Roster musings
Some thoughts and notes after watching two exhibition games Friday against Lake Erie, the latter of which ended in a 3-3 tie after 10 innings:
- The Friday games did little to help manager Mark Mason figure out who to keep in his bullpen. For example, lefty Dan Horvath was the only consistent reliever on the team last year (with the exception of one puzzling outing against Traverse City) but he gave up six hits, two walks and hit a batter in one inning of the day game. Do you judge Horvath on what he did last year or do you write off Friday's outing as just one of those days?
- Sidearmer Kyle Heyne gave up a home run but it was a swing-late fly ball down the left-field line by a left-handed hitter that ended up in the visitors' bullpen. More of a wall-scraper than a blast. Otherwise, Heyne threw strikes. He also has a track record of pitching well in tight situations - he's the all-time saves leader in the Mid-American Conference.
Kedrick Martin walked three over 2 1/3 innings but retired five in a row (two on strikeouts) at one point.
Josh Eachues, Kalen Gearhart and Michael Lucas combined for four scoreless innings (two hits and one walk allowed) in the opener. Each helped his case for a roster spot. My guess is that only Kris Rochelle and Alan Wiggins will make the team as catchers, so does Eachues' value increase because he can be a third catcher? I don't know because I haven't seen him catch this spring. I guess that means no.
- Second baseman Michael Parker went 3-for-4 with a walk in the night game. It looks like he will be an impact newcomer.
- Rob Hedrick is creating another difficult decision for the coaching staff. They like the former California University player's arm strangth as a pitcher, which was not his primary position with the Vulcans. Hedrick played second base in the day game, then pitched a perfect 10th inning in the night game, retiring Lake Erie's 3-4-5 hitters. If Hedrick makes the team it will be as the 24th man, a utility guy who can be worked with all year to refine his pitching mechanics.
- Heyne probably made the team Friday night and Horvath lost a spot on the roster.
- It seems that three pitchers who have locked up spots in the starting rotation are Rick Austin, Craig Snipp and Eric Evans.
- The three pitchers with no pro experience (Michael Mondesir, Brian Honeyman and Hedrick) began the spring at the bottom of the depth chart but tossed a combined eight scoreless innings against Lake Erie.
- Right-hander Jace Smith arrived in Washington Friday night, which brings the number of pitchers in camp to 21. Smith will pitch in tonight's exhibition game.
- Mason has said he wants to trim the roster to 24 or 25 players by the end of the weekend.
- The Friday games did little to help manager Mark Mason figure out who to keep in his bullpen. For example, lefty Dan Horvath was the only consistent reliever on the team last year (with the exception of one puzzling outing against Traverse City) but he gave up six hits, two walks and hit a batter in one inning of the day game. Do you judge Horvath on what he did last year or do you write off Friday's outing as just one of those days?
- Sidearmer Kyle Heyne gave up a home run but it was a swing-late fly ball down the left-field line by a left-handed hitter that ended up in the visitors' bullpen. More of a wall-scraper than a blast. Otherwise, Heyne threw strikes. He also has a track record of pitching well in tight situations - he's the all-time saves leader in the Mid-American Conference.
Kedrick Martin walked three over 2 1/3 innings but retired five in a row (two on strikeouts) at one point.
Josh Eachues, Kalen Gearhart and Michael Lucas combined for four scoreless innings (two hits and one walk allowed) in the opener. Each helped his case for a roster spot. My guess is that only Kris Rochelle and Alan Wiggins will make the team as catchers, so does Eachues' value increase because he can be a third catcher? I don't know because I haven't seen him catch this spring. I guess that means no.
- Second baseman Michael Parker went 3-for-4 with a walk in the night game. It looks like he will be an impact newcomer.
- Rob Hedrick is creating another difficult decision for the coaching staff. They like the former California University player's arm strangth as a pitcher, which was not his primary position with the Vulcans. Hedrick played second base in the day game, then pitched a perfect 10th inning in the night game, retiring Lake Erie's 3-4-5 hitters. If Hedrick makes the team it will be as the 24th man, a utility guy who can be worked with all year to refine his pitching mechanics.
- Heyne probably made the team Friday night and Horvath lost a spot on the roster.
- It seems that three pitchers who have locked up spots in the starting rotation are Rick Austin, Craig Snipp and Eric Evans.
- The three pitchers with no pro experience (Michael Mondesir, Brian Honeyman and Hedrick) began the spring at the bottom of the depth chart but tossed a combined eight scoreless innings against Lake Erie.
- Right-hander Jace Smith arrived in Washington Friday night, which brings the number of pitchers in camp to 21. Smith will pitch in tonight's exhibition game.
- Mason has said he wants to trim the roster to 24 or 25 players by the end of the weekend.
Labels: Craig Snipp, Dan Horvath, Eric Evans, Jace Smith, Josh Eachues, Kalen Gearhart, Kedrick Martin, Kris Rochelle, Kyle Heyne, Mark Mason, Michael Lucas, Michael Parker, Rick Austin, Rob Hedrick
posted by Chris Dugan at
8:27 AM
4 Comments:
I think if any Wild Thing player makes it to the major leagues, his uniform number should be retired.
Hopefully it will happen before the team leaves town oe the league folds.
Chris,
When are you going to do the report on the change in operating partners for the Wild Things. Are you sitting on your Franni?
I can't take credit for that. It came from Anonymous on a previous posting about my favorite subject the parking lot. (fees)
I'm interviewing Franni Tuesday.
What was all the silliness with the parking? I could not find anyone with an answer. Sure was a lot of fuss about something as simple as parking.
Can't these Wild Things people get ANYTHING right?
God am I ever tired of this bunch of inept morons at CEP
LLoyd
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