beausox
02-03-2002, 09:56 AM
We know who is starting, but who's going to be coming in off the bench? There's a lot of compeition for the five spots (C, 1B/3B, 2B/SS, OF, OF). Here' show it breaks down.
C-If you assume Alomar as the starter (because he's grossly overpaid), then there are five guys competing for the back-up job. Lee Evans, Mark Delasandro, Josh Paul, Mark Johnson, and Miguel Olivo.
Olivo is probably the least likely to make the team, unless he would break camp as the starter, he is our top catching prospect and needs to play every day. Delasandro is nothing but a Quadruple A player and an orgazational soldier, though its nice we got him a cup of coffee last year. Evans was just a throw in in the Ritchie trade and in my opinion is nothing more than a back-up catcher someday at best. Alomar will not get more than 350 AB's so its more like a platoon partner than a back-up role whihc disqualifies Evans. Again this year its between Johnson or Paul. Paul has the speed and versatility plus the organization loves him. However he still can't hit his way out of a paper sack. Mark Johnson has to be our other catcher, he is relatively young, a former number 1 draft pick, and he is the only catcher that has any patience at the plate. I wouldn't complain if he was our starter.
1B/3B-This is the spot that we are counting heavily on Jeff Liefer for. Leifer can play 5 positions (1B, 3B, LF, RF, DH) and he hits enough to overshadow his defensive stuggles. He's not better than anyone we have starting at those positions, but he makes a great utility guy and come interleague a great pinch hitter in the 9th for the pitcher. However, if Crede breaks camp with the team (which would be another mistake if he's not going to play everyday), Liefer becomes one of the back-up outfielders.
2B/SS-The assumption here is that it will go to Tony Graffanino. While this is probably true, there are many other canidates taht could perform just as well as Tony and are a lot cheaper. We overpaid to resign Tony, he is a good ballplayer, but for an owner that always complains about money, sigining a back-up infielder for so much when you could pick a minor league free agent up for the league minimum makes no sense. Justin Baughman is coming to spring training and is just a good as player as Tony. He would cost a lot less than Tony though. Baughman can only play second, but if Clayton got hurt, Valentin moves to short and Liefer plays third. Also Jason Dellaero fields well enough to be a back-up infielder and he will never hit enough to be a starter. We overpaid for Tony and thats the bottom line.
OF (2)-If Lee isn't traded, then the outfield is Lee, Lofton, and Ordonez. Rowand makes the team as your fourth outfielder and would play left if Lee is traded. The fifth spot comes down two guys were pretty familiar with, Julio Ramirez and Brian Simmons. Neither has hit well in the majors, but Julio needs to find his stroke in AAA and Brian will run through a wall to catch a flyball, Brian will make the team.
We will have a good bench. We got guys with some power, speed, and good gloves that can step in when needed.
C-If you assume Alomar as the starter (because he's grossly overpaid), then there are five guys competing for the back-up job. Lee Evans, Mark Delasandro, Josh Paul, Mark Johnson, and Miguel Olivo.
Olivo is probably the least likely to make the team, unless he would break camp as the starter, he is our top catching prospect and needs to play every day. Delasandro is nothing but a Quadruple A player and an orgazational soldier, though its nice we got him a cup of coffee last year. Evans was just a throw in in the Ritchie trade and in my opinion is nothing more than a back-up catcher someday at best. Alomar will not get more than 350 AB's so its more like a platoon partner than a back-up role whihc disqualifies Evans. Again this year its between Johnson or Paul. Paul has the speed and versatility plus the organization loves him. However he still can't hit his way out of a paper sack. Mark Johnson has to be our other catcher, he is relatively young, a former number 1 draft pick, and he is the only catcher that has any patience at the plate. I wouldn't complain if he was our starter.
1B/3B-This is the spot that we are counting heavily on Jeff Liefer for. Leifer can play 5 positions (1B, 3B, LF, RF, DH) and he hits enough to overshadow his defensive stuggles. He's not better than anyone we have starting at those positions, but he makes a great utility guy and come interleague a great pinch hitter in the 9th for the pitcher. However, if Crede breaks camp with the team (which would be another mistake if he's not going to play everyday), Liefer becomes one of the back-up outfielders.
2B/SS-The assumption here is that it will go to Tony Graffanino. While this is probably true, there are many other canidates taht could perform just as well as Tony and are a lot cheaper. We overpaid to resign Tony, he is a good ballplayer, but for an owner that always complains about money, sigining a back-up infielder for so much when you could pick a minor league free agent up for the league minimum makes no sense. Justin Baughman is coming to spring training and is just a good as player as Tony. He would cost a lot less than Tony though. Baughman can only play second, but if Clayton got hurt, Valentin moves to short and Liefer plays third. Also Jason Dellaero fields well enough to be a back-up infielder and he will never hit enough to be a starter. We overpaid for Tony and thats the bottom line.
OF (2)-If Lee isn't traded, then the outfield is Lee, Lofton, and Ordonez. Rowand makes the team as your fourth outfielder and would play left if Lee is traded. The fifth spot comes down two guys were pretty familiar with, Julio Ramirez and Brian Simmons. Neither has hit well in the majors, but Julio needs to find his stroke in AAA and Brian will run through a wall to catch a flyball, Brian will make the team.
We will have a good bench. We got guys with some power, speed, and good gloves that can step in when needed.