Friendly Competition: The Most Intriguing Positional Battles For Every NL Team
Whether it be injuries, poor play or a rising young stud, midseason evaluations and changes in the field are almost always necessary to remain competitive
Most of the time managers make the right call, and the better player performs and gels nicely with the team. But sometimes it doesn't work out that way and when a player experiences a slump, it's almost necessary to have an experienced back up to fill the void.
The following is a dissection of every National League team's depth chart and depictions of the most intriguing offseason positional battles to be worked out in spring training.
Chicago Cubs: RF; Tyler Colvin and Kosuke Fukudome
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Current Depth Chart Starter: Tyler Colvin
Who Should Be Starter: Tyler Colvin
Why Situation is Intriguing: Kosuke Fukudome has been Chicago's primary right fielder for the last three years, but Tyler Colvin had a magnificent rookie campaign in right field last year, the main reason for him getting the nod over Fukudome going into spring training. The 2011 season will most likely be Kosuke's final year as a Cub, as he is playing out the final year of his four-year, $48 million contract. Money well wasted, if you ask me.
Cincinnati Reds: SS; Paul Janish and Edgar Renteria
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Current Depth Chart Starter: Paul Janish
Who Should Be Starter: Paul Janish
Why Situation Is Intriguing: Paul Janish is just about all glove and zero bat, and Edgar Renteria is the 2010 World Series MVP. Renteria also turns 36 midway through the season, and while he had a brilliant World Series, I believe there is little left in the tank. He was brought in to Cincinnati to back up Janish and will most likely make the young shortstop better.
Houston Astros: SP; Wandy Rodriguez and Brett Myers
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Current Depth Chart Starter: Wandy Rodriguez
Who Should Be Starter: Brett Myers
Why Situation Is Intriguing: Let's start by comparing the numbers.
Rodriguez: 3.60 ERA, 11-12 record, 178 strikeouts.
Myers: 3.14 ERA, 14-8 record, 180 strikeouts.
You tell me who should be the ace of the Astros rotation. Myers is coming off the most productive year of his seven in the league, and while Rodriguez was awfully impressive after the All-Star break, Myers' consistency warrants the top spot in the rotation.
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Milwaukee Brewers: RP; LaTroy Hawkins and Takashi Saito
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Current Depth Chart Starter: LaTroy Hawkins
Who Should Be Starter: Takashi Saito
Why Situation Is Intriguing: LaTroy Hawkins is a seasoned veteran who is coming off of an atrocious year last year. He posted an 8.44 ERA, his highest since his rookie season in 1995. On the other hand, Takashi Saito is old. Really old, yet really productive (69 K in 54.0 innings). Both guys are going to get a good amount of innings coming out of Milwaukee's bullpen, but it's clear that Saito should be manager Ron Roenicke's first look.
Pittsburgh Pirates: C; Chris Snyder and Ryan Doumit
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Current Depth Chart Starter: Chris Snyder
Who Should Be Starter: Chris Snyder
Why Situation Is Intriguing: Ryan Doumit shared a solid year with the Pirates in 2010, except he couldn't stay healthy. While Snyder's 'hit-or-miss' mentality continually leads him sub .220 numbers, he does have a deal of power—probably the only reason he is going to get the match up nod over Doumit, throughout the course of the season.
St. Louis Cardinals: 3B; Nick Punto and David Freese
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Current Depth Chart Starter: David Freese
Who Should Be Starter: David Freese
Why Situation Is Intriguing: Why is this debacle becoming a hot topic of the 'hot corner?'
Because David Freese just began walking again. He's coming off of separate foot/ankle problems and is expected to be healthy by opening day. If Nick Punto was any good with a bat, he might have gotten the nod at third, just until Freese was fully healthy.
Atlanta Braves: 1B; Freddie Freeman and Martin Prado
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Current Depth Chart Starter: Freddie Freeman
Who Should Be Starter: Freddie Freeman
Why Situation Is Intriguing: Let's get this straight. Freddie Freeman will be the opening day first baseman. And Martin Prado will be the opening day left fielder. The interesting part here, is the Braves seem to be moving the 21-year-old first basemen up in the same fashion similar to Jason Heyward. Prado was a .300 hitter while playing infield for the Braves a year ago, so it will also be interesting to take note of his transition to the outfield.
Florida Marlins: 3B; Wes Helms and Emilio Bonifacio
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Current Depth Chart Starter: Wes Helms
Who Should Be Starter: Emilio Bonifacio
Why Situation Is Intriguing: Simply said, Wes Helms is old (34) and Emilio Bonifacio is young (25). The young speedster burst on the scene in 2009, tallying six triples in 127 games, an impressive rookie year. Unfortunately, Bonifacio has his flaws. He strikes out too much for a guy at top of the lineup. On the other side, Wes Helms has proved himself a formidable infielder for close to a decade. When push comes to shove, I believe youth and speed is a more proper direction for the Marlins, so Bonifacio it is.
New York Mets: 1B; Daniel Murphy and Ike Davis
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Current Depth Chart Starter: Ike Davis
Who Should Be Starter: Ike Davis
Why Situation Is Intriguing: This particular situation should be more noted for how it affects another respected veteran infielder. Daniel Murphy and Ike Davis are two budding young talents that have infinite potential.
Well, it's tough to play two first basemen at the same time, so the Mets had to figure something out. The solution is to put Murphy at second base and consequently move veteran Luis Castillo off the top of the depth chart.
Philadelphia Phillies: SP; Rotation Order
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Current Depth Chart Starter: Halladay/Lee/Oswalt/Hamels/Blanton
Who Should Be Starter: Does it really matter?
Why Situation Is Intriguing: The Yankees of the National League succeeded at one thing this offseason. That was providing us with the most lethal pitching rotation the league has ever seen. Each of these guys are good for at least 12 wins a year, and that's a sinful understatement for guys like Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee. I think it'd be profitable to say the Phillies are good pick to represent the NL in 2011 Fall Classic.
Washington Nationals: LF; Rick Ankiel and Roger Bernadina
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Current Depth Chart Starter: Rick Ankiel
Who Should Be Starter: Roger Bernadina
Why Situation Is Intriguing: Rick Ankiel is not good, and I'm having trouble understanding why another team is giving this guy a chance. Roger Bernadina is young, defensive-minded, fast and has untapped potential.
So why are the Nationals are overpaying for an overrated bat and glove in Ankiel? They should just stay in-house and develop Bernadina's bat for a full seasons work.
Arizona Diamondbacks: LF; Xavier Nady and Gerardo Parra
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Current Depth Chart Starter: Xavier Nady
Who Should Be Starter: Gerardo Parra
Why Situation Is Intriguing: I'm going to come out and say it, Gerardo Parra is a stud. Give this kid some solid offseason polishing at the plate, and he could garner comparisons to Carlos Beltran. He's extremely fast and technical in the field, he just needs guidance at the plate. Xavier Nady has little left in the tank, and that's why I think that Parra should be the every day option. Arizona doesn't have a whole lot to look forward to in 2011, so the development of Parra seems like the best possible option.
Colorado Rockies: 2B; Jose Lopez and Eric Young Jr.
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Current Depth Chart Starter: Jose Lopez
Who Should Be Starter: Jose Lopez
Why Situation Is Intriguing: This may be one of the less exciting positional quarrels, but it is still an important one for the Colorado Rockies. Neither player put up stellar numbers at the plate, so the verdict depends on defense.
'EY' simply doesn't have quite as developed defensive skills as his counterpart, Jose Lopez. While the most likely option has the two splitting time down the middle, a solid showing by either could lead to a regular starting job.
Los Angeles Dodgers: C; Rod Barajas and Dioner Navarro
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Current Depth Chart Starter: Rod Barajas
Who Should Be Starter: Dioner Navarro
Why Situation Is Intriguing: Rod Barajas has been a very good catcher in the league for many years, but Dioner Navarro is clearly the better talent. This guy is only two years removed from being the starting catcher of the AL pennant winners. He had a little bit of a down year last year, but a new venue and hitting in a new league could easily be the change he needed.
San Diego Padres: 1B; Brad Hawpe and Jorge Cantu
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Current Depth Chart Starter: Brad Hawpe
Who Should Be Starter: Brad Hawpe
Why Situation Is Intriguing: This may the most interesting story line in Padres camp throughout the duration of spring training. The two first basemen are newcomers to the Padres and are fighting to be graciously titled "Adrian Gonzalez's Replacement."
Hawpe is clearly the more proven bat, but he's a natural left fielder. It will definitely be interesting to watch Hawpe's transition to a full time role at first, over that of the streaky Jorge Cantu.
San Francisco Giants: LF/RF; Three Guys, Two Spots
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Current Depth Chart Starter: LF, Cody Ross/RF, Mark DeRosa
Who Should Be Starter: LF, Cody Ross and Pat Burrell/RF, Mark DeRosa
Why Situation Is Intriguing: Alert to the Giants: Proceed on Cody Ross with caution. Just because he had a break out postseason a year ago doesn't mean he's going to have a break out year this year. He's now 30 years old, and it'd be foolish to think he can produce anything better than before.
Pat Burrell isn't young at all either, hence why I believe it'd be ideal to have them split time, mostly in lefty/righty situations.
Mark DeRosa is one of a kind. This is now his fifth team in five years and he's coming off July wrist surgery. He'll definitely be useful with his success against lefties, but this aging bunch will most likely split time three ways to stay healthy.
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