Spring Training Questions
As many as 7 roster spots are up for grabs: 3 bullpen arms (and, conceivably, someone could force their way into the rotation) and every reserve position is up for grabs.
First round pick Joe Torre and 3rd round selection Gary Matthews will both be given a solid shot at making the opening day roster.
Injuries
Bruce Chen will miss the last two weeks of Spring Training with back spasms, but should still make the opening day roster. Last season, Carlos Diaz started the year as the Black Barons’ closer, but promptly pitched his way out of the WBL. His attempt to make the club this season has been thwarted by a ruptured tendon in his pitching hand which will put him on the shelf until after the all-star break.
First Cuts
Aaron Sanchez, Pretzels Getzien, and Rube Melton were all sent down after their early struggles, while Larry Benton has been clearly lowered in the pecking order in camp after his. Slim Embrey, Bruce Ruffin, and Fred Fussell were also returned to the minor league camp.
Those moves allowed two arms–Charlie Morton and Alex Malloy–to remain, despite some roughness in their early outings. Everyone else–other than Andy Pettitte, who has already been named the opening day starter–has thrown well.
Despite a pretty rough start, Joe Torre stays in camp–the privilege of being a high draft pick–with Josh Bard and Earl Battey both heading to the minors, while JP Arencibia is forcing himself into the conversation as well as he and Gene Tenace have hit the ball very well.
Young Trea Turner stays in camp, but the story at 2B has been the performance of Reddy Mack and Marcus Giles, making the next week key for all three of them. Similarly, Andy Pafko and Tommy Davis are on the verge of reversing the franchise’s belief in Pie Traynor, who has struggled not just in Spring Training, but really since about the all star break of last season.
Erick Aybar and slick-fielding George McBride both remain in camp, although neither has hit enough yet to force their way into serious consideration for the reserve SS spot.
Pafko and Davis also play the OF, and their strong starts combined with decent showings from Derrick May and Tommy Holmes continue to make that a crowded position for the Black Barons. Most of the presumed starters have struggled, as has Curt Flood, but for now the only departure from camp is Joe Rudi.
Also being sent down: Shea Hillenbrand, Mike Lamb, Bill Buckner, and Ray Durham.
Frank McCormick is struggling, and could be pushed for his role, but is probably safely assured of a roster spot, as both Jake Beckley and Nate Colbert are smashing the ball so far.
Second Cuts
The pitching staff has been remarkable, with Andy Pettitte‘s 3.86 being the worst ERA posted so far this Spring. Eight hurlers (the injured Bruce Chen along with Cozy Dolan, Greg Maddux, John Malarkey, Alex Malloy, Juan Rincón, Jim Whitney, and Vic Willis) have yet to give up a run. For now, the 19 arms in camp all remain.
Joe Torre clearly needs some time in the minors, so the Black Barons recalled Manny Piña for a look while Torre tries to get back on track.
Frank McCormick is barely hanging on, as the trio of Adrián González, Jake Beckley, and Nate Colbert are pounding the ball while McCormick has an OPS below .400.
Ray Durham and Trea Turner both head down, along with defensive whiz George McBride.
The OF continues to be a mess, as Tommy Davis and Andy Pafko are hitting very well while projected starters Billy Southworth, Curtis Granderson, and Hank Aaron are in deep slumps.
Third Cuts
Ps Charlie Morton and Bill Phyle were demoted despite decent performances–but when 11 of your pitchers have ERA’s below 2.00, someone has to go.
They were joined by C Manny Piña, 1B Nate Colbert, 2B Reddy Mack, SS Erick Aybar, and OF Derrick May.
With 19 year old Marcus Giles clearly not ready for the WBL, Mack’s demotion leaves the Black Barons without a suitable reserve 2B. Both Omar Infante–who can play 5 positions–and veteran Manny Trillo were recalled, but this also may be addressed by a trade.
Birmingham still has 9 OFers in camp. The only one performing well is Andy Pafko, but Bob Nieman, Curtis Granderson, and Hank Aaron are pretty much guaranteed roster spots.
Final Cuts
The various trades did little to clarify the roster, and the Black Barons will be releasing some players who have performed quite well in camp, starting with OF Tommy Holmes.
The 2B situation is weird. Cupid Childs is the starter, but they need more than Hank Aaron behind him. Marcus Giles remains a longshot to break camp, leaving the Black Barons with recently acquired Jess Barbour, who is sort of a super utility type, Omar Infante, or Manny Trillo. So there are a lot of folks who play 2B, just none that do it very competently. Infante’s WBL experience, as well as his ability to help out in CF, keeps him in camp for now with Trillo heading down.
Veteran OF David Justice, brought over as part of the Albert Belle trade, will start the year in AAA as will CF Curt Flood, who was unable to do enough during the Spring despite the team’s desire for him to supplant Curtis Granderson.
The team placed Harley Young on the DL to start the season, but is still waiting for the medical staff to assess Alex Malloy, Sam Streeter, and Bruce Chen (John Malarkey is due back from his injury tomorrow). As such they’ll be given some grace on the goal of getting down to 30. In fact, if all of the injuries are even somewhat serious, they’ll be recalling some arms from the minors to supplement.
Despite a strong Spring, JP Arencibia fell short in a bid to take Jim Pagliaroni‘s roster spot. The Black Barons have decided to go without a decent glove at 2B, deciding that Omar Infante‘s offensive shortcomings are too much to overcome. This does keep–surprisingly for both–Marcus Giles and Jess Barbour in camp for the time being. Tommy Davis and Ginger Beaumont were also sent down.
The Black Barons staff has been so strong all Spring that the final cuts were bound to be somewhat controversial. Warren Spahn was the first to head to AAA. John Clarkson refused to head to AAA, leading to his release. Cozy Dolan went down as well, although the 21 year old should be among the first recalls should Birmingham need him.
Frank McCormick was sent down, in something of a surprise, as was Marcus Giles, who really impressed in Spring Training but really needs regular playing time to develop. Jess Barbour‘s spectacular Spring makes a lot of choices a little easier, as his defensive versatility counts for a lot.
Barbour and Albert Belle‘s arrive, combined with the performance of Andy Pafko, also allowed Birmingham to let both Pie Traynor and Billy Southworth head to the minors.
