Let the Games (ST) Begin

Are we all excited yet? Spring Training games start tomorrow. So far the reports from FL I have caught over at the PD website sound very encouraging, and the skeptics seem to be dying down. Thus far carp seems ready to go, and Duncan has faith in him so let’s keep our fingers crossed that our Cy Young winner is back to his old self.

Also, if further evidence was needed to illustrate the leaps and bounds our farm system has made in the last few years Baseball America just put out their annual list of Top 100 Prospects. Give it a look: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/top-100-prospects/2009/267698.html
Colby Rasmus (OF) #3
Brett Wallace(3B) #40
Chris Perez (RHP) #91

We still have the best possible problem in our OF, how do we get all of these guys playing time? Ludwig, Ankiel, Rasmus, Mather, Duncan, Wallace (I have read from multiple sources that a position shift to the OF might be in his future) with Barton and Jay down in AAA there is something to like about all of these players and the first five on my little list all bat with power. If Skip sticks at 2B, with the reporting from the PD it sounds like he will, that at least clears up some OF at bats. I hope Wallace can up his defense and stick as the everyday 3B later this season. Mather is learning 3B and has played some 1B and he was drafted as a SS and we know he played in the bigs last year in the OF, so he could be the new super sub and would provide lots of power off the bench.

My thought, trade Duncan and Ankiel later this spring for pitching depth and/or a SS prospect with an ETA projected for 2010.

Let’s see what happens tomorrow.