[ayaghmour2]

With the roster thinned out a little more and just four games left in the Spring, a lot of the guys fighting for spots will get more playing time while guys like John Lawson, Doc Love, and Rich Langton will get a few days off. Ollie Page will still get a few games at second and Ray Ford at first, but I'm going to be getting in as many center fielders to a game as possible and potentially multiple catchers. On the pitching side, I usually like giving my arms four starts, but with all the pitchers still in camp I'm giving the starting five the week off.

Position: Catcher
Spots: 2
Leader: Mike Taylor: 4-22, 3 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB
Rest of the Pack:
Red Jackson: 3-17, 2B, 2 R, 2 BB
Curt Squillante: 0-10, BB
Johnnie Williamson: 2-8, RBI, R, 3 BB
Ed Pinkham: 2-7, RBI, 2 R, 4 BB

Right now it's shaping up to be a Mike Taylor and Ed Pinkham platoon, but really anything could happen here. Taylor is the "lead" as the only lefty and seems likely to start the season in Chicago. Pinkham's plate discipline has came up big while Red Jackson really underperformed as I thought he'd win the starting job. Johnnie Williamson has held his own, but he's likely set to start the year in Milwaukee. Like Billy Hunter, however, he could be up quick if he's hot to start the season and whichever loser wins this job isn't.

Position: Centerfield
Spots: 2-3
Leader: Roy Moore: 7-29, 3B, 3 RBI, 3 R, BB
Rest of the Pack:
Orlin Yates: 4-28, 2 SB, 6 RBI, 3 R, 4 BB, 2 SB
Marty Roberts: 1-13, 2 RBI, R, BB
Bert Wilson: 4-11, RBI, 2 R, BB, SB
Joe Johnson: 1-7, R, 2 BB, 3 SB

He isn't having the greatest Spring, but with Orlin Yates' struggles, his excellent defensive ability, and past big league experience, Roy Moore seems set to start Opening Day in center for the second straight season. Bert Wilson has had a great Spring and seems likely to take the 4th Outfield spot, but I'm not sold on his everyday defense out in center. There's potentially a third spot available determined on Leo Mitchell. The former top 10 prospect is fighting for a utility role, but he'd function as the 5th outfielder if he made the team. That would send Yates, Roberts, and Johnson to AAA, but with no Mitchell one would secure the last spot. Mitchell has hit well in the Spring, but the previous trio can fill in at all three outfield spots where Mitchell just can handle the corners.

Position: Backup Infield
Spots: 2-3
Leader: Leo Mitchell: 11-40, HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB
Rest of the Pack:
Clyde Hinzman: 4-19, 3 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 2 R, 3 BB
Russ Griffin: 3-17, RBI, R, 2 BB
Johnny Waters: 5-16, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB
Russ Combs: 3-11, 2 RBI, R
Bill Ashbaugh: 0-2
Johnny Turner: 1-2

While technically the leader, unfortunately Mitchell is the one I'm most comfortable optioning. He's just 23 (24 in May), is loaded with future potential, but also doesn't have a clear shot of playing time. We have a ton of outfielders that will be in AAA and I want him spending time in the outfield not just at first. But in the majors, he's likely stuck with only three or four starts a week instead of everyday at bats. He's more developed then all our bench players (and probably Paul McLain and whoever catchers or plays center), but he's not better then Ford or Love (yet, it's close), despite boasting a higher upside.

For the rest of the bench, it's all about mixing and matching. Even though a healthy Ollie Page can play seven games a week, I will need one of Turner or Hinzman to make the club to fill in at short. I'm definitely not comfortable with Russ Combs spending any sort of time at short, and with Turner out of options, he seems likely to get a spot. Mitchell making the roster makes it harder for Ashbaugh and Griffin, both guys who are unable to go to Milwaukee. I also may end up with 10 pitchers (at least to start), so a lot it still up in the air.

Position: Pitching Staff
Spots: 4-5
Leader: Pug Bryan: 12 IP, 9 H, ER, 7 BB, 8 K
Rest of the Pack:
Clarence Crane: 2-0, 14 IP, 2 H, 7 BB, 6 K
Jonah Brown: 1-0, SV, 12 IP, 9 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 4 K
Dick Sexton: 1-0, 12 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 10 BB, 8 K
Jim Baggett: SV, 9 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 4 K
Allen Purvis: 1-2, 9 IP, 10 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
Ace McSherry: 8 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
Ed Myers: 6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
Johnny Walker: 1-0, 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 7 BB, 1 K
Tommy Wilcox: 2 IP, 2 BB, K
George Johnson: IP, 2 H, ER, 2 BB, K

These Rule-5 guys can really throw! Sure, Ed Myers has had some issues, but if I didn't include walks you might think that Clarence Crane was the next Rabbit Day! Even with the seven walks, him and Jonah Brown have been everything I wanted so far. Crane seems to have earned the first pen spot and Brown isn't all that far behind him. Baggett has looked good, but he'll get a start as an audition for the roster. Ed Myers has been roughed up and may be on his way back to Boston, but none of that matters. What matters is Pug Bryan! Not only is he still in camp, my Manager thinks he should be my #3, my scout thinks he should be my #5, and I still think he's going to be a total stud. He's also getting a start this week (first one) and unless he completely implodes it's looking like he'll keep that third spot in our rotation. This would create a Rankin-Fritz-Bryan-Morse-Lyons-Bates rotation, leaving three (maybe four) bullpen spots up grab. And if Brown and Crane make the roster, that means at least one of Purvis or McSherry doesn't make the cut. Plus Wilcox, Walker, and the fragile leader George Johnson. I'm leaning towards Purvis with the third pen spot, but all the guys pitching the next four games will be the guys fighting for a spot.

We may not have a sim tomorrow, so Opening Day is shaping out to be Wednesday with the first week of games on Thursday. I'm anxiously awaiting the start of this season as I'm ready for our next crop of youth to take the next step. There could be a lot of sub 25-year-olds joining and re-joining the roster throughout the '37 season as we can hopefully begin to compete for the '38 (or at least '39) season.