2010 Royals Dempsey Projections

Continuing the my fine recent tradition of predicting things (I'm considering starting a 'Predict the 2012 Miss America Pageant' thread), I've decided to present my basic statistical "projection/predictions" for the 2010 Royals. This has become recent tradition for myself, as well (since 2007, to be specific). I'm going to keep my stats raw, since I don't have a calculator. I might refine these *slightly* at a later time but here goes. (I'll include everyone with at least 100 at-bats).

I'll begin with the position players!

C - Jason Kendall: 496 AB, .244/.315/.319, 2 HR, 31 RBI, 6 SB, 3 CS, -3 (Runs
saved/cost on defense - you don't have to include this)
C - Brayan Pena: 212 AB, .273/.339/.405, 4 HR, 22 RBI, 0 SB, 1 CS, -1
1B - Billy Butler: 567 AB, .285/.342/.466, 21 HR, 79 RBI, 0 SB, 0 CS, -5
2B - Alberto Callaspo: 478 AB, .286/.354/.412, 5 HR, 53 RBI, 2 SB, 1 CS, -3
2B - Chris Getz: 423 AB, .270/.325/.346, 1 HR, 31 RBI, 27 SB, 7 CS, +2
2B - Willie Bloomquist: 396 AB, .263/.325/.329, 0 HR, 22 RBI, 18 SB, 7 CS, -6
SS - Yuniesky Betancourt: 415 AB, .270/.292/.366, 4 HR, 41 RBI, 10 SB, 7 CS,
-12
SS - Mike Aviles: 294 AB, .262/.315/.407, 4 HR, 33 RBI, 6 SB, 3 CS, -1
3B - Alex Gordon: 438 AB, .256/.344/.435, 12 HR, 54 RBI, 5 SB, 2 CS, +4
3B - Josh Fields: 122 AB, .240/.282/.397, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 0 SB, 0 CS, 0
LF - Scott Podsednik: 482 AB, .256/.315/.358, 4 HR, 35 RBI, 36 SB, 14 CS, -2
CF - Rick Ankiel: 426 AB, .256/.298/.405, 13 HR, 44 RBI, 1 SB, 0 CS, -4
CF - Mitch Maier: 284 AB, .277/.325/.387, 3 HR, 24 RBI, 9 SB, 3 CS, +2
RF - David DeJesus: 562 AB, .278/.359/.410, 9 HR, 52 RBI, 7 SB, 6 CS, +5
DH - Jose Guillen: 379 AB, .266/.302/.394, 11 HR, 43 RBI, 0 SB, 1 CS, -1
DH - Kila Ka'aihue: 156 AB, .254/.342/.425, 4 HR, 14 RBI, 0 SB, 0 CS, 0

As far as players with fewer than 100 ABs, I think players like Betemit,
Thorman, Pina, Clark, and Lough (and others I'm probably omitting) can possibly
fall on that list.

I think a consistent inability to stay healthy will rear its ugly head again
this year as Guillen, Gordon, Callaspo, and Ankiel, four "integral" parts of our
offense, will miss time. DeJesus will endure his usual day-to-day injuries and
ample playing time will be given to grizzled veterans. Although the team will
be improved defensively, they will still fall below average in that regard and
well below average in terms of offense. If you "pool" all players with fewer
than 100 AB's together, I think this offense would probably score 680-700 runs.
I like that there appears to be more "versatility" than last year. But we're
likely going to see plenty of games where we score 0-2 runs.

The bad news is that I'm predicting many veterans this organization is stuck
with contractually - to basically fall well below an "optimal" performance level
this season. The organization would benefit, in my opinion, from playing guys
like Ka'aihue, Maier, Aviles, and Pena as often as possible.

I hope I'm wrong on these performances because I believe my outlook is pretty
grim. If this organization shows a full-fledged commitment to youth, then I'll
gladly eat crow but until then I see more of the same.

For pitchers, I'll predict 8 appearances or more (to include Crow)

SP Zack Greinke - 33 GS/G, 15-8, 2.77 ERA, 223 IP, 52 BB, 197 K (All Star)
SP Gil Meche - 23 GS/G, 6-9, 4.88 ERA, 143 IP, 59 BB, 110 K
SP Brian Bannister - 28 GS/G, 7-12, 5.03 ERA, 179 IP, 58 BB, 112 K
SP Luke Hochevar - 26 GS, 31 G, 6-11, 5.17 ERA, 165 IP, 72 BB, 113 K
SP Kyle Davies - 19 GS, 33 G, 6-9, 4.80 ERA, 136 IP, 66 BB, 95 K
SP Aaron Crow - 8 GS/G, 2-4, 5.63 ERA, 35 IP, 14 BB, 23 K (late August callup)
RP Robinson Tejeda - 11 GS, 54 G, 3-5, 4.53 ERA, 97 IP, 65 BB, 92 K
RP Brad Thompson - 5 GS, 21 G, 2-4, 5.60 ERA, 33 IP, 13 BB, 18 K
RP Josh Rupe - 16 G, 0-2, 6.20 ERA, 25 IP, 11 BB, 14 K
RP Blake Wood - 9 G, 1-2, 6.86 ERA, 26 IP, 14 BB, 12 K
RP Phil Humber - 28 G, 1-1, 5.77 ERA, 33 IP, 14 BB, 25 K
RP Anthony Lerew - 4 GS, 24 G, 2-4, 5.76 ERA, 49 IP, 20 BB, 29 K
RP Carlos Rosa - 32 G, 2-2, 4.39 ERA, 39 IP, 18 BB, 29 K
RP Dusty Hughes - 32 G, 1-3, 4.92 ERA, 35 IP, 14 BB, 24 K
RP Kyle Farnsworth - 36 G, 1-3, 5.10 ERA, 44 IP, 25 BB, 38 K
RP Juan Cruz - 53 G, 3-6, 3.85 ERA, 59 IP, 24 BB, 49 K
CP Joakim Soria - 51 G, 5-4, 3.19 ERA, 62 IP, 18 BB, 75 K

This doesn't include a pool of pitchers with minimal plate appearances. (I
also think it's possible a player on waivers or a Free Agent could be
selected). I'll predict 15-Day DL stints for Meche, Bannister, Farnsworth,
Wood, Soria, and possibly Juan Cruz. I think the starting rotation is one of
the strong suits but I think the team ERA this year will be around 4.8 or 4.9.

Feel free to chime in and, if you have time, predict your own!