Wilbur Wood – The Whirled League https://wbl.dmlco.com/wp Baseball The Way It Never Was Tue, 21 Jul 2020 20:16:31 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 178681366 Spring Training Preview: Chicago https://wbl.dmlco.com/wp/2020/06/21/spring-training-preview-chicago/ Mon, 22 Jun 2020 00:07:43 +0000 https://wbl.dmlco.com/wp/?p=343
  • The last spot in the rotation will probably come down to either Tricky Nichols or Herb Pennock, with Rube Foster, Mark Buehrle, Lee Meadows, and Ted Lyons as outside candidates.
    • Ed Walsh and Joe Lake still look like the middle of the rotation, but they need to improve, but none of the above have really made their argument, with Buehrle likely falling out of contention.
      • Ben Sheets, Meadows, Lake, and Foster look set for the rotation. But Frank Smith has been horrible, and Lyons is on his way to AAA. Foster could stumble, and Smith could still pull it out, but any of the others could step up as well for that 5th slot.
  • The final bullpen slots will be between that group, Victor Cruz, and Wilbur Wood.
    • Cruz has struggled, and Wood has impressed, as have Koji Uehara, Fernando Rodney, and Ken Sanders, but nothing is settled in the bullpen behind AJ Minter.
      • Uehara and Akinori Otsuka have been very strong, and Wood is off to AAA. This has the makings of a very fine bullpen.
  • Carlton Fisk is set at C, but it’s not clear if Hal King, Dave Nilsson, or (less likely) Pop Snyder back him up.
    • Snyder was sent down to AAA.
  • SS is pretty open, with Chico Carrasquel holding a slight edge over Luke Appling and Julio Gotay.
    • If any of these could hit a lick, they could seize the role.
  • Not all of Rocky Colavito, Cristobal Torriente, Avisail Garcia, and Minnie Minoso will make the team, but at least 2 of them should.
    • Colavito has struggled mightily, earning a move to AAA. Of this group, Minoso has probably impressed the most.
      • Ah, Spring Training! Minoso is now struggling to make the roster.
  • Frank Thomas has struggled mightily, allowing both Adrian Gonzalez and Bob Watson to push into the conversation.
    • 1B continues to be a muddle: Thomas is hitting better, but both Gonzalez and Jose Abreu are smacking the ball.
  • With a need for additional bodies to play 2B and 3B (and a real possibility of edging Nellie Fox as the reserve 2B), Chicago recalled Rickie Weeks and Joe Crede from AAA Milwaukee.
    • Weeks has moved up in the pecking order, with both Fox and Crede likely to start the season in AAA.
    • Near DefiniteLikelyPossibleLong Shot
    Starting PitchersBen Sheets
    Joe Lake
    Lee Meadows    		Rube FosterEd Walsh
    Frank Smith
    Tricky Nichols
    Herb Pennock
    Mark Buehrle
    Middle RelieversVictor Cruz
    SetupAkinori Otsuka
    Koji Uehara
    Ken Sanders    		Fernando Rodney
    CloserAJ Minter
    CCarlton FiskHal King
    Dave Nilsson
    1BFrank ThomasAdrian Gonzalez
    Jose Abreu
    2BEddie CollinsRickie WeeksNellie Fox
    3BDick AllenRobin VenturaJoe Crede
    SSChico Carrasquel
    Luke Appling
    Julio Gotay
    OFJoe Jackson
    Mike Fiore    		Kevin Mitchell
    		Duffy Lewis
    Cristobal Torriente
    Avisail Garcia
    Bob Watson    		Minnie Minoso
    ]]>     343