Since I'm about done with this year, I was thinking ahead to next year -- you know, the year that, according to "The Process," we were supposed to contend? Anyway...I'd be curious to get others' thoughts here on our starting rotation next year. I'm hoping it looks like this, possible or not:

1. Frontline starter acquired through trade
2. Jake O.
3. Duffy
4. Hoch
5. Paulino

Of course, in a perfect world, Hoch would be gone and Paulino would be gone, too. BUT... I don't see that happening. Thoughts? Can anyone enlighten me on other possibilities?

Not sure if Duffy and Paulino can start the season in KC. May take a bit longer coming off TJ surgery. I also dont believe our number one starter will be acquired thru trade, I think he will be signed as a FA. I expect DM to acquire at least more starter thru trade however.

Forgot about Paulino....and the FA route. I'm optimistic about Duffy being up at the start of the year...but maybe I'm wayyy off base there. Of course, there are also Chen, Guthrie, Mendoza, et al....just not sure where to put them in this mix. I'm hoping Chen is gone. Guthrie? Who knows what will get with him yet. Mendoza, too, is a wild card. I still see him as a back-of-the-rotation guy. Thanks for the thoughts.

Why would Paulino be gone in a perfect world? He had a 1.67 ERA in 7 starts before he blew out his elbow. And he did better last year than any pitcher is current doing this year for the team, and he was acquired for cash in a deal nobody heard about. So tell me, why should Paulino be gone? I'd even ask as to why he's your #5 starter and Odo is sitting at #2 without having played a single ML game.

I wouldn't expect an intelligent answer from anyone that thinks Paulino should hit the road. I think he looks better than any of those listed in his dreamed up rotation.

Don't be surprise if they do try and make a starter out of Tim Collins and Greg Holland

Collins is not built to be a starter. Look how badly he has pitched after being used hard in 2011 and 2012.

And Chen's back in 2013, so it's Chen/Hochevar, and likely a bunch of lottery tickets

Where do you get the "lottery tickets" idea? I understand that if you're talking about Mendoza, Guthrie, etc. (aka "retreads"). But you don't think that Odirizzi will be in the rotation next season? How would they NOT put that guy in the rotation?

Question #2: When will guys like Montgomery, Arguelles, and their first-round draft pick this year (who's name escapes me) be projected to be in a Royals rotation?

"When will guys like Montgomery, Arguelles, and their first-round draft pick this year (Kyle Zimmer) be projected to be in a Royals rotation?

Please don't put Zimmer in with Montgomery and Arguelles.

"But you don't think that Odirizzi will be in the rotation next season? "

it's likely, but odorizzi should be considered a lottery ticket as well. who knows how he'll do in the bigs.

"When will guys like Montgomery, Arguelles, and their first-round draft pick this year (who's name escapes me) be projected to be in a Royals rotation?"

there's no way to tell with montgomery or arguelles. neither is progressing. kyle zimmer was the royals 1st round pick this year. being that he's just getting started, it's too early to say when he'll arrive - though guesstimations have him in kc in 2014 at the earliest.

Odorizzi really isn't all that different from a lottery ticket. There's no guarantee that he'll be very useful in 2013. He really hasn't been all that deep in games in Omaha so far.

Mendoza is a middle reliever, in all reality, but he's getting a serious run because of the lack of options.

Guthrie is a free agent after this year. But it'll be interesting to see if he can pitch smarter in tough spots. He's been getting destroyed the 2nd time around v. hitters this year.

"Question #2: When will guys like Montgomery, Arguelles, and their first-round draft pick this year (who's name escapes me) be projected to be in a Royals rotation?"

Montgomery won't make it as a starter. He was toasted for nearly 50 starts in AAA. He's getting toasted in AA after the Omaha starts. But he's young and left handed, so he won't get traded. But the guy has a lot of problems, including problems getting lefties out.

Arguelles was a waste of their money and won't make it as a starter. Arguelles is getting destroyed in AA. But he is on the 40 man roster, wasting a roster spot, when all he really might be in the majors is a situational reliever.

As for Zimmer, the guy hasn't pitched outside of an instructional league so far. Let's not punch his ticket. But they're gonna rush him if he performs.

The scary thing about this team, compared to the late 90s/2000s Royals, is that the late 90s/2000s Royals had BETTER starting pitching. Who is the Jeff Suppan on this team?

Well, thanks, guys. Now I'm REALLY depressed about the future of this team.

the thing that really screws things up about the future of the team is that Moore picked the wrong people to develop pitching..

Odorizzi is the new prospect of the month, but I'd prefer his K rate be a bit higher in Omaha (it's 7.7, the MLB average is 7.3, which seems to indicate that Odorizzi is going to have a K rate around 6 at his current rate). You know it's bad when obvious future reliever Yordano Ventura is being hyped by some as a starting prospect, when anybody with any sense know he's going to be a relief pitcher by next year.

My list wasn't supposed to be in any particular order. Should have mentioned that.

Well this will make you want to hybernate through 2013 In all reality our rotation is gonna look like this

1 FA starter (probably no better than Marcum, even though I hold out hope for Grenkie)
2 Hoch- I know it stinks
3 Chen
4 Odo - he'll be a rookie and flounder for a while
5 Mendoza

Let me say I wish this was not the rotation we go with next year but I am afraid it will be.

bull pen will be solid just like this year but with Holland as the closer unless Herrera beats him out in ST. And all the pitchers that have been great AAA starters but lousy ML starters (and we have a lot of them) will make pretty good long relievers and with this rotation we ill need 2-3 in the pen.

there is hope maybe for the second have of the season but we will be out of the race by June/July. Duffy and Paulino should be back in a useful way by mid season and hopefully they will knock the deadweight out of the rotation. Hopefully when John Lamb returns this summer the will do well then make the move to aaa sometime in 2013 and be a rotation candidate in 2014.

I have high hopes for 2014 I expect the rotation to be something like this

1 Marcum
2 Odo
3 Duffy
4 Paulino
5 Lamb

If we get Marcum like alot expect (lets face it he will be this off season Jeff Francour) he will be the "Ace" or #1 starter til someone takes it from him like Zack did from Mench (spelling) back a couple years ago. This rotation will be out best hope with what I see happening. It may be a bit unlikely since 3 of my rotation pitchers in 2014 have had tommy john surgery, and that is scary.

Can't count on Odorizzi for 2013. He's not thrown a single big league pitch. He's a candidate for next season, but no more so than Teaford, Smith or Montgomery. If he comes up later this season, and proves he can get big leaguers out with regularity, then you can move him from the candidate to earned spot.

Can't count on Duffy or Paulino until mid season next year. Will almost be like acquiring starting pitching talent in trade at that point.

The only known quantities for next season would have to be Chen, Hochevar & Mendoza. Whether its via trade or free agency, 2 legitimate middle to top of the rotation starters MUST be acquired for 2013. The Royals MUST put themselves in a position where Odorizzi or Teaford beats out Mendoza for a roster spot.

How tall was Bobby shantz (Only 5'7") and he was the Ace of K.C &Philadalia "A"s as a starter. Besides they have been talking about starting him (the pitching staff has)