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| Clockwise from top left: B.J. Upton, Esteban German, Juan Uribe, Mark Grudzielanek, John Buck, Jason LaRue, Alex Cintron, and Casey Blake. All fighting for playing time. |
As we enter the
final weeks of spring training the fantasy draft season starts to heat up. Who
will win that final roster spot? Will it be the rookie, the old man, or someone
unexpected? In this article I will review some of the spring training battles
in the American League. Some of the positions I will be discussing might
already be "settled" as far as the team goes, but even if that is the case,
there is still a good chance that those positions under discussion could see
some serious shifting at some point especially if the chosen starter were to
struggle in April.
***Spring
Training stats as of March 18th, 2007.
FIRST BASE: INDIANS
Casey Blake
(.282-19-68-63-0 in 401 ABs)
Ryan Garko
(.292-7-45-28-0 in 185 ABs)
Travis Hafner (.308-42-117-100-0 in 454 ABs)
Travis Hafner would make
this question irrelevant if his troublesome elbow didn't flair up more often
than a case of VD on a prostitute. However, Hafner has been limited to just 5
games at 1B the past two seasons, and even though he is making his yearly claim
to play more in the field, we reserve the right to question his ability to stray from the designated hitter role. Casey Blake will get first shot at the starters spot for the Indians a year
after playing 93 of his 109 games in RF. Blake, who has hit at least 17 HRs in
four straight seasons, will likely also continue to see time in the OF as a
platoon mate of Trot Nixon. If Blake hits 5th in the
lineup as rumored, he would be in a great RBI spot. Garko came up last year and
hit harder than a Roy Jones right hook posting 45 RBIs in just 50 games.
However, he is poor with the glove, and as a result he might be sent back to
AAA to start the year. If he stays with the club he could platoon with Blake at
1B allowing Blake to shift to the OF when Nixon needs to be removed (against
lefties). Bottom line here is that there are way too many platoons being
discussed with all the players, so the only sure bet in the group is Hafner,
though Blake should also be a useful endgame pickup. Don't forget that Victor
Martinez also saw some time at 1B last year to save his body from the
rigors of catching, so there will likely be at least 20 games this year when
the "regular" 1B will be on the bench.
SECOND BASE: ROYALS
Esteban German (.326-3-34-44-7 in 279 ABs)
Mark Grudzielanek (.297-7-52-85-3 in 548 ABs)
This one is kind of cheating
since Grudzielanek is out of action after undergoing knee surgery, though
reports have him possibly being ready some time during the first week of the
season. If Grudz does make the Opening Day roster he will certainly be the
starter if physically able with his stellar glove and a bat that has produced
at least a .294 average in each of the past four seasons. However, German will
start in his place if he can't go, and all German did last year was be a superb
AL Only pickup who also qualifies at 3B (24 games) and OF (25 games) this year.
Guzman should see at least as many ABs as he received last year, and with some
untapped speed, he is a legitimate contender for 15-20 SBs with enough playing
time. German is also hitting .383 this spring if you needed any more proof that
he will be of value in AL Only leagues.
THIRD BASE: DEVIL RAYS
Akinori Iwamura
(.311-32-77-84-8 in 621 ABs in Japan)
BJ Upton
(.246-1-410-20-11 in 175 ABs)
Ty Wigginton
(.2757-24-79-55-4 in 444 ABs)
While this spot appears to
be squarely in Iwamura's hands, his pre-season struggles are concerning for the D-Rays (he is just 4 for 30 or a .133 average). However, the
team paid him over $7 million dollars for three years, and he did hit at least
30 HRs in each of his last three years in Japan, so he should be OK. Upton, the
second overall pick in 2002, has been unable to find a position because of
stone-like hands. Originally a SS, and now basically a 3B, Upton might fill the
"super-utility" role with the D-Rays this year so he technically probably isn't
in the running for the starting 3B gig though he could take over the position
at some point of the season if Iwamura continues to struggle. Upton has also
had a slow spring hitting .216 (37 ABs), but with his power potential and
blazing speed (15 SBs in 95 ML games), he is an intriguing late round gamble.
Wigginton will start the season at 1B and is really nothing more than an
interchangeable part who could also play 2B if Jorge Cantu fails to
rebound from a down 2006 (.249-14-62 in 413 ABs). Wigginton has played 365 of
his 527 career games at the hot corner.
SHORTSTOP: WHITE SOX
Juan Uribe
(.235-21-71-53-1 in 463 ABs)
Alex Cintron
(.285-5-41-35-10 in 288 ABs)
This really isn't much of a
battle if Uribe is healthy and not locked up in some foreign prison for trying
to shoot a gardener (wasn't that the story?). That case still hangs in the air,
and though it likely won't keep him off the field it is possible that it might.
Add to that the fact the Uribe was out of shape last season and saw his average
fall to a career-low .235, and there are reasons for concern. Uribe has knocked
in at least 71 runs in each of the past three years while hitting an average of
20 HRs a year, so if you can live with the low average he is a great source of
power from SS. Cintron did have offseason elbow surgery, and has struggled with
a calf injury this spring, so he certainly isn't putting the heat on Uribe.
However, the Sox seem ready to give him more PT if Uribe stumbles, and the
chances of that happening have to be at least 50/50 at this point.
CATCHER: ROYALS
John Buck
(.245-11-50-37-0 in 371 ABs)
Jason LaRue
(.194-8-21-22-1 in 191 ABs)
According to a report in the
Kansas City Star on Monday, here is what manager Buddy Bell said about
the battle. "I like both of them and they're both playing well. I had hoped to
pick a clear cut No.1 guy, but it's going to be hard to do that." So why do I
bother listing them here if their manager says he has no idea who will start?
It's all about value. Though each man figures to lose time to the other, this
situation will likely drive down each catchers value on draft day. Buck, who
has hit at least 11 HRs in each of the past three years, will be the more
sought after of the two because of LaRue's poor 2006 campaign. Buck did have 50
RBIs last year, a solid total for an endgame grab, and his has the potential to
knock 18-20 longballs with playing time. Don't forget about LaRue either, as he
will be out to prove that last years performance was a fluke. LaRue had a
streak of four years of at least 12 HRs and 50 RBIS the previous four years
even though he never accumulated even 400 ABs in a season while a member of the
Reds. In an ideal world you would grab either of them to be your #2 catcher or
you might even combine them if you are in an AL Only league.
