|
Spring Training
Pre-Spring Outlook
Heading into spring training, most of the Opening Day roster appears to be in place. The question is who will shake out as the bottom 2 in the starting rotation behind (Jose Cedeno, Yule Hulburt and Val Imbert). There are a multiple of candidates with veteran Bill Lutz and JJ Walker. Also in the mix coming back from injury is John Moore and last season's surprise in SP Joe Johnson. That is at least 7 candidates for the 5 spots, plus young prospect Curt Hopkins (#4) overall. Both Walker and Johnson signed contract extensions in the off-season, but both are on fairly low salaries for this year and one of them could start off the season at AAA.
The bullpen looks pretty set with the combination of Pat Wright (L), Ken Shannon, Larry Stott and LHRP Jerry Powell. Battling for other spots in the 7 man pen will be Bradley Sentner, Richard Herschel, and Matsusuke Yoshida who will probably be the primary middle RP.
The infield is pretty set with youngsters 1B Reagan Osborn and 3B Thomas Arnaud looking to be the cornerstones of the infield for the next 10 years or so. The middle has veterans 2B Ken Noseworthy who can play a great number of positions, and SS/2B Walker Dunse. There is not real challenge to their roles this season, but Noseworthy is a free agent at season's end and Dunse has a player option for next season. So this could be an area of radical change for next season. We have 24-year old 2B/U John Lambert who deserves a role on this year’s club. He has seen action in parts of 2 of the last 3 seasons and he is due to stick. The team also has a pair of switching veterans in 1B Manuel Gonzalez (32) and 3B/1B Cruz Torres (32). While the club likes having the switch hitting bats on the bench, there might not be enough room on the bench for both. Also guaranteed to be back is backup SS/2B Simon Lefevre who is also a switch-hitter (although he doesn’t hit much these days) who is 37 and in the last year of his contract at $2.5 million for the 55 season.
Knocking on the door, with some faster than others are several prospects including #3 overall prospects SS Cristo Sandoval (20) and 2B Bob Tobin (21). Both need more time at AAA and will get it, but don’t be surprised to see Sandoval up at the end of the season.
With the signing of 4-time All Star Sean White and the returning All-Star Chi-Yong Lee, catcher seems to be a spot that is in very good hands. That doesn’t even include prospect C Juan Duran who came up late last season and then was injured in the Divisional Playoff Series against Toledo. He will be out until at least mid-season and will require an extended amount of time to get back into playing condition and get his timing back. Last year’s emergency call up Brad Gilliespe will likely be the starter at AAA for the first half of the season before giving way to Duran.
Finally the outfield. The club is very comfortable with RF Jim Ashley (35) rooming out in right and it is likely that speedster Matt Graves (30) will be the starting LF. Odds are Graves will bat at the bottom of the lineup this season as opposed to the top. Free-Agent signing OF/DH Jose Aranda will likely start the season at DH, but can fill in at either corner spot if needed. The last spot and it really isn’t up for grabs belongs to 2nd year man Cris Luna who came up mid-season last year and struggled with the bat hitting 201. He is a very good defensive CF’er and will give the club an upgrade over retired Antonio Mendez who started the season in CF last year. What will be watched carefully is his bat and if it is coming along. Luna was the #1 prospect in the GLBL before coming up last July, and now is the time for him to show it.
One drawback of the club this season is the real lack of a backup option in CF. None of the other OF’s are really capable of playing the position. 2B John Lambert would be the top choice in the event of an emergency. The club has two prospects at AAA that could play in CF, but neither are deemed ready or on the 40-man roster. They are CF John Ross (23) the #51 prospect, and speedster Ju-Choer Lee (24) who really doesn’t have a big league bat. Both Ross and Lee are left-handed batters which helps the bench depth against RH pitchers.
OF Samuel Amsden is sort of a jack of many different defensive positions. He is primarily a switch-hitting corner OF (4 defense at both), but can play a capable 2B, a decent 3B and dabbles at SS and CF but probably should not be practicing those positions at the big league level. Amsden is 29 years old and out of options on a $1.3 million salary and is arbitration eligible at the end of the season for 2 more years.
Here are the thoughts after the spring games……where the Architects went 9-9
SP John Moore has definitely earned a spot in the top 4 with Hulbert, Cedeno, and Imbert.
SP Val Imbert battled a minor injury so only received one start in the spring, but has been cleared to be healthy and ready to go.
Joe Johnson has options and so he will start the year at AAA, but I don’t expect him to be there too long.
CF Cris Luna continues to struggle with the bat hitting just 167
LHRP Christopher Gore struggled badly during the first week of the spring and was sent down to the AAA camp after just 1 week.
Good news on C Juan Duran as he is progressing in his recovery quicker than anticipated and will return to baseball activities 3 weeks sooner which means he will be in games at AAA in early June instead of early July.
We have signed veteran SP Agusto Gonzalez to a minor league contract with a 30-day option. He will start the year at AAA and get some work in, but he is a great safety valve to have in case of injury or ineffectiveness.
Tomorrow we will have the pre-season predictions and the opening day roster breakdown.
|