- The rotation is pretty much set: it would take a stellar spring for the most likely candidates of Carlos Zambrano, John Candelaria, or Bartolo Colon to break through.
- Best laid plans and all that. Billy Pierce and Babe Adams have both been hit hard, with Pierce especially ineffective. So more SPs are being looked at. Zambrano, Carlson, and Francisco Liriano look to be firmly in the mix.
- Pierce is off to AAA. Carlson has moved into the starting rotation, joining Zambrano, Corey Kluber, Vean Gregg, and Liriano. Barring a collapse, that’s the starting rotation right there. The question for them then becomes whether Brown, Adams, Colon, and Candelaria are better served in long relief in MLB or starting at AAA.
- Best laid plans and all that. Billy Pierce and Babe Adams have both been hit hard, with Pierce especially ineffective. So more SPs are being looked at. Zambrano, Carlson, and Francisco Liriano look to be firmly in the mix.
- That said, that trio along with Hal Carlson and Ray Brown have a decent shot at a bullpen role, especially if Frank Linzy or Kent Tekulve struggle.
- Linzy has, but Tekulve–along with closer Josh Lindblom and Michael Jackson–have been excellent.
- Bill Fischer and Will Thompson are struggling at the back end of the bullpen.
- Linzy has, but Tekulve–along with closer Josh Lindblom and Michael Jackson–have been excellent.
- The backup 2B job is up for grabs between Jeff Kent and Phil Garner, as is the starter at 3B, between Chris Sabo and Pedro Feliz.
- At 2B, Kent is pushing Davey Johnson for the starting role, while Garner has yet to show anything of note, although his defensive flexibility is useful.
- Kent has the clear edge at 2B, while Sabo has moved ahead of Feliz.
- At 2B, Kent is pushing Davey Johnson for the starting role, while Garner has yet to show anything of note, although his defensive flexibility is useful.
- The biggest mess is in the OF, where Roberto Clemente and Paul Waner are both guaranteed slots and both strongest at RF. How that plays out, with Rick Reichardt, Tom Brown, Pops Stargell, Andrew McCutcheon, and Max Carey all vying for 3 roster spots, will go a long way to determining the opening day lineups.
- While Waner has done well, Clemente has hit poorly enough to throw his starting position in doubt. Brown, Stargell, and McCutcheon are all excelling.
- Josh Gibson is out for a few weeks, prompting Homestead to add Hobie Landrith and Blake Swihart to the roster to support Peaches Graham at C.
- Swihart and Graham would make the roster at this point.
- Jay Bell hasn’t shown enough to lock down the backup SS role, so Khalil Greene has been recalled from AAA as a possibility.
- Perhaps most surprisingly, right now Honus Wagner and Andy Van Slyke are likely to start at AAA.
| Near Definite | Likely | Possible | Long Shot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Pitchers | Corey Kluber Carlos Zambrano Vean Gregg Francisco Liriano Hal Carlson | John Candelaria Ray Brown Bartolo Colon Babe Adams |
||
| Middle Relievers | Daniel Hudson | Bill Fischer Will Thompson | Frank Linzy | |
| Setup | Michael Jackson Kent Tekulve | |||
| Closer | Josh Lindblom | |||
| C | Peaches Graham | Blake Swihart | Hobie Landrith | |
| 1B | Mike Epstein | Honus Wagner | ||
| 2B | Davey Johnson | Jeff Kent | Phil Garner | |
| 3B | Chris Sabo | Pedro Feliz | Andy Van Slyke | |
| SS | Arky Vaughan | Jay Bell Khalil Greene | ||
| OF | Pops Stargell Andrew McCutcheon Tom Brown | Rick Reichardt Paul Waner Roberto Clemente | Max Carey Jack Cust |