Casinotes 55.12- Infield Outlook

[chicoruiz]

The first in a quick series reopening old wounds; that is, reviewing the 2055 Gamblers and analyzing their needs heading into 2056. Let’s start with the infield.

Third baseman Ernesto Gonzalez remains as the sole remnant of the glory days of Gamblers baseball. At age 35, he’s probably not the player he used to be, but I’m still glad to have him as the only constant in an infield that’s in a state of flux (that is to say, we’re pretty much fluxed at the other positions). I’d consider Ernesto a “Hall of Very Good” type, but he’s got two years left on his current deal, and if he bounces back just a little, he might end up with close to 3000 hits, which would merit serious consideration for the Big Honor.

Shortstop Breslan Hadingham has probably given me as much as I can reasonably expect from a Rule 5 pick. He’s an okay-ish to good glove with a career .692 OPS. Still, there’s room for concern. His batting took a nosedive after becoming a starter, which is troubling. That said, I’m offering him arbitration, which is more than I can say for my other 2055 option. Fred Manchild hit enough singles to have a decent batting average, but his arm… of Lord, his arm. Think “limp dishrag”. I need to find another option this offseason, but shortstops who can actually play are expensive, so it might end up being another Rule 5 guy.

On a really good team, Yodo Sato might be better employed as a utility man, but on my team, he’s going to play somewhere every day. He’s an average to slightly below average glove man at second, but he lacks the pop you want from a first baseman and the arm for another infield spot, so it looks like second base is it. Wouldn’t be averse to acquiring an upgrade here, but I only have so much to spend, and at least he’ll hit. I think…

I let Eric Wignes walk away in free agency, and I may regret it. Eric hit .300, played good defense, and was a team leader. But, like the kid in high school who dumps his girlfriend on the chance that the hot cheerleader might go out with him, I have bigger aspirations. My team needs a power infusion, especially going in to a new park where I’d like to sell some tickets, so this will be an area where I’m willing to spend some money. I have a couple of prospects working their way through the minors, but they’re a ways away. Ideally, I’d find a guy in free agency who could play first for a couple of years, hit a bunch of home runs, then maybe contribute as a DH. Wish me luck.

There were a couple of other infielders on my end-of-year roster; they were tossed out into the cold as soon as the season ended.

I’ll stick my catchers in here as well because I have little to say about them. Craig Hughes and Spencer Clough were a really nice duo. Keep it up, guys. End of comments.

Outfield and DH review coming next…

[Trebro]

If I am a decent free agent shortstop I'm already burning thousand dollar bills because they're too small.