Prospect Position Battlers

by Shep on Jan 16, 2007 8:34 AM EST

It appears that these prospects (if that's the word) have a shot at starting for their respective teams.

Kouz as Padres 3b (Branyan)
Sweeney as WSox CF (Anderson)
Garko as Cleve 1b (Blake/Michaels?)

There may be others too, but what do you think of their chances to start the season as the starter and holding it?

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Battles

Kouzmanoff - as sure a thing as possible.
Sweeney - If B. Nicokola Anderson shows discernable improvement with the bat, Sweeney will go to AAA.
Garko - S.O.L. Blake get most of the ABs. After last season's performance, Garko should get more ABs, but Blake was very good, too, and "veteran" status breaks the tie.

Fake Teams

by ephinz on Jan 16, 2007 9:13 AM EST reply actions

Choo

Does Blake go back (?) to RF with Choo riding the pine or heading to AAA?

by cooper7d7 on Jan 16, 2007 10:10 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah

I agree about Sweeney, but it's IF Anderson improves. I understand that Ozzie likes Sweeney a bunch.

I also agree with Garko. The "vets" get the job with most teams.

I doubt Branyan will get much PT in SD, but he is LH and I wonder about some platoon issues there.

I forgot about Alex Escobar. Can he beat the mighty Nook Logan for the Nats CF job?

I won't get married until the Red Sox win the World Series. AGAIN!!

by Shep on Jan 16, 2007 9:15 AM EST reply actions

Nook

I actually wrote a long post over at Fake Teams on Nook.

New manager Acta likes him and is looking at a strong defense up the middle.

Fake Teams

by ephinz on Jan 16, 2007 10:23 AM EST up reply actions

+1

Like the comments.
Sweeny's bat will get him in the lineup. I think he can play CF, maybe not as good as Anderson, but he is a better player then Podsednic. Might start in Triple A, giving Anderson a short leash, but will be with the club this year.

Kouzmanoff will play in SD this year. Branyan will be the back up. Kouz hit the S**t out of the ball last year. He will get a good chance.

by ChrisRef19 on Jan 16, 2007 12:32 PM EST up reply actions

Kouzmanoff

Here is some recent summary of the Padres' infield situation:
http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070110&content_id=1776294&v key=news_sd&fext=.jsp&c_id=sd

Sounds like Kevin Towers is giving every indication that Kouzmanoff will get the starting job at third base.

by FI @ Minor League Ball on Jan 16, 2007 10:34 AM EST reply actions

Thoughts on each... plus a couple more...

Kouz - Can Branyan keep anyone else from starting? Seriously.

Sweeney - Ozzie likes him, but he also likes Anderson's D. If BA can even hit .260 with just a little power, the CF position will be his.

Garko - My guess is the real battle will be between Garko and Choo, with the loser heading to AAA.

A couple more interesting battles to watch:

Dodgers 3B - Betemit did hit for some pop last year, but his Avg dipped substantially after moving to LA. And Andy LaRoche looks ready. Or, will Loney play 1B and Nomar shift to 3B? Lots of possibilities here.

Dodgers RF - Ethier? Kemp? Loney? Signing Gonzo was really dumb. They are blocking talented youngsters that will out-perform Gonzo in 2007 and beyond.

by guru4u on Jan 16, 2007 10:34 AM EST reply actions

Speaking of dumb...

How about Seattle signing Guillen and then Vidro, blocking Adam Jones? Does he go back to AAA or sit on the bench?

by rhd on Jan 16, 2007 11:41 AM EST reply actions

Not great signings

but i have no issue with jones going back to AAA......he needs some more seasoning and his performance last year in the majors showed he was rushed.......he's only 21 so no need to hand him a spot on the roster when his plate discipline is still weak.....give him a full season at AAA, he'll light it up and be ready for the show in '08.......they will need him in CF if ichiro ends up leaving

by Wheelhouse on Jan 16, 2007 11:54 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed

The M's offseason signings blow for so many more important reasons.

by DrunkIrish on Jan 16, 2007 1:47 PM EST up reply actions

He's not really a prospect...

but one interesting youngster position battle will be if Kelly Johnson gets the starting 2B job in Atlanta over Wilson Betemit.

by Brock20 on Jan 16, 2007 11:48 AM EST reply actions

Prado too

I don't know who gets the 2b job in Atlanta, but Betemit is in the picture for the Dodgers 3b job and Martin Prado will battle Johnson in Atl.

I won't get married until the Red Sox win the World Series. AGAIN!!

by Shep on Jan 16, 2007 11:50 AM EST up reply actions

Willy Aybar

Wasn't he supposed to be getting a look at 2B?

by Gudy2Shoes on Jan 16, 2007 12:04 PM EST up reply actions

Aybar

You're right, it's Aybar and somehow I said Prado.

I won't get married until the Red Sox win the World Series. AGAIN!!

by Shep on Jan 16, 2007 2:11 PM EST up reply actions

There's a whole diary about this

But, in sum, the 2B battle appears to be KJ's to lose to Prado or Pete Orr. Aybar's going to stay at 3B to spell Chipper.

Or that's the story right now.

by Yakker on Jan 16, 2007 6:59 PM EST up reply actions

Betemit?

I dont think that will be much of a battle with Betemit in LA...

by cooper7d7 on Jan 16, 2007 11:51 AM EST up reply actions

Seattle

Yes, another dumb team. I don't mind the Guillen signing so much. He gives them some flexibility in the OF/DH. The Vidro trade was really, really dumb though. If they trade Beltre or Sexson and put Vidro in the vacated spot, it's not so terrible.

Adam Jones could use some more seasoning though. Right now he's just a poor man's Mike Cameron/Chris Young. If he can improve his contact rate, he could become an elite talent. I would say the odds of that happening are 50/50 at best though.

by guru4u on Jan 16, 2007 11:51 AM EST reply actions