Royals 2018 Thread

[ono]

Well opening day is tomorrow. Not a ton of buzz this year, but makes sense given what the roster is this year. I am going, so very excite about that, but the weather will blow.

I will say the Royals go 74-88. One of Duffy or Whit is unloaded at the deadline (along with Jay, Duda, et. al.) I really don't want a repeat of last year where we hang around and don't unload guys for prospects... I don't think we will make that mistake.

As for the rest of the league, this looks to be one of the least intriguing seasons in recent memory. But the postseason should be a fucking blast.

Divisions:
Yanks
Racists
Astros

Nats
Cubs
Dodgers

WC:
Red Sox
Halos
Cards
D'backs

Gonna buck recent history and say the Astros repeat again over the Dodgers.

[ono]

.... aaaand Salvy is hurt. So knock 2 wins off my prediction. Possibly more.

[swidman]

The AL Central has three "bad" teams all moving in different directions. With the Tigers, Royals and Whitesox all in the basement, I'm curious to see how the Tigers and Royals try to figure out where they are right now. I know the Whitesox have fully committed to rebuilding and I'm really looking forward to watching the "kids" develop. I expect them to lose, but maybe not as many games as people expect? So watching these three teams will be interesting as the season progresses.

[NoPantsChico]

Royals season is DOA from a competing standpoint. At least there won't be expectations or attention-whoring grown men wearing cat singlets or running up and down the aisles holding moose antlers to their heads.

[Hawker007]

You are definitely a glass half-full kind of guy.

[NoPantsChico]

Ha. I'm hopeful for the younger guys like Soler, would love to see Gordon finally bounce back and hope that the trade candidates play well enough to fetch something of value in return. I just think every single thing had to go right for the Royals to be competitive this year, and before first pitch the starting C is out until Mother's Day and it looks like the bullpen will be a revolving door without many capable arms (though that part seemed like it would be the case from the outset).

[Jhawkz5]

[ono]

[NoPantsChico]

And they’re in the win column!

[WolfShirtSophomore]

Can I just cut and past this periodically for the remainder of the season?

"LOLOLOL"

[NoPantsChico]

They aren’t the same guys and it’s been cold out, but Junis’ start is reminding me of Greinke’s in 2009. A really nice highlight in what otherwise figures to be a lost season.

[Hawker007]

Can we just cut Gordon now? He now has a torn labia or labrum or whatever.

[qwertyu123]

2 game winning streak!

[NoPantsChico]

2 game winning streak!

Odd timing - Royals confirm KayCee, the 'W guy,' no longer part of team

Statement from the Royals: "We had a great run with KayCee and the W, but as we’ve come into the 50th Season of Royals baseball, we’ve decided to focus on the tradition of Sluggerrr’s post-game celebration."

[Joe Norris]

Some people are so stupid...I'm guessing this guy deserved what he got

[ono]

here's the post in question. https://twitter.com/Farzin21/status/...19553/photo/1?

nothing too incendiary, but still probably not a smart thing to do.

[NoPantsChico]

I never understood his appeal in the first place, so I'm okay with this development regardless of the reason.

[NoPantsChico]

**Blows dust off thread**

So Moose is off to Milwaukee for 24-year-old CF Brett Phillips, a top-ten prospect in the Brewers' system, and 25-year-old RP Jorge Lopez. The scouting report on Phillips is that he has an absolute cannon and above-average power. If the Royals had any faith left in Starling becoming anything, it seems to be gone now. The OF could also get crowded with Goodwin, Gordon, Bonifacio and Herrera also up, but Herrera played a good chunk of 3B in the minors, so I could see the team giving him some reps there so they can continue to figure out what they have in Goodwin. Lopez is a classic erratic lottery ticket with the upside of a 6th-7th inning reliever based on what I've read. This looks like a very good return for a two-month rental who has declined every month this season. I could still see Moose coming back to KC next season, though I probably wouldn't bet on it.

[WhiteJak]

WTH. Is O'Hearn hurt? How are they ever going to find out if the kid can play if they don't give him some at bats? Butera at 1b two days in a row? Duda ... we know what he can do. Please, somebody tell me that he is injured and the manager has not gone completely brain dead. Perhaps they've just given up on him already, it looks to me that he handles himself pretty well out there.

[WhiteJak]

Handled himself pretty well today! :-D. ( HR and 5 RBI)

[qwertyu123]

So, be honest. We knew this team would be really bad, but did you think they'd be the worst (basically tied with the O's) with little hope for the future?