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04-05-2017, 10:55 AM | |
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.. |
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07-26-2017, 09:08 AM | #4621 | |
You don't faze me, Gobble.
Join Date: Dec 2005
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07-26-2017, 09:11 AM | #4622 | |
You don't faze me, Gobble.
Join Date: Dec 2005
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07-26-2017, 09:39 AM | #4623 | |
You don't faze me, Gobble.
Join Date: Dec 2005
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Quote:
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/244489...picId=27118122 |
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07-26-2017, 09:58 AM | #4624 | |
Stay positive, don't give up
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07-26-2017, 10:01 AM | #4625 |
LEGEND!
Join Date: Feb 2013
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Jeffrey Flanagan @FlannyMLB
Been told that the Royals, like several other teams, have scouted Liriano's last two starts. But his inconsistency has been concerning. |
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07-26-2017, 10:06 AM | #4626 | |
Wasted away again...
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: in Margaritaville
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07-26-2017, 10:08 AM | #4627 | |
Stroking to the SB Champs!
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Flatlands of Kansas
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Quote:
He makes Jason Hammel look like Clayton Kershaw........well, not really, but you know what I mean. |
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07-26-2017, 10:28 AM | #4628 |
LEGEND!
Join Date: Feb 2013
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Why can't we just get Lynn!!
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07-26-2017, 10:33 AM | #4629 |
World's Best Boss
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Location: Bronco Country
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07-26-2017, 10:35 AM | #4630 |
This is the way
Join Date: Sep 2000
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07-26-2017, 10:37 AM | #4631 | |
Most Valuable Villain
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07-26-2017, 10:38 AM | #4632 |
Sauntering Vaguely Downwards
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, Mo
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Because the Royals don't want to pay a 1st round value for him and the Cardinals have enough mediocre organizational depth already that a poo poo platter of C+ prospects doesn't do them any good.
Lynn has unquestionably pitched himself into a qualifying offer and he's also almost certainly not going to take it. So he'll hit the market and the Cardinals will get that sandwich pick. So when the baseline value of Lynn is 2 months of solid pitching plus a pick in the mid 30s, that's where negotiations start. Moreover, with 4 more days until he pitches again and the market for him evidently heating up, there's no real rush to move him now. There's just not a great organizational fit here. |
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07-26-2017, 10:41 AM | #4633 |
Supporter
Join Date: Aug 2005
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Maybe Liriano is a long relief guy if we get him, moving Flynn out.
Run Hammel 2 times through the lineup each start, Liriano one time through and fill in from there. Just trying to figure out how in the hell it could possibly make any sense at all. |
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07-26-2017, 10:42 AM | #4634 |
LEGEND!
Join Date: Feb 2013
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Liriano would have the worst ERA on the team
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07-26-2017, 10:45 AM | #4635 | |
Sauntering Vaguely Downwards
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, Mo
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Quote:
Look at 2015 when Price, Cueto and Hamels were all on the market. And the Dodgers were sitting there with an absolute monster Kershaw at the top of the rotation. The Cubs weren't ready for the big time yet, the Cardinals were an overrated product of string luck, the Mets were nothing but 3 arms and a prayer. The Nationals still had Matt Williams coaching them. The National League was so ripe for the taking. And what happened? The Dodgers went out there and made moves just small enough to lose. They went out there in the biggest game of their season with Brett Anderson and Alex Wood as their options after they half-assed their #3 spot. And it burned them. The Dodgers should've won the Series that year had they been willing to make the aggressive move that firms up the top of that rotation. At the very least, they should've won the pennant and they'd have gotten to roll the dice against KC. But they HAVE to have learned their lesson and the continued back issues with Kershaw should remind them of his mortality. They'll have maybe 3 more stabs at this with Kershaw being this god among men. They cannot waste those. If Verdugo (a nice prospect, but in a Christian Yelich mode rather than a Mike Trout mode) is what gets them Darvish and a clear path to the pennant, they have to do it. They can't be stupid here - flags fly forever. |
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