- The 5th starter role is up for grabs between Mike Smith, Brett Anderson, and Nolan Ryan. Smith may have an edge, as he could be a useful OF as well.
- Harry Howell has been decidedly average and Gerrit Cole worse, making the rotation more open than expected. Chuck Finley and Tom Seaver join Ryan in the mix (Anderson and Smith have both eliminated themselves from serious contention).
- Cole has recovered a bit, and he, Howell, and Pud Galvin look solid behind ace Doc Gooden. Smith, Ryan, Anderson, Seaver, and Finley all deserve another start or 2 to see how it shakes out (Anderson has gone to AAA).
- Harry Howell has been decidedly average and Gerrit Cole worse, making the rotation more open than expected. Chuck Finley and Tom Seaver join Ryan in the mix (Anderson and Smith have both eliminated themselves from serious contention).
- The 2 pitchers that don’t make the rotations should still make the team, with the competition between Aaron Heilman and Jonny Venters determining the rest of the staff.
- In the bullpen, Venters, Jeurys Familia, and Larry Anderson are excelling, with Heilman, Dave LaRoche, and Darren Holmes solid in the middle innings.
- John Stearns could be unseated at C, but it’s more likely he remains the starter with the Spring determining whether Ron Hassey or Jim Stephens emerges as the backup.
- Stephens and Brian Downing are playing the best, with Hassey demoted to AAA.
- Stearns has gone from presumptive starter to in danger of not making the roster.
- Stephens and Brian Downing are playing the best, with Hassey demoted to AAA.
- Both 3B and SS are open competitions with Tim Wallach and Doug Rader competing for the former and George Wright, Andrelton Simmons, and Kevin Elster for the latter.
- Both are still open, but for different reasons: Wright and Rader are both playing well (and David Wright has been called up to give another option at 3B), but none of the SS’s are doing much. Forced to pick, Simmons is in the lead right now.
- Elster is clearly trailing the other 2 options at SS.
- Both are still open, but for different reasons: Wright and Rader are both playing well (and David Wright has been called up to give another option at 3B), but none of the SS’s are doing much. Forced to pick, Simmons is in the lead right now.
- The OF is crowded, with only 2-3 of Kal Daniels, Elmer Valo, Jeromy Burnitz, Norm Miller, and Rusty Staub likely to make the final roster.
- Both Valo and Staub are knocking the cover off the ball, while Burnitz and Miller are having a hard time of it.
- Carlos Beltran is at the bottom of the OF list, but he’s not performing horribly, so there are decisions to make here.
- Both Valo and Staub are knocking the cover off the ball, while Burnitz and Miller are having a hard time of it.
- Wally Joyner has been recalled to add some depth in the 1B competition.
| Near Definite | Likely | Possible | Long Shot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Pitchers | Doc Gooden | Pud Galvin Harry Howell Gerrit Cole | Chuck Finley Tom Seaver Nolan Ryan Mike Smith Brett Anderson | |
| Middle Relievers | Dave LaRoche Aaron Heilman Darren Holmes | |||
| Setup | Jeurys Familia Larry Anderson Jonny Venters | |||
| Closer | Joe Nathan | |||
| C | Brian Downing Jim Stephens | John Stearns | ||
| 1B | Derek Lee High Pockets Kelly | Wally Joyner | ||
| 2B | Bobby Grich | Mark Ellis | ||
| 3B | Doug Rader | Tim Wallach | David Wright | |
| SS | Andrelton Simmons George Wright | Kevin Elster | ||
| OF | Mike Trout | Don Buford Elmer Valo | Kal Daniels Rusty Staub Jeromy Burnitz Norm Miller | Carlos Beltran |