Royals *** Official Royals Repository, Part 4 *** - Page 54

duncan_idaho · 10:46 PM

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.

cosmo20002 · 08-05-2015, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeke

11 million reasons why.

A big check buys a player a chance. An early benefit of the doubt.
But $11M isn't superstar pay anyway. I don't think Ned or Dayton is going to continue playing someone just because they are paying him more than someone else. At this point, Ned obviously thinks Rios gives him the best chance to win. It's kind of ridiculous to believe they are willing to lose games just because they are paying him a certain amount.

**Bearcat** · 08-06-2015, 06:31 AM

Maybe already discussed, but apparently you can't buy single postseason games through the team this year? WTF? I didn't get a 10 pack this year, and now they're offering postseason priority with a 10 pack AND a $500 deposit for season tickets next year. A nice thank you for you long suffering fans, really.

http://www.kctv5.com/story/29717952/...for-postseason

KevB · 08-06-2015, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S

Not exactly sure what I was thinking there, didn't realize Eibner obviously wasn't on the 40-man. Would need an opening, maybe a few.

Remove Dusty Coleman, add Eibner. That said, they won't do it. Gordon gets back and Zobrist is your right fielder.

Lex Luthor · 08-06-2015, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearcat

Maybe already discussed, but apparently you can't buy single postseason games through the team this year? WTF? I didn't get a 10 pack this year, and now they're offering postseason priority with a 10 pack AND a $500 deposit for season tickets next year. A nice thank you for you long suffering fans, really.

http://www.kctv5.com/story/29717952/...for-postseason

There's always Stubhub.

**ChiTown** · 08-06-2015, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S

Not exactly sure what I was thinking there, didn't realize Eibner obviously wasn't on the 40-man. Would need an opening, maybe a few.

Not gonna happen unless we suffer more injuries.

**Bearcat** · 08-06-2015, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brainiac

There's always Stubhub.

Yeah, I had a 10 pack last year and didn't have to do that until the World Series, but they were kind of insane on the secondary market.... just seems like a shitty way to treat fans.

Fansy the Famous Bard · 08-06-2015, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

A big check buys a player a chance. An early benefit of the doubt.
But $11M isn't superstar pay anyway. I don't think Ned or Dayton is going to continue playing someone just because they are paying him more than someone else. At this point, Ned obviously thinks Rios gives him the best chance to win. It's kind of ridiculous to believe they are willing to lose games just because they are paying him a certain amount.

Agreed.

Sincerely,

Jeff Francoeur

KCUnited · 08-06-2015, 06:53 AM

The single season playoff ticket sales was a giant cluster last year. I bought season tickets this year before I knew I was moving (which I nearly backed out of because the Royals ticket interface is super frustrating) and came within a day of selling my package to my mortgage guy at face value. Luckily I didn't and have been selling the games on Stubhub, and including the Stubhub fees, I'm making my money back plus a little and retaining post season priority.

The tickets for bobblehead nights make up for the the week night games against Cleveland. They sell for nearly double. I imagine the same will be true for next year so the 10 game at a disount plus 2016 deposit w/ post season priority is a pretty good deal if you can float it.

**Bearcat** · 08-06-2015, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCUnited

The single season playoff ticket sales was a giant cluster last year. I bought season tickets this year before I knew I was moving (which I nearly backed out of because the Royals ticket interface is super frustrating) and came within a day of selling my package to my mortgage guy at face value. Luckily I didn't and have been selling the games on Stubhub, and including the Stubhub fees, I'm making my money back plus a little and retaining post season priority.

The tickets for bobblehead nights make up for the the week night games against Cleveland. They sell for nearly double. I imagine the same will be true for next year so the 10 game at a disount plus 2016 deposit w/ post season priority is a pretty good deal if you can float it.

Yeah, I did it last year as a gift and it was awesome... and I bought 2 tickets for the 10 pack and was able to buy 4 postseason tickets for the WC, ALDS, and ALCS. I assume that's what they're doing this year, and with more season ticket holders, they're basically out of seats. I didn't do it this year, not really because of "expert" predictions, but just the fact that chances aren't great that you're going to match the excitement of last year, two years in a row.... and I figured the ~$5-600 that I saved would go to single postseason games... oops.

Do you know if your 10 pack has priority for the WS this year?

KCUnited · 08-06-2015, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearcat

Yeah, I did it last year as a gift and it was awesome... and I bought 2 tickets for the 10 pack and was able to buy 4 postseason tickets for the WC, ALDS, and ALCS. I assume that's what they're doing this year, and with more season ticket holders, they're basically out of seats. I didn't do it this year, not really because of "expert" predictions, but just the fact that chances aren't great that you're going to match the excitement of last year, two years in a row.... and I figured the ~$5-600 that I saved would go to single postseason games... oops.

Do you know if your 10 pack has priority for the WS this year?

I'm not sure if the 10 pack has WS priority. Funny, the Royals ticket office is such a mess that a rep still sends me the 10 game promo emails despite already being a STH. All the 10 game promo emails I've received just state "post season" and don't specify WS. I think it would be pretty shitty not to include the WS in the 10 game deal, but I would also think they'd state WS in the deal if it was included simply to get more people to buy the package.

Honestly, I get the gist that the Royals make up a lot of this as they go, so who knows.

**Bearcat** · 08-06-2015, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCUnited

I'm not sure if the 10 pack has WS priority. Funny, the Royals ticket office is such a mess that a rep still sends me the 10 game promo emails despite already being a STH. All the 10 game promo emails I've received just state "post season" and don't specify WS. I think it would be pretty shitty not to include the WS in the 10 game deal, but I would also think they'd state WS in the deal if it was included simply to get more people to buy the package.

Honestly, I get the gist that the Royals make up a lot of this as they go, so who knows.

Yeah, last year no one knew if the WS was included until most of the way through the ALCS when they sent emails saying you could get on the waiting list with a deposit... I spent more on game 7 than the 10 pack and all other postseason tickets.

My guess is that it's not included... the link I posted says you can get WS priority with that 10 game stretch pack AND a $500 deposit for next year.

duncan_idaho · 08-06-2015, 07:27 AM

If Rios continues slumping, he definitely goes to the bench or is DFA when Gordon is healthy.

What he did last month was promising, but if he doesn't continue playing that way, he's going to lose his spot. And should.

That's the great thing about Zobrist. That flex he offers to the lineup and ability to plug the weakest of KC's two weak links is pretty awesome.

I'd love to see them get really aggressive and pair Zobrist with Dyson and Infante in a platoon, even after Gordon returns, but I'm not holding my breath on that one...

cosmo20002 · 08-06-2015, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearcat

Yeah, I had a 10 pack last year and didn't have to do that until the World Series, but they were kind of insane on the secondary market.... just seems like a shitty way to treat fans.

I hate to defend the team, but a huge change from last year is there are so many more "season ticket" holders this year that have dibs on playoff tickets. There's simply not as many available. I looked into one of the 10-game packs earlier this year. I wasn't really thinking about playoff priority at the time, I just wanted decent seats for regular season games. But all that were available were nosebleeds or baseline way out in the outfield, which I don't really like. Attendance is just huge this year.

cosmo20002 · 08-06-2015, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeke

Agreed.

Sincerely,

Jeff Francoeur

Didn't they get rid of him in the middle of the season?

cosmo20002 · 08-06-2015, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCUnited

I'm not sure if the 10 pack has WS priority. Funny, the Royals ticket office is such a mess that a rep still sends me the 10 game promo emails despite already being a STH. All the 10 game promo emails I've received just state "post season" and don't specify WS. I think it would be pretty shitty not to include the WS in the 10 game deal, but I would also think they'd state WS in the deal if it was included simply to get more people to buy the package.

Honestly, I get the gist that the Royals make up a lot of this as they go, so who knows.

I think this is largely true. I don't have direct knowledge, but I do know a guy who knows a guy, and I'm told that playoff tix are largely controlled by the team but WS tix are mostly controlled by MLB. The teams really don't know what they are going to get. So many thousands of seats are held back for MLB sponsors, VIPs, and sales to employees and insiders it's almost amazing any are available to the public.

07-14-2015, 11:05 PM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $1520308	* Official Royals Repository, Part 4 * 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. Last edited by duncan_idaho; 10-06-2015 at 10:46 PM..
Posts: 21,145

08-06-2015, 06:31 AM	#797
Bearcat Would an idiot do that? Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Arizona Casino cash: $2584931	Maybe already discussed, but apparently you can't buy single postseason games through the team this year? WTF? I didn't get a 10 pack this year, and now they're offering postseason priority with a 10 pack AND a $500 deposit for season tickets next year. A nice thank you for you long suffering fans, really. http://www.kctv5.com/story/29717952/...for-postseason __________________
Posts: 55,590

08-06-2015, 06:53 AM	#803
KCUnited Cheat Death Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Land of Drincoln Casino cash: $2058244	The single season playoff ticket sales was a giant cluster last year. I bought season tickets this year before I knew I was moving (which I nearly backed out of because the Royals ticket interface is super frustrating) and came within a day of selling my package to my mortgage guy at face value. Luckily I didn't and have been selling the games on Stubhub, and including the Stubhub fees, I'm making my money back plus a little and retaining post season priority. The tickets for bobblehead nights make up for the the week night games against Cleveland. They sell for nearly double. I imagine the same will be true for next year so the 10 game at a disount plus 2016 deposit w/ post season priority is a pretty good deal if you can float it.
Posts: 34,046

08-06-2015, 07:27 AM	#807
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $1520308	If Rios continues slumping, he definitely goes to the bench or is DFA when Gordon is healthy. What he did last month was promising, but if he doesn't continue playing that way, he's going to lose his spot. And should. That's the great thing about Zobrist. That flex he offers to the lineup and ability to plug the weakest of KC's two weak links is pretty awesome. I'd love to see them get really aggressive and pair Zobrist with Dyson and Infante in a platoon, even after Gordon returns, but I'm not holding my breath on that one... __________________ "You gotta love livin', cause dying is a pain in the ass." ---- Sinatra
Posts: 21,145