2062.05: Rummaging Bears - Outfielders

[BaseClogger]

3/7/2062


How well are our spring campers' picnic baskets secured?

Sure-Fire Locks
LF Chris Hall, CF Sonny Bigalow, RF Tommy Harrison, LF Keith Tims

Pretty good experience in the outfield group. I've settled on Hall playing left field more often than TIms with the other DHing. Tims is acquiring a first baseman's mitt this spring too. Both are RHP killers. Tommy Harrison needs a rebirth after bottoming out offensively in his age 26 season amidst significant lumps. Bigalow got buff like the week after the series and added +1 rating point (that stuck, anyway) to every single important defensive rating and is now elite in center field. He helps balance out all the lefties with his power-oriented and right-handed stroke.

Near Locks
LF Steve Morris, LF Rafael Marquis

Morris and Marquis both hit the shit out of the ball in 2061 so the only reason they aren't locks for the Opening Day roster is that their ratings make the stats look like a mirage. Marquis is above average defensively in the corners while Morris hit well enough to DH, so to speak. I also covered a couple of infielders who will see reps against LHP in 2062.

Trying to Break-In
LF Rafael Ramirez

Ramirez is a step ahead of his minor league competition because he already hit .348/.385/.533 last year in AAA. He bats right handed, so his best path to playing time is to take the job currently held by Steve Morris platooning with all the lefties on the list above. Unfortunately, a player who was previously bumping and on an upward trajectory saw some ratings lumps over the offseason so I'm once again skeptical and want to see him hit in Brooks.

Breaking in the Back Door
LF Kit Markoulides, LF Daniel Throsby, CF Kyle Ray, CF Jim Sitton

Markoulides and Throsby were part of the same IFA class and scouts say they look better all the time. They're now on the 40-man roster but will burn their first options when they head back to AA and try to convert all the potential ratings into actual ratings and production this season. Ray played in over 400 games for Rockville the last few years and is still just 27 years old. He managed to stay in the BBA thanks to his defense but the scouts grew more skeptical of his ability in the field over the offseason. Sitton is San Fernando's top overall prospect and really only needs to develop his AVK rating in AAA to reach his full potential. We're really excited about him but there's no rush with Bigalow firmly entrenched in center field.