Proposed 2013 Slogan: Tigers: They're what's for dinner Actual 2013 Slogan: Come to Play A better, more accurate, or alternative slogan: All in, no panic, we promise.
Dayton Moore has pushed all his chips in and is riding on King/Jack suited, hoping it comes together, he gets some good luck, and he hits the nuts by the river card. There's potential, oh yes, there's potential. There's also risk.
At the midway point, Dayton is left counting on the river card. The flop and turn didn't help him, and he's looking at the Tigers holding a pair of Queens and the Indians holding a pair of 9s. His 2013 plan hasn't failed - yet - but the odds are not in his favor.
Burning questions updates below.
Burning Questions for 2013:
1) Will the improve rotation be improved enough? Does James Shields pitch like a fringe No. 1 away from Tampa Bay? Does Ervin Santana pitch to his highest upside in his walk year? Can Jeremy Guthrie build on his strong performance as a Royal in 2012? Can Wade Davis bring his new mentality- and velocity - back to the rotation?
Midseason check-in: Yes, the rotation is certainly improved enough. Shields has pitched like a fringe No. 1 and Santana is having his best season. Guthrie has horrible peripherals but has continued to perform well at his home park and eat innings on the road. Davis brought neither his kick-ass mentality or improved velocity back to the rotation and is in Luke Hochevar/Hiram Davies territory.
2) When will Luke Hochevar be shown the door? Midseason check-in: It appears, never, at this point. Hochevar has been solid in non-leverage situations, though pretty much every time he has been used with men on base in an inning, it has been a disaster.
3) Does Hosmer bounce back? Midseason check-in: It took some time, but Hosmer's performance from June 1 on is probably the most encouraging thing about the 2013 season so far.
4) Can Moustakas hit for a whole season like he did in the first half of 2012? Midseason check-in: Nope. Moustakas was god-awful, then great for about 3 weeks, then god-awful again. He has been better since he started working with Brett and Grafol but still has a long way to go.
5) Who regresses? Midseason check-in: Welp, Alicides Escobar is not a surprising name here (though Yost's stubborn insistence on hitting him second is ridiculous). Billy Butler is a surprise. He isn't having a terrible year - still contributing a lot to the offense - but he's not hitting for the average or power he has displayed over the past several years.
6) Who plays 2B? Midseason check-in: A whole bunch of people, and not that great. Gio is at least getting a shot, though he once again is not doing much with it.
7) Can Jeff Francoeur be at least replacement level, rather than epic horrible level? Midseason check-in: Hahahahahahahahahahaha
8) Will Dayton Moore survive to see 2014? Midseason check-in: Outlook uncertain. Probably still around, unless the team completely tanks in the second half and he does something foolish. My guess - he sacrifices Ned Yost this offseason and gets one more shot with a new manager in 2014.
9) Will Danny Duffy come back healthy? And if he does, is he the same, better or worse? Midseason check-in: Yes. Velocity looks the same, and it looks likely he is the same guy as before.
10) And the big one: Has KC added enough to run down the big-money Detroit Tigers? Midseason check-in: Doesn't look like it, does it? [Reply]
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
Franklin was, frankly, horrible, after his first two months in the major leagues last year. From August 1 on, he posted a .174/.274/.264 slash line.
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
I don't get the Nick Franklin love, gang.
Look, I'm a prospect guy. I love minor league baseball and read prospect stuff fervently.
Even if the Royals were staring at a 90-loss season and Butler was a FA after this year, I'd be underwhelmed by a straight swap of Butler for Nick Franklin.
Franklin was, frankly, horrible, after his first two months in the major leagues last year. From August 1 on, he posted a .174/.274/.264 slash line.
I'm an advocate of being patient with young hitters, but if you're trading your best and most established hitter, in a season in which you're trying to contend, you can't add a piece that is still under development and might not be ready to contribute at the MLB level.
I'm interested in taking a flyer on Franklin. I don't see how Butler is fair value for him, though -- an established hitter vs. a one-year guy who struggled, and who wasn't a top 10 prospect to begin with.
Now, if the M's are willing to accept bullpen arm(s) and surplus OFs, let's talk. [Reply]
Originally Posted by siberian khatru:
I'm interested in taking a flyer on Franklin. I don't see how Butler is fair value for him, though -- an established hitter vs. a one-year guy who struggled, and who wasn't a top 10 prospect to begin with.
Now, if the M's are willing to accept bullpen arm(s) and surplus OFs, let's talk.
Yeah. Franklin was a solid top 75-type guy entering last season, but his performance at the MLB level was disappointing. That prospect status was also based on him playing SS.
He's a good fit for KC and offers more upside than any other options, but not at the price of Billy Butler. [Reply]
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
Yeah. Franklin was a solid top 75-type guy entering last season, but his performance at the MLB level was disappointing. That prospect status was also based on him playing SS.
He's a good fit for KC and offers more upside than any other options, but not at the price of Billy Butler.
Would you trade Cain for Franklin? M's OF defense was atrocious last year, might they be interested in him? [Reply]
Originally Posted by siberian khatru:
Would you trade Cain for Franklin? M's OF defense was atrocious last year, might they be interested in him?
Who plays CF for KC if Aoki walks after this season? That's my biggest hesitation there.
Starling is a long ways away. Brett Eibner showed some promise last season but still needs to back that up with a solid year at Omaha. And his K rate remains an issue.
I don't think they can afford to trade Cain... unless they get back a player who CAN play CF. [Reply]
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
Who plays CF for KC if Aoki walks after this season? That's my biggest hesitation there.
Starling is a long ways away. Brett Eibner showed some promise last season but still needs to back that up with a solid year at Omaha. And his K rate remains an issue.
I don't think they can afford to trade Cain... unless they get back a player who CAN play CF.
Dyson. Yeah, he's a downgrade defensively, but so would most anyone else.
Thing about Cain is he's been a disappointment as a hitter, and I worry that his injuries may begin to sap his defense. And if his glove is less than stellar, how valuable is he? [Reply]
Duffy and Ventura aren't going anywhere because their value to cost is so high. Kendrick is a 4 war guy but he also costs 10M. The cost of 1 war is 5m or so therefore anything above 2 for either pitcher this year washes away Kendrick's advantage.
Plus Shields is gone after this year so we need to plug that hole for 2015 [Reply]
Originally Posted by siberian khatru:
Dyson. Yeah, he's a downgrade defensively, but so would most anyone else.
Thing about Cain is he's been a disappointment as a hitter, and I worry that his injuries may begin to sap his defense. And if his glove is less than stellar, how valuable is he?
You have to platoon Dyson ... play him everyday, and he's going to get exposed, severely. IMO.
Just would hate to get caught in that spot again. CF is such a critical spot for a good defensive club. [Reply]
