Spring Training serves a variety of purposes. It's a time for the baseball world to see who is healthy and who will start the season on the DL. It's a time for hitters and pitchers to shake off the rust and get ready for six long months of work. And it's a time for position battles to be won. Just about every team uses the month of March to figure out the starting rotation, specifically the fourth and fifth spots. But there are a few teams who are trying to distinguish a couple of other positions in their starting nine.
Closer for the Cubs:
- Kerry Wood
- Wood, a starter for the majority of his professional career, is trying to rebound from several injury-plagued seasons to be the Cubs' closer in 2008. Wood has made a total of 14 starts since 2005 and hasn't reached 200 innings since '03. But he still has some nasty stuff in his arsenal, and to face him for just one inning is a daunting task. One inning might be all Wood pitches in a game, however. At least to start the season, Wood probably won't be able to go more than an inning a game, and likely will not be able to pitch back-to-back games, which could hurt him in his quest to be the Cubs' stopper.
- Carlos Marmol
- This kid is something special. Last season, his second in the major leagues, Marmol appeared in 59 games, and gave up 11 earned runs! He had a 96/35 k/bb ratio and was pretty much lights out the entire season. He's been warming up to be the Cubs' closer, partaking in the role during winter ball this offseason. He has the most upside, - he's only 25 years of age - and has the ability to go multiple innings, something that the Cubs could certainly take advantage of.
- Bob Howry
- Early reports out of spring training had Howry as the favorite to win the closer job. I am having a hard time understanding why, as I feel Marmol or even Wood could provide better 9th inning duties than Howry. But Howry did save 28 games in 1999 with the White Sox, so he has the experience. Keep in mind that since he saved those 28 games in the '99 season, Howry has saved that same number of games. I just honestly feel that the 34-year old righty has the closer mentality, and will be better used in a set-up role.
- Ryan Dempster
- Of all the candidates, Dempster has the most experience of being a closer. He served as the Cubs' full-time closer since the '05 season, and has saved 65 games since that year. But Dempster became less dependable as the season wore on last year, and may find himself back in the rotation in 2008 - hence the competition for the closer's role. There's a possibility that Dempster could find himself back in the bullpen if he falters as a starter (which was the reason for the switch in the first place), but not necessarily back in the closer's role.
Red Sox center fielder:
- Jacoby Ellsbury
- Ellsbury burst on to the scene in 2007 when he debuted with the Red Sox in June, and then came back up in September to stay. In his rookie season, the fleet-footed center fielder finished up with a .353 batting average, and a .394 OBP. He also swiped nine bases, and played an incredible center field. He did strikeout 15 times, which isn't much unless you look at his nine walks. But there is no doubt that the 24-year old will be patrolling Fenway Park's center field for a long time to come, and the fact that the Sox did not part with him to get the best pitcher in the game is clear evidence of that.
- Coco Crisp
- But right now, Coco Crisp is still in camp. And despite the Sox efforts to deal the speedy outfielder, there is no questioning Crisp's talent and ability to hit, run and field adequately. And it's not as if Crisp has been a liability for the defending World Champs - in his two seasons in Beantown, Crisp has a total of 250 at-bats, and in those 250 ABs, he hit 14 homers and swiped 50 bases. He has also been a very steady glove in that spacious center field. So who's it gonna be - Ellsbury or Crisp? The logical bet says Ellsbury will be the number one center fielder at some point in 2007. But until the Sox are able to deal Crisp, it will likely be a platoon situation.
Hot Corner for the South Siders:
- Joe Crede
- Remember a time when Crede was supposed to be the next big thing and was supposed to take the baseball world by storm? Well that has yet to happen, thanks primarily to injuries. After having a career year in 2006 when he hit 30 home runs and slugged at a .506 clip, Crede had an awful '07. Back surgery ended his season on June 4, and saw a young, fresh Josh Fields take over at third base for the Sox. Crede has been in the center of trade rumors for a good number of years now, and it may be time of for the soon-to-be 30-year old to find a new club to play for.
- Josh Fields
- Fields was the Sox number one pick in the 2004 draft, and made his debut two years later. But he broke out in 2007, knocking 23 home runs and driving in 67 runs. He finished in the top ten in Rookie of the Year voting, and has seemed to supplant Joe Crede as the everyday third baseman. But the youngster still has more to prove. He only hit .244 last season, and struck out 1225 times, compared to 35 walks. His minor league numbers point to this kid having a bright future in front of him, and if Crede is dealt, look for Fields to have a huge season in 2008.
Second baseman for the Rockies:
- Jayson Nix
- Jayson Nix is a 25-year old from Dallas, and a former first-round pick by the Rockies. He has yet to play a single minute in the major league level, but he is going to get a shot to prove he belongs there in 2008. Last season, at Triple-A Colorado Springs, Nix belted 11 homers, and swiped 24 bags. He topped 2007 off by leading Team USA to the World Cup and was named the tournament's outstanding player - not bad for a kid trying to make the major league team of the defending National League champs.
- Marcus Giles
- Giles has seemingly become a veteran overnight. He was drafted by the Braves in 1996, and will enter his 8th big league season in '08. The Rockies signed him to a minor league deal, to give Nix some competition, or perhaps some backup should Nix win the job. Giles had his break out season in 2003 with the Braves, and had similar success in 2005. But he joined the Padres before the '07 season, and had a rather disappointing year in San Diego, where he had the lowest offensive output of his seven-year career. The Rockies are giving Giles a chance to produce in the the thin air of Denver, but the second base job seems to be Nix's to lose.
Texas Backstop:
- Jarrod Saltalamacchia
- The Rangers almost have to make this kid their everyday catcher. He was acquired at last year's trade deadline from the Braves for Mark Teixeira -not a small move. So coming over in such a marquee trade, it only makes sense for this 22-year old to be behind the plate more often than not. And it's not like he doesn't deserve it. In his rookie 2007 season, Salty hit 11 home runs for the Braves and Rangers, and proved a steady bat for such a young kid. His defense could use a little work - he only threw out 8 of 37 would-be basestealers in '07. But keep in mind, this kid has a lot more growing to do, and given the opportunity to play, he will certainly grow into the next Ivan Rodriguez.
- Gerald Laird
- As deserving as Salty might be, he still has competition. Laird is a veteran catcher who has played for Texas his entire career. He doesn't put up the offensive numbers you would like, or could get from Salty, but his veteran leadership makes him more than capable to handle a rotation constantly in a state of flux. It will be tough for him to keep back the raging young superstar, but the Rangers are not handing the catching position to either man on a silver plate...or a white one.
Other key position battles to watch for in spring training:
- Nationals' first baseman
- Nick Johnson vs. Dmitri Young
- Angels' shortstop
- Erik Aybar vs. Brandon Wood vs. Maicer Izturis
- Blue Jays' left fielder
- Reed Johnson vs. Matt Stairs vs. Shannon Stewart vs. Adam Lind
- Reds' center fielder
- Jay Bruce vs. Corey Patterson vs. Ryan Freel vs. Norris Hopper
- Marlins' third baseman
- Jorge Cantu vs. Jose Castillo vs. Dallas McPherson
- Indians' second baseman
- Asdrubal Cabrera vs. Josh Barfield vs. Jamey Carroll
- Mariners' right fielder
- Brad Wilkerson vs. Wladimir Balentien
- Rays' closer
- Dan Wheeler vs. Al Reyes vs. Troy Percival
- Diamondbacks' catcher
- Chris Snyder vs. Robby Hammock vs. Miguel Montero
Statistical and historical information courtesy of baseballreference.com and MLB.com
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