- The final 2 rotation spots are being fought over by Vic Willis, John Clarkson, and Warren Spahn.
- Other than Alejandro Pena, the starters have been mediocre (Spahn) at best and very poor (Jim Whitney) at worst. More starts and IPs are needed here with Scott Baker having pushed his way into the mix as well.
- Pena, Spahn, and Whitney have been confirmed in the rotation, with Clarkson, John Malarkey, Baker, Greg Maddux, and Tim Hudson fighting over the last 2 spots.
- Other than Alejandro Pena, the starters have been mediocre (Spahn) at best and very poor (Jim Whitney) at worst. More starts and IPs are needed here with Scott Baker having pushed his way into the mix as well.
- The bullpen has no clear leader, however: this looks like a bullpen by committee situation, unless Carlos Diaz or Juan Rincon can take hold of the closer spot.
- The back end has clarified some: Ron Perranoski‘s Spring performance has been bad enough to move him to AAA, while Jack Wisner, Fred Fussell, and Hoyt Wilhelm are holding on to their roster spots by threads.
- Wisner and Jay Howell were sent back to AAA (with Tommy Bond coming back as a reserve arm), but the bullpen is still unsettled. Harley Young has been the best of the bunch so far, but he really doesn’t look like closer material. Rincon has struggled, so Diaz looks most likely to be the closer on opening day.
- The back end has clarified some: Ron Perranoski‘s Spring performance has been bad enough to move him to AAA, while Jack Wisner, Fred Fussell, and Hoyt Wilhelm are holding on to their roster spots by threads.
- 1B is up for grabs between Frank McCormick and Jake Beckley.
- While Emil Frisk is the highest rated OF, the rest is up for grabs between Bob Nieman, Billy Southworth, Ginger Beaumont, Andy Pafko, Hank Aaron, and Al Schweitzer.
- Curtis Granderson has forced himself into the conversation as well, with Pafko, Southworth, and Schweitzer all struggling mightily and Ken Griffey, Sr. earning a trip back to AAA.
- Pafko is also back in AAA, with Woody English, Omar Infante, and Alfonso Soriano coming the other way.
- Curtis Granderson has forced himself into the conversation as well, with Pafko, Southworth, and Schweitzer all struggling mightily and Ken Griffey, Sr. earning a trip back to AAA.
- Dale Murphy has hit best at C, leaving Del Crandall struggling as the 3rd option and perhaps threatening Gene Tenace‘s starting role.
- The competition at 3B between Chipper Jones and Eddie Mathews is closer than expected, with Jones having the better Spring so far.
- While 2B is still unclear–Tom Herr is out-performing Frank Isbell—Cupid Childs is heading to AAA.
| Near Definite | Likely | Possible | Long Shot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Pitchers | Alejandro Pena Jim Whitney Warren Spahn | John Malarkey John Clarkson Scott Baker Tim Hudson Greg Maddux | ||
| Middle Relievers | Hoyt Wilhelm Vic Willis Fred Fussell Sam Streeter | Tommy Bond | ||
| Setup | Harley Young | Juan Rincon | ||
| Closer | Carlos Diaz | |||
| C | Gene Tenace | Dale Murphy | Del Crandall | |
| 1B | Frank McCormick Jake Beckley | |||
| 2B | Frank Isbell Tom Herr | Omar Infante | ||
| 3B | Eddie Mathews | Chipper Jones | ||
| SS | Herman Long | George McBride Troy Tulowitzki | Woody English | |
| OF | Emil Frisk | Ginger Beaumont Hank Aaron Curtis Granderson | Bob Nieman Billy Southworth | Al Schweitzer Alfonso Soriano |