Trail Droppings 2034-2 Spring Training Battles

[indiansfan]

Spring Training Battles

Pitching #5-6 spots

#4 and #5 Starting Pitcher - With Jake Dickson (8/7/6 Talents) starting the season on the DL and Juan Rodriguez (8/7/9 Talents) is starting the season on suspension, the biggest competition in Spring Training is over who will fill those 2 spots.

Jose Torres (9/7/6 Talents) - The favorite for a spot in the rotation, Torres has 5 good pitches and has nothing left to prove in the minors. The biggest question is if the 21 yr old can keep the ball in the park and is his control good enough for the BBA now.

Erhard Linder (7/7/7 Talents) - This may be Linder’s last shot to make the rotation and he is the favorite for the #5 slot right now. The 23 yr old was awful in 2 starts with Calgary last year, but has mastered AAA. He does have 2 options years left, so he could spend time bouncing between Calgary and St. Paul

Stan Brooks (7/7/7 Talents) - A Rule 5 pickup last year that was kept on the roster so the team didn’t lose him. He wasn’t really ready last year, but maybe ready now. He only has one great pitch, a curveball, so his future may end up being in the bullpen.

Bill Marsh (7/7/7 Talents) - Like Brooks, Marsh was another Rule 5er last year. Almost 24, he has 2 good pitches and the team is hoping on his change up developing. Long term he projects to have a better shot at the rotation than Brooks, but last season Brooks pitched better.

Omar Ayala (7/7/5 Talents) - A Rule 5 pickup this season from Louisville, Ayala has little experience beyond the AA level. He is the dark horse for a rotation position, but the team would like to stash him on their roster if they can find a space. With a crowded field it will be tough to do, but the Pioneers hate the idea of sending back to the hell hole in Louisville.

Set Up Role - Jesus Arce (9/7/8 Talents) has one of the setup spots locked up, but the other will be a competition.

Fernando Pena (6/7/9 Talents) - Pena won the battle last season and performed well. He has lost a little bit on his fastball, but with his experience and a team friendly contract he should be a lock to make the bullpen. However, whether it is in this role or middle relief will be determined in the Spring.

Oswald Brenner (10/6/5 Talents) - After spending the 2032 season in Calgary, Brenner was very frustrated to spend last year in St. Paul. He has some of the best stuff in the game and it would be a surprise if he didn’t make Calgary’s pen this year. The team kept the two Rule 5 guys last year, but won’t again this year. Brenner has also been on the trade block this off season.

Lefty Specialist - The team will keep one, do they have room for a second?

Esteban Ortiz (7/7/7 Talents) - One of the great relievers in Calgary history, Ortiz is coming off a great season. Can the 37 yr old win the job one more time?

Curro Madrid (9/8/6 Talents) - An off season signing, Madrid has really worked hard this off season. The team hired a special coach to work on converting him from a swingman to a full time reliever. He could spend more time at AAA, he could beat out Ortiz, or he could make the team in middle relief.

Brandon Olds (10/6/8 Talents) - The one time prospect is out of options. The team is going to give him a serious shot, but the odds are long. If he ends up on waivers however, the team will most certainly lose him.

Middle Relief - The question here is how many spots will be left. Some of the pitchers mentioned already will probably end up in middle relief. So is there a spot still left for one of these guys?

Hyun-hi Son (8/6/6 Talents) - He spent last season in Calgary and provided some solid innings out of the bullpen. He would seem to be the favorite, but with a new pitching coach nobody’s job is safe.

Carlos Rodriguez (10/7/4 Talents) - A Rule 5 pickup that had been projected as a starter, Calgary is looking at him as a righty specialist this season. That is if they can find a spot. He doesn’t have the control the team would like but he has great stuff and 4 good pitches. The team is hoping they can find room as he has a bright future. However, it is doubtful the team will be able to have room to stash 2 Rule 5 players again this year.
Juan Sanchez (10/8/4 Talents) - Another guy with great stuff and control problems. It looked like this would be his last shot, at the age of 26, to become just another AAAA guy. However, the team got some good news and found out that he is really 2 years younger than they thought he was. Apparently there was some monkey business when the team signed him out of Nicaragua when he was really only 15.

Starting SS - Both men will make the roster, the question is who will start

Omar Aparicio (5/8/2/4/7 Talents) - A late season pickup that played great after coming over on waivers. Was last year a fluke or can he hold down the job full time. He has a better glove, but not as good a bat as Baggins.

Bilbo Baggins (6/8/2/6/7 Talents) - He split his time last year between SS and 2B after Anderson got injured. He has the better bat and his glove will only get better with playing time.

5th Outfielder - Sergio Cordova (6/7/8/5/6 Talents) was signed to be one of the team’s backup outfielders, but several players are competing for the other spot. It is also possible that the team will go with 4 outfielders to open the season and try to keep another 1B or DH guy on the roster

Santiago Sanchez (7/8/6/6/8 Talents) - The team is very surprised that they didn’t get more interest for Sanchez. He is ready to start and has nothing more to learn at AAA. However, the team may send him back down because he will be buried on Calgary’s bench.

Julio Moreno (6/8/6/4/8 Talents) - Moreno is a long shot, but was brought to Spring Training so the big league staff could get a better look at him.

Nick Noftle (5/5/3/6/6 Talents) - Noftle made the roster last season as a defensive sub and pinch runner. He didn’t disappoint. The problem is will there be a spot for him or will the team make room for a better bat.

Bench Bats - All of these guys should be on the roster, but there won’t be room for too many of them. The team was hoping to move one or two, but there is a glut of 1B/DH bats out there.

Ronald White (8/7/2/5/8 Talents) - The journeyman did a great job last year filling in for injuries. He can hit for average, he can steal bases, but he can only play 1B. So he has a good chance of making the team as a bench bat, but it is going to be a cruel numbers game

Jack Hankey (7/6/6/3/9 Talents) - Another 1B bat that kills lefties. Hankey is out of options. So the team either keeps him on the roster or loses him.

Miguel Saurez - A lefty power hitter with a great upside. Saurez has the bat for the BBA, but the team is short on spots and he has options. He will need an amazing Spring to make the squad this year.

Bill Wilkins (6/8/7/6/5 Talents) - 1B/3B, and he could start for many teams. A switch hitting power bat at 3B that has 78 homers over the last 2 seasons in the minors. He has options, so will probably be sent down, but don’t be surprised if he comes up if there is an injury to an infielder.

Francisco Marin (8/8/3/5/9 Talents) - This guy can flat out hit and run. The problem is he can’t catch. Potential Gillstrom winning bat, but the team just can’t seem to find a spot for him. However, Terry Cochran will find it really hard to send him down again

Jeremy Woodruff (7/7/7/4/7 Talents) - DH bat that kills lefties, but he has options and that will probably determine his fate.

Alex Figueroa (5/7/6/5/6 Talents) - The team’s super sub may be out of a spot this year. Can fill in at 6 positions, can hit a little and can pinch run. Every team needs a guy like this, but will the Pioneers have a spot for him this year.