UPDATE: So, I'm an idiot and forgot Tadahito Iguchi. So let's pretend the following outfielder assessment involves a trade, because I don't see a situation in which Scott Podsednik or Rob Mackowiak is forced to play center, especially since they're all left-handed.Things are beginning to get tight in Tucson, with the
first round of options and reassignments posted:
- To minor-league camp: Lance Broadway, Junior Spivey, Donny Lucy, Cole Armstrong, Wes Whisler, Corwin Malone.
- To Triple-A: Andy Gonzalez, Pedro Lopez, Heath Phillips, Paulino Reynoso and Casey Rogowski
- To Double-A: Oneli Perez, Dewon Day, Carlos Vazquez
No real surprises there, although it's sad to see Junior Spivey in that group. He sticks out like a sore thumb.
On the major-league front, however,
Scott Podsednik's return to the lineup is going to mess things up a little, especially since Darin Erstad is being treated as a starting lineup lock. It still amazes me how Erstad has skated by on
four consecutive subpar campaigns -- or six if you discount his contributions in the 2002 postseason.
If Pods comes back on only one-half of a spring training, then there's one less roster spot for a group that, unlike the
Battle for the Bullpen last year, is
up for the challenge.
If you count the guys who are sure to make it, there are 11 pitchers, plus Podsednik (if healthy), Erstad, Paul Konerko, Jim Thome, Jermaine Dye, Joe Crede, A.J. Pierzynski, Toby Hall, Juan Uribe, Alex Cintron, Rob Mackowiak and Pablo Ozuna.
That leaves only two roster spots -- and by now, one of them has to be going to Eduardo Perez, even if
he couldn't round all the bases on a homer. Citing Pablo Ozuna and Boone Logan as examples, Ozzie likes guys who distinguish themselves in Spring Training. If posting a line of .526/.550/1.053 in 19 at-bats isn't distinguishable, then they may as well retire the word. He also plays first and hits lefties, so I can't imagine a situation in which he doesn't make the team barring injury.
Perez leaves Luis Terrero and Brian Anderson battling for the last spot, and I have a hunch Terrero's going to steal it. At 26, he's not old enough to think that he's tapped out, but he's not young enough to spoil his future by playing him strictly in a reserve role. Outside of a dropped ball, he's been fine in center and has plenty of experience in the corner spots, too.
Add in the fact that he's stinging the ball (.350/.409/.650 in 20 ABs), and I'd put money on him being the fourth outfielder when camp breaks if Podsednik's healthy.
It's a tough spot for Anderson, who knew he'd be under the gun to play well in spring and has answered the call. Not only is he hitting better than he did last spring (.320/.400/.520 in 25 ABs), but he's 2-for-2 stealing bases. He
couldn't do that at all in Tucson last year. Plus,
Anderson's rookie season was barely worse than
Terrero's career line.
Instead of platooning with Erstad in center at the very least, he could find himself starting in Charlotte thanks to a guy who was the Brian Anderson of his time when he came up for the Diamondbacks in 2004. That would have to hurt.