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Shifting Gears

Shifting-GearsOrdinarily, the decision to stop spring-training coverage is based on a large set of cuts or the manager stating he’ll be playing the regulars, but this year, I’m simply making the call based on a gut reaction: It’s time to step back and wait for the minor-league seasons to start.

Thanks to injuries, it does seem rather obvious that Michael Taylor has a good chance to make the big club. Aside from that, there’s not as much intrigue or enough of an excuse to continue writing every day. I’ve gotten back into the rhythm, and feel like I’ll be ready to go in a couple weeks (and a couple of days) from now.

This is where I might remind folks about what to expect in the coming months, but what hasn’t changed is that I have less time than in years past. Some features will go away, others will be shifted to the weekend, and some coverage will be reduced, if not eliminated.
All I can promise is to deliver what I can, when I can, and the best that I can in the time that I do have.

14 Commments

  1. That’s what Spring Training is all about, Luke. Gettin’ back on the field after time away; gently swinging the bat, warming up the throwing arm, and getting re-acquainted with familiar faces and places.

    It’s a good time of year.

    Glad it’s served its purpose, and I’ll be reading the next contributions – in a few weeks!

    (PS – any articles on Drew Ward’s start yesterday? I’ve not seen any yet).

  2. Ty Luke get back to the dogs
    You know us nuts will add comments in the breach.
    Raised eye brows seeing DK Carey in a game vs
    Yankees.
    Gardner , Robles , Carey. Suns
    No surprise in Heath bell cut

  3. Luke, just keep the photos coming! 🙂

    I normally like Mark Zuckerman, but had to listen to him moan on the radio about Michael Taylors strikeouts without mentioning his 1.088 OPS. Unbelievable!
    As if a players who hits at a .650 OPS rate but doesn’t strike out much is preferable.

    1. It’s a legitimate concern — Taylor’s been making hay against AAA-quality pitching per baseball-reference.com this spring; what will happen when he faces major-league pitching three or more times a game? I still think we’re about to find out, but I also think if Nate McLouth were healthy,Taylor would have been sent down already.

      1. Not all of his hay has been vs. minor leaguers. It’s not just the two dingerz off of Verlander; he’s gotten hits against Matt Latos, Mark Appel, Jakob de Grom & others, too.

        1. Still Luke is right. He undoubtedly would have been sent down if McLouth looked good. As it is he’ll be getting competition for playing time from Tony Gwynn Jr. and his left-handed bat. Gwynn could conceivably push Taylor back to the minors if Taylor struggles and Gwynn thrives.

      2. Haven’t looked at the stats but high strikeout rates can often mean there’s an exploitable hole in somebody’s swing that scouted regular season games will find that pitchers just getting their work in will not. If Taylor hits close to .700 ops and plays great defense he’s doing his job, but I do not feel that a major league roster spot is in his best interest until he gets 100-300 abs at AAA. Frankly, I want gwynn to make the team, Taylor to be first quarter international league MVP, and some very hard decisions to have to be made about the statues of zim and werth currently occupying expensive spots and blocking youth. Zims right arm is the problem. If he could play third, they could shift tendon to second, werth to first, and have speed to burn in the outfield with Taylor or gwynn replacing werth in left with span in center and harper in right. The problem is zim’s arm and the money and egos involved. Still, that’s a possibility if Desmond leaves and a year at first helps zims arm finally heal.

        1. I’ll defer to John C. on Taylor, who’s been hitting great against top shelf pitching. Leadoff is all about On-Base percentage and somebody has to leadoff, Taylor or not. We are going to find out if he’s ready; there are no other good alternatives for centerfield right now.

          As for Zimmerman, he has arthritis; rest does nothing for that.

          I can’t wait to get to Harrisburg next month.

  5. Soul drummer. Don’t we all know that the ZZtop
    Beard look will be talk of april with carp and Stewart
    Taking off bench??
    I say platoon Taylor and gwynn, jr cause as Neil young sang
    Rust and speed never sleep. Mixed in with a HR!
    Oddly enough with injuries either brass moves up
    Keyes to Cuse or signs an AAron Cunningham for
    Cuse.
    But I hope brass moves up Oduber Wooten and
    Estarlin to experience city isle short fences

    Cue pat methany. Last train home
    Hmmm a methany @ Mizzou st. Relation to pat ?

  7. You think Clint Robinson has a clue now that
    He might just break camp with Nats ? Number 25!
    Hawaiian eye playing some Cuse 3 b?
    Luke, go ahead and type in kevin Keyes @1 b
    For Cuse. With the injuries. That’s s given !! Lol

    1. I have to admit that I didn’t know C. Robinson at all before 3 weeks ago, but he hitting well AND lefthanded, something that’s needed.
      They need somebody other than ‘automatic out’ Espinosa going against RHP’ers.

      Harrisburg is sure looking better than last year.

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