Spring training is here at last and finally we can try to forget about steroids and perjury and the impact of the economy on team budgets. 2009 is the year of Obama and the Jays battle cry should be "yes we can". If Obama can deliver the improbable then why not the Jays? On a more practical note this spring training sees about 200 Jays players arrive in Florida ready to battle for about 150 roster spots on six teams from the big leaguers to the extended spring training team. Over the next week and a half we will look at each position and assess the depth of the Jays system.
The most visible group in Dunedin are the players invited to big league camp. As of last week there were the players on the 40 man roster plus 22 other non-roster invitees. These 62 players will primarily make-up the rosters of the Jays and the Las Vegas 51's. The 40 man roster has a lot of new names to the organization, Bryan Bullington, Brian Burres, Fabio Castro, Matt Bush, TJ Beam, and Reid Santos. The Jays bullpen is full to excess and if they want to make the big league team these pitchers will have to impress as starters, if given the chance. Otherwise its Vegas, baby, Vegas. Other NRI's on the pitching newbie side are Matt Clement and Mike Maroth as well as mid-2008 additions Rick Bauer and Marty McLeary. It is unclear right now which of these pitchers will be given the chance to start in spring training, and thereby have a chance at claiming one of the open spots. It will be interesting to see who Cito or JP or Brad Arnsberg decides to give the starts to. With Scott Richmond playing for Canada in the World Cup there will be starting spots available. Will Matt Clement and Mike Maroth get the starts or will they go to Ricky Romero or Brett Cecil? The number 3, 4 and 5 starting pitcher slots are the most competitive battle in camp and getting a read of the tea-leaves early will provide some clues.
Meanwhile there will be 130 players reporting to minor league camp in mid-March. 27 outfielders and 62 pitchers are among the masses showing up on day one. With that many players in camp you can appreciate the logistical challenge to house and evaluate those players. Minor league camp is short, with about two weeks of games, so those players who are on the bubble have few opportunities to impress the coaches. Previously Dick Scott, the Jays minor league farm director, has told Da Box that 90% of the rosters are penciled in prior to camp. With that many players to be evaluated you can see how that is the necessary approach. But assignments do change in spring training, sometimes through injury or sometimes through a player seizing an opportunity. Last year Scott Campbell did not enter camp targeted for AA but he had a good spring and New Hampshire manager Gary Cathcart knew Campbell from the previous season when Cathcart managed in Lansing. Campbell was a surprise choice to go to AA but we all know that it turned out well.
The 2009 spring roster has a number of players missing from 2008. Some of these are minor league free agents like Hector Luna, Pedro Lopez or Mike Gosling. Also gone are new minor league free agents such as Eric Kratz, David Smith, Jean Machi, Jo Matumoto and Jordan DeJong. Anthony Hatch and Ryan Klosterman were claimed by other teams in the minor league portion of the rule 5 draft. Finally the rosters have no sign of these lower level players from 2008; Robert Leffler; Kyle Walter; Steve Condotta; Cory Backman; Mike Lynch; Nate Jennings or Luis Rivera.
Over the next week we will look at the players in the organization by position. Tomorrow we will start with the catchers.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20090214103827801