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World's Best Boss
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bronco Country
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*** 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: 18,353
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#6976 | |
War Eagle !!!
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Mobile, AL 36608
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Posts: 2,178
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#6977 | |
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Join Date: Nov 2001
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Quote:
Aside from prospects, Freddie Freeman just quietly had a monster season. Almost posted a 1.000 OPS. Plus he's a huge fan favorite, no way they'd replace him with Hosmer. Ender Inciarte is a gold glove All-Star center fielder. Dansby Swanson struggled but is a big time SS prospect. The appeal of that job is that they're loaded with potential young star players. |
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Posts: 55,016
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#6978 | |
World's Best Boss
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bronco Country
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Posts: 18,353
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#6979 |
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Nowhere
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I wouldn't blame Moore for leaving. This franchise is in for some dark years.
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Posts: 4,649
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#6980 |
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Join Date: Nov 2001
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There's no doubt it's going to be a popular job just for that reason. They are basically sitting in the position of the 2012 Royals or 2014 Cubs. Although a lot of their top prospects are pitchers, which is always a crapshoot, but they are loaded with position players too. That Ronald Acuna that duncan mentioned is supposed to a major five tool OF.
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Posts: 55,016
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#6981 | |
M-I-Z-Z-O-U
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Kansas City
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Quote:
Flip side: the front office is a mess, they may get hammered on future draft picks, international signings, and some of their more prized prospects might be declared free agents (Kevin Maitan, particularly). They have a great farm system, but the new GM is going to have some serious work to do. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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Posts: 21,166
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#6982 |
MVP
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: NYC
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I gotta say... if Dayton leaves it would squash what little chance we have of signing any of our own.... AFTER having sat on these guys and at the deadline and got us nothing... I would be furious with him.
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Posts: 7,887
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#6983 |
Let's Get Weird
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Austin
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Down years and dark years are different things. I believe this franchise has a much, much better sense of direction from top-to-bottom for the coming 3-5 seasons compared to when GMDM arrived here.
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Posts: 15,229
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#6984 |
The Beast Inside Your Head
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Parts Unknown
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Looks like Stanton may get moved. Only about 10 years 280 million left on his deal.
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Posts: 25,918
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#6985 |
Woman should only make babies
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Apartment "G UNIT!"
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Dayton didn't flip any prospects because he is going to the braves and he doesn't want to help other teams win he is with the braves.
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Posts: 54,309
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#6986 |
MVP
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: NYC
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Posts: 7,887
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#6987 | |
World's Best Boss
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bronco Country
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Posts: 18,353
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#6988 |
The Insider
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Lake of the Ozarks
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Posts: 49,807
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#6989 |
...
Join Date: Nov 2001
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I agree with you there. This doesn't look like a team where Mark Redman or Aaron Crow will be the only All Star. We still have one of the best catchers in baseball. Whit looks like an All-Star. I think Mondesi and Cuthbert are going to be good players. Boni can hit. We have Duffy and Karns locked up for a few years. The 2006 Royals didn't have any of that.
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Posts: 55,016
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#6990 | |
World's Best Boss
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bronco Country
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Posts: 18,353
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