1996 Spring Training - Position Battles

[Clay]

Got any?





In Virginia, we really just have one....

Arapeta Haunani (L) - 1B
Artie Polk (L) - 2B
Del McMillan (R) - 3B

These three will compete for the last spot on the Roster (12th position player). None of them are world-beaters... but I'd rather give them first crack versus breaking the cherry on Hector Baez or Pancho Barajas - both of whom will likely be up no later than September.

[Spear]

We have a couple:

Backup Catcher:

C - Manny Litton
C - Chad Boyd

Both have been career minor leaguers at the age of 27. Boyd probably has the slight edge at this point after spending the past three seasons in AAA. He's a native of Iowa and could become an instant fan favourite if he secures the job.

Bullpen:

Gordinho, Reyes, Oh, Rubio, and Land are all locks in the pen which should create some competition for the final couple spots available.

MR - Curt Miller is the leading candidate to get one of those spots after appearing in a successful 22 game stint last year.

MR - Pancho Herrera - still trying to post the same numbers that he did in Pawtucket, will look to focus on being strictly middle relief and no longer a swing man.

MR - Art Casey - accepted a minor league contract after snubbing the Kodiaks. He is looking to make a transition to the bullpen after seeing his career go downhill as a starter.

MR - Von Shanks - looking to return to his '93 and '94 form after '95 saw him splitting time between AAA Portland Davenport. With some of the other candidates listed above it might be difficult for him to win that old spot back.

No other competitions besides those two, thought we might have a battle for a few bench spots but I'm happy with Nickell, Ramirez, Prince, and Fernandez occupying those.

[umd]

Hartford:

#5 and #6 Starters - Brad Hayes, who was claimed off waivers from Denver last year, will try to hold off rookie Ukessun Kayra for the #5 spot. Kayra (1991 3.3) got a September cup of coffee and posted a 3.28 ERA in 5 starts. Victor Garcia, a staple in Hartford since 1991, will try to hold off father time and declining numbers to keep the #6 spot against Kayra and Hayes.

Final Bullpen Spot - currently belongs to the erratic Don McDonald. However, his hold on a BLB spot is tenuous. He'll be pushed by a combination of BLB ready AAA arms in Don Newman, Julian Ramirez and possibly Tyrone Bowers. There's also the possibility of Kayra starting the season as a long reliever, which would force out McDonald.

C - The chronically underachieving Adrien Herrera will platoon with C/1B Doug Brown to start the season. One may be forced to hold off a FA or trade acquisition if we make a move for a more established bat.

DH - is empty. A combination of George, Newlin, Hawkins, Carbajal, & Brown are the temporary solution until another bat can be acquired.

[BradZ]

Got any?

In Virginia, we really just have one....

Arapeta Haunani (L) - 1B
Artie Polk (L) - 2B
Del McMillan (R) - 3B

T

Ah, Haunani. I remember when he was supposed to be the second coming.

My scout had Haunani as the #1 overall player, #1 on the draft list with a report of 6-6-7-6-5.

Your scout had Haunani above Sau?

Mine had Haunai 7-7-8-7-6. If he pans out, I'll be kicking myself for years.

[Clay]

Ah, Haunani. I remember when he was supposed to be the second coming.

You and me both, Sister.


Yep... he soured me on INTs forever. Won't touch them early since then.

[Jake]

Glad I don't have to kick myself.

[liquidcrash]

A few in Carolina:

For the #6 starter role (if we go with 6 starters)- Ivan Gutierrez vs Adrian Iturriaga. I could just pick between these two on a weekly basis depending on if I need a lefty or a righty. I think they can both do a solid job of it.

For the backup IF/utility role: Vern Pearson vs Kip Higgins vs Sekien Meshizuka. Theoretically one of the first two could become my starting SS, but I doubt it. I picked them both up for cheap off the free agent list while Meshizuka has been an organizational guy for a while.

Chan-koo Kim vs Ivan Cervantes for the 4th OF spot. I haven't decided whether I'm keeping 4 or 5 outfielders to start the season. Cervantes came up late last season and showed some pop. Kim has progressed nicely in AAA. Cervantes might have the edge because he's right-handed (all my starters are lefties) and he has a better glove.

[Lintyfresh85]

In California we're only playing for pride... but I do have a few guys I want to see how they handle their roles in ST.

SP - Jarred Minchin (Rule V Pick - Syracuse) - Scout seems to think he could contribute out of the pen. He's a Top 20 organizational prospect, so I'll keep him regardless, but I'm starting him in the rotation to begin the year, to see how he handles it.

LF - Fernando Lopez - Doesn't have anything else to prove at AAA (career .316/.386/.427/.813 in over 1,000 PA's). Moved Wes Farmer out for a draft pick... want to see what Lopez can do with everyday at-bats at the major league level. If he slips, OF Willie Quick is lurking in AAA ready to take his spot.

[funclown]

Lol, where to begin?

Starting Pitching:

The competitions are more place in the rotation. #1 & #2 are set.
#3 & #4 - Ocampo versus Sadao
#5 $ #6 - Freddie versus Mcdonald

Also my old prospect/ top #100 Robby Johnson will get a long hard look with another former top#100 Pat Coleman before being sent back to AAA.

Bullpen:

Bullpen lefties Gene Haynes vs Gaetan Bisson. Bisson might hold of Haynes for this spot due to Haynes lack of control still. Might feel safe for Haynes to take some innings in AAA to start the year off. Haynes future is bright regardless.

Starting lineup is basically set with the exception of OF. Besides Samuel, the rest are playing for ABs with more lefties joining the group this season. Be interesting to see how it all shakes out.

Guys competing to stay with big boys or sent farming:

IF/OF Toby Rodger
2B Yukihiro Matsumoto
1B/3B Zach Ross
RF Oliver Rowell
C Chet Reed

If we decide to stay with 13 pitchers, these 4 will be competing for the final 2 spots on this team.

Good luck kids.

Good luck kids!

[Gyrodork]

Insufficient depth in our organization to have any position battles. But I'll be bringing some pitchers up prematurely. So that'll be interesting.

[Pat]

3B - Mal Wood vs. Sammy Knowlton = Who cares

[Clay]

The competitions are more place in the rotation. #1 & #2 are set.
#3 & #4 - Ocampo versus Sadao
#5 $ #6 - Freddie versus Mcdonald

So.... this isn't really a position battle... it's a battle for sequence. These are the 6 guys, you're just trying to put them in order.

Methinks you be overthinkin'

[funclown]

So.... this isn't really a position battle... it's a battle for sequence. These are the 6 guys, you're just trying to put them in order.

Methinks you be overthinkin'

Probably.

[Carlos]

No position battles. These are the guys we're going to lose with.

[Ryan]

Undrafted Free Agent Mauricio Morua, Sang Keun-Kim, and Tamasaburo Okamoto will be battling it out for two bullpen spots.

Morua has progressed nicely from his days as a SS, and I like his chances of sticking around for the trip up north.