*** Official Royals Repository, Part 4 ***

[duncan_idaho]

In this thread: All things related to the AL Champions.

Duncan's Official Team Record prediction: 90 wins
One month in: Looking strong
All Star Break: Looking strong, probably should adjust up to 93-94 wins.
Duncan's Official Team MVP prediction: Eric Hosmer
One month in: Upstaged by his best friend MIKE MOOTACOS, MAN. Tell us bout your hittin, bro!
All Star Break: Lorenzo Cain starting to run away with this one.

Division Preview
Clearly, overlooking the Twins was a mistake at this point. I still don't believe in that team long-term, but they're starting to get that Magic Season twinkle about them.

Detroit is toast. Garbage rotation beyond Price and Sanchez, Miggy out.

And Cleveland... Cleveland still is dangerous if it ever clicks offensively, because the starting pitching is good enough for them to real off a 15-5 stretch and get right back into the playoff picture.

The Royals will be a division winner IF ...
1) Ventura and Duffy combine for 375+ innings of high-quality work
2) Eric Hosmer delivers on his potential with a FULL season of success rather than bursts
3) The deeper bullpen lessens the critical load on Herrera, Davis and Holland
4) Lorenzo Cain stays healthy
5) Either Alex Rios or Kendrys Morales bounces back to 2013 form

The first of these is clearly not going to happen. The second looked good through the end of May but is now eating Cain's dust (Hosmer has still been improved this year, though, lessening his valley. If he has a really hot second half, he can get right back in it). Item three is definitely the case. Item four should probably be first at this point. And Morales has more than bounced back.

Duncan’s Top 20 for mid-season 2015:

Spoiler!

1. Raul Adalberto Mondesi, SS, BOTH: Tools, tools, tools. RA has tools galore. At his best, he’s an All-Star SS who plays elite D, hits 15-20 HR, swipes 40 bags, and is an ideal 1, 2 or 3 hitter. At his worst, I think he looks a lot like Alcides Escobar. Plate discipline is his biggest challenge at this point, but evaluators are confident that will come with time. Clear No. 1
2. Kyle Zimmer, RHP: He’s pitching again and staying healthy, which is nice. He’s pitcing out of the bullpen to build back his arm strength, which is less nice. But still has that high upside, just a lower floor now. Ideally, the team will use him as a bullpen weapon in September (because he has earned it) and then give him a chance to transition back to starting for 2016.
3. Miguel Almonte, RHP: Still love the body, FB/CH combo. Results aren’t eye popping, but he’s still low enough and early enough in the development to prize those things over performance. Still a solid No. 3 starter upside, and just a year and some change away from potentially being ready to contribute at the MLB level.
4. Jorge Bonifacio, RF, RH: Emilio’s little brother got off to a horrible start in 2015 but has heated up as the season went on. He also is translating BP power to game power for the first time, with 15 HR just past the mid-way point of his season. Despite his disappointing 2014, he has a chance to build his way back into legit prospect status – and still is only 22. Next challenge for him should be Omaha, but that may wait for the start of the 2014 season.
5. Scott Blewett, RHP: Blewett has a nice two –pitch mix already and is off to a strong start. With his size (6-6) and a good fastball/curveball combo, Blewett could eventually turn into a good No. 3 starter, with a MLB-average changeup.
6. Nolan Watson, RHP: The Royals’ 2015 sandwich pick is a polished prep arm who is adding velocity and explosiveness to a good, polished base. Likely to move quickly.
7. Ashe Russell, RHP: The 2015 top pick probably needs more work than Watson, but the upside is really nice. Again, advanced two-pitch mix that will depend on him adding a changeup. Could be a very good NO. 2 if it all adds up.

Spoiler!

8. Bubba Starling, CF, RH: Starling has been up and down this year but put himself back on the map by greatly improving his K rate while also improving across the slash line as a hitter. His defense and baserunning are MLB ready; if Starling can work himself into a league average hitter, he can be a solid MLB regular who plays great D in CF while hitting 15 HR and swiping 20 bags.
9. Balbino Fuenmayor, 1B/DH, RH: The Balbino came out of basically nowhere in 2015 to earn a Futures Game spot. Big power and an improved two-strike approach have turned the late bloomer into a legit prospect. He’s blocked at the MLB level currently by Eric Hosmer and Kendrys Morales, but Fuenmayor’s combination of power hitting and good average/strike zone control makes him intriguing.
10. Cheslor Cuthbert, 3B, RH: Cheslor probably is not going to be the star KC was hoping for when signing him out of Nicaragua, but he does look like he can be a solid reserve for an MLB club. Good defense at 3B paired with a solid plate approach and some gap power plays fine off the bench. He becomes a lot more interesting if they think he can stick as a 2B, which they have experimented with.
11. Chase Vallot, C/DH/1B: I really like Vallot’s power and plate discipline combo. His bat will probably force him from behind the plate, but he’s held his own despite being extremely young for every level he has faced.
12. Alfredo Escalera-Maldonado, OF, RH: Escalera-Maldonado earned a promotion to Wilmington at age 20, which is pretty advanced movement for that age. He’s an athletic outfielder who has shown some plate discipline at an early age, which is encouraging. Doesn’t sound like he can stick in CF long term for KC, but his bat has become one to watch.
13. Pedro Fernandez, RHP: I haven’t seen much of him, but like the reports I’ve heard on his fastball and general makeup. Could become the next Almonte/Mondesi, though he’s more likely to land in the pen than either of them.
14. Elier Hernandez, OF, RH: Elier Hernanez teamed with Escalera-Maldonado in breaking out at Low-A and earning a promotion to Wilmington. It’s still early for this guy – he is just 20 years old – but he doesn’t take walks and hasn’t developed the prodigious power many thought he had the potential for. Still worth watching.
15. Hunter Dozier, 3B, RH: Dozier is reworking his swing mid-season, which generally will cause production to do what his has done: Nose dive. The changes he made entering the season (seemingly geared towards increasing his power production) were a disaster, and now he’s trying to get back to what he used to be. Still looks great and checks most of the scouting boxes, but the performance hasn’t matched, and it almost knocked him out of the list.
16. Christian Binford, RHP: After a breakthrough 2014, Binford struggled mightily at AAA and suffered a demotion. His upside remains similar – a back-end starter who can eat innings – but Binford’s lack of velocity and reliance on command have caught up to him so far.
17. Marten Gasparini, OF, SH: Gasparini is intriguing because of his speed and athleticism. He’s a LOOOOONG ways from the majors and young for his level, but reports on his bat speed, swing, and speed remain positive enough to keep him on the bubble.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

I think I may have suggested that in ... April? Maybe. And for a prospect? No one trades prospects for relievers. Hell, at this point, I'd have to have that post linked to me because I think you're Prison Bitch'ing the context to the nth degree.

Still want to argue with me that Infante won't be benched? That Ned won't bat Alex leadoff?

Dont feel bad. I brought it up monthly and most thought he was expendable once Hoch got the call up.

No. I never thought either one of those things. Find another Huckleberry on that one.

[Hootie]

Originally Posted by tk13

Ned and DM have made all the right moves, certainly all the moves the fans wanted except maybe demoting Holland. Sometimes getting better on paper doesn't work, as we've seen over the years. They've played the numbers... except that some of these moves did not make us a better defensive team, and we were built on run prevention and our bullpen. Neither is as good as last year. We are probably better offensively, but we went to the World Series last year with a terrible offense. It doesn't always translate to October.

Not over yet ...

[suzzer99]

We're going to run out of pitchers to bench.

[tk13]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

I don't know about anyone else but my expectations for the postseason are definitely not as nearly as lofty as they once were.

I don't feel confident we'll hold off the Blue Jays for home field. And I don't like a first round matchup with Houston or likely, Texas, because they can throw LHP's at us and I think Texas is playing better than most people think.

But, it's baseball. That sounds cliche but it's true. We could rip off 5 in a row last week. You just don't know.

At this point of last season the A's were in a complete tailspin after having the best record most of the year. They flamed out in the first playoff game.

At this point of last season the San Francisco Giants were in a huge slump. They lost 9 of 13 games going into the final weekend, and were outscored something like 73-32 during that stretch. They were getting whipped. They went from competing for the division to the #1 wild card spot to having to go on the road in Pittsburgh to start the playoffs. They won the World Series.

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

I don't know about anyone else but my expectations for the postseason are definitely not as nearly as lofty as they once were.

We just need to turn it around and get hot again. Baseball playoffs are all about who's hot and then just pure luck on top of that. Anyone has a chance.

[tk13]

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

Not over yet ...

I agree. You can find a long list of teams who limped to the finish and won it all. You can find a long list of teams who limped to the finish and bombed out in the 1st round. You just don't know. We just need to get in and roll the dice. And try to get Cueto somewhat back on track between now and then.

[Hootie]

We'll see ... Seems like the core of this team shines with the lights when they're brightest. I realize I'm the Royals optimist of this board but I'm glad our rut is happening while we're 10 games up ... Still time to figure it out

[Sure-Oz]

Cueto has to come back...seems the team is trying too hard pressing after his slump

[Hootie]

Cueto has been so disappointing it hurts ... It literally makes no sense

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

Cueto has been so disappointing it hurts ... It literally makes no sense

Its like some rick Ankiel shit

[tk13]

Another example is the 2000 New York Yankees. They finished the season 2-13, and were outscored by 81 runs during that stretch. That's brutal. They won the World Series.

[Prison Bitch]

Not only is this team much better than last year, it's the best possible team a small market could construct. Regardless what happens in October we have a top 5 team this year and DM deserves GM of the year. Unanimous.

[jimidollar]

Maybe this team played way over their heads for a year or maybe this is just a slump. We'll find out in a couple of weeks.

[SPchief]

Originally Posted by jimidollar

Maybe this team played way over their heads for a year or maybe this is just a slump. We'll find out in a couple of weeks.

What happens in October literally has nothing to with what this team has done the last 5 months.

[Lex Luthor]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I think all of Ned's tinkering is backfiring....perhaps ****ing with what got you 30 games over .500 wasn't the best idea?

Ned's "tinkering" didn't transform Johnny Cueto from an Ace to dogshit.

Ned's "tinkering" didn't cause Danny Duffy to lose command of his pitches.

Ned's "tinkering" didn't cause Edinson Volquez to get crushed in a couple of his starts.

Ned's "tinkering" didn't cause Kelvin Herrera to start giving up grand slams and three run homers.

Ned's "tinkering" didn't cause Greg Holland lose over 5 MPH off of his fastball.

Ned's "tinkering" didn't cause Wade Davis's stiff shoulder.

And Ned's "tinkering" didn't cause the Blue Jays to turn into an offensive juggernaut with the best record in baseball (by far) since the trading deadline.

Last year HDH was the big differentiator that made the Royals special. This year HDH is very ordinary. That's what the biggest problem is. Quito is the second biggest problem. If you can make a case that Ned's tinkering caused this, please do so.


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