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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.. |
Posts: 18,353
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07-27-2017, 02:02 PM | #4786 |
21st Century Schizoid Fan
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: The Gates of Delirium
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Hey, move this Arenado shit to the general MLB thread:
http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=308883 We've got Royals wheeling and dealing to discuss here. |
Posts: 69,329
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07-27-2017, 02:03 PM | #4787 | |
You don't faze me, Gobble.
Join Date: Dec 2005
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Quote:
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Posts: 13,675
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07-27-2017, 02:08 PM | #4788 |
LEGEND!
Join Date: Feb 2013
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Per Jon Morosi
Add on Francisco Liriano: While #BlueJays talks with #Royals have progressed, other teams remain involved, sources say. @MLB @MLBNetwork |
Posts: 16,409
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07-27-2017, 02:09 PM | #4789 |
LEGEND!
Join Date: Feb 2013
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Per Joel Sherman
#Royals had been talking to #Bluejays about Marco Estrada and Francisco Liriano -- Liriano appears sole focus now |
Posts: 16,409
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07-27-2017, 02:12 PM | #4790 | |
Sauntering Vaguely Downwards
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, Mo
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Quote:
Yes, citing career averages for a 26 year old player is wildly disingenuous. Your welcome to shove your little pity party right up your ass. You were cherry picking and got called out for it; not my problem. |
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Posts: 60,810
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07-27-2017, 02:14 PM | #4791 | |
Sauntering Vaguely Downwards
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, Mo
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Quote:
Something went off the rails for him in June but the underlying skills are still there, IMO. If you guys could get him reasonably, I think that would be a nice pickup. He's just such an odd duck in how he approaches batters that he's a good fit in the middle of a rotation; like knuckleballers that screw hitters up for a game or so afterward. |
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Posts: 60,810
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07-27-2017, 02:16 PM | #4792 |
Forever Royal
Join Date: Mar 2012
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Liriano will cost us a game long before he helps us win one. This better not happen.
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Posts: 24,159
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07-27-2017, 02:48 PM | #4793 | |
M-I-Z-Z-O-U
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Kansas City
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Quote:
Oh ye of little faith. If they make the deal, Eiland signed off on it. He's been wildly successful in helping guys make small adjustments that drastically improve their effectiveness. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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Posts: 21,166
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07-27-2017, 03:27 PM | #4794 | |
Rabbi Goldmann
Join Date: Nov 2012
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Quote:
It is what it is I guess. |
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Posts: 87,025
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07-27-2017, 03:38 PM | #4795 | |
Sauntering Vaguely Downwards
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, Mo
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Quote:
His wRC+ numbers have gone up every single year of his career until this one, which is not even over yet; 2/3 of a season ain't a season, sport (and he's KILLED the ball for the last month; he could easily end up surpassing last year's figure by season's end). You picked a single stat which isn't even complete yet which otherwise completely vindicates my position and got your panties in a knot over it. Meanwhile, several other metrics absolutely demonstrate that he's improved as a hitter every year. And none of that speaks to the fact that you're using a career average for a guy who's clearly a far different hitter now than he was, which is bullshit and you knew it when you did it. You're either being disingenuous or you're just really bad at formulating cogent arguments. It is what it is, I guess. |
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Posts: 60,810
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07-27-2017, 03:43 PM | #4796 | |
Sauntering Vaguely Downwards
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, Mo
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Quote:
How does he just keep turning scrap heap guys into 2-3 WAR starters? Liriano included? Nova's bobbled a little here and there this year but for a guy who looked like he was on his way out of baseball after his arm injury to not only turn himself into a genuine FA target in the course of a few months but then outpitch the level he got paid at....it's just amazing. And Searage's track record of it is mind-boggling. I like Eiland, but doesn't he have just as many guys that have just kind meandered under his tutelage as he does success stories at SP? That's a genuine question - I haven't ever thought of him as the pitching whisperer that I think of with Searage. He just seems to connect with some guys, not with some others...like most pitching coaches really. It's just so hard to get a guy to fix his command mid-season. Liriano's has just fallen to shit - "throw strikes" isn't exactly a novel thing to teach and if Liriano isn't doing it now, can a pitching coach really fix that? |
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Posts: 60,810
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07-27-2017, 03:46 PM | #4797 |
Like I woke up in Wonderland..
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: KCMO
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Posts: 18,631
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07-27-2017, 03:50 PM | #4798 | |
Sauntering Vaguely Downwards
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, Mo
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Quote:
You get 10 stabs at Cleveland. For all intents and purposes, Kansas City does control its own destiny. |
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Posts: 60,810
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07-27-2017, 04:19 PM | #4799 |
Stay positive, don't give up
Join Date: Dec 2001
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@JonHeyman: duda will be going to the rays. @Joelsherman1 1st on it
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Posts: 46,187
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07-27-2017, 04:22 PM | #4800 |
Stay positive, don't give up
Join Date: Dec 2001
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@BHIndepMO: For those not watching MLBN: according to their panel, the Royals will "drown on the beach" trying to catch Cleveland. #fyi
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Posts: 46,187
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