[Pelican]

I'm currently at the end of March in Spring Training. Record is 8-11, but 7-3 recently as starters play more, and pitchers round into shape. The losses were a combination of implosions by young pitchers, and young hitters being overmatched.

The rotation and daily lineup is falling into place. Callison, Gonzalez, and Covington across the OF, with Adolfo Phillips and Alex Johnson as backups and platoon candidates. The IF is Stuart, Rojas, Amaro, and Allen. Herrnstein and Emery, who can each also play OF, will be on the bench. Norm Gigon (College coach of Joe Madden) and Lee Elia are vying for IF backup spots. Dalrymple and Triandos as catchers, with Pat Corrales next in line.

The rotation shapes up as Short, Bunning, Culp, Bennett, and Roberts. Baldschun the closer, Wagner and Shantz as setup, Duren the "stopper", and Jackson, Green, Lopez et al. in the back of the pen.

Here's what I am wondering as the end of Spring Training nears.

Am I satisfied with the catchers? Dalrymple is strong on defense, great arm, but never hit much, and utterly stopped hitting at this point in his career IRL. He became a liability despite his glove. But his OOTP ratings based on 1963 (and prior - I use 40/30/20/10 - aren't terrible. I did a fairly complete search, and the MLB catchers are a lean bunch, as far as hitting. Triandos has some power, and is fine on defense. It would be hard to do improve here.

I'm leery of my middle infielders. They should be better than average defensively, and should hold their own offensively. Neither one is a speedster, and they don't walk much, or bunt well. Rojas can hit, and will bat second. I'm hoping Amaro can hold his own batting eighth, because I don't have much else.

Emery, with strong ratings, could be trade bait. When I shop him, I get very legitimate offers in return. I'd love to pick up another SP for insurance, or ideally a guy who could spot start or pitch middle to long relief. There are not so many of those players in 1964. And what if Stuart does not hit in Philly? It's temptation, but I feel like Emery could be a star in this reality. He's a guy who never got his chance IRL.

Depth. I don't have a lot of it, especially middle IF and behind the plate. My bullpen has questionable arms behind the studs. Knowing this team IRL ran out of SP, I am tempted to hoard them. Trading Mahaffey may have been an error. He could be dominant in this reality, if he stays healthy.

My plan is to sit tight, and wait until teams have to cut down their Spring rosters, and are forced to DFA guys and thus deal furiously. Might be able to get bench help or pitching depth cheaply at that point.