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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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08-07-2017, 08:12 PM | #5491 |
LEGEND!
Join Date: Feb 2013
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Gordon and Kennedy is one reason why you shouldn't give big money contracts
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08-07-2017, 08:24 PM | #5492 |
Damnit Peg
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Overland Park
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Also NEVER make a trade with the San Diego Padres.. Buchter, Maurer and the other guy are used to losing.
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Posts: 23,323
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08-07-2017, 08:38 PM | #5493 |
LEGEND!
Join Date: Feb 2013
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Like I said before and people get mad when I say it but we are a .500 team. That is a fact
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Posts: 16,409
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08-07-2017, 09:30 PM | #5494 | |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Kansas
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Quote:
You're not making the playoffs trotting out Alex Gordon every night and having to pitch 0fer home starts boy, The 5 inning wonder, and chumphill 3x per week. But Gordon is a Royals legend and other than more starts for Junis(this should happen), what can Ned do? Enjoy the probable last ride of some of these guys, watch Moose break the HR record and hope they at least kick around until NFL starts. Anything else is a major cherry on top with this team. |
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08-07-2017, 09:36 PM | #5495 |
World's Best Boss
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bronco Country
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Posts: 18,353
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08-07-2017, 09:39 PM | #5496 |
LEGEND!
Join Date: Feb 2013
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If you can re sign both of them to reasonable contracts than yes. They aren't old like Gordon is. Hos and Moose are still fairly young. Plus Hos hasn't had any injury concerns. Moose had one last year but as we well know he has recovered from that. I don't think Gordon ever recovered from his
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Posts: 16,409
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08-08-2017, 07:02 AM | #5497 |
MVP
Join Date: Feb 2013
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Watching him run to first last night made me not so sure. He's run like that on routine infield ground balls for a while which is no big deal. The play last night he could have easily made it to first but he still was on a slow jog and barely made it.
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08-08-2017, 07:21 AM | #5498 |
Rabbi Goldmann
Join Date: Nov 2012
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I'll wait patiently for Duncan to come back and tell me again how wrong I was on Kennedy.
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08-08-2017, 07:40 AM | #5499 |
World's Best Boss
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bronco Country
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08-08-2017, 07:43 AM | #5500 | |
M-I-Z-Z-O-U
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Kansas City
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Quote:
Halfway through Meche's contract, he was a rousing success. He was a workhorse starter posting above-league-average results, and with an ERA of 3.74 through 82 starts. Then the complete game shutout disaster happened. After being allowed to throw 132 pitches to chase the shutout, and not properly rested/treated after, Meche ruined his arm. That's on Trey Hillman and BoB McClure (the pitching coach at time). After Hillman Dusty Baker-ed him, Meche made just 18 more starts, to the tune of an ERA nearing 7. Calling the Meche contract a bad one isn't accurate. Moore and his staff nailed the eval and the contract was well on its way to being a huge success (especially when adding in the positive influence Meche had on Greinke's development). Kennedy isn't an ace, and he's been more uneven than the Royals need him to be this year. But he had a very good 2016 season and has a lot of starts left to go on this contract (though if he closes strong, there's a decent chance he opts out, so it may be less than we think). Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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08-08-2017, 07:49 AM | #5501 | |
M-I-Z-Z-O-U
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Kansas City
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Quote:
And I'll wait patiently for you to run back to the assessment of Kennedy you've been determined to make since last season. And know that even if he ends up closing 2017 with good overall numbers, you'll run right back to it at the first chance in 2018. As I just said, he's been more uneven this year than they need him to be. Lot of time left this season and on his contract (which could very well end up being a bad thing). He wasn't good last night, and his defense didn't bail him out when he made a pitch that should have largely neutralized the big inning and limited it to a one-run inning. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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08-08-2017, 07:49 AM | #5502 |
Forever Royal
Join Date: Mar 2012
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Just quit with the trolling. There are probably dozens of posts in this very thread were you are saying "we are making the playoffs" or "I was right we are going for it and are winning the division." And those were when we were in worst position than now. So now we are just a .500 team and every post in game threads from you is doom and gloom. You are purposely posting the opposite of a large consensus just get reactions. Pretty much the definition of trolling.
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08-08-2017, 07:51 AM | #5503 |
Scarlett Johansson's boytoy
Join Date: Nov 2006
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08-08-2017, 07:59 AM | #5504 |
MVP
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Joplin, MO
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Kennedy is owed $49M in '18-20, if he opts out he gets $6M. Can the Royals increase the buyout? How much would it take to get him to accept? $15M? Would $20M do it?
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08-08-2017, 08:24 AM | #5505 |
You don't faze me, Gobble.
Join Date: Dec 2005
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