With spring training just around the corner, the Portland Lumberjacks begin their annual assessment of players who might fit where and make the final 27-man roster. The Lumberjacks front office appears pleased with where the roster is at heading into the 2062 season, but that doesn't mean some difficult questions and challenges remain ahead for manager Mons Raider and GM Chris Wilson. Having several able bodies individuals at a variety of positions appears to be one challenge the team hopes to sort out over the spring. Most notably, a log jammed outfield situation.
"You can't have too many good players" said manager Mons Raider this week at the team's spring training site in Tombstone, Arizona. "Now before you take that out of context, let me indicate I'm not saying we are overloaded with studs. But I will say, we have several guys all around that could start for this team, all of which offer a skill set to help the team win. It's my job to figure out whose skill set helps us win the most games."
As mentioned, the outfield seems to be an area Raider will look to solve this spring. The emergence last year's first round pick Bartolo McFadden seems to have thrown a wrench, though be it good one, into the mix.
"We'll see how he does in the spring, but from what we're seeing right now, Bartolo has to be in the lineup" said Raider. "He needs to play as much as possible. That means finding room for him. And yes, that could mean we look at moving Squires to center to make that happen."
Greg Squires, "Mr. Postseason" from the 2059 Brewster season, was drafted as a CF back in 2055 but has made an All-Star home of it of late in leftfield. He's posted 12.4 WAR over the last 3 seasons while being a pivotal cog in the Lumberjacks offense. While guys like McNeill, Dares, and Gaajlimitiz have been getting most of the recognition, it's been Squires' consistency that has been the glue in the middle of the Lumberjacks order these last 3 seasons.
"I'm here to do what the team needs me to do" said Squires of the possible shift. "I was drafted as a CF, player there some in the minors and during my rookie season. It's not that I'm learning a new position. If that's where I'm needed to make this team better, then so be it."
Portland does have other defensive options that can play the position but don't possess the offensive ability that Squires does. Which may make the decision easier for Raider. "We have Pruitt who we know can play CF and we're going to take a look at the Rule 5 guy, Barron out there some as well. So it's great to have these options. We may throw Squires out there early and let Pruitt take over late in games. Maybe late in games we shift Greg back to LF and put Pruitt in. We'll wait and see how it goes. But looking at Squires in CF is definitely an option this spring and early in the season."
It appears the other outfield spot may go to Geoffrey Dodson if the team elects to go the McFadden, Squires, Dodson route. If any of the trio struggle, expect Squires to shift back to the corner with Pruitt and Dodson picking up the slack off the bench. Alvin Conley, the rookie of the year runner up back in 2058, appears to be in bad graces with the team right now fighting for any chance he can have at salvaging a career.