WHIV 2057.12- Checking The Locks: Infielders

[recte44]

Sure Fire Locks (4):

Helmut Grun, R/R (8/9/7/8/9, .292/.363/.513/.876 with Nashville)- The Hustlers prized free agent signing. Top of the lineup. That dude. Figures to play first base, but there could be a scenario that he might play some second base.

Stewart "Sky" Turton, R/R (7/6/6/5/8, .303/.350/.408/.757 for LV)- Back from injury for the last third of the season, and back at his natural position of second base, Turton thrived. Looking forward to a full season of him after he re-signed with the club.

Tristan "Casino" Lloyd, R/R 7/8/7/5/8, .282/.345/.476/.820 with LV)- Lloyd solidified his place as the new generation star in the Hustlers lineup. A solid third baseman to boot. What's not to like?

Juan Luis Manuel, R/R (5/5/5/7/5, .248/.321/.389/.710 with LV)- Vegas and everyone in the BBA world thought the $7M per year deal given to Manuel was an overpay. No one in the world thought he would hit at all. Everyone thought he'd play an acceptable shortstop. As it turned out he played a good shortstop, hit a little, and $7M was just right. Can he duplicate this at age 36?

Near Locks (0):

NONE

Trying To Break In (6):

Cecil Clarke, R/R (7/8/7/6/6, .037 in 28 at-bats for Las Vegas, then better once down to AA Reno)- Clarke seemed like he would at least be a platoon starter a couple years ago. His slow start last year may have skewed the Hustlers' opinion of him, but then they came back around to the idea of Clarke when they re-added him to the 40-man roster. His "ability" to "play" catcher doesn't hurt.

Francisco de la Torre, R/R (7/7/2/3/9, .412/.444/.529/.974 in 17 ab with LV, .350 for Pahrump-A, .319 for Reno-AA, .317 for Milwaukee-AAA)- We're sure this guy isn't really a .455 hitter, but that's where his lifetime BBA average is now. He can't really play anything but first base, like Clarke he can "play" catcher. His real position is "professional hitter".

Brian Flint, L/L 7/9/7/5/7, .239/.303/.448/.750 for LV; .328/.392/.506/.898 for Milwaukee in AAA)- All the makings of a left-handed slugger, but with Grun now at first base and Chris Hall mashing against LHP in the DH spot, he's going to be a Milwaukee slugger again. He didn't take his opportunity when it was given to him late last year.

Paco Humbert, R/R (5/5/6/9/7, .384 OBP in Milwaukee)- Not quite sure what to make of Humbert. He can draw walks, but doesn't figure to make quite enough contact to be useful. Not enough power to really play first base full time. Can also play left field. You really want a utility guy to be more versatile defensively.

Eugene Wolfe, R/R (7/8/4/3/9, .287/.291/.414/.705 for LV; .314/.341/.488/.829 for Milwaukee in AAA)- Wolfe had everything set up for him last season. With Turton out, he had first dibs at a lot of playing time in his absence. It just didn't come together. Now he's on the outside looking in again.

Jibril Qasim, R/R (5/7/4/7/7, 4 for 17 with LV; .324/.420/.426/.847 for Milwaukee in AAA)- If only he could make contact. If only he fielded the ball cleaner. If only he turned double plays a little better. If only he had a little more speed. If only he had more outfield range. If only he worked a little harder. If only.

Breaking In The Back Door (8):

Czar "Jimmie Jack" Mamatulin, L/L (5/5/7/5/2, .281/.374/.479/.853 for Roswell-R; .233/.340/.442/.782 for Pahrump-A)- He's one of the better power hitting prospects in the system, but still quite a bit away from the big leagues. He's only here for a quick look at big league camp, will likely be back in minor league camp after the first ten days.

Mihai Popescu, R/R (6/7/6/5/6, .314/.403/.394/.796 for Reno-AA; .333/.386/.516/.902 for Milwaukee-AAA)- Popescu is a 26 year old minor league veteran, not likely to be a real contender for a roster spot.

Hakim Muthuri, R/R (5/8/5/5/5, .322/.376/.562/.939 for Pahrump-A; .239/.278/.388/.666 for Reno-AA; .317/.356/.402/.759 for Milwaukee-AAA)- Can really only play second base, and not a great one there. You really have to squint to see something in this guy.

Randy Wright, R/R (5/6/4/4/5, .312/.389/.432/.821 for Reno-AA)- Wright, the Hustlers #2 prospect, looks like the second baseman of the future, with plenty of time to grow into his potentials of 8/7/6/4/8. At 19 years old, he's already shown he can hit pitching at the AA level.

Lou Lewis, R/R (6/7/6/5/7, .245/.321/.382/.703 at Reno-AA; .278/.301/.437/.737 at Milwaukee-AAA)- Lewis, already 26 years old, is a classic top-level career minor leaguer. On paper, it looks like he should hit a little, though he didn't produce dominant numbers at any level last year after having done so at different levels every other season in the Hustlers organization. Seems the closer he gets to actually getting a chance to break through to the BBA, there's a bump. The biggest bump is lack of position. As a third baseman he's a statue with a great arm, the same goes in the outfield corners. Sure, he could play some first base, but at the expense of who?

Ronald Young, R/R 6/6/3/4/8, .351/.398/.471/.860 for Reno-AA; .311/.373/.434/.807 for Milwaukee-AAA)- Young, 27, is the anti-Lewis. He's produced, he's a reasonable corner infield and outfield defender. His intangibles are outstanding. He could have a shot.

Hanif Jawhar, L/R (5/8/2/5/5, .324/.384/.453/.837 for Pahrump-A; .293/.333/.354/.687 for Reno-AA)- He's a left-handed hitter who has shown that he can handle shortstop. How many of these guys are there in today's BBA environment. Needs to keep playing every day and the Hustlers will monitor his progress closely.

Mario Romero, R/R (4/7/4/4/3, .259/.332/.484/.816 for Pahrump-A)- Hustlers are developing him as a potential future utlilty guy.

[BaseClogger]

You always have a nice group of 26 and 27 year olds in AAA ready to hit (maybe not field).

[recte44]

Finding infielders who can actually field has been challenging, would be the word I'd use.

[trmmilwwi]

Can't wait to see how this infield performs. Bringing in Grun and having him play in the bright lights of Vegas adds value to that right half of the infield no doubt.

[Jwalk100]

I see a ton of double plays being turned by Vegas this season.