Spring Training Thread!!!

[rockycola]

Polonco and Haniger hitting are very encouraging. Garver as well. Still need a 3B and LF to emerge

Yeah, but the Raley Monkey is shitting the bed.....

[Donn Beach]

Rumor mill now is Astros pursuing Snell. If it is true or happens I wonder if Ms do anything or if Jerry stands pat.

Astros have had a number of injuries, adding Snell would be able replacing some of that talent as much as adding to it at this point though eventually it be a pretty deep staff

The Astros already knew that Lance McCullers Jr. and Luis García Jr. were going to be starting the year on the injured list, as both underwent elbow surgeries last summer, but this spring has seen a couple more dominos fall. Justin Verlander has been slowed by some right shoulder soreness which doesn’t seem terribly serious but it delayed him enough that he’ll start the season on the injured list. Earlier today, José Urquidy departed his start early due to some pain in his right elbow.

[Southpaw773]

Side note. Anybody do MLB Fantasy Baseball? Missing FFL and thinking trying it.

[harmony]

On Sunday's 710 Seattle radio broadcast of the Cactus League game, an analytics guy from Mariner baseball operations said he told PBO Jerry Dipoto that Luis Urias could become the next J.P. Crawford, a late-blooming former top prospect who does not strike out a lot.

The analytics guy said Dipoto was surprised by the comp.

Through his age 25 season Crawford had posted 4.1 bWAR in 218 games while Urias has posted 7.2 bWAR in 393 games through his age 25 season. Crawford has a career strikeout rate of 18 percent and Urias a career strikeout rate of 21.6 percent.

Crawford peaked at No. 4 in the Baseball Prospectus prospect rankings while Urias peaked at No. 17.

[harmony]

Anthony Desclafani, the righthander whom the Mariners acquired in the Robbie Ray trade and then flipped in the Jorge Polanco trade, is likely out for the season with an arm injury:

https://www.startribune.com/twins-injur ... 600352104/

[rockycola]

I hope the Mariners are paying attention to Michael Papierski and considering him for the backup catcher role over Seby. But assuming Seby is on the opening day roster, Papierski might be the best catcher option we've had in a while in Tacoma.

He looked great today. Had a great at bat and then threw out a runner at second… very impressive for how young he is……..

Papierski is actually 28. In 8 seasons (one in MLB in 2022) he is .226 \ .359 \ .351 \ .710 so not much more than spring training fodder for pitchers to get in some work, but a good stash in Tacoma for a little depth.
In his one year, 2022, in the bigs, he played in 39 games for the Reds and Giants and batted .159 \ .242 \ .207 \ .449 so we should all fear if the papier bat actually gets a call up. He's had a good spring, though.

Zavala is not a good stick, either. They both seem to be good fielding catchers. Seby throws out runners at a 27% clip. 'Ski is 22%.

[Seattle or Bust]

You guys think the M's are giving Brian Anderson a prolonged look to make the team?

He has spent far and away the most time in his career at 3B and has accumulated 10 bWAR despite a tough go of it the last 3 seasons. In 2018-2020 he was a .260/.340/.470 hitter averaging about 2.5 fWAR a season.

He's certainly kicking Rojas's ass in the batters box (.318/.423/.682/1.105) and has more natural pop. Dude's arm is also elite and he's also a more natural fit at the position.

[D-train]

You guys think the M's are giving Brian Anderson a prolonged look to make the team?

He has spent far and away the most time in his career at 3B and has accumulated 10 bWAR despite a tough go of it the last 3 seasons. In 2018-2020 he was a .260/.340/.470 hitter averaging about 2.5 fWAR a season.

He's certainly kicking Rojas's ass in the batters box (.318/.423/.682/1.105) and has more natural pop. Dude's arm is also elite and he's also a more natural fit at the position.

The second we signed him I said he was the the best option for 3B. Only in Jerry's world is the NRI guy the best option over the actual Plan for 3b.

[bpj]

I'd much rather have Anderson on the roster than a couple of the guys that will make the 26 man roster. I noticed they even gave him some time in the outfield.

Saw a clip of Canzone's homerun today, he looks like he spent some time eating and hitting the squat racks, he's not Ackley sized anymore.

[Coeurd’Alene J]

I hope the Mariners are paying attention to Michael Papierski and considering him for the backup catcher role over Seby. But assuming Seby is on the opening day roster, Papierski might be the best catcher option we've had in a while in Tacoma.

He looked great today. Had a great at bat and then threw out a runner at second… very impressive for how young he is……..

Papierski is actually 28. In 8 seasons (one in MLB in 2022) he is .226 \ .359 \ .351 \ .710 so not much more than spring training fodder for pitchers to get in some work, but a good stash in Tacoma for a little depth.
In his one year, 2022, in the bigs, he played in 39 games for the Reds and Giants and batted .159 \ .242 \ .207 \ .449 so we should all fear if the papier bat actually gets a call up. He's had a good spring, though.

Zavala is not a good stick, either. They both seem to be good fielding catchers. Seby throws out runners at a 27% clip. 'Ski is 22%.

I had never heard of Papsmear before seeing him live at the Peoria game. I assumed he was just a kid and after posting that comment I later looked him up back at Darren’s pad and was surprised to see he has played for awhile. I see him as a really good pitch framer and with a good arm. He nailed a throw to second and the hit a home run. I haven’t seen seby do anything close.