OOPS I did it again

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DAY 7
Game 5
Game 1 rematch, Morris vs Apker
Down 2-1 the game falls apart in the 8th as Jacksonville scores 4 times. A 9th inning rally ends with Gus Garcia fanning as the tying run.
Morris goes 5.2 IP 2 R 1 ER and Diaz gives up 4 in 1.1 IP. Apker wins it going 7, on 2 hits and 9 K's giving up 1 run.
JACKSONVILLE 6 CHICAGO 3
Travis Lockheart goes 7-19 2 HR 4 RBI to win the series MVP

Indianapolis scores 3 in the 7th and beats Washington 4-3 to win the series 3-2.
Mike Hogarth takes home series MVP going 11-23 HR 6 RBI.

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REST OF THE POST-SEASON

• Jacksonville announces a 2 year 13.8 million dollar extension for SP John Simmons the day after our series ends. The 33 year old won the Koufax in 2008 and went 9-13 4.49 this year with 215 K's and 64 BB in 194.1 IP. He's a 5-time all-star and 154-129 4.06 lifetime. He's led the league in IP 4 times and K's 5 times. In 2007 San Francisco traded him to Jacksonville in a deal that involved our own Nate Gross.

DIVISION SERIES

• Denver beat Charlotte 4-1
• Denver 1B Oscar Aviles won series MVP going 8-18 2 HR 5 RBI

• Utah beat Chicago 4-1
• Utah RF Mitch Kitz went 7-14 hitting 4 HR's and driving in 9 to win series MVP.

In the NL

• El Paso beat Indianapolis 4-1
• El Paso 2B Justin Gonzalez went 8-22 4 HR 12 RBI to win series MVP.

• Jacksonville upset heavy favorites in Fresno in 7 games.
• Panther 1B Ricky Ramirez went 10-26 HR 3 RBI to win series MVP.
• Danny Apker went 7 innings allowing 1 hit and fanning 8 in their game 7 win.

LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

• Utah took down Denver in 6 games with 1B Jordan Johnson going 10-27 HR 5 RBI to win series MVP.
• Jacksonville swept El Paso and Ricky Ramirez took home a 2nd straight post-season series MVP.

2012 WORLD SERIES
UTAH vs JACKSONVILLE

• The Mammoth allow 9 runs in 4 games, 7 in game 3, and sweep Jacksonville with 1B Josh Sparks going 7-20 2 HR 7 RBI to win the World Series MVP.
• The win is Utah's 2nd title, their first coming in 2008 over San Diego.

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IRON PIG NEWS

• Albuquerque 3B Andy Williams took home (A) World Series MVP honors and the Matadors won their 2nd straight class A World Series.
• In 11 playoff games the 20 year old went 19-45 (.422) with a .469 OBP and hit 8 HR's and drove in a record 22 RBI's.
• Milwaukee (AA) CF Juan Quitos takes home the Gold Glove
• Jimmy Young (.241/.329/.491 30 HR 76 RBI) and Ben Towns (.252/.330/.482 21 HR 41 RBI) took home AA Silver Slugger awards.
• A day later Young was awarded the AA MVP award.
• Pitcher Gerardo Carlos (AAA) took home the Gold Glove for New Orleans.
• AAA Center Fielder Matt Chiquete took home the Silver Slugger after hitting .304/.355/.480 with 16 HR's and 84 RBI's.
• New Orleans Dan Ferguson won the AAA Pitcher of the year after going 12-5 2.65.
• P Jason Montano and C Troy Zehnder took home gold gloves for Class A Albuquerque.
• Catcher Troy Zehnder, 2B Jim Martin, 3B Andy Williams, RF Matt Brittingham and DH John Tite all took home silver sluggers for Albuquerque, five of their 9 starters.
• That coaching staff needs to be looked into.
• At Rookie league Minneapolis SP Luis Ornelas, C Carlos Mendez, and 2B Matt Moretti all won Gold Gloves.
• Albuquerque manager Kevin Reilly took home Manager of the year.
• Albuquerque SP Allan Velasquez got 29 of 32 votes for Class A Pitcher of the year. He went 14-3 2.94
• And finally 2B Jim Martin took home Class A MVP. He hit .297-17-61.
• Bittingham (4th) Williams (5th) Tite (7th) and Zehnder (10th) all finished in the top 10 in the voting.
• Nashville SS Derek Dames won the SS Gold Glove.
• Nashville 2B AJ Lanigan took home the Silver Slugger. The 2012 draftee hit .286/.273/.448 with 6 HR and 34 RBI's.
• As mentioned earlier, Hitting Coach Kevin Roberts will be let go.
• The following minor league positions are being vacated:
• AAA Hitting Coach
• AA Hitting and Pitching coach
• Short-season Hitting and pitching coaches (with an offer extended to a PC candidate already)
• Rookie league manager and Hitting coaches
• Albuquerque manager Kevin Reilly was promoted to AAA Hitting coach
• Albuquerque Pitching coach Tom Belleci, and hitting Coach Marty Eggleston were promoted to the same roles for AA Milwaukee.

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CHICAGO, ROMANO PART WAYS
Scouting director Chris Romano was informed he was being let go with a year remaining on his contract. Romano, stunned at the news, was unavailable for comment.
GM Curt Schilling issued a press-release “We're proud of the work Chris has done. Making the post-season in just 2 seasons is no small feat and he was a big part of that. Having said that I think Chris and I differ on many things I feel are important to an organization like ours and this was my decision and mine alone”.

BACKROOM CHATTER
Anyone with access to the backroom knows exactly why this happened. A ton of 4-5-star draft picks that are no longer apparently those talents. If he missed by that much we are going to be hurt by those decisions for years to come. I need someone with a lengthy reputation of elite scouting ability.
Right now we have 10 personnel jobs open, with one offer extended. I will see who becomes available this next few weeks as teams make purges, and act accordingly.

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FIRINGS, RULES CHANGES, OFF-SEASON BEGINS

• Detroit fired GM Victor Torres
• Austin fired Manager Hector Garcia
• Cleveland fired GM Eric Taylor
• Columbus fired Manager Bobby Krausman
• New England fired GM Larry Keehan and Manager Danny Pennington
• San Francisco fired GM Ryan Chapman
• Phoenix fired Manager Jimmy Monheit.

IBL ROSTER RULE CHANGED
The IBL has declared the new “Active Roster” limit will be reduced for the 2013 season and beyond, to 26 players, down from 27.

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2012 AWARD WINNERS
HANK AARON AWARD (MVP)
AL- Zach Stewart LF (PHI) .309-71-142 (Surprise!)
NL- Kevin Terry 1B (NYP) .316-31-114 (his 3rd)

SANDY KOUFAX AWARD
AL- Dave Williamson (CHI) 15-5 2.50
NL- Zach McMillion (FRE) 17-9 2.94

JACKIE ROBINSON AWARD
AL- Bryan Jones LF (DAL) .317-13-85
NL- Bobby Cotter 1B (NE) .328-15-70

MARIANO RIVERA AWARD (Best Reliever)
AL- Jim Bruckner (WYO) 7-3 36 SV 1.01
NL- Cooper Broussard (IND) 5-3 4 SV 2.48

TRAVOR HOFFMAN AWARD (Best Rolaids total)
AL- Jim Bruckner (WYO) 7-3 36 SV 1.01
NL- Matt Wright (IND) 3-6 42 SV 2.98

GOLD GLOVE AWARDS
Kevin Dietz won the NL Gold Glove in CF

SILVER SLUGGER AWARDS
No Iron Pigs hitters won.

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IRON PIG NEWS

• Jesse Fletcher accepted the job as hitting coach at Class A Albuquerque
• Eng-hee Leong accepted a 1-year deal to become the hitting coach in Chicago. I had to overpay for a 1 year “tryout”. He was fired as the hitting coach in Austin after just 4 seasons.
• Fired in OKC this year manager Brian Larkin has agreed to a bumped up deal to handle the Rookie League club. Exceptional hire.
• Another excellent coaching talent in Stuart Bur has agreed to handle PC duties in Nashville for the next 5 years
• 1st time scouting director Justin David has agreed to a 1 year 125K contract, another “tryout” I had to vastly overpay for.

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END OF THE YEAR TOP PROSPECTS AND ORGANIZATIONS

• The year end report came out and we're ranked 3rd, up from 10th last year. 2011 we had 9 of the top 200, at some point mid-season we were at
• 14, with Luis Maya as our highest ranked prospect at #10.
• We once again placed 14 in the top 200

Our system rank/league rank

1. 10 2B Luis Maya (18) 4.5 star monster offensive potential. Recently turned 18 and promoted to Minneapolis
2. 28 SP Luis Ornelas (19) Our top pick (18th overall) in 2012. Had a very solid 1st year and is now on the Class A roster
3. 53 1B Mike Johnson (20) 1st overall pick in 2011 who has fallen (precipitously) in our scouts eyes from a 5-star to a 2.5 star now.
4. 66 OF Yoseikazu Suzuki (19) 7th rounder drafted as a 4-star talent, which has held. Had a very good season in Nashville, slated to start the year with Albuquerque
5. 76 SP Dustin Reyes (20) signed as a minor league FA in August of last year. Did not pitch well at all and our scouts have him as a 2-star talent. The OSA is in love with him.
6. 84 C Troy Zehnder (20) 2nd rounder in 2011 (79th overall). Planning on him as our catcher of the future. Outstanding season at Albuquerque, .271/.369/.437 13 2B 19 HR 65 RBI. Above average defender. 3-stars/
7. 98 CL Allen Henderson (22) 2012 2nd rounder (56th overall). College arm we took rather early. Climbed all the way to AAA saving 21 total games. Bulk of his time in AA (0-2 17 SV 1.85). Control is the big concern, walked 21 in 33 innings to 31 K's. Will open in AAA barring unforeseen events.
8. 122 OF Johnny Blackwell (19) 94th overall pick in 2012. 3-star corner outfielder with immense power. Likely opening at Albuquerque.
9. 133 SP Dan Williams (20) 86th pick in 2011. Drafted as a 5-star talent but last reports had him as a 2.5-star prospect. Velocity tickled up at years end to mid 90's.
10. 141 1B./OF Diego Martinez (18) Int. FA Sign. 5-star talent with HOF level offensive upside. Just turned 18 and headed to Minneapolis
11. 142 OF Tommy Beach (19) Drafted 57th overall this year as a 4.5 star talent, our new scouts say 3-star. Struggled a bit and will likely return to Minneapolis for a 2nd season.
12. 145 IF David Vasquez (17) Int. FA sign in January. 4.5 star talent with monster power and potentially .400 OBP approach.
13. 157 1B Bill Brumfield (21) as much power as anyone in the game. Hit 33 HR's between AA-IBL this year in 107 games. Fantastic eye too. ++ defender at 1B and part of a “problem” I'll be addressing shortly. Could possibly be the opening day 1B next year.
14. 187 SP Nate Shackelford (18) Drafted as a 5-star talent, 55th overall. Battled some injuries and then struggled to a 1-8 5.74 season in Minneapolis with a 1.78 WHIP. Did fan 64 in 58 IP. Returning to Minneapolis.

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SALARY ARBITRATION

• We have 4 players eligible and a pending free-agent in Catcher Jonathan Miller who we will not tender a QO to.
• None of the arbitration numbers are payroll changing in a meaningful way.
• Bobby Graves wins at 1.408 million, we'd offered 1.4
• Pete Ricks wins at 687.5, we'd offered 510.
• Rick McKitrick loses and gets 410, wanted 500.
• Jonathan Miller will become a FA as we did not make a QO. Catching at the high minors and the IBL roster is woefully thin and something to be addressed this winter via FA or trades.

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INTERNATIONAL FREE AGENTS ENTER THE MARKET
Just four names.

• Catcher Helio Sobreira from Venezuela, Rated 2 stars, avg defense with average bat, 22 years old.
• Catcher Gao Tsang out of Chinese Tapai, Rated 2 stars a tick below Sobreira in both facets. 22 years old.
• 3B Efrain Rivera from Mexico. 1.5 stars with some pop.
• IF Angel Medeles from Cuba. 2 stars, sub par defender with decent contact skills and some speed.
• I will dabble in the market for Sobreira and follow some of them to see how our new scouts projections are doing.

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2012 FREE AGENTS FILE
There is not a single arm on this market worth giving any money too. Older relievers, marginal starting pitching.
I did reach out to 36-year-old Catcher Chris Davis and made a 2-year, $1.3 million offer. He's thinking about it, his ask was 800K. But I'd like to have that veteran presence at a position of attrition who could step in and defend above average without being a hole in the lineup.
Troy Zehnder, for now, appears to be the catcher of the future with Brian Stachowski.

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THE DILEMA
The rosters are now going to be 26, which means no “extra” spot for a rule 5 or 6th IF/OF.
Looking at the roster composition now we look like this.

CATCHER
Brian Stachowski is the starter and every day catcher for now. He's alone on the roster and that will be addressed. A good to very good defender he had a decent year at the plate. His OBP dropped 12 pts but his SLG jumped 36 and he hit .263 (.262 in 2011). He's solid and a very popular player in town and around the league. Just 2 years of service.

INFIELD
FIRST BASE
Bill Brumfield LHH could be the every day 1B as he's a very good defender and just 21 years old with elite power and eye. A 40 HR .380 OBP bat from the left side. He's already got a cult following here and abroad. He can play some 3B but is not anywhere near good enough to be that every day guy there.
Jesus Ramirez RHH hit .314/.374/404 in New Orleans after struggling early here. He hit .208/.265/.398 in 168 AB's here. He can play 3B as a solid defender, and SS in a pinch. Does not swing and miss but has below average power and eye.

SECOND BASE
Fred Amling Switch hits and hit a combined .263/.343/.447 with 16 2B 11 HR and 40 RBI's. Hit .50 pts higher and all 11 HR's from the left side. Elite defense at 2B and above average at both SS and 3B. Just 2 years of service time.
Juan Chavez RHH and 23 years old. Bottom half of the order bat. Very good defender at 2B, and in RF, can play SS and 3B if needed. 3 years service time. Career .262/.308/416 hitter with 33 2B 22 HR 100 RBI's in 193 games and 680 AB's. Last year hit .258 from both sides. Best served as an extra IF.
Gus Garcia RHH hands down our best player and one of the leagues best. Finished 4th in Hank Aaron voting after leading the league in 3B (11) and winning the batting title. 2 years of service time and an extension is something I would like to get done. His best position, by far, is 1st base. He is an average defender at 2B, and 3rd, can play SS and both corner OF spots below average. Just 24 years old.
Javier Mariscal LHH who is a ++ defender at 2B, and 3B, above average at SS. Hit .298/.312/.489 in limited time and was hurt more than once after being acquired. Would be the perfect 6th infielder. Team leader too. 3 years service time. 27 years old.

THIRD BASE
Jose Nieves LHH youngest player in the IBL. Got off to a monster start before some struggles. Finished 3rd in the Jackie Robinson voting. Working on 3B defense again this winter where he is a very below average player. His best position is 1B, and can play some 2B. Hit .265/.330/.468 with 29 2B 22 HR and 75 RBI's with 104 K's and 48 BB. 8-18 in SB. Middle of the order bat who in an optimal lineup DH's or plays 1B.
On a brighter note Jose has improved his defense at 3B this winter.
Dave Pedraza LHH. Just 21 years old, claimed off waivers from Pittsburgh. On a very good team this guy is the ultimate utility guy as a LHH. Plays 2B, SS, 3B, LF and RF all at or above average. Big time pop though he didn't show it up here. Hit .215/.271/.266 in llimited time with 1 HR in 79 AB's and 30 punchouts.
Anthony Tripp Switch Hit just .193 as a righty. Part of the issue vs LHP with this club all year. Got off to a poor start but bounced back to hit .264/.318/.438 with 16 2B and 7 HR 35 RBI's in 62 starts and 235 AB's. ++ defender at 1B, tic above average at 3B and can play some 2B.

SHORTSTOP
Mark Calkins RHH Due to make 8.2 million a year through 2015. Signed to be the everyday SS and played 147 games there. Hit .269/.324/.387 after a .276/.327/.388 2011. 85 2B's last two years with 129 RBI's. 40-56 SB's last two years as well. His defense was off early on but he picked it up. His RNG dropped from 4.50 to 4.07, ZR from 10.5 to 7.9 but his efficiency went from 1.042 to 1.052. He's solid and set. He may be a 2B in the last year or two of his deal, but for now, we're fine.

So there you have it. An infield I am likely to keep 6 players at, with 5 OF'ers and a 13 man staff. Clearly would like offense but not at the cost of catching the ball.
And add to that a need to get much better vs LHP.

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OFF SEASON NEWS

• Denver signed former El Paso Closer Jerrod Osborn to a 2-year 15.2 million dollar contract. The 34 year old FA was 5-8 with 25 Saves and a 5.08 ERA last year. He's 17-27 66 Saves 4.17 lifetime.
• Detroit snagged SP Logan Gable for 3 years and 18.5 million/ Gable was 11-9 3.24 with Las Vegas last year. He was 24-40 4.91 his first trip around in Detroit from 2008-10.
• Boston signed former New England OF Ron Lusk to a 5 year 32 million dollar deal.
• Detroit signed OF Jay Hammer to a 2 yer 9.2 million dollar deal.
• Washington inked 2009 Aaron Award winner Chris Cross to a 5 year 54 million dollar deal. The 32 year old 1B Hit .281-36-104 last year for Portland.
• Austin had signed FA DJ Groff last winter in hopes of a long term deal. It did not materialize so they dealt him to Dallas for a P prospect. Groff is a 2-time all-star and a career .254 hitter with 204 HR's and 726 RBI's.
• Fresno managed to convince Rusty Lovelady to extend his contract for 7 more years. The 28 year old will receive 58.8$ million. He's 108-79 3.82 and was the 2006 Koufax award winner.
• 4-time Koufax winner Yaaqov Hysh signed a 3 year 14.6$ million dollar deal with Atlanta. Hysh is 294-214 3.63 22 year career. A 5-time world champion, 15-time all star, 2-time gold glove winner as well as the IBL's all-time leader in:

Wins (294)
Starts (733)
Shutouts (12)
IP (4778)
HA (4262)
HR (557)
K's (4541)
WAR (103.37)

• He holds the single season strikeout mark with 276 set in 1996.
• Just after the new year Wyoming announced the signing of 28 year old FA OF Garrett Nelums. A career .289 hitter with a .332 OBP he has hit 157 HR's and amassed 1307 hits in 1191 games. Nelums received a 5 year 75.06$ million dollar deal. The largest contract in Wyoming history.

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Hitman SP attacked, injured, by a shark.....
Chicago Hitmen SP Ted Zeeryp finished 3rd in the Jackie Robinson voting going 14-9 3.47. The 24 year old was apparently getting his scuba license off the coast of Puerto Rico when he was suddenly, and violently attacked by a shark. The righty suffered a broken elbow and will be out until at least mid-March.

BACKROOM CHATTER
Not sure what to think here. Scuba is clearly forbidden in all basic contracts, and while organizations tend to look the other way, and let players live their lives, this is a pretty big deal. He could have been killed, easily.

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2012 WINTER MEETINGS

• I am not sure how to proceed. I need an ace, I want an ace, but no one's budging and asking prices are insane. I'll even go so far as a 1A on the final year of their deal, we have a lot of $$ room.
• There are literally no FA starters better than 4's and we have enough of those.
• Garcia is the only untouchable on my roster. Morris, Becker, Ricks, and McKitrick I feel are pieces of the puzzle I'd like to hang onto.
• I can't trade Roberts as the fan favorite, I could listen on Nieves, but I'd rather not.
• Maybe I need to loosen the belt on my prospects?

• Catcher Chris Davis informed us that the Denver Saints have upped the ante. We''ve moved our deal to 2 years around 1.4 in total.
• Cleveland kicked off the meetings announcing the signing of 3-time all-star RP Mike Strong to a 2 year 10.8$ million dollar deal. Strong returns to Cleveland where he was in 2011. Last year, in New York, he went 5-6 30 Saves 3.00 ERA and is 82-47 205 Saves 2.59 in his career. This marks the 35 year old 5th team in the past 6 years.

Made a couple of minor league deals, but nothing to rock the boat. Chris Davis is leaning our way, but no decision yet.

2012 RULE 5 DRAFT
Had 2 spots on the 40 man and weighed keeping another player, also looking at 2 pitchers to possibly add, but in the end did nothing.

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IRON PIGS AND DAVIS COME TO TERMS
Chicago announced the signing of veteran Catcher Chris Davis to a 2 year 1.82$ million dollar contract. “Chris brings exactly what we needed, a solid backup to Brian who can handle it all if need be, a tremendous clubhouse presence and a leader on and off the field. We're excited to have him.”

BACKROOM CHATTER
He was not getting away. A solid defender with ++ intangibles. Hasn't hit much the past few years but he gets on base. Brian Stachowski will hopefully handle 130 to 140 games back there and Chris will be just find with 30-40 starts.
Catching is not a position we're deep in organization wide.

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CHICAGO, SAN DIEGO COME TO TERMS
The Chicago Iron Pigs have acquired 25-year-old SP Daniel Wood and the Missions' 2012 3rd round draft choice for 28-year-old P Brian Pelletier, 24-year-old IF Rocky Weir, and Chicago's 2012 5th round draft choice.
Wood is 14-24 4.13 lifetime, while Pelletier is 35-33 4.75.
Weir spent last year at AAA New Orleans.

BACKROOM CHATTER
One thing I do have is a glut of 2-2.5-star middle infielders who are average to above, at best, defenders. Weir was stuck behind the line.
Pelletier went 11-7 4.04 when healthy last year, and is a lefty. He's 28, so we got younger, our scout rate both as 2.5 stars who've “maxed” out to date. The draft pick is not inconsequential. Wood, if he makes the club, it will be at the back end of the rotation, as a swing man, or he'll start in New Orleans.

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2013 SPRING TRAINING

• The rotation for camp
• Morris, Ferguson, Hawkins, Powers, Danny Wood, Bobby Guijosa
• Rick McKitrick is the manager's choice to close with Becker and Gross setting up.
• Bill Brumfield is going to get a shot to make the club as the 1B, Nieves will play 3rd most of the spring. The 'battles” are for the 2 extra infield slots.
• With 50 guys in camp we have 13 outfielders. Roberts, Dietz, and Krieg are locks, as are Johnson and Gutierrez, most likely. Unless someone goes crazy Gutierrez could start vs LHP and his wheels are a weapon off the bench.
• Columbus extended Closer Jerermy Sacks for 2 year and 18.5$ million. Sacks was 9-5 32 Saves 2.00 last year and has 279 career saves and a 2.80 ERA in 727 games.

SPRING TRAINING INJURY NEWS

• Ted Zeeryp, if you remember back this winter, suffered a broken arm and other assorted injuries after a shark attacked him.
• It was announced on the 3rd that he would miss the entire 2013 season after suffering a severe infection in his throwing elbow. The 24-year-old was a huge piece of the Hitmen's rotation plans this year.
• Philadelphia SP Luke Lankford will be out until midseason with a triceps injury. The 27 year old was 8-10 3.80 in Philadelphia last year. Lankford was the 4th overall pick in the 2009 draft.
• Austin lost 25 year old RP Ludovico Argolo to a flexor tendon injury. He will be out at least a year.
• A week later Austin learned 40 year old Closer Adam Brolin, a recent FA signing, would be lost for the year, and possibly see his career end due to a major rotator cuff injury. Brolin was 4-7 23 Saves last year with LA.
• Tom Rowland (CLE) will be out until August after undergoing exploratory shoulder surgery. The 30 year old was 11-10 3.66 for the Gladiators last year.
• Denver lost SP David Mendoza on the final day of spring and the injury appears to be season ending. The 33 year old FA signing was 9-7 3.37 with Portland last year and was acquired in a December trade with Spartans.

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2013 DRAFT LOTTERY RESULTS
The top 4 seeds all got a top 4 pick, but it was crazy.
Atlanta was 4th in odds, got the 1st pick.
Pittsburgh went 2nd and got 2nd.
LA was 3rd and got 3rd while Phoenix was 1st in odds, and got the 4th pick.
Austin 5th (5th)
Columbus 6th (7th)
Oklahoma City 7th (6th)
Detroit 8th (8th).

2013 DRAFT POOL
Josh Frohling is an 18 year old HS pitcher and a projected 21/15/18 Stuff/Movement/Control and likely the 1st pitcher off the board.

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2013 SPRING TRAINING
We finished 18-12 tied with Indianapolis and got out of camp with zero injuries. Some bumps and bruises along the way but nothing that will drag into the season.

Here's our offense this spring.

• The big news is Bill Brumfield making the club at 21 years old. He'll be the every day 1B.
• Jesse Roberts hasn't been the player we thought he was since 2011. He had another real bad spring.
• The youngsters we're all shipped out to get their seasons started.
• The one battle, well two, for the two backup infield spots between Amling, Chavez, Mariscal, Pedraza and Tripp saw Chavez comfortably win the 5th spot.
• Tripp and Pedraza had by far the best offensive springs.
• Neither Mariscal nor Amling can hit LH pitching worth anything, and Mariscal is the far superior defender around the infield.
• With Chavez a RH bat and Amling and Trip as switch hitters, while Mariscal is a straight LHH the choice came down more to defense than anything.
• Mariscal, Tripp, and Amling were optioned to New Orleans.

• In the outfield most of the decisions were pre-made but Bobby Graves refused his assignment. We'll look to trade him before opening day, if not we'll DFA him.
• Gutierrez made the team for his wheels alone, but he can hit a little bit and is a very good defender. Kevin Dietz wins the CF job and would have even if he hit .100. (well not .100 but you get the point)