2058.07: Rummaging Bears - Infielders

[BaseClogger]

3/7/2058


As they rummage a campsite some Bears find picnic baskets while others are shooed away.

Sure-Fire Locks
1B Michael Schultz, SS Dick Walton, 3B Roberto Rivera, SS Sammy McNeill, SS Kevin Corbett

Michael Schultz moves into the infield after struggling to defend left field in 2057. He played well at first base in limited time. As long as he can simply catch the ball he’ll be okay because he’s surrounded by perhaps the best defensive infield in the league. Walton doesn’t need to bat .324 again to have tremendous value playing second base, just stay healthy. Roberto Rivera remains an underrated Brewsterian who performed well in most facets of the game last year. Sammy friggin McNeill, baby! Kevin Corbett’s 1.6 WAR in part-time duty moves him up into the sure-fire locks section. He’ll platoon with McNeill and play once a week in place of Walton to keep them both healthy.

Near Locks
1B Naoaki Kurioka

Somebody should platoon with Don Moore at DH. Kurioka still hasn’t put it all together but he does have 26 career homers in 506 ABs. He’s also an important defensive substitute for Schultz if he struggles with his transition to first base.

Trying to Break-In
3B Felipe Reyna, 2B Takeichi Suzuki

Last season’s starting second baseman, Felipe Reyna, has lumped from 7 infield range when he signed with the Bears as a free agent a year ago to now 4 infield range, effectively making him a corner infielder only. In all likelihood he’s going to be released so I have the cap space for McNeill. Suzuki moves up a peg from last year’s version of this article after a .324/.388/.509 triple slash in AAA.

Breaking in the Back Door
1B Ralph Halvorsen, 2B Kensaku Kato, 3B José Pérez

Halvorsen’s gotten a few tastes of the show and should at least be capable of getting on base if he has to fill in for an injured starter. He came over in a minor trade with the Surfers last year. Kato’s role gets magnified by the inclusion of Jose Villa in the Sammy McNeill trade. He’s effectively my org’s fourth shortstop now. He also looks like a ready-made platoon mate for Takeichi Suzuki. Finally, we have former first round pick Jose Perez. All he did was put up 5.4 WAR during his age 21 season. The biggest dilemma with Perez is his 5 infield error rating which may preclude him from the hot corner. He got some reps at first base in the Spring to improve his flexibility.

[RonCo]

Rivera is, indeed, overlooked.