2009 SPRING TRAINING
A quick look at the offense and staff from this spring. Some tough decisions to be made as we have a number of pitchers who are out of options that I do not want to lose, which may force me to temporarily send a guy down that made the team.
The offense appears to be back and I am ecstatic to see the meat of my lineup occupying to top 4 slots here. Cummings and Davis are going to take up 2 spots as the DH, which I think Mendoza being a two-way talent may allow. Both have enormous power and Cummings is the rare switch hitter with who hits better RH. Both are switch hitters actually.
Malkowski spring is disappointing but I hope there's little need for him to acquire many ab's. Also worth noting he has come up more than once in off the field 'conversations' and not in a good way.
Most of the kids didn't get a lot of AB's but they got experience. Was very happy to see Renovato's spring. With Haupt in DC, I'm going with Sergio Baud in center vs both side arms and have Renovato as my only reserve OF vs RHP with Cummings in the DH slot. Yamaoka had a bad spring and in most instances would get sent to AAA to continue getting AB's. Dealing Turner and Borrows started to limit the options so I am using 2008 rookie of the year Harland Daig as the cure-all in backup infielders and as a bat off the bench vs RHP.
Bearston, Salinas and Fine all had eye-opening springs and are most certainly on the radar. They're all in AAA.
You can never have enough pitching. I've got a crap ton. I know I'd get arguments, but they'd be few and far between when I tell you Brad Turner is the games best reliever. Nothing this spring dissauaded that notion and a conversation was had towards the end of camp amongst coaches about moving him into Galindo's role.
One phone call with the agent and that came to a screeching halt. I was basically told “Close him or trade him”. Now I am unsure, as in many cases, if that's the player OR the agent talking. Most times it's the agent, actually far more than the public ever knows.
The issue is this. Sugihara, Balderas, and Yamada have no options remaining. That already forced my hand in sending down Longoria and now I have Allen, Grab and Turner left with options. Clearly there's zero chance Grab OR Turner goes down which means I have to option out Mike Allen who was a huge part of the pen last year. I've given him the courtesy of calling around while at the same time telling him the second we can fix this he's right back here. Making sure he understands he's a big part of this team. I am also opening up discussions around an extension to make sure he sees this is not just talk.