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Nzoner's Game Room>*** Official 2017 Royals Repository ***
Chiefspants 10:55 AM 04-05-2017
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!

[Reply]
KChiefs1 08:34 AM 07-03-2017
https://www.royalsreview.com/2017/7/...-holland-davis






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[Reply]
Chiefspants 08:35 AM 07-03-2017
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
There's no "helped" about it. The Royals 2015 team squashed the Blue Jays' last real chance.

The Blue Jays, Angels, and Orioles all missed their windows because of the Royals 14 and 15 run.


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Possibly the Mets' window too. About half of that roster has been rotating through the DL since the 2015 WS and Harvey's shoulder is looking dangerously close to Johan Santana: Mets edition.

Probably not the best idea for the Mets to launch a mandatory strength training and intense mass building program for athletes being stretched over a 162 game season, eh?
[Reply]
TomBarndtsTwin 08:42 AM 07-03-2017
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
There's no "helped" about it. The Royals 2015 team squashed the Blue Jays' last real chance.

The Blue Jays, Angels, and Orioles all missed their windows because of the Royals 14 and 15 run.


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I agree, to a point.

I mean, the Blue Jays did make it back to the ALCS last year. Of course, they were promptly bitch slapped by the Indians and put in their place.

But, yes, 2015 was their best team and their best chance.
[Reply]
Al Bundy 09:17 AM 07-03-2017
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
There's no "helped" about it. The Royals 2015 team squashed the Blue Jays' last real chance.

The Blue Jays, Angels, and Orioles all missed their windows because of the Royals 14 and 15 run.


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And I couldn't be happier about it.....
[Reply]
Prison Bitch 09:34 AM 07-03-2017
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
There's no "helped" about it. The Royals 2015 team squashed the Blue Jays' last real chance.

The Blue Jays, Angels, and Orioles all missed their windows because of the Royals 14 and 15 run.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
In the Os case, injuries did that too. Maybe even more so. We did sweep them but the 4 games were decided by only 6 runs.


They were missing Machado, Chris Davis, and Weiters. That's a lotta beef taken out of a lineup
[Reply]
Prison Bitch 12:38 PM 07-03-2017
Foster Griffin on Futures Game roster. Age 21, former 1st founder. is 6-1 at AA with 2.08 era
[Reply]
duncan_idaho 12:40 PM 07-03-2017
Originally Posted by Prison Bitch:
In the Os case, injuries did that too. Maybe even more so. We did sweep them but the 4 games were decided by only 6 runs.





They were missing Machado, Chris Davis, and Weiters. That's a lotta beef taken out of a lineup

Yeah, that didn't help them, and Duffy being out didn't help KC. Not the same level of effect, but ... man, imagine if Duffy got all of Guthrie's starts...

Fun what-ifs, but they still thought they were way superior without those guys... and we're not.


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[Reply]
penbrook 01:30 PM 07-03-2017
So far it looks like it's gonna come down to Moose and Bogaerts. Moose has the Midwest and from LA down to San Diego covered by Xander has roughly 40% of the Canadians vote while Moose only has 10%
[Reply]
penbrook 01:32 PM 07-03-2017
The Jason Vargas vs Felix Hernandez matchup should be fun
[Reply]
Chiefspants 02:04 PM 07-03-2017
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
Yeah, that didn't help them, and Duffy being out didn't help KC. Not the same level of effect, but ... man, imagine if Duffy got all of Guthrie's starts...

Fun what-ifs, but they still thought they were way superior without those guys... and we're not.


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It also would have been nice if Hoch could have returned in the latter part of 14. I realize his injury was the reason that Davis stepped into the bullpen... buuuuuut.

Having Hoch as added depth to the bullpen and as a person who could have stepped in for Brandon Finnegan in the ALCS and WS was really fun to think about.

While 14' was known for the borgs, 15 had the BP depth, and it's what carried them to a title.
[Reply]
jettio 02:13 PM 07-03-2017
What ever happened to a player having to have a good year or two prior to supplant somebody with some career accomplishments?

Smoak is in his 8th year, on his 1st free agent contract and is paid $4,000,000+ this year and signed for next year for same amount.

Hosmer is in his 7th year, never been a free agent and is paid $12,000,000+ this year. His pay next year will probably be at least 5 times greater than Smoak.

It is unusual for a guy to be elected to start in his first all-star caliber year. But I guess he is the only Blue Jay going to Miami.
[Reply]
penbrook 02:17 PM 07-03-2017
Originally Posted by jettio:
What ever happened to a player having to have a good year or two prior to supplant somebody with some career accomplishments?

Smoak is in his 8th year, on his 1st free agent contract and is paid $4,000,000+ this year and signed for next year for same amount.

Hosmer is in his 7th year, never been a free agent and is paid $12,000,000+ this year. His pay next year will probably be at least 5 times greater than Smoak.

It is unusual for a guy to be elected to start in his first all-star caliber year. But I guess he is the only Blue Jay going to Miami.
His numbers are also a reason why he's going to the All Star game. The reason why Yander Alonzo made it instead of Hosmer is because the A's didn't havnt a representative
[Reply]
TomBarndtsTwin 02:40 PM 07-03-2017
Meh.

Alonzo and Smoak are both probably having better overall years than Hoz. Had Hoz not had such a dogshit April, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

The fans elected Smoak. The players picked Alonzo. It is what it is.
[Reply]
penbrook 02:59 PM 07-03-2017
Strahm 60 day DL. Skoglund to AAA. Alberquerque called up
[Reply]
BWillie 03:22 PM 07-03-2017
Originally Posted by penbrook:
Strahm 60 day DL. Skoglund to AAA. Alberquerque called up
Alb has got to be better than Feliz. Feliz has had good results but has been walking on thin ice. Seems like a guy that could come in and walk the bases loaded very easily.
[Reply]
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