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Spring Training 1931 - looks like another long year
We head to spring training this year hoping to sort out the 23-man roster. Yes there are some locks on the roster to be sure, here's what we know going into spring.
LF Moxie Pidgeon (24) moves over to his more natural position of LF with Joe Perret being traded. Pidgeon has excelled with the bat as a surprise 12th round pick in the 1925 draft. In his 2 full seasons he has hit 352 with 53 home runs and 232 RBI's. Pidgeon hit 446 with 6 home runs during spring training.
RF Mike Williams (25) burst onto the scene following Perret's injury last season and in slightly less than half a season fashioned a respectable 273 average with 12 homers and 47 RBI's. This was after swatting 33 HR's in half a season at AAA Cincinnati. He struggled some in the spring, but he is locked into RF to start the season.
3B Jake Moore (28) who we thought about trading over the last 3 seasons emerged last year as a solid 3.9 WAR player. Good glove has always been his calling card, but his bat finally exploded for 18 home runs and 98 RBI's with a 298 average.
CF/1B Bobby Allen (26) What we know is that Allen's bat will be in the lineup everyday, somewhere. What we don't know yet is will it be primarily at 1B where he had some time down the stretch last season and preformed well or in CF. If the Foresters can find a quality CF who can defend well and hit for 300, then Allen wins the 1B job. His power bat would the be answer for Cleveland at 1B.
C Josh Fry (28) Less of a lock but doesn't really have any challengers for the job. Fry is a solid catcher defensively who handles pitchers well and can hit around 300. Not a power guy. but is very likable to the fans and his teammates.
The rest of the position player jobs are up for grabs during the spring. 2B, SS, 1B/CF. Backup roles are also available to be had.
Spring Training Pitching
What we know about the pitching staff heading in. Very little honestly, as there are no virtual locks on the team, but there are a couple of guys who would have to really struggle to not make it.
LHSP Karl Johnson (23) really struggled after he came up late to Cleveland last season going 1-4 with an ERA over 7. He was 22-3 with a 2.91 ERA over parts of the last 2 seasons with AAA Cincinnati. It is time to see if the former 6th round pick (1925) out of high school and continue to show promise. He would have to be a dumpster fire during spring to not make the opening day roster.
RHSP Eddie Gray (25) has gone a rather unimpressive 13-16 with a 5.42 ERA in the 1929-30 seasons. The Foresters still hope he can show some improvement and become the solid #2-3 starter than imagined.
And that is it, no one else is scene as probable to make the pitching staff which means it will be a very open competition.
Looking to earn the other 3 SP jobs will be last year's rule 5 pick RHSP Felix Dent (24), RHSP George Barker (29) who had a solid half season in 1929 and a so-so 1930 season. Barker is also the elder statesman on this team.
A couple of rookies RHSP Stan Harrison (27) and LHSP Roger Perry (23)(Perry was acquired in the minor league rule 5) will also be given a shot.
A youngster from the 1929 draft in 9th round pick RHSP Carl Bragg (22) will also be given a shot.
The bullpen will probably be patched together from those that don't make the rotation and a few holdovers like Jake Gunderson, and Eddie Smith. Also keep your eye on LHRP Bill Beier (26) as the sleeper for the stopper role.
Spring Training should be exciting with a lot of jobs on the line, and the hope for Cleveland fans that new pitching coach Mark O'Rouke can turn this hodge podge of a mess into something
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