It's week three and we have some cuts. The team decided to cut catchers Tyler Flowers and J.C. Boscan, and infielders Javier Guzman and Diory Hernandez. Since it is apparent that utility man Omar Infante is certain to start the year on the disabled list, I'm going to go ahead and cut him from the MTM. The rest of the players below are competing for five bench spots.
On a side note, I'll be traveling today and tomorrow, so sporadic posting at best.
| Player, Position | Chance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Josh Anderson, OF |
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I would call him the leading candidate for the backup outfield job, but there's still a lot of spring left. |
| Gregor Blanco, OF |
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He's playing well this spring, but much like last spring, he just isn't getting the same playing time that the other candidates are. I would still call him "on the bubble" for making the team. |
| Martin Prado, INF |
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They are giving Prado every opportunity to win a backup infield job. He's played second, short, and third, and he's played them all without any errors. He's starting to hit and looks like he may have the inside track on the job. |
| Brandon Jones, LF |
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He's still not hitting at all and it's becoming a cause for concern. I talked with Jones a couple of days ago and he indicated that he's not quite right at the plate yet. He also said he has traditionally been a slow starter. (Kind of reminds me of another recently departed Jones.) |
| Scott Thorman, 1B |
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How do you trade a guy who has never proven he can hit in the majors and is hitting .160 in spring training. This could be one of the trades for "future considerations." |
| Clint Sammons, C |
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I would call him third on the depth chart right now behind Lopez and Pena. |
| Brayan Pena, C/1B |
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He's out of options and may fit in well as a backup catcher and first baseman, though he hasn't played any first this spring, so all of that is just speculation. |
| Brent Lillibridge, SS |
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Cox and company like the way he plays, and his natural position of shortstop could help him in making the team as a backup infielder. He's also done a pretty decent job of playing third base. |
| Jordan Schafer, OF |
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The hits have been harder to come by lately, but he certainly has done what he has to this spring in the way of impressing the big league coaches. |
| Joe Borchard, OF |
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He's certainly putting up the numbers this spring, and is now tied for first in the majors with 6 doubles and tied for second with 11 RBI (and in only 24 at-bats) -- surely that count's for something. Yes, I have heard the warning cries from those who have seen him do this before. |
| Javy Lopez, C |
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He's got two homeruns out of his three spring hits. Remember, he's coming off a year in which he didn't play baseball, so it may take him a while to get back in the swing of things. A bit of a warning sign about him may be that he has allowed six of six baserunners to steal bases. |
| Corky Miller, C |
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Corky's hitting as bad as every other catcher. |
| Arrow Key: |
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= Chance of making the team is even. |
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= Chance of making the team is going down. |
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= Chance of making the team is going up. |