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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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09-27-2017, 09:24 PM | #6826 |
LEGEND!
Join Date: Feb 2013
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God Paulo been playing all season long I guarantee we would be at least in the wild card game
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Posts: 16,409
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09-27-2017, 09:25 PM | #6827 |
Damnit Peg
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Overland Park
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That PadrAIDS trade has been a HUGE bust.
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Posts: 23,335
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09-27-2017, 10:25 PM | #6828 |
Let's Get Weird
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Austin
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Anyone going to be out at The K again before the season ends?
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Posts: 15,229
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09-28-2017, 02:26 AM | #6829 |
M-I-Z-Z-O-U
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Kansas City
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I went tonight. Nice night at the park, though the wind in our face in section 230 made me wish I'd brought a little heavier coat.
Really bittersweet. Sad I didn't get to see Cain one more time in person, though Orlando did his best LoCain impersonation on that gapped in RCF. Picked up some sort of food poisoning along the way and have a two-year who doesn't want to sleep tonight. Night took a bad turn at the end. Lol. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
Posts: 21,166
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09-28-2017, 04:55 AM | #6830 |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: San Antonio Tx.
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Posts: 66,914
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09-28-2017, 06:20 AM | #6831 |
War Eagle !!!
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Mobile, AL 36608
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Posts: 2,178
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09-28-2017, 06:29 AM | #6832 | |
War Eagle !!!
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Mobile, AL 36608
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Quote:
Here was the starting lineup on April 15 which I picked at random; LF Gordon, Avg .205 3B Moose, Avg .293 CF Cain, Avg .378 1B Hosmer, Avg .190 C Perez, Avg .268 DH Moss, Avg .103 RF Orlando, Avg .143 SS Escobar, Avg .189 2B Mondesi, Avg .125 Notice there are six players batting around .200 or a lot less. This was consistent for the whole month. I don't think having the cyborgs during April would have mattered. How can any team have six starting not able to hit the ball and expect to win? It's amazing the Royals won seven games in April. |
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09-28-2017, 06:54 AM | #6833 |
#RIPAce
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: So Cal
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Posts: 17,329
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09-28-2017, 07:04 AM | #6834 |
Rabbi Goldmann
Join Date: Nov 2012
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Went last night. Dogs were as tasty as ever.
Sept evening baseball is great. |
Posts: 87,025
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09-28-2017, 07:25 AM | #6835 |
Stroking to the SB Champs!
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Flatlands of Kansas
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I'm trying to go Sunday, if I can. Gonna be difficult, but gonna give it a try.
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Posts: 39,381
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09-28-2017, 08:15 AM | #6836 |
Custom User Title
Join Date: Jan 2007
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Going Friday and Sunday
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk |
Posts: 39,190
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09-28-2017, 08:52 AM | #6837 |
Wasted away again...
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: in Margaritaville
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We will be out there Sunday.
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Posts: 51,179
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09-28-2017, 09:09 AM | #6838 |
21st Century Schizoid Fan
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: The Gates of Delirium
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I don't think the season was lost in April. They rebounded to play .600 baseball in June and July. On the morning of July 31 they were seven games over .500, with a 2.5-game lead over Tampa for the second wild card, a 3.5-game lead over Seattle and a 5-game lead over Minnesota; they were a half-game behind Boston for the first wild card. They were sitting pretty.
What April did, though, was reduce their margin for error the rest of the way. They couldn't afford to go cold again. They had to keep playing .500 or better. And of course, they didn't. They had another horrible cold spell in August, playing .357 baseball, which wiped out all their gains. Had they played around .500 in April, and then gotten hot in June and July, they would've built a big enough cushion to withstand August. Six of one, half a dozen of the other -- they couldn't afford two shitty months, whenever they occurred. Either get off to a better start, or don't slump in August. |
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09-28-2017, 09:24 AM | #6839 |
Rabbi Goldmann
Join Date: Nov 2012
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The season was lost week 1 of Aug.
Got swept in BALT then got swept in 4 by the Redbirds 0-7 stretch ended the season. We just didn't know it. |
Posts: 87,025
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09-28-2017, 10:13 AM | #6840 |
El Gato Gordo Loco
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Earth
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Melky Cabrera 0.1 WAR
Alex Gordon 0.6 WAR Jorge Bonifacio 0.3 WAR Lorenzo Cain 5.0 WAR We are going to miss that sum bitz |
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