Here is my spring training update from practice today (Tuesday 2/18).
1) Start with following up on DJ Stewart that I was asked about. He is there, but I'm not sure anyone has seen him take fielding practice yet. (Thanks to WTM's description for helping me pick him out.)
2) At one field minor leaguer Cristofer Melendez struck out DJ Stewart. The next batter Konner Griffin homered to left-center.
3) Even though I have only seen Griffin play short, he told me they are going to have him play center as well. So good news for Arky.
4) Endy Rodriguez homered off of a pitcher trying to make the ball club.
5) They had Mlodzinski pitch 2 sessions today against major league pitchers. His stuff was filthy.
6) Skenes did take some time for the fans signing which was good to see.
7) Infield practice at the good field today showed Peggy and Key at third, IKF and Triolo at short, Frazier and Nick G at second, and Darick Hall and Derek Shelton at first.
8) Well Shelton wasn't taking grounders, but taking throws at first. He also took the pitcher's mound to work on situational plays.
How did Triolo look at short? I would love to see his bat take a big step forward and his defense be good enough there to push IKF to the super utility role. Also is Hayes still looking good? Thanks in advance.
I didn't notice Triolo, so that is probably the same as not noticing a good ref in basketball. I will try to pay closer attention tomorrow, but he has been at third all of the other times. My guess is Triolo is every bit as good or better at fielding the grounders, but IKF is quicker at double plays and quick relays.
Thanks for the eyeball report - love to hear that some of the kids we are rolling the dice with - ERod and KG - are hitting bombs! Infield - the more it changes, the more it stays the same. Were Yorke and Cook involved in the infield drills or are they at other locations?
I knew I was forgetting somebody. Yes York was also at second base with Nick G and Frazier. I think Cook might have been at first one day last week, but this year they are mainly keeping the same groups together so Cook has been in the outfield. I will check tomorrow.
Melendez is a strange case. He’s reached triple digits, mainly needed an uptick in command. But he was on the restricted list all of 2023 and all of 2024 except the last few days. No idea why, but they re-signed him to a MiL deal for this year, so they must be pretty determined to give him a shot.
Good to hear about Mlod. They need 2 of 3 out of him, Nicolas and Holderman to come through. It’s nice to be optimistic about Bednar, but he can’t be the only guy.
IIrc, Searage preached the two-seamer, and I think we learned it came at the expense of other quality pitches, ultimately leading to poor results. (Glasnow, for instance? Again, my memory is leaky).
I don't get how MLB pitchers are not throwing a 2-seamer!.....guess I'm from a different era. There's no arm strain like the other pitches and there's built-in movement.
Today I begin my annual “what chance does everyone in camp have of making the Opening Day lineup” guesses. 100% means that barring injury the person will be on the OD roster. Lesser percentages account for the fact there could be injuries, trades, suspensions, etc.
Catchers
Joey Bart……………100%
Endy Rodriguez…...90%
Henry Davis…………20%
Jason Delay…………..5%
Abrahan Gutierrez…0%
Omar Alfonso………..0%
Aaron McKeithan…..0%
Bart is lock. I believe Endy is basically a lock, barring a spring disaster. I think Davis has a chance. I haven’t given up on the idea that 3 Cs could be carried with some of them getting time at 1B. Delay is his usual injury insurance.
I like the idea of 3 catchers, but Henry needs to hit this spring first. Imo, for this to work, we need all three guys to play other positions as well.
Good point. He hit .310 with 4 homers in 42 at bats last spring....which translated into nothing at the major league level. I guess he needs to do more than just hit this spring to make the big league club. :)
I love Bubba, but the question to Who has the best anything has to be Skenes. I predict Chuck Norris jokes will be replaced by the younger generation by Paul Skenes jokes.
"Paul Skenes is so good he can strike out Ohtani on one pitch."
Here is my spring training update from practice today (Tuesday 2/18).
1) Start with following up on DJ Stewart that I was asked about. He is there, but I'm not sure anyone has seen him take fielding practice yet. (Thanks to WTM's description for helping me pick him out.)
2) At one field minor leaguer Cristofer Melendez struck out DJ Stewart. The next batter Konner Griffin homered to left-center.
3) Even though I have only seen Griffin play short, he told me they are going to have him play center as well. So good news for Arky.
4) Endy Rodriguez homered off of a pitcher trying to make the ball club.
5) They had Mlodzinski pitch 2 sessions today against major league pitchers. His stuff was filthy.
6) Skenes did take some time for the fans signing which was good to see.
7) Infield practice at the good field today showed Peggy and Key at third, IKF and Triolo at short, Frazier and Nick G at second, and Darick Hall and Derek Shelton at first.
8) Well Shelton wasn't taking grounders, but taking throws at first. He also took the pitcher's mound to work on situational plays.
How did Triolo look at short? I would love to see his bat take a big step forward and his defense be good enough there to push IKF to the super utility role. Also is Hayes still looking good? Thanks in advance.
I didn't notice Triolo, so that is probably the same as not noticing a good ref in basketball. I will try to pay closer attention tomorrow, but he has been at third all of the other times. My guess is Triolo is every bit as good or better at fielding the grounders, but IKF is quicker at double plays and quick relays.
Funny, first couple times I saw Triolo — remember the West Virginia Black Bears? — he was at SS. Looked like . . . a SS.
Me too
Thanks for the eyeball report - love to hear that some of the kids we are rolling the dice with - ERod and KG - are hitting bombs! Infield - the more it changes, the more it stays the same. Were Yorke and Cook involved in the infield drills or are they at other locations?
I knew I was forgetting somebody. Yes York was also at second base with Nick G and Frazier. I think Cook might have been at first one day last week, but this year they are mainly keeping the same groups together so Cook has been in the outfield. I will check tomorrow.
Melendez is a strange case. He’s reached triple digits, mainly needed an uptick in command. But he was on the restricted list all of 2023 and all of 2024 except the last few days. No idea why, but they re-signed him to a MiL deal for this year, so they must be pretty determined to give him a shot.
Good to hear about Mlod. They need 2 of 3 out of him, Nicolas and Holderman to come through. It’s nice to be optimistic about Bednar, but he can’t be the only guy.
Thanks for the Melendez info. I'm guessiing he wasn't allowed to throw triple digits yet, but who knows.
So it’s obvious their big remaining offseason move is trading for Vlad, right?
I’ll have one of whatever Arky is having.
Where Have You Gone Ray Searage
Where have you gone Ray Miller?
IIrc, Searage preached the two-seamer, and I think we learned it came at the expense of other quality pitches, ultimately leading to poor results. (Glasnow, for instance? Again, my memory is leaky).
Where have you gone Dave Kerwin
Ahh, yes, the Jason Kendall-Joe Kerrigan set to 😄😄
Love the 2 seamer, glad to read that Ashcraft is giving it a try, out of all the ones experimenting with it Ash needs it the most.
I don't get how MLB pitchers are not throwing a 2-seamer!.....guess I'm from a different era. There's no arm strain like the other pitches and there's built-in movement.
Today I begin my annual “what chance does everyone in camp have of making the Opening Day lineup” guesses. 100% means that barring injury the person will be on the OD roster. Lesser percentages account for the fact there could be injuries, trades, suspensions, etc.
Catchers
Joey Bart……………100%
Endy Rodriguez…...90%
Henry Davis…………20%
Jason Delay…………..5%
Abrahan Gutierrez…0%
Omar Alfonso………..0%
Aaron McKeithan…..0%
Bart is lock. I believe Endy is basically a lock, barring a spring disaster. I think Davis has a chance. I haven’t given up on the idea that 3 Cs could be carried with some of them getting time at 1B. Delay is his usual injury insurance.
I could see both Endy and Henry in AAA to get ABs to start the year. Delay on the mlb roster to start.
It'd make sense for both getting at bats and 3 games a week behind the plate.
I like the idea of 3 catchers, but Henry needs to hit this spring first. Imo, for this to work, we need all three guys to play other positions as well.
Henry hit last spring….
Good point. He hit .310 with 4 homers in 42 at bats last spring....which translated into nothing at the major league level. I guess he needs to do more than just hit this spring to make the big league club. :)
Who has the best fastball, Maverick or IceMan?
Spoiler alert: No wrong answer.
Let’s just sit back and enjoy the kills (strikeouts).
I love Bubba, but the question to Who has the best anything has to be Skenes. I predict Chuck Norris jokes will be replaced by the younger generation by Paul Skenes jokes.
"Paul Skenes is so good he can strike out Ohtani on one pitch."
Oh yeah…Bubba is so good Ohtani just conceeds his at bats to prevent looking foolish.
I meant to say Skenes, not Bubba. :)
Podcast day wooooooo!