The Royals

[Belvis Noland]

maybe, the pitchign would have to be pretty elite though.  our offense and defense is good enough to have a 500 team with average starting pitching.

we don't have any elite hitters.  Got to have a couple of those to get you into contention discussions.

In general, I agree with you.  But in this division this year, we've got the bats to be a contender.  we just don't have the starting arms.  If Greinke was still with the club or if we had a few more oscar Chenesque #3,4 type guys, I think this team would be relevant.  Just don't think we can expect much without Duffy and with guys like Mazzaro, Sanchez, Hochevar.  Who knows, maybe Hochevar will play like he did in his last start in Chicago.  We'll find out tomorrow night.   

[Cire]

even though it is frustrating you can't look that shortsighted in baseball. only the yankees but that has only been since the jeter era and even that started with their farm system.

[j-dub]

will be attending manana. 0-4 thus far. hoping this is one where i walk away smiling 

[kso_FAN]

will be attending manana. 0-4 thus far. hoping this is one where i walk away smiling 

You better not mess this up. I'm enjoying the Royals again.

[Belvis Noland]

even though it is frustrating you can't look that shortsighted in baseball. only the yankees but that has only been since the jeter era and even that started with their farm system.

Right, but we don't have any starting arms coming up from our farm system any time soon.  That's my problem.  Yeah, Odirrizi got promoted to AAA today.  So, maybe he'll be the answer.  nobody knows.     

Montgomery is our only other pitching prospect and he's not been good in AAA.  2011 (5.3ERA, 1.5 WHIP).  2012 (4.4ERA, 1.6WHIP). 

IMO, there's no question that an improved rotation for '13 depends upon a trade or free agency.  If that's the case, why not make the move this season?  Say we're teetering on .500 (3-3.5 GB) at the end of May, would it still be shortsighted to make a move?   

[WillieWatanabe]

even though it is frustrating you can't look that shortsighted in baseball. only the yankees but that has only been since the jeter era and even that started with their farm system.

Right, but we don't have any starting arms coming up from our farm system any time soon.  That's my problem.  Yeah, Odirrizi got promoted to AAA today.  So, maybe he'll be the answer.  nobody knows.     

Montgomery is our only other pitching prospect and he's not been good in AAA.  2011 (5.3ERA, 1.5 WHIP).  2012 (4.4ERA, 1.6WHIP). 

 

When is Lamb getting back from TJS? Thought it was this year sometime.

[Belvis Noland]

When is Lamb getting back from TJS? Thought it was this year sometime.

I thought it was supposed to be this spring.  I dunno.  But, in googling his progress, I came across this dude's article.  Somes up my position pretty effectively. 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1183458-kansas-city-royals-danny-duffy-injury-is-pivotal-point-in-franchises-future#

Starting pitching has always been the Achilles' heel for the Royals and this year is no different. However, in light of the injuries to Duffy and Lamb, the slow development of Mike Montgomery, Jake Odorizzi not quite being ready and the failed Luke Hochevar experiment—although Ned Yost and Dayton Moore will find every excuse in the books to defend it—if this organization legitimately desires to win during this window of opportunity then owner David Glass will need to open his wallet to attract quality free-agent pitchers to Kansas City.

oscar Chen and a handful of others have done a decent job, but this city deserves more than tip-toeing the south side of the mediocrity line. And with the injuries and the minor league arms not quite able to keep up with the bats and their arrival to Kansas City, it signals a different kind of panic than before.

Having systematically sprinkled the talented youth onto the big league roster over the last few seasons, it is now time for Moore to demand that ownership give him the green light to top it off with veterans who can anchor what is viewed to be the missing piece to the puzzle: the starting rotation.

If not, as a downtrodden fanbase began to see a tiny glimmer of the end of this cycle of futility, it is possible that it may just be entering the home stretch of how bad it could really get in Kansas City as it relates to baseball and the Royals.

[WillieWatanabe]

the article never said when. I'm fine with this offseason.

[nicname]

I think kk is being too critical and BN is being too optimistic.  IMO.

Maybe I am.  But, I'm not saying we should win the Division.  I just think we have the talent (sans pitching) to compete for the Division.  Cleveland is a decent club, but they're not great.  Yet, they're competing in the Division.  If we had another solid starting pitcher or two, I have no doubt that this team would be +.500 and, in this Division this year, that would be very competitive. 

   

I totally agree, and if KC can get a guy that they can lock up for a couple or three years then I'm all for it ASAP.  What I don't want, and I'm sure you'd agree, is giving up regulars and or prospects for an arm and then have him walk in the offseason.  The FA market will be pretty great this year though and KC has a ton of salary to work with. 

For us that have watched and hoped and sat through crappy Royals baseball, and heard them say they need this or that, or the young guys coming up are going to do this or that, we can tell it is different this time.  KC really has a core group of good young ballplayers that, with some pitching (I think it will take two prospects and two outside arms) can definitely be a playoff caliber team for the next 3-5 years. 

What I, and you I believe, don't want to see is these guys bleed off one-by-one and the front office do nothing while we continue to lose.

[joda]

Why make a trade for an ace when Paulino's turning into a strikeout machine?

#teamfelipeforace

[j-dub]

Why make a trade for an ace when Paulino's turning into a strikeout machine?

#teamfelipeforace

this. and bring back zack in the offseason. he didn't sell his house, the brew crew suck again, and if they convince him that he's the missing piece and get over the butthurt and tell country breakfast to be nice and crap...things could get interesting.

[j-dub]

will be attending manana. 0-4 thus far. hoping this is one where i walk away smiling 

You better not mess this up. I'm enjoying the Royals again.

  don't put this on me _FAN

[nicname]

Broxton is bad for my fingernails...and there is the tying run.

[nicname]

[j-dub]

should we lose tonight - it's on cartierfor3. 

[Cartierfor3]

should we lose tonight - it's on cartierfor3. 

[j-dub]

[/img]

should we lose tonight - it's on cartierfor3. 

puddy would've never left after the 7th inning. he would have supported the team. you sir, are the anti-puddy.

['taterblast]

has broxton had a 1-2-3 inning yet this season? serious question.

[Cartierfor3]

[/img]

should we lose tonight - it's on cartierfor3. 

puddy would've never left after the 7th inning. he would have supported the team. you sir, are the anti-puddy.

You're seriously lecturing me about fan loyalty?  How many of our friends would take their 2 year old and 8 month old to a game?








That's right, zero.  And you know I hate leaving, so just ease up pal. 

[joda]

Why make a trade for an ace when Paulino's turning into a strikeout machine?

#teamfelipeforace

this. and bring back zack in the offseason. he didn't sell his house, the brew crew suck again, and if they convince him that he's the missing piece and get over the butthurt and tell country breakfast to be nice and crap...things could get interesting.

Would be amazing if Glass would open up the checkbook and get Greinke.

Greinke
Paulino
Odorrazi
one of Montgomery/Verdugo/Lamb
Chen/Hoch

actually looks like a respectable ML rotation. If Odorrazi isn't ready to go or none of the other prospects step up then send a couple of prospects not named Myers or Odorrazi for a 2/3 type. Don't really expect Glass to do it though.

[j-dub]

Why make a trade for an ace when Paulino's turning into a strikeout machine?

#teamfelipeforace

this. and bring back zack in the offseason. he didn't sell his house, the brew crew suck again, and if they convince him that he's the missing piece and get over the butthurt and tell country breakfast to be nice and crap...things could get interesting.

Would be amazing if Glass would open up the checkbook and get Greinke.

Greinke
Paulino
Odorrazi
one of Montgomery/Verdugo/Lamb
Chen/Hoch

actually looks like a respectable ML rotation. If Odorrazi isn't ready to go or none of the other prospects step up then send a couple of prospects not named Myers or Odorrazi for a 2/3 type. Don't really expect Glass to do it though.

this is my dream:

Grienke
Duffy
Paulino
Chen
Odorizzi/Montgomery/Not Hoch

it's not really my dream. but it would be a viable staff.

[Cartierfor3]

The Royals might resign Greinke............................yeah, and monkeys might fly out of my butt

[j-dub]

The Royals might resign Greinke............................yeah, and monkeys might fly out of my butt

yeah.. and florida state might join the Big XII........oh wait!!

grienke back in kc in 2013 is a lock. mark it down. mark it the eff down.

[nicname]

The Royals might resign Greinke............................yeah, and monkeys might fly out of my butt

yeah.. and florida state might join the Big XII........oh wait!!

grienke back in kc in 2013 is a lock. mark it down. mark it the eff down.

Would be glorious.

[Cartierfor3]

Greinke is Gottlieb.  Dayton Moore is Currie.