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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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09-03-2017, 10:47 PM | #6286 |
Rabbi Goldmann
Join Date: Nov 2012
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Has any team ever won a series with a -15 run differential?
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Posts: 87,025
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09-03-2017, 10:49 PM |
Prison Bitch |
This message has been deleted by Prison Bitch.
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09-03-2017, 10:50 PM |
Prison Bitch |
This message has been deleted by Prison Bitch.
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09-03-2017, 11:16 PM | #6287 |
...
Join Date: Nov 2001
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Now we play the Tigers. This happened today. I'm not sure I've ever seen someone do this before.
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09-03-2017, 11:38 PM | #6288 | |
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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09-04-2017, 06:10 AM | #6289 |
M-I-Z-Z-O-U
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Kansas City
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Posts: 21,140
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09-04-2017, 07:13 AM | #6290 |
Stay positive, don't give up
Join Date: Dec 2001
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Do the Royals retaliate from the rondon incident?
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Posts: 46,185
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09-04-2017, 08:02 AM | #6291 |
Mahomes Fanboi
Join Date: Apr 2004
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Posts: 19,483
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09-04-2017, 03:49 PM | #6292 |
Rabbi Goldmann
Join Date: Nov 2012
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The Zack Greinke trade was one of the best prospect packages in recent history
18 Cain, Escobar, and Odorizzi proved to be a massive haul I went back and looked at all trades of established players for prospects from 2000-2014.... I examined the values for the young players in the seasons before they would have become eligible for free agency or were released, and did not include the values of any veterans included in the deal. I gave no consideration to if a prospect was later traded, or what they were traded for. I gave no consideration to what was given up. I simply wanted to know how much value a team got from its package of prospects had they kept all of them through their reserve years. Here are the top ten prospect hauls from trades since 2000. https://www.royalsreview.com/2017/8/...-last-15-years |
Posts: 87,025
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09-04-2017, 06:47 PM | #6293 |
Damnit Peg
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Overland Park
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Is Ashe Russell still cashing a paycheck from the Royals?
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Posts: 23,321
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09-04-2017, 07:08 PM | #6294 | |
MVP
Join Date: Feb 2013
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Quote:
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09-04-2017, 07:48 PM | #6295 |
M-I-Z-Z-O-U
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Kansas City
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He's not playing, so he likely isn't drawing any money from the Royals at this point (though what minor league players are paid is a pittance, anyway. I spend more/month to send two kids to daycare). If he's drawing any salary at all, it would be as part of an agreement to how his bonus would be distributed. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
Posts: 21,140
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09-04-2017, 08:57 PM | #6296 | |
Rabbi Goldmann
Join Date: Nov 2012
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Quote:
When we made the Greinke deal I didn't like it, because I read we were offered Zimmerman and Storen which were MLB ready (and MLB caliber) pitchers. I liked Alcides since he was like #12 prospect overall and SS is hard to fill, plus Betancoirt was awful. But the rest, meh. I also suspected Ned talked him into taking Milwaukee guys. Which as t turned out, was the case. And which was a stroke of genius. Ned NEVER gets credit for that. |
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09-04-2017, 08:59 PM | #6297 |
LEGEND!
Join Date: Feb 2013
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2.5 GB Bitches!!
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09-04-2017, 09:25 PM | #6298 |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: L.A.
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Hasn't been a good couple days for Mahtook.
Last edited by suzzer99; 09-04-2017 at 10:27 PM.. |
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09-04-2017, 10:02 PM | #6299 | |
World's Best Boss
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bronco Country
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Quote:
This is true. I can not confirm or deny this. Ding, ding, ding! Out of all the Cy Young and MVP awards between these gentleman, none of them have accomplished what the Royals did in 2015. It really puts that achievement in perspective, and it still is ming boggling to me how many incredible players have not made it to the promised land, though I wouldn't be surprised if one of those gentleman win the damn thing this year. |
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Posts: 18,353
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09-04-2017, 10:24 PM | #6300 |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Kansas
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I started to get hopeful and then made the mistake of checking the schedule. Basically the Royals need to go 19-7 to get to 87 wins which should be enough for the 2nd WC. The main problem(ignoring the fact that our pitching kinda blows), is that we have 8 games later in the month @Cle, @Tor and @NYY. Even if we go 5-3(extremely ambitious), that gives us 4 games to lose the rest of the way. Tigers and CWS suck, but they're still division teams. Hell, with no Cabrera and some rookie on the mound we still almost blew that game. Plus we end with 3 against the hottest team west of Cleveland, the Dbacks. Our saving grace there is that AZ will have locked up the top WC spot at that point so that probably means a day or two off for Goldy, Martinez, Lamb and no Grienke or Robbie Ray. Tough row to hoe any way you slice it. But we get meaningful baseball for at least another week.
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