MLB Spring Training: 20 Under-the-Radar Stories to Follow
So far, Spring Training 2011 has been mostly about major events, such as Albert Pujols cutting off his contract extension talks with the Cardinals, Adam Wainwright needing Tommy John surgery and the heated feud between Michael Young and the Rangers.
Other popular topics include the Yankees' starting rotation competition, the debut of Carl Crawford (and soon Adrian Gonzalez) for the Red Sox and which outfield position Carlos Beltran will play in Citi Field this year (turns out it's right field).
However, with 30 MLB clubs and over a thousand players getting in shape and/or competing for major league jobs, there are plenty of other interesting stories taking shape, flying quietly under the radar.
These stories may not seem to be major news right now, but a lot of them could have major effects on the teams they involve later on in the season. Sometimes it isn't the big decisions that end up hurting or helping a team but the little ones.
What Is Mike Napoli's role with the Texas Rangers?
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Mike Napoli had a busy offseason. He was first traded from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the only team he has ever known, along with outfielder Juan Rivera to the Toronto Blue Jays in a deal that sent Vernon Wells to Anaheim.
As if that wasn't enough to deal with in one offseason, he found out four days later the Blue Jays didn't even intend to keep him and dealt him to his former division rival, the Texas Rangers, in exchange for closer-candidate Frank Francisco.
Now the question is, where will Napoli play with the Rangers, and how much playing time will he see?
He might platoon with other Rangers-acquisition Yorvit Torrealba behind the plate or might see some time at first base.
Speaking of first base in Arlington...
Who will play first base for the Texas Rangers?
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The Texas Rangers will have a real competition in spring training to decide who will man first base when the Rangers raise their AL Pennant in April at the ballpark in Arlington.
The candidates for this job include longtime-Ranger Michael Young, postseason standout Mitch Moreland, former highly touted prospect Chris Davis and offseason acquisition Mike Napoli.
Any of these players are capable of winning the job, but only Davis and Moreland are first basemen by trade, as Young has played all the other infield positions during his career and Napoli is actually a catcher.
However, Napoli and Young are the proven hitters, so really any result is possible as this competition should provide for some intrigue this spring.
Who will replace Manny in left field for the Dodgers?
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After a few disappointing seasons in LA following his trade from Boston, Manny Ramirez has left the Dodgers and (after a short stint with the White Sox) moved on to rejoin his former "Idiot" teammate, Johnny Damon, in Tampa Bay.
What this means for the Dodgers is that left field is now vacant, and a superstar will not fill that void this season, as the organization has decided to plug that hole with a cheap replacement.
The candidates for this job include Jay Gibbons, Tony Gwynn Jr. and Marcus Thames. Look for either Gwynn or Thames to win the job, with the only thing that might hold back the powerful Thames being his horrendous defense.
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Who will man first base for the Rays?
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The Rays lost a lot of players this offseason including their captain, first baseman Carlos Pena.
Pena didn't get a lot of hits, as his average dropped below the Mendoza line to finish out the year, but he did have two nice attributes: power and a great glove.
Pena could hit 30-plus home runs a year and maybe save 30-plus errors a year on top of it. Losing a Gold Glove-caliber first baseman might hurt the Rays, who have a young infield, and Pena's possible replacements are not particularly great at the position.
These possible replacements include Dan Johnson, Ben Zobrist and (pure speculation here) Matt Joyce.
Only Johnson is a natural first baseman, and even he doesn't have a great glove. Still, all of those guys can provide some pop at the plate, and that's what a lot of clubs look for in first basemen, so things could be worse.
It'll be interesting to see who has the bat and maybe the glove to win this job this spring.
Can Jed Lowrie supplant Marco Scutaro as the Red Sox starting shortstop?
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In a Red Sox camp showcasing some new superstar acquisitions in the persons of left fielder Carl Crawford and first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, there could be a competition that could have a pretty hefty impact on the 2011 Red Sox.
This competition is between Marco Scutaro and Jed Lowrie for the rights to the starting shortstop job for Boston.
Despite Boston management claiming the spot is "Scutaro's to lose," Jed Lowrie has the talent to unseat him and likely would already have staked his claim for the position if not for injury struggles so far.
Upon returning to Boston late in the 2010 season, Lowrie showcased some power and contributed in the absence of former-MVP Dustin Pedroia.
I personally think Lowrie is a far better player than Scutaro and eventually will force the hand of management and steal the job from Scutaro, but until then, it's something to pay attention to this spring.
Who will back up Russell Martin in the Bronx?
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While the main focus in Yankees camp is centered around who will emerge as the fourth and fifth starters in the New York rotation, another competition that deserves attention is the one for the position of back-up catcher to Dodger-turned-Bomber Russell Martin.
There are three candidates for this position, and those candidates are Francisco Cervelli, Austin Romine, and Baseball America's No. 3 overall prospect for 2011, Jesus Montero.
The odds-on favorite to win the job, without much surprise, is Jesus Montero. This is a man who has reported to spring training having been told the starting catcher position that was once all but his is no longer up for grabs but who still insists that he is going to win the job.
There is no argument that he is not ready to hit in the majors, as his bat is the main reason he is so highly touted in the Yankees organization, but his defense is in question (although it seems to have become increasingly better since last year).
No doubt it should be fun to watch if you're a Yankees fan (like me).
Who will patrol the outfield for the Tigers?
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The Tigers have quite the crowded outfield going into 2011.
Austin Jackson, Brennan Boesch, Magglio Ordonez, Ryan Raburn and even Clete Thomas are all decent in the field and behind the plate, but only three of them will find themselves manning the spacious greens of Comerica Park this April.
Jackson is pretty much a lock for center field, but after him, there are some decisions to make.
Boesch had an explosive first half in 2010 that had him looking like a lock for Rookie of the Year but then had a subpar second half that put into question his ability to play at the major league level.
Rayburn had the opposite kind of season, as he really started to heat up towards the end of the year.
Magglio is aging and his defense is starting to weaken, but there may not be much of a place for him as a DH....
Will Victor Martinez catch or DH?
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When Detroit stole Victor Martinez away from the Boston Red Sox this offseason, everyone assumed he would replace Gerald Laird as the Tigers' primary catcher.
However, it has since been announced that he will see a lot of time, if not the majority of his time, as a DH while young Alex Avila takes over behind the plate.
This may be problematic if Magglio Ordonez cannot continue to effectively play the outfield. Just like their division rivals the Twins, the Tigers have quite the logjam among position players, and they are going to have to make a choice this Spring on who will play what position and if they value defense over offense or vice versa.
Who will close games for the Rays in '11?
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The Rays were left with a completely dismantled bullpen after the end of the 2010 season. Relievers that had helped them become an actual threat in the AL East over the past three seasons almost all left via free agency.
These relievers included Rafael Soriano (Yankees), Joaquin Benoit (Tigers), Grant Balfour (Athletics), Dan Wheeler (Red Sox), Randy Choate (Marlins) and Lance Cormier (Dodgers).
Now, without a closer, or even a setup man standing to take his place, the Rays must look at an odd group to entrust the ninth inning to.
This group includes J.P. Howell, who was injured during the entire 2010 season, rookie Jake McGee and veteran Kyle Farnsworth.
All of these pitchers have different histories. Howell was dominant until his injury, McGee looked decent in his September callup last season, and Farnsworth has for the most part been a reliable presence in the 'pen throughout his career.
It should be an interesting race to watch for Rays fans who don't have a whole lot to smile about this season.
How will the Twins deal with their lineup logjam?
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One of the most surprising moves of the offseason, in my opinion, was when Minnesota re-signed veteran slugger Jim Thome.
I know he fit in quite well with the Twins, but with Morneau expected to make a strong return this season after some injury issues, there isn't a whole lot of room for Thome in the Twins' everyday lineup.
With an outfield alignment of Delmon Young, Denard Span, Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel, the DH spot isn't even completely open, as Kubel will likely see a lot of time there.
Thome definitely provides some extreme depth for the Twins, but I don't see a platoon-type scenario happening, meaning either he or Kubel could find himself becoming a pinch-hitter/injury replacement this year.
It will be interesting to see what Ron Gardenhire has in mind this Spring as he tries to construct an everyday lineup.
What will the Rays' outfield look like in 2011?
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Over the offseason, the Tampa Bay Rays lost a lot of players, including one of the best players in baseball in the person of Carl Crawford.
Obviously, Crawford was the Rays' everyday left fielder, so without him, their outfield will not look the same when they take the field on Opening Day 2011.
B.J. Upton appears to be the only real lock as of right now, and even he may have to switch out of center field.
Other candidates for outfield spots include incumbent right fielder Ben Zobrist (who may switch to first or second base), Matt Joyce, Desmond Jennings and Johnny Damon.
Jennings is the one to watch this Spring, as his performance will likely determine how the Rays go about setting up their outfield. No one can replace Crawford, but this should still be an interesting competition to watch.
Which new addition will take the closer's job in Toronto?
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The Blue Jays lost some major pieces of their bullpen this offseason, including lefty Scott Downs and closer Kevin Gregg.
They did manage to keep Jason Frasor, whose value was hurt by his Type A status, which would have cost any team interested a draft pick upon signing him. They also brought in three former closers in Octavio Dotel, Jon Rauch and Frank Francisco.
Any of these four could serve admirably as the Jays' closer, and they will all have the chance to take that job this Spring. After his early success last year as Joe Nathan's replacement in Minnesota, Rauch is the one to look out for, as he seemed to thrive in the high-pressure role of the closer.
Who will be the Rangers' third outfielder?
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Last year, the Texas Rangers made it all the way to the World Series with an outfield that consisted of AL MVP Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz and Julio Borbon/David Murphy/Jeff Francouer.
This year, as Francouer has since moved on to Kansas City and DH Vladimir Guerrero has joined the Orioles, there will likely be some hefty expectations for Borbon and Murphy.
Rangers fans will likely look at Borbon to cement himself as the speedy leadoff man and Murphy to establish himself as a power bat to back up Hamilton, Cruz and Adrian Beltre in the Texas lineup.
There is only one place for the two of them, however, and Ron Washington and the Texas coaching staff will have to decide what is more important to them, speed or power.
Who will close for the Baltimore Orioles?
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The Showalter Era has begun in Baltimore, and after revamping most of the infield and adding a DH this offseason, the Orioles will have to decide this spring who will finish their games in 2011.
The general consensus is they will stick with Koji Uehara, who performed very well last year, apart from a pair of outings against the division rival Yankees, but new acquisition Kevin Gregg and last season's injured setup man Mike Gonzalez may give him a run for his money this spring.
The Orioles hope to win a lot more games this season, and it will be interesting to see who they choose to take the ball when the game's on the line.
Who will the Angels choose as their leadoff man?
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Ever since the departure of Chone Figgins following the 2009 season, the Angels have struggled to find a reliable presence for the top of their lineup.
Mostly the same candidates will be considered for the role again this Spring, but after a year, maybe one of them has learned a thing or two an can step up and become the leadoff man for the Angels.
The candidates include Erick Aybar, Maicer Izturis and Alberto Callaspo. For these three men, winning the leadoff spot probably isn't priority No. 1, as only two of them will earn a starting roll in Anaheim to start the season, with the third most likely becoming a bench bat/defensive replacement.
However, each of them possess the speed necessary to embrace the first spot in the lineup and should keep in the back of their mind that that role is open, and the Angels will be looking for that kind of player.
Can Pat Burrell hold onto left field for the Giants?
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After a subpar postseason last season (despite his team winning the World Series), Burrell will have some competition in Giants camp this spring.
We already knew Burrell's defense was questionable at best, but if his bat starts to go cold as well, then what's the use in including "Pat the Bat" in the San Francisco lineup?
The two men who will try to unseat him are the formerly injured Mark DeRosa and the defensive mastermind, Nate Schierholtz.
DeRosa is a great hitter, and if he can stay healthy, he would likely contribute to the Giants offense much more so than Schierholtz, who the Giants would probably prefer to keep as a defensive replacement.
Burrell could still retain the job, but expect DeRosa to keep the pressure on him all Spring.
Who will the Royals fill their outfield with?
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Virtually every single outfield spot is up for grabs when it comes to the Kansas City Royals.
Candidates for these spots include Melky Cabrera, Lorenzo Cain, Jeff Francouer, Alex Gordon, Mitch Maier and Gregor Blanco. Six men, three spots.
This should be a heated competition and should be entertaining to Royals fans who don't have much to look forward to this year, especially after watching their ace, Zack Greinke, get dealt to the Milwaukee Brewers this offseason.
The favorites at this point are Cabrera, Francouer and Gordon, especially since Cain would likely benefit from a little more seasoning in the minors, as he is still pretty young at the age of 24.
Still, if Cain or anyone else can prove himself, Kansas City doesn't have much to lose by giving the young guys a shot at the bigs, so it should be interesting to see the outcome of this competition at the end of spring training.
Who will man the hot corner for the White Sox?
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When the White Sox acquired Mark Teahen in a preseason trade last year, they probably thought they had figured out their third base problems.
However, Teahen had a poor 2010 campaign and now will have to fend off youngsters Brent Lillibridge and Brent Morel, as well as veteran Omar Vizquel, to keep his job.
There will likely be somewhat of a "competition" this spring to determine who will take on the role of starting third baseman for the Southsiders, and a variety of players such as these should make it interesting to watch.
Who will man left field for the Orioles?
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The addition of this man has definitely shaken things up in Baltimore.
Before, it was a given that Adam Jones would play center, Nick Markakis would play right, and Felix Pie would play left field for the 2011 Orioles, with Luke Scott as the primary DH and revolving outfielder.
However, with Vladdy joining the mix as the full-time DH, the Orioles will either have to find a place for Scott to play so they can include his bat in their lineup or trade him.
They may also decide to trade Pie, but before any of that happens, one of these two will have to win the job in spring training, and they will probably get to compete for the role in peace, as most of the attention in Orioles camp is being directed at the newcomers Derrek Lee, Mark Reynolds, Vladdy, JJ Hardy and Justin Duchscherer.
Do the Nationals still respect Nyjer Morgan enough to give him a job?
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In my opinion, this man (if you can call him that), is one of the biggest disgraces in all of baseball. His attitude towards the game and his behavior on the field is appalling, and I have actually lost some respect for the Nationals organization for allowing him to continue to take the field last season.
He starts fights, gets people hurt and acts like a fool on the field, and if he had done any of those things in pinstripes, he would have been gone a LONG time ago.
I can only hope that this Spring, the Nationals have enough sense to give the center field job to new acquisition Rick Ankiel, who is one of the classier guys in baseball. I'll being paying close attention to this story during spring training, as I feel it's one that deserves far more attention than it's getting.
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