|
04-05-2017, 10:55 AM | |
World's Best Boss
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bronco Country
|
*** Official 2017 Royals Repository ***
Chiefsplanet’s (Proposed) 2017 Season Title: One Last Ride
Midish-Season Update (Royals 51-47, 2nd Wild Card, 1.5 GB of ALC): We're halfway through 2017, and fittingly to the Chiefsplanet's 2017 Season Title, the Royals are all-in on what will likely be one final run with the current core. While many are worried the Royals will take a 2004 style tumble after this year, the farm system is hardly the barren wasteland it was during the Baird years. To see what's in the pipeline and what we have to look forward to, check out this exceptional list and analysis that Duncan put together of our system. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...htmlview#gid=0 While I had the honor of starting this thread this year, Duncan will always have a VIP pass to this OP, and can add more content at any time. 2017's Burning Questions Revisited: 1. What is the threshold between being “buyers” and “sellers” at the deadline? We're buyers, baby. In April, I argued that it would be a wise strategy for us to sell if we were 5 GB or worse, but that Dayton would likely add supplemental pieces for us to load up for another run if we were 1-2 GB. On July 24th, the Royals found themselves in sole possession of the 2nd wild card spot and 1.5 games back of the division. In April I said the Royals might pull the trigger on someone like Alex Cobb and resign Luke Hochevar, but since the Rays are also buyers and Luke's shoulder hasn't rebounded, this prediction hasn't come to fruition. Luckily, Dayton Moore again proved much more adept and creative than me by adding Trevor Cahill (good call, Duncan), Brandon Maurer and Ryan Buchter in a single trade. Giving us a solid starter to compete in 2017, and two relievers whom we will control through 2019 and 2021, respectively, keeping Moore's new vision through 2019-2020 intact. Moore has hinted that the Royals will continue to pursue the right deals if they're there, so the fun may not be over just yet. While we may not have the bullets to pull in a "star" like Cueto or Zo, Moore's adeptness may yet again net us what we need for another run in October. 2. Can Gordo and Moose bounce back to 2015 levels? In April I asked if Gordo could at least set the table at a 265/325/425 clip and if Moose could deliver damage around a 265/335/500 clip for an entire year. This season Mr. Moustakas has been the prospect that was promised, delivering at a 277/307/568 clip as of this update. Gordo, on the other hand, has put up an unbelievably abysmal line thus far. But, if there is a silver lining, it's that Gordo has performed at a 246/311/432 line since June 1st, and if he can continue to perform near that mark, he will be more than a valuable asset at the bottom of the lineup while he continues to provide the best LF defense in the league. 3. Can Ned Yost manage a bullpen? In April, I felt that despite the poor start, Royals bullpen would ultimately be "solid" this year, but the question was whether "solid" was good enough for Ned. I argued that the Royals needed Soria to bounce back and that Ned would need to start being strategic in his L/L and R/R matchups. While Ned has still made at times baffling and frustrating decisions with his starters (such as allowing Travis Wood to try to "get the win" and still insisting on sending Hammel out for the 6th, he's mostly done a good job). MASH: Minor/Moylan - Alexander - Soria - Herrera (Credit to C3HIEF3S for the origins of the phrase) have cemented into reliable pieces, and now that Herrera is showing signs of stabilizing, our dumping of Wood, our call up Flynn, and the acquisition of Buchter and Maurer, the Royals have the potential to enter October with one of the best and deepest bullpens in the postseason. 4. Will the Royals find a boost from an unexpected X-Factor to lift them to contention? Cool-Whit, Boni, Mike ****ing Minor, and Alexander have come up huge thus far. Cool Whit is, incredibly, is second on the team in WAR and has more than replaced Zo's presence on the team. They, like the X-Factors on the 2014-2015 teams, have been critical cogs as we've raced back to contention, while Cool-Whit and Boni also have provided a rosier outlook for this team's future. It's worth noting that Salvador Perez and Jason Vargas has been beasts on offense and the mound (along with Sal providing his customary defensive excellence), but I am still a bit wary of Salvy's annual Yost assisted offensive drought as the team moves into August, along with Vargy regressing to his averages. 5. Can Jorge Soler and Brandon Moss be productive contributors in Kauffman’s dimensions? Ouch, no, but the Royals shift to power-hitting in the juiced ball era looks like one that will pay off. Thankfully, Moss is showing signs of entering his seasonal hot streak where he becomes corn-fed Jesus for a month, and we'll need him hot to keep up with Cleveland down the stretch. While Jorge has been painful to watch in the majors, his scorching performance in AAA should give one a bright hope for the future. While some may disagree, I offer Moose, Hos, Gordo, and Duffy's struggles as exhibit A for why it is far too early to give up on Soler's potential. Bonus Question - Is Raul Mondesi truly ready to be an everyday player? Ha! Not even close. However, like Soler, his progress in AAA is incredibly encouraging. With ceilings like Lindor and floors being Esky being thrown out there, it's hard not to be excited about his future. The Picture Forward There are many reasons to be excited, and not only for 2017. The Royals emergence of Cool Whit, Bonifacio, and Scott Alexander, and the fact that we have pieces like Salvador Perez, Danny Duffy, Kelvin Herrera, Jorge Soler, Ryan Buchter, Brandon Maurer Cheslor Cuthbert, and Raul Mondesi until at least 2019 should leave one feeling pretty optimistic. Re-up Moose or Hos (and heck, re-sign Dyson while we're at it), and suddenly this team looks very much like one that could compete for the indefinite future. The Royals are all in again, buckle in and enjoy the ride. April OP:
Spoiler!
Last edited by Chiefspants; 08-02-2017 at 01:53 PM.. |
Posts: 18,570
|
07-04-2017, 10:25 PM | #3271 |
...
Join Date: Nov 2001
|
One huge catch to selling is the general belief is that pitchers are going to be more in demand than position players. Would it have played out that way? I don't know. But what happens if we had to sell and didn't get good enough deals for any of our guys? That could be ugly.
The Dodgers and Cubs definitely don't need position players, they are loaded as it is. The Nationals need bullpen help badly, as everyone knows. The Red Sox and Astros probably could go for a 3B. The Rockies definitely don't need a 3B. The Yankees could use a 1B if Bird isn't coming back. It doesn't look like there'll be a huge bidding war at some of these key positions, but we'll see. Even the big money teams have all started developing their own players and have a pretty good core group of guys they don't want to block and/or trade away. Meanwhile almost every one of them could use pitching. |
Posts: 55,889
|
07-04-2017, 10:28 PM | #3272 |
LEGEND!
Join Date: Feb 2013
|
Pitching is key when it comes to winning games in the playoffs. I think we should be good with our current group as is Vargas, Duffy, Kennedy, Hammel or Wood come playoff time. That's actually not bad considering Kennedys improvement. I would like another bullpen arm though
|
Posts: 16,409
|
07-04-2017, 10:32 PM | #3273 |
LEGEND!
Join Date: Feb 2013
|
Damn I didn't know Whit was older than Hos and Salvy.
|
Posts: 16,409
|
07-04-2017, 10:33 PM | #3274 |
The Beast Inside Your Head
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Parts Unknown
|
|
Posts: 26,051
|
07-04-2017, 10:34 PM | #3275 | |
The Beast Inside Your Head
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Parts Unknown
|
Quote:
|
|
Posts: 26,051
|
07-04-2017, 10:44 PM | #3276 |
LEGEND!
Join Date: Feb 2013
|
|
Posts: 16,409
|
07-04-2017, 10:48 PM | #3277 |
The Beast Inside Your Head
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Parts Unknown
|
|
Posts: 26,051
|
07-04-2017, 10:52 PM | #3278 |
LEGEND!
Join Date: Feb 2013
|
No you don't trade any of the big 3 unless it's there #1 or #2 prospect. You can probably trade Herrera to the Nats for a good return piece
|
Posts: 16,409
|
07-05-2017, 02:32 AM | #3279 |
M-I-Z-Z-O-U
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Kansas City
|
I just refuse to buy the doom and gloom if Kansas City doesn't sell. That doesn't automatically mean another huge wandering in the wilderness.
Duffy, Perez, Kennedy, Hammel, Merrifield, Cuthbert, Strahm, Alexander, Karns is not a bad core. This team isn't returning to losing 100 games. There are good players to build around - and if one of Soler/Mondesi turns into the star they have the talent to be, it also transforms the look. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
Posts: 21,493
|
07-05-2017, 05:14 AM | #3280 | |
MVP
Join Date: Mar 2010
|
Quote:
What part of "selling doesn't guarantee ANYTHING" don't you understand? The Royals aren't going to flip any of their half-season rentals into a bunch of fantastic prospects. It's already been pointed out to you that we don't have Greinke and Will Myers with several years of control as trading chips. With the exception of Herrera, all of these guys are going to be free agents. We aren't going to flip these guys for younger versions of Cain, Escobar, Shields, and Davis. It's not going to happen. Just stop with the repetitive history lessons. I've been a Royals fan a hell of a lot longer than you have. I've been a fan ever since this team played its very first game in 1969. NOBODY in this world has been a Royals fan LONGER than I have, and I have endured every losing season this team has ever had. I endured all of the horrible years when this team was the laughingstock of major league baseball and every season was not just a losing season, it was a lost season because no progress was ever made towards long-term improvement. What you are completely ignoring is the fact that this team went into the toilet because Ewing Kauffman died, the team didn't even have an owner for several years, and the farm system was completely obliterated during that time period. This team had no vision and it had no leadership. Things are completely different now. We have an owner who has been doing all of the right things for over a decade. We have a GM who completely transformed the farm system from a shitty one into a great one. The farm system obviously isn't as deep as it was when Hosmer, Moose, Cain, Duffy, Herrera, Myers, Perez and all of the others were in it because by every measure that farm system was historically good. No farm system is as good as that one was. That doesn't mean today's farm system sucks. So please SHUT THE **** UP with all of your gloom and doom predictions. It's getting really ****ing old. Relax and enjoy the ride. This team is starting to look a lot like the 2014 team that shocked the world by making it to the World Series. They win games in a completely different way from that team, and they depend upon home runs instead of cyborgs in the bullpen, but this team has shown an incredible amount of heart and resiliency. So just stop with all of your hand-wringing and your insistence that this team should be dismantled. I appreciate the fact that you care about this team, but you need to ****ing relax. |
|
Posts: 16,709
|
07-05-2017, 05:30 AM | #3281 | |
MVP
Join Date: Mar 2010
|
Quote:
I'm guessing the Mirage is going to change those odds pretty soon if they haven't already done so. |
|
Posts: 16,709
|
07-05-2017, 06:47 AM | #3282 |
Rabbi Goldmann
Join Date: Nov 2012
|
|
Posts: 87,025
|
07-05-2017, 08:19 AM | #3283 |
LEGEND!
Join Date: Feb 2013
|
|
Posts: 16,409
|
07-05-2017, 08:39 AM | #3284 | |
...
Join Date: Nov 2001
|
Quote:
Posted via Mobile Device |
|
Posts: 55,889
|
07-05-2017, 08:44 AM | #3285 |
Rabbi Goldmann
Join Date: Nov 2012
|
|
Posts: 87,025
|
|
|