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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]
C3HIEF3S 11:30 PM 04-21-2017
Stellar, you two.

[Reply]
Chiefspants 11:50 PM 04-21-2017
Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S:
Stellar, you two.
Ha. Eat it, Valencia!
[Reply]
C3HIEF3S 11:59 PM 04-21-2017
Originally Posted by Chiefspants:
Ha. Eat it, Valencia!
That's as far down as that list (qualified batters) goes, I have the data ordered by WAR. Just look at some of those names, V-Mart, Pujols, Mauer, Bautista, CarGo...

Time sure is a bitch.
[Reply]
Chiefspants 12:04 AM 04-22-2017
Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S:
That's as far down as that list (qualified batters) goes, I have the data ordered by WAR. Just look at some of those names, V-Mart, Pujols, Mauer, Bautista, CarGo...

Time sure is a bitch.
It's both eye-opening and makes me somewhat hopeful that Hos or Gordo can bounce back in a huge way.

Granderson, Abreu and Fowler are all there too. That's pretty incredible, and makes me wonder if Cards fans are starting to sweat that signing.
[Reply]
mr. tegu 03:39 AM 04-22-2017
Last season it seemed we were always playing at .500 or trying to get back to .500. We really could use a nice winning streak before we far much further back so that we aren't constantly playing catch up in the standings.
[Reply]
Unsmooth-Moment 05:14 AM 04-22-2017
I'm good with one more run, but we do not need to be floating around .500 at the deadline. We need to be up and have a high likelihood of a playoff spot or we need to sell. I still want to resign moose and cain, but we have got to get something for these guys if we aren't going to.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
[Reply]
Deberg_1990 07:38 AM 04-22-2017
Other than playoffs, have Moose and Hosmer ever lived up to their alleged 'star' status?
[Reply]
Halfcan 09:32 AM 04-22-2017
Originally Posted by Chiefspants:
It's both eye-opening and makes me somewhat hopeful that Hos or Gordo can bounce back in a huge way.

Granderson, Abreu and Fowler are all there too. That's pretty incredible, and makes me wonder if Cards fans are starting to sweat that signing.
The batting coach should be fired for letting these guys swing like they have been.

Watched the game last night- Gordo swinging wild at anything and Hos was swinging at chest-high fastballs. Salvy swung at a first pitch in the dirt for a tapper back to the pitcher. It was brutal.

This might be the worst hitting team in recent Royals history. No patience at all at the plate.
[Reply]
kstater 09:58 AM 04-22-2017
Originally Posted by Deberg_1990:
Other than playoffs, have Moose and Hosmer ever lived up to their alleged 'star' status?
Other than landing on the moon, did Neil Armstrong ever amount to anything?

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk
[Reply]
Prison Bitch 10:16 AM 04-22-2017
Originally Posted by kstater:
Other than landing on the moon, did Neil Armstrong ever amount to anything?

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk
Well-played. Rep.
[Reply]
Prison Bitch 10:19 AM 04-22-2017
Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S:
That's as far down as that list (qualified batters) goes, I have the data ordered by WAR. Just look at some of those names, V-Mart, Pujols, Mauer, Bautista, CarGo...

Time sure is a bitch.
Yes, it is: http://work.chiefsplanet.com/bb/show...postcount=1401
[Reply]
KChiefs1 10:37 AM 04-22-2017
Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S:
Stellar, you two.


There's a lot of wasted money on that list.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
[Reply]
lewdog 11:18 AM 04-22-2017
Originally Posted by Deberg_1990:
Other than playoffs, have Moose and Hosmer ever lived up to their alleged 'star' status?
I'm not sure anyone outside of KC sees either of them as "stars." When KC won the WS, I think most people were surprised because this team didn't have a superstar.
[Reply]
WilliamTheIrish 12:15 PM 04-22-2017
Originally Posted by Deberg_1990:
Other than playoffs, have Moose and Hosmer ever lived up to their alleged 'star' status?
Somebody just beat elusiveduecedropper and #petethingz in the "I'm going over the top with the most incredible stupid comment in this thread" contest.

Way to take the lead. It will be fun reading this. It's like reading version of the "ketchup, mustard, relish" races.

Somebody will stretch for the tape soon.
[Reply]
WilliamTheIrish 12:16 PM 04-22-2017
Originally Posted by kstater:
Other than landing on the moon, did Neil Armstrong ever amount to anything?

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk
:-)

Knew I should have read just a little more.
[Reply]
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