15th in low leverage. That is extremely fortunate, and it carried them to a lot of wins beyond their true talent level.

The starting pitching was buoyed by Chris Young and Volquez significantly outpitching their peripherals. Young was one of the worst pitchers in baseball last year and got away with it. Volquez was merely average but got the results of a very good pitcher. That might hold up for a year or a large part of one, but it's not sustainable over the long run.

I definitely agree that the Royals should trade Volquez, especially since he's had a middling year and has another option left. However, I also think they should consider moving Davis. They only have him for one more year after this, and a 2016 rental of Davis plus all of 2017 and the comp pick his receiving team would get when he likely turns down the QO and signs a free agent deal could fetch the Royals a significant return, perhaps enough to restock the system with some of the arms they gave up for last year's rentals of Cueto and Zobrist.

I don't think that's a bash at all. Even if you meant it as such, WS championship is a WS championship. The results are what they are. But I think most Royals fans understand that part of the magic of last season was, um, the magic of last season. I mean Alcides ****ing Esocbar was the MVP of the ALCS. What further evidenc of magic, or Royals Devil magic if you will, is needed.

tk13 · 07-21-2016, 12:20 AM

The two biggest things, given this team's makeup, might be strikeouts and homers. The Royals the last two years struck out way, way less than any other team. It wasn't close. That's not happening this year. They still don't walk but they would take advantage of it by putting the ball in play far more than anyone else. You could come up with tons of examples where constantly putting the ball in play would put pressure on a defense until they messed up, or the Royals could use their speed and aggressiveness to gain an edge. That's the thing every other fan base would get upset about and call KC "lucky" for, but it wasn't coincidence.

The other issue is obviously the pitching staff is giving up tons of homers. The Royals are all about run prevention, and your defense is useless when the other team is hitting home runs.

GloryDayz · 07-21-2016, 05:19 AM

Tow things define the game of baseball, pitching and hitting. Last year we had much better pitching than this year, and our hitting is, well, not that great. Yes, defense can play a part in the game and can save a pitcher's ass, and we very-much exploited that reality last year, but this year that defense is watching the ball sail over their heads.

A lot of things came together for last year's WS win, "the baseball Gods smiled upon us," and this year that magic just isn't there. It happens. And some of last season's inevitable post-season moves aren't helping, but I think we all knew "we can't afford them" or "we can't afford to keep them" was bound to be part of the fall. Throw into it that our $72M man was out for a long while, has been anything but a $72M man, and Moose is out injured, I guess we're lucky to be .500 at this point.

It's all good, we got a WS win, and that's awesome.

Al Czervik · 07-21-2016, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

Tow things define the game of baseball, pitching and hitting. Last year we had much better pitching than this year, and our hitting is, well, not that great. Yes, defense can play a part in the game and can save a pitcher's ass, and we very-much exploited that reality last year, but this year that defense is watching the ball sail over their heads.

A lot of things came together for last year's WS win, "the baseball Gods smiled upon us," and this year that magic just isn't there. It happens. And some of last season's inevitable post-season moves aren't helping, but I think we all knew "we can't afford them" or "we can't afford to keep them" was bound to be part of the fall. Throw into it that our $72M man was out for a long while, has been anything but a $72M man, and Moose is out injured, I guess we're lucky to be .500 at this point.

It's all good, we got a WS win, and that's awesome.

THIS

07-20-2016, 12:23 PM
Bowser sorta mod-ish Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: KC North Casino cash: $3461616	**Royals vs. Indians 7-20 Game Thread** We've already given up our obligatory home run this game. Royals are down 1-0 in the first.
Posts: 100,585

07-20-2016, 06:11 PM	#109
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3914454	Kennedy would make a nice #4 or 5 starter __________________ Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning: Matt once made a very nice play in Seattle where he spun away from a pass rusher and hit Bowe off his back foot for a first down. One of the best plays Matt has ever made.
Posts: 66,914

07-20-2016, 06:38 PM	#111
PHOG Dazed and Confused Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Somewhere Out There Casino cash: $2060500	MLB doesn't like the Royals? Juice them balls boys...
Posts: 15,178

07-20-2016, 06:51 PM	#112
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $2002500	Maybe we just need to bring Raul Ibanez back then. Today is actually the 2 year anniversary of his speech.
Posts: 54,929

07-21-2016, 12:20 AM	#116
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $2002500	The two biggest things, given this team's makeup, might be strikeouts and homers. The Royals the last two years struck out way, way less than any other team. It wasn't close. That's not happening this year. They still don't walk but they would take advantage of it by putting the ball in play far more than anyone else. You could come up with tons of examples where constantly putting the ball in play would put pressure on a defense until they messed up, or the Royals could use their speed and aggressiveness to gain an edge. That's the thing every other fan base would get upset about and call KC "lucky" for, but it wasn't coincidence. The other issue is obviously the pitching staff is giving up tons of homers. The Royals are all about run prevention, and your defense is useless when the other team is hitting home runs.
Posts: 54,929

07-21-2016, 05:19 AM	#117
GloryDayz (Sir/Yes Sir/Aye Aye Sir) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Diving Casino cash: $3545380	Tow things define the game of baseball, pitching and hitting. Last year we had much better pitching than this year, and our hitting is, well, not that great. Yes, defense can play a part in the game and can save a pitcher's ass, and we very-much exploited that reality last year, but this year that defense is watching the ball sail over their heads. A lot of things came together for last year's WS win, "the baseball Gods smiled upon us," and this year that magic just isn't there. It happens. And some of last season's inevitable post-season moves aren't helping, but I think we all knew "we can't afford them" or "we can't afford to keep them" was bound to be part of the fall. Throw into it that our $72M man was out for a long while, has been anything but a $72M man, and Moose is out injured, I guess we're lucky to be .500 at this point. It's all good, we got a WS win, and that's awesome.
Posts: 115,440