Comments on: Royals Enter the New Year http://kingsofkauffman.com/2012/01/05/royals-enter-the-new-year/ A Kansas City Royals Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More Thu, 29 Nov 2012 02:29:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: jim fetterolf http://kingsofkauffman.com/2012/01/05/royals-enter-the-new-year/#comment-2019886 jim fetterolf Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:54:57 +0000 http://kingsofkauffman.com/?p=11695#comment-2019886 @michael.allen.engel I expect Chen to repeat, but seven more weeks last year and he's a 16 game winner. Melky and Gordon didn't do anything beyond their talent levels, so in similar situations should post similar years. I think Gordon walks more this year because he doesn't have Melky behind him and strikes out less, taking fewer called third strikes. I don't see Maier making a three man bench, so that leaves Dyson. If Cain fails, maybe David Lough gets a shot, but Dyson's bat improved over the season in Omaha, so hit the ball on the ground to the left-side and run like hell. Don't consider Gio a bust, rather think he needs to perform offensively and defensively as a major-league average 2B for the Royals to compete. We can afford Esky hitting .250 with his defense, we can't afford Esky's bat plus Gio's 2011 bat. Gio has the easier chance to be an upgrade over the previous player, Cain a tougher chance. The rest of the team is set and fairly predictable, even Perez; ace defender, likely a .270 BA hitter with power, a significant upgrade over Matt Treanor. If Cain and Gio can just put up .320 OBPs, we have one of the best offenses in the game. @michael.allen.engel I expect Chen to repeat, but seven more weeks last year and he’s a 16 game winner. Melky and Gordon didn’t do anything beyond their talent levels, so in similar situations should post similar years. I think Gordon walks more this year because he doesn’t have Melky behind him and strikes out less, taking fewer called third strikes. I don’t see Maier making a three man bench, so that leaves Dyson. If Cain fails, maybe David Lough gets a shot, but Dyson’s bat improved over the season in Omaha, so hit the ball on the ground to the left-side and run like hell. Don’t consider Gio a bust, rather think he needs to perform offensively and defensively as a major-league average 2B for the Royals to compete. We can afford Esky hitting .250 with his defense, we can’t afford Esky’s bat plus Gio’s 2011 bat. Gio has the easier chance to be an upgrade over the previous player, Cain a tougher chance. The rest of the team is set and fairly predictable, even Perez; ace defender, likely a .270 BA hitter with power, a significant upgrade over Matt Treanor. If Cain and Gio can just put up .320 OBPs, we have one of the best offenses in the game.

]]> By: jim fetterolf http://kingsofkauffman.com/2012/01/05/royals-enter-the-new-year/#comment-5798 jim fetterolf Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:54:57 +0000 http://kingsofkauffman.com/?p=11695#comment-5798 @michael.allen.engel I expect Chen to repeat, but seven more weeks last year and he's a 16 game winner. Melky and Gordon didn't do anything beyond their talent levels, so in similar situations should post similar years. I think Gordon walks more this year because he doesn't have Melky behind him and strikes out less, taking fewer called third strikes. I don't see Maier making a three man bench, so that leaves Dyson. If Cain fails, maybe David Lough gets a shot, but Dyson's bat improved over the season in Omaha, so hit the ball on the ground to the left-side and run like hell. Don't consider Gio a bust, rather think he needs to perform offensively and defensively as a major-league average 2B for the Royals to compete. We can afford Esky hitting .250 with his defense, we can't afford Esky's bat plus Gio's 2011 bat. Gio has the easier chance to be an upgrade over the previous player, Cain a tougher chance. The rest of the team is set and fairly predictable, even Perez; ace defender, likely a .270 BA hitter with power, a significant upgrade over Matt Treanor. If Cain and Gio can just put up .320 OBPs, we have one of the best offenses in the game. @michael.allen.engel I expect Chen to repeat, but seven more weeks last year and he’s a 16 game winner. Melky and Gordon didn’t do anything beyond their talent levels, so in similar situations should post similar years. I think Gordon walks more this year because he doesn’t have Melky behind him and strikes out less, taking fewer called third strikes. I don’t see Maier making a three man bench, so that leaves Dyson. If Cain fails, maybe David Lough gets a shot, but Dyson’s bat improved over the season in Omaha, so hit the ball on the ground to the left-side and run like hell. Don’t consider Gio a bust, rather think he needs to perform offensively and defensively as a major-league average 2B for the Royals to compete. We can afford Esky hitting .250 with his defense, we can’t afford Esky’s bat plus Gio’s 2011 bat. Gio has the easier chance to be an upgrade over the previous player, Cain a tougher chance. The rest of the team is set and fairly predictable, even Perez; ace defender, likely a .270 BA hitter with power, a significant upgrade over Matt Treanor. If Cain and Gio can just put up .320 OBPs, we have one of the best offenses in the game.

]]> By: michael.allen.engel http://kingsofkauffman.com/2012/01/05/royals-enter-the-new-year/#comment-2019885 michael.allen.engel Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:47:33 +0000 http://kingsofkauffman.com/?p=11695#comment-2019885 @jim fetterolf I think I agree on the Duffy part but I think a healthy Chen contributes pretty much what he did last year. But I'd be hesitant to think that Melky would have repeated or come that close to his 2011 numbers. There's a very real chance that Gordon won't hit .300 ever again, adjustments or not. I think the doubles/homers are similar, but more like .275. Dyson cannot be a full time player. He won't ever hit enough, and I'm sure everyone knows it. If Cain can't cut it, Maier will get more of the "starts". If not, the Royals will be making a mistake. Cain has never been a walks kinda guy, but he can hit. Still don't think it's fair at all to judge Giavotella as a bust with only 7 weeks of MLB time to go off of. He hit every step of the way and I think the plan was to debut him maybe in September or starting in 2012. He forced their hand. Was he rushed? I don't think so. Sometimes they don't hit right away. Moose didn't. Hosmer had a stretch in June where he stunk. Sal Perez didn't do well the first three weeks or so either. Give him time, man! haha. If Gio hadn't been drafted in the second round and instead the 28th, then sure, maybe he'd be over his head. I do agree that if he has a rough year, the Royals won't be nearly as strong as they could be. @jim fetterolf I think I agree on the Duffy part but I think a healthy Chen contributes pretty much what he did last year.

But I’d be hesitant to think that Melky would have repeated or come that close to his 2011 numbers. There’s a very real chance that Gordon won’t hit .300 ever again, adjustments or not. I think the doubles/homers are similar, but more like .275.

Dyson cannot be a full time player. He won’t ever hit enough, and I’m sure everyone knows it. If Cain can’t cut it, Maier will get more of the “starts”. If not, the Royals will be making a mistake. Cain has never been a walks kinda guy, but he can hit. Still don’t think it’s fair at all to judge Giavotella as a bust with only 7 weeks of MLB time to go off of. He hit every step of the way and I think the plan was to debut him maybe in September or starting in 2012. He forced their hand. Was he rushed? I don’t think so. Sometimes they don’t hit right away. Moose didn’t. Hosmer had a stretch in June where he stunk. Sal Perez didn’t do well the first three weeks or so either. Give him time, man! haha. If Gio hadn’t been drafted in the second round and instead the 28th, then sure, maybe he’d be over his head. I do agree that if he has a rough year, the Royals won’t be nearly as strong as they could be.

]]> By: jim fetterolf http://kingsofkauffman.com/2012/01/05/royals-enter-the-new-year/#comment-2019884 jim fetterolf Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:16:42 +0000 http://kingsofkauffman.com/?p=11695#comment-2019884 Gio and Cain are the two wild cards on the team and a lot depends on whether one can come close to filling Melky's spot in the batting order and the other can avoid a repeat of Gio's previous campaign, which would put Yuni or Getz or Dyson on the field as a full-time player. If Cain and Gio can hit .280, take a few walks, and cut down on the Ks, Royals will scare some teams this year and, with a little luck and few injuries, can pull off a division win with more experienced studs and a much better rotation than we started last year with. I'm comfortable with predicting 85 wins with 80-90 as a reasonable range. Not having Francis, Davies, and SOS should be worth ten wins, a healthy Master Chen another three, Duffy throwing strikes another three. Gio and Cain are the two wild cards on the team and a lot depends on whether one can come close to filling Melky’s spot in the batting order and the other can avoid a repeat of Gio’s previous campaign, which would put Yuni or Getz or Dyson on the field as a full-time player. If Cain and Gio can hit .280, take a few walks, and cut down on the Ks, Royals will scare some teams this year and, with a little luck and few injuries, can pull off a division win with more experienced studs and a much better rotation than we started last year with. I’m comfortable with predicting 85 wins with 80-90 as a reasonable range. Not having Francis, Davies, and SOS should be worth ten wins, a healthy Master Chen another three, Duffy throwing strikes another three.

]]> By: michael.allen.engel http://kingsofkauffman.com/2012/01/05/royals-enter-the-new-year/#comment-5797 michael.allen.engel Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:47:33 +0000 http://kingsofkauffman.com/?p=11695#comment-5797 @jim fetterolf I think I agree on the Duffy part but I think a healthy Chen contributes pretty much what he did last year. But I'd be hesitant to think that Melky would have repeated or come that close to his 2011 numbers. There's a very real chance that Gordon won't hit .300 ever again, adjustments or not. I think the doubles/homers are similar, but more like .275. Dyson cannot be a full time player. He won't ever hit enough, and I'm sure everyone knows it. If Cain can't cut it, Maier will get more of the "starts". If not, the Royals will be making a mistake. Cain has never been a walks kinda guy, but he can hit. Still don't think it's fair at all to judge Giavotella as a bust with only 7 weeks of MLB time to go off of. He hit every step of the way and I think the plan was to debut him maybe in September or starting in 2012. He forced their hand. Was he rushed? I don't think so. Sometimes they don't hit right away. Moose didn't. Hosmer had a stretch in June where he stunk. Sal Perez didn't do well the first three weeks or so either. Give him time, man! haha. If Gio hadn't been drafted in the second round and instead the 28th, then sure, maybe he'd be over his head. I do agree that if he has a rough year, the Royals won't be nearly as strong as they could be. @jim fetterolf I think I agree on the Duffy part but I think a healthy Chen contributes pretty much what he did last year.

But I’d be hesitant to think that Melky would have repeated or come that close to his 2011 numbers. There’s a very real chance that Gordon won’t hit .300 ever again, adjustments or not. I think the doubles/homers are similar, but more like .275.

Dyson cannot be a full time player. He won’t ever hit enough, and I’m sure everyone knows it. If Cain can’t cut it, Maier will get more of the “starts”. If not, the Royals will be making a mistake. Cain has never been a walks kinda guy, but he can hit. Still don’t think it’s fair at all to judge Giavotella as a bust with only 7 weeks of MLB time to go off of. He hit every step of the way and I think the plan was to debut him maybe in September or starting in 2012. He forced their hand. Was he rushed? I don’t think so. Sometimes they don’t hit right away. Moose didn’t. Hosmer had a stretch in June where he stunk. Sal Perez didn’t do well the first three weeks or so either. Give him time, man! haha. If Gio hadn’t been drafted in the second round and instead the 28th, then sure, maybe he’d be over his head. I do agree that if he has a rough year, the Royals won’t be nearly as strong as they could be.

]]> By: jim fetterolf http://kingsofkauffman.com/2012/01/05/royals-enter-the-new-year/#comment-5796 jim fetterolf Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:16:42 +0000 http://kingsofkauffman.com/?p=11695#comment-5796 Gio and Cain are the two wild cards on the team and a lot depends on whether one can come close to filling Melky's spot in the batting order and the other can avoid a repeat of Gio's previous campaign, which would put Yuni or Getz or Dyson on the field as a full-time player. If Cain and Gio can hit .280, take a few walks, and cut down on the Ks, Royals will scare some teams this year and, with a little luck and few injuries, can pull off a division win with more experienced studs and a much better rotation than we started last year with. I'm comfortable with predicting 85 wins with 80-90 as a reasonable range. Not having Francis, Davies, and SOS should be worth ten wins, a healthy Master Chen another three, Duffy throwing strikes another three. Gio and Cain are the two wild cards on the team and a lot depends on whether one can come close to filling Melky’s spot in the batting order and the other can avoid a repeat of Gio’s previous campaign, which would put Yuni or Getz or Dyson on the field as a full-time player. If Cain and Gio can hit .280, take a few walks, and cut down on the Ks, Royals will scare some teams this year and, with a little luck and few injuries, can pull off a division win with more experienced studs and a much better rotation than we started last year with. I’m comfortable with predicting 85 wins with 80-90 as a reasonable range. Not having Francis, Davies, and SOS should be worth ten wins, a healthy Master Chen another three, Duffy throwing strikes another three.

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