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Orcin · 02-21-2013, 10:09 AM

Preliminary 2015 Planning: Roster Analysis and Depth Chart (part 3)

The outfield has two of our highest-paid players and some youngsters with good potential. I plan to play the high-paid guys in their best positions and let the young guys fight over the other spot.

Left Field

Brian Ferguson played 100 games in left last season with a .264/.358/.449 slash line and 22 stolen bases. His defense is excellent (he is rated 10 at the position). Rafael Vasquez (not Valdez) played 24 games as a substitute last season, most of them in right field. He is a very similar player to Ferguson and will likely make the team as a fourth outfielder if he does not win the job in left field. Fernando Chavez, William Price, and Brian Fontenot are other young left-handed contact hitters with potential on the roster. All five of these players will compete for this spot and one backup job. Brian Dixon is the only right-handed batter among the outfield candidates, which could give him an edge for the other bench spot.

Center Field

Rafael Valdez was the #1 prospect in the CBA when I “retired” in 2008. He came up in 2009 and has been the center fielder in Louisville since that time. His career slash line is .296/.405/.528 with a 157 OPS+. His best season was 2011 when he hit .335 with 30 HR and 94 RBI. Valdez is injury-prone and has only played more than 140 games once. He is signed to a long-term contract with 4 years and $62 million left on it. He isn’t going anywhere but it is imperative that we have a good backup for the position.

Right Field

Eduardo Sanchez is still around from my previous tenure and he is as good as ever. The 4-time all-star hit .302 with a .387 OBP last year. His stolen base totals have declined each year since I left, but he is still an ideal leadoff hitter. He consumes vast amounts of payroll resources with his $18 million annual salary. It occurs to me that one of the many candidates for the left field job could fill this spot and save me $17.5 million.

Overall Lineup Summary

I love the defense, especially up the middle. I would like to add a right-handed power bat to balance the left-handed hitters (Sanchez, Vargas, Gillespie, and Ferguson). The spot would be first base, although it could also be third base with Gillespie playing first. It could also be a corner outfielder if Sanchez is traded. Kubo and one or more of my many left-handed hitting outfielders are the bait for this trade. I would really love to get a young pitcher or two also, but I am not holding my breath.

02-21-2013, 10:09 AM	#14
Orcin Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 9,850	Preliminary 2015 Planning: Roster Analysis and Depth Chart (part 3) The outfield has two of our highest-paid players and some youngsters with good potential. I plan to play the high-paid guys in their best positions and let the young guys fight over the other spot. Left Field Brian Ferguson played 100 games in left last season with a .264/.358/.449 slash line and 22 stolen bases. His defense is excellent (he is rated 10 at the position). Rafael Vasquez (not Valdez) played 24 games as a substitute last season, most of them in right field. He is a very similar player to Ferguson and will likely make the team as a fourth outfielder if he does not win the job in left field. Fernando Chavez, William Price, and Brian Fontenot are other young left-handed contact hitters with potential on the roster. All five of these players will compete for this spot and one backup job. Brian Dixon is the only right-handed batter among the outfield candidates, which could give him an edge for the other bench spot. Center Field Rafael Valdez was the #1 prospect in the CBA when I “retired” in 2008. He came up in 2009 and has been the center fielder in Louisville since that time. His career slash line is .296/.405/.528 with a 157 OPS+. His best season was 2011 when he hit .335 with 30 HR and 94 RBI. Valdez is injury-prone and has only played more than 140 games once. He is signed to a long-term contract with 4 years and $62 million left on it. He isn’t going anywhere but it is imperative that we have a good backup for the position. Right Field Eduardo Sanchez is still around from my previous tenure and he is as good as ever. The 4-time all-star hit .302 with a .387 OBP last year. His stolen base totals have declined each year since I left, but he is still an ideal leadoff hitter. He consumes vast amounts of payroll resources with his $18 million annual salary. It occurs to me that one of the many candidates for the left field job could fill this spot and save me $17.5 million. Overall Lineup Summary I love the defense, especially up the middle. I would like to add a right-handed power bat to balance the left-handed hitters (Sanchez, Vargas, Gillespie, and Ferguson). The spot would be first base, although it could also be third base with Gillespie playing first. It could also be a corner outfielder if Sanchez is traded. Kubo and one or more of my many left-handed hitting outfielders are the bait for this trade. I would really love to get a young pitcher or two also, but I am not holding my breath.