Tater Talk: 2040.13 – Position Battles Royale: The Bats

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Tater Talk: 2040.13 – Position Battles Royale: The Bats

Post by jleddy » Tue Sep 24, 2019 1:54 am

Image With spring training here, the Boise front office and coaching staff will be focused on several key position battles taking place to determine who makes the starting lineup, who earns a spot on the bench and who will find themselves back in the minors, or worse, cut from the organization all together. This is the first article in a series of two, focusing on offensive players vying for playing time. Part two will conclude the series and take a look at pitchers in battles for the rotation and bullpen.

The good news for manager Barrett Callahan is there are several players who are locks to make the starting nine, starting with defending Sawyer Silk Award winner and face of the franchise, outfielder Dennis French. While the young phenom is an obvious lock to be inked in the top third of the Spuds lineup, there is a tiny question as to where he might play in the field. Odds are 99% patroling centerfield, with the 1% chance French moves to a corner spot touched-on below. Newly acquired Hank Brewer will see a majority of starts at catcher. Scouts and analysts both see a bounce-back season from former All-Star Yunosuke Terada, who will be the everyday first baseman. Carlos Muñóz has been quoted in the media that he's in the best shape of his life after dedicating himself to a training program this off-season and is a sleeper pick to breakout in 2040 as the Boise designated hitter.

SECOND BASE
Incumbent Ramón Vela returns after a fine season in which he was one of the team's best hitters through May. A bad back in June slowed Vela down and he missed almost all of August with a rib cage injury but still produced the best season of his career (.279/.339/.480). Reportedly a favorite of general manager Joe Lederer, Vela has the inside track to the starting gig, however Lederer has mentioned during the winter that the club would be active in the free agent market. At this time, a second baseman has yet to be signed with the likes of Jared Gillstrom, Mark Wareham and Carlos Garcia still without contracts. Vela is out of options, so if another second baseman is brought in, Vela would have to show the ability to handle both second and third base as a utility infielder.

SHORTSTOP
Boise returns Norm Smith and Joaquín Torres, stellar glovemen with virtually no offensive abilities. Smith started a majority of games at short in 2039, 105 to Torres' 54. Barring a free agent signing, the two will be battle it out along with highly-touted prospect Motonobu Yamashita. Yamashita, Boise's #2 ranked prospect last year, has just as an impressive defensive profile as Smith and Torres, but has shown the ability to hit for high average with doubles power (.342/.373/.483 in 128 PA in AAA). Yamashita and Smith also have great speed, giving them both an edge over Torres to at a minimum fill a role as defensive specialist and pinch-runner off the bench. It's likely that the runner up earns a spot on the bench with the odd man expected to be named the starting shortstop in Triple-A Salt Lake City.

THIRD BASE
Pedro Nava beat out António Baca last spring, and the team captain played well enough (.261/.320/.472) to keep the more highly touted Baca on the bench. Baca struggled mightily as a reserve (.170/.237/.242), however Nava's contract expired at season's end, leaving just Baca on the roster as the default starter. During the Winter Meetings, Lederer swung a deal with Yellow Springs to bring in veteran Rob Thomas, a former All-Star in 2035. Thomas has been in a two-year decline after an impressive 2037 (.303/.348/.568) and Boise hopes he can flash some of his past ability. To muddy matters even more, Nava was brought back with a one-year, $650,000 deal signed in November. One thing to watch this spring is Callahan's use of a platoon, using Thomas against righties (.289/.321/.519 vs RHP in 2039) and splitting Nava and Baca against lefties. It's possible that all three could find themselves making the final roster.

LEFT FIELD/RIGHT FIELD
Future Hall of Famer Alfredo Salazar is no longer on the roster after failing to see his 2040 option vest, leaving an opening in the corner outfield (42 starts in left and 33 starts in right to go with 28 starts at DH). Ken Gerhart III (72 starts), Louis Oshin (30 starts), Pedro Holguín (12 starts), and Pedro Díaz (5 starts) all saw time in right field, leaving this one of the more crowded position battles. Diaz started the most games in left field (34 starts) and has a leg up as the starter there. In addition to Gerhart III, Oshin and Holguín, Boise has BBA's #8 prospect Félix Román waiting in the wings. Román, 20, finished 2039 in AA, slashing .309/.398/.662 and slugging 43 home runs between two levels. Román is a natural centerfielder but has shown he can be a plus-defender in right field. Could he start in center and move French to right? That remains to be seen. Last but not least is Ricardo Ruíz, the club's #3 prospect last season. Ruíz had a fine year at age 20 in AA (.277/.309/.445) and after a monster winter league season (.343/.405/.657), he looks ready to contribute at some point in 2040. Ruiz is capable of playing either corner position but will likely settle at left. It's likely out of these six options, only three make the final 27-man roster.

BACK-UP CATCHER
One of the team's biggest needs going into 2040 was the addition of capable left-handed bats. Brewer, a switch-hitter, was acquired in a post-expansion draft trade and adds a much needed bat from the left-side. It's possible at age 35 that Brewer could find himself in a platoon role with returning part-time starter José Rivera and free agent signee Ignacio Marrero battling for starts against lefties. Rivera opened 2039 as the starter but was the back-up by the end of the season. Marrero returns to Boise after one year in Brooklyn, so the club is familiar with him and values his incredible defense. A Brewster/Marrero platoon gives the Spuds an option to field a plus-defensive backstop every game. Lederer has shown not to keep three catchers on the active roster, and with Rivera is out of minor league options and Salt Lake City adding two free agent minor league signings at the position, Rivera could be traded or waived if he doesn't earn a spot out of spring training.
"My $#!? doesn't work in the playoffs." - Billy Beane Joe Lederer

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Re: Tater Talk: 2040.13 – Position Battles Royale: The Bats

Post by HoosierVic » Tue Sep 24, 2019 10:18 am

Roman is definitely a beast. Ideally, would be nice to see him fill in the power potential just a touch more, but he basically looks ready. That cannon arm is pretty tempting for right field ...

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