We are now just over a week into March and a little more than three weeks from Opening Day, which means the time is now for players trying to prove themselves in an effort to win a positional battle in camp. We’ll will continue to monitor such situations over the next few weeks, but here are three to keep an eye on as camps continue.
Detroit Tigers Closer – This wasn’t supposed to be a positional battle heading into spring training. The job was going to go to rookie Bruce Rondon. But after a couple weeks of exhibition games, it’s clear the 22-year-old still has work to do before he can claim that role. In four games, Rondon is 0-1 with a 7.36 ERA in 3.2 innings pitched with considerable control problems. He has issued five walks this spring, which is even worse than his 5.1 minor league career BB/9 rate, and he has allowed 10 of 21 batters to reach base.
The issue now becomes to whom they turn if Rondon can’t fix himself. Last year’s closer, Jose Valverde, remains a free agent, but after the roller coaster ride that was the ninth innings of 2012 in Detroit, that is unlikely. Former San Francisco Giants closer Brian Wilson is also still unsigned if the Tigers decide to consider an outside candidate.
The more likely scenario is seeing if another reliever already on the roster can earn the closer’s job, assuming manager Jim Leyland is willing to move them from their understood roles. Those include Phil Coke, Joaquin Benoit, Octavio Dotel, Al Alburquerque and Brayan Villarreal. Leyland could ultimately even decide to go with the dreaded closer-by-committee, which is always a risky move.
Toronto Blue Jays Second Base – For the first time in a long time, the Blue Jays have very few areas of concern heading into the regular season. The one spot that is up for grabs is at second base. Both Maicer Izturis and Emilio Bonifacio are engaged in a battle for the job. And, so far, neither has been able to establish himself as the frontrunner.
Bonifacio is in Toronto as one of the lesser pieces of the blockbuster trade with the Miami Marlins during the offseason. His playing time with the Blue Jays has been eventful so far. Offensively he has been fairly impressive hitting .346 while adding three stolen bases. His defensive inabilities, though, are proving to be a liability. In just nine games, he already has four errors—a potential side effect from moving back to the infield after spending most of last season in center field.
Izturis, meanwhile, is also entering his first season in Toronto after spending most of his career with the Los Angeles Angels. He has been primarily a backup during his career and is doing little this spring to prove he should be an everyday player. He has just three hits in 22 at bats for a .136 average and also has three errors of his own. At this point, Bonafacio would seem to have the edge but that could certainly change before April.
St. Louis Cardinals Fifth Starter – Heading into camp, there was a three-way competition for the last spot in the Cardinals’ rotation. That has now been whittled to two. Trevor Rosenthal, who pitched from the pen last year, will have to wait a bit longer for a shot at being a starter. He has been told he will return to the bullpen, where he was extremely successful last year, especially during the playoffs when he threw 8.2 scoreless innings.
Now, the last starting spot will go to either Joe Kelly or Shelby Miller. Neither Kelly nor Miller has much major league experience with each only appearing in games during the 2012 season. Kelly has a bit more time, having appeared in 24 games last year. In his 16 starts, he was 4-6 with a 3.74 ERA, had a 1.84 K/BB rate, and gave up nine home runs. The 25-year-old has kept the ball in the park in his two starts this spring and has given up one earned run in four innings. He still needs to work on his command, though, as he’s issued five walks while striking out just one.
Miller, meanwhile, has impressed coaches this spring. The Cardinals’ number two prospect according to Baseball America has given up three runs in five innings during his two spring training starts. He has also struck out four while walking one. The 22-year-old made one start for St. Louis last year, going six scoreless innings against the Cincinnati Reds in game 162. The Cardinals clearly view him as a significant contributor to their rotation in the future and he could become one now with a successful conclusion to March.
