Mack Ade – Minor League Spring Training

This is the time of the year that the four minor league clubs are actually playing spring training games. The difference in those games is no one is really trying to win a job at a level above where the team has already slotted them. Sure, there are players still trying to make the teams, but, if you played (let’s say) well last year in Savannah and had 400 at bats, you’re going to play this season (at least) in St. Lucie, regardless of what your spring training average is.

There are some position that still need to be determined:

            1B: -  is quite busy and complicated. Josh Satin can’t seem to win himself a job in Queens, but always hits well in the minors. This will be his last year under team control, but there is absolutely no reason to release him because he can win you ballgames. The problem is both Eric Campbell and Alan Dykstra are ready to step up to the AAA level.

            Campbell also plays third and both corner outfield positions so he’s particularly valuable; however, a lot of his AA at-bats came as a DH. Dykstra, who was drafted one pick away from Ike Davis, was once a highly sort after prospect that offers the Mets first base insurance in case there was a need in Queens.

            Dykstra could be held back another year in Binghamton but the planes are stacked up for landing (Travis Ozga and Joe Bonfe played St. Lucie last year, Brian Harrison played Savannah, and Jayce Boyd and Cole Frenzel played Brooklyn).

            SS: -  Not as busy as first, but a little bit of a mess.

The problem here revolves around where to play the last two year’s ‘prospects’, Phillip Evans and Gavin Cecchini. The Las Vegas starter looks to be Wilfredo Tovar and either Brandon Hicks or Omar Quintanilla could serve as backup if they don’t make the parent club.

            T.J. Rivera is coming off a very good year in both Savannah and St. Lucie and looks to be a lock at Binghamton. The backup projects to be the recently resigned Josh Rodriquez.

            Now, you have both Evans and Cecchini. You can assign Evans to St. Lucie and Cecchini to Savannah (backups would be Brandon Brown and Ismael Tijerna) or slow it down and hold Cecchini back for Brooklyn.

            RP – Thee simply are too many in camp. I have a list of 54 possible pitchers that could make one of the full season teams. That would be 17 releif pitchers per team which just doesn’t add up.

            There are a few locks though. Jack Leathersich, Adam Kolarek, and Jeff Walters look like shoe-in for Binghamton while Marcos Camerena should go to Lucy.

            The other interesting decisions will be if they continue to pitch Akeel Morris and Juan Urbina as relievers. Both had terrible 2011/2012 years as starters and ended the season in the pen.