Spring Training 2012

[gp956]

I've got to go against the grain here, my hunch is Belt makes the opening day roster, probably pushing nate out to the 4th outfielder position - at least to start the season. Also, I have little faith in Huff's ability to bounce back from last year, so I think Belt will eventually win the first base job.

After everything goes through the wash cycle, the regular starting eight, some time in June, will be:

CF Pagan
LF Melky
3B Sandoval
_C Posey
1B Belt
2B Sanchez
SS Crawford
RF Schierholtz

 

[msgkings322]

I've got to go against the grain here, my hunch is Belt makes the opening day roster, probably pushing nate out to the 4th outfielder position - at least to start the season. Also, I have little faith in Huff's ability to bounce back from last year, so I think Belt will eventually win the first base job.

After everything goes through the wash cycle, the regular starting eight, some time in June, will be:

CF Pagan
LF Melky
3B Sandoval
_C Posey
1B Belt
2B Sanchez
RF Schierholtz
SS Crawford

Agreed there's your lineup come June if Huff doesn't bounce back. No one can really say if he will or won't. Neither would surprise me. We'll probably get something in the midpoint between 2010 and 2011 production. Is that good enough to keep him in the lineup?

 

[msgkings322]

Also, Marty Lurie brought up an interesing point re Panda batting 3rd.

That seems like his spot but he's kind of DP-prone. Is that enough to move him around? I'd say no with speedier 1 and 2 ahead of him. Also Pujols is DP-prone and he always bats 3rd.

 

[Heathbar012]

I've got to go against the grain here, my hunch is Belt makes the opening day roster, probably pushing nate out to the 4th outfielder position - at least to start the season. Also, I have little faith in Huff's ability to bounce back from last year, so I think Belt will eventually win the first base job.

After everything goes through the wash cycle, the regular starting eight, some time in June, will be:

CF Pagan
LF Melky
3B Sandoval
_C Posey
1B Belt
2B Sanchez
RF Schierholtz
SS Crawford

As long as there are little to few injuries, I'm fine with all possible scenarios.

 

[gp956]

Agreed there's your lineup come June if Huff doesn't bounce back. No one can really say if he will or won't. Neither would surprise me. We'll probably get something in the midpoint between 2010 and 2011 production. Is that good enough to keep him in the lineup?

Well one thing he's got going for him is the 3 best offensive first basemen from 2010 are now in the AL. So even production we would have called mediocre then will now rank pretty high. Still, he was one of the worst offensive performers last year, so he's got to come back strong to be better than what I think Belt will show. Halfway won't cut it, imo (his defensive limitations don't work in his favor, obviously).

 

[gp956]

Also, Marty Lurie brought up an interesing point re Panda batting 3rd.

That seems like his spot but he's kind of DP-prone. Is that enough to move him around? I'd say no with speedier 1 and 2 ahead of him. Also Pujols is DP-prone and he always bats 3rd.

Maybe. I could see Panda and Belt flopping places in the order. But, yeah, as with Pujols, if Panda is putting up his expected numbers I like him in the 3-hole.

 

[gp956]

As long as there are little to few injuries, I'm fine with all possible scenarios.

Posey and Panda, yeah. Everybody else is replaceable without a huge drop off in production. More than anything though, I think my June lineup will be the most fun to watch. Drop Huff and add Blanco, with Sanchez mark III as the backup catcher, and you got a youngish athletic/speedy team.

 

[gp956]

Multiple options for watching tonight's game:

Monday, March 5 vs. Milw. 6:35 PM CSN-BA, MLBN, MLB.TV MLB.com

 

[msgkings322]

Multiple options for watching tonight's game:

Monday, March 5 vs. Milw. 6:35 PM CSN-BA, MLBN, MLB.TV MLB.com

Dammit that gif makes me literally LOL every time I see it

 

[SFGRTB]

Multiple options for watching tonight's game:

Monday, March 5 vs. Milw. 6:35 PM CSN-BA, MLBN, MLB.TV MLB.com

Aaaaaand I can't watch a single one of them

 

[gp956]

Aaaaaand I can't watch a single one of them

Not even mlb.com?

 

[tzill]

I've got to go against the grain here, my hunch is Belt makes the opening day roster, probably pushing nate out to the 4th outfielder position - at least to start the season. Also, I have little faith in Huff's ability to bounce back from last year, so I think Belt will eventually win the first base job.

After everything goes through the wash cycle, the regular starting eight, some time in June, will be:

CF Pagan
LF Melky
3B Sandoval
_C Posey
1B Belt
2B Sanchez
SS Crawford
RF Schierholtz

Really, GP? You see Stamos hitting 7 and Nate 8? Why so down on the Danville boy?

 

[tzill]

Well one thing he's got going for him is the 3 best offensive first basemen from 2010 are now in the AL. So even production we would have called mediocre then will now rank pretty high. Still, he was one of the worst offensive performers last year, so he's got to come back strong to be better than what I think Belt will show. Halfway won't cut it, imo (his defensive limitations don't work in his favor, obviously).

So what would you think if he's hitting 260/330/420 with 8 HR and 35 RBI at the halfway point?

 

[SFGRTB]

Not even mlb.com?

Likely blacked-out. I'm temporarily in that shitty location where the blackout restrictions include both the Bay teams and Seattle, and I don't get either of their channels on cable.

Some bullshit if ya ask me

 

[gp956]

Really, GP? You see Stamos hitting 7 and Nate 8? Why so down on the Danville boy?

It's not being down on Nate so much - more about keeping it simple for Crawford. Would rather not burden Crawford with extra baggage by feeling like he needs to change his approach because he's hitting in front of the pitcher's spot.

As far as Nate goes, his speed combined with his plate coverage ability means he's a pretty versatile hitter in the order. Now if he could just square the ball up as consistently as Pablo........

 

[gp956]

Impressions from tonight's game:

Jason Christiansen probably should use two hands to catch fly balls.
Hector Correa has a LIVE arm. Love it.
Tyler Graham is FAST!
Belt and Pill are locked in.

 

[SFGRTB]

Impressions from tonight's game:

Jason Christiansen probably should use two hands to catch fly balls.
Hector Correa has a LIVE arm. Love it.
Tyler Graham is FAST!
Belt and Pill are locked in.

Correa is a sleeper relief arm in the minors. He's finally scratching the surface of the majors after we acquired him from the Marlins for Ronny Paulino (whom we acquired hours earlier for Jack Taschner).

Look for him in the future.

 

[tzill]

Impressions from tonight's game:

Jason Christiansen probably should use two hands to catch fly balls.
Hector Correa has a LIVE arm. Love it.
Tyler Graham is FAST!
Belt and Pill are locked in.

And, Quinowski is funky. Nice first pitch, lad.

 

[tzill]

Correa is a sleeper relief arm in the minors. He's finally scratching the surface of the majors after we acquired him from the Marlins for Ronny Paulino (whom we acquired hours earlier for Jack Taschner).

Look for him in the future.

We'll see about Correa. I'm thinking the guy to watch (besides Crick) is Osich.

 

[calsnowskier]

Correa is a sleeper relief arm in the minors. He's finally scratching the surface of the majors after we acquired him from the Marlins for Ronny Paulino (whom we acquired hours earlier for Jack Taschner).

Look for him in the future.

He was actually a pretty highly touted prospect for the fish before his injury, so it isn't really fair to call him a sleeper, IMHO.