My official spring training take:
I've finally got to sit down for an entire week and check out the roster and try to examine, what I think, we should look like. Firstly, over the last year Krivsky has sneakily acquired some nice young talent. Its hard to see it alot of times because we also have the Geritol Gang mixed in. Some of those old guys can still do it but most are only there for moral support. Now without knowing which options these guys have left I'm making this list. How I see these guys:
Dave Weathers: The guy is getting up there and might not last more than 2/3 of this season effectively. What I see in Weathers though is that he can still get outs. He's crafty. Most importantly he's helping Todd Coffey improve and thats the main thing.
Mike Stanton: Have to wait til games actually count to really weigh in on this guy. He seems to lighten up the clubhouse and kind of gel the older guys with the younger ones. Now, on the field he's not much other than a lefty in the bullpen but he also has some wisdom to impart on the youngsters. By the all-star break he shouldn't see the field if Bray is healthy.
Rheal Cormier: Judas fucking Priest! Nothing good can come of him being on the roster. Nothing.
Now if we look at the rest of the staff which are 28 or younger and in some cases alot younger, there's some real promise.
I'll skip Harang and Arroyo although I will say that I think Arroyo has the stuff to win 17-18 games this year and push towards a Cy Young. Most people would say they'd take Harang, but when Bronson's got that "frisbee pitch" working, he's tough to beat. Both guys are rubber armed as well.
The youth and newness of the staff I am really excited about. Lohse can get it done and at times he's pretty tough. I think his mental game is the block right now which could go either way this season. I like him as a 4th starter though.
Bobby Livingston: I really think this guy can be a 3rd starter this season. One, he's left handed. Two, he doesn't give up the long ball like "He Who Must Not Be Named!" Three, the guys 24 years old. Barring injury he could really settle the middle of this staff.
Matt Belisle: As a 5th starter and sometimes long-reliever the guy can be nails. He's got the flexibility and endurance to do either. I like the way he battles on the mound and he is a team player.
Sarloos: I think he is battling Belisle for the same role at #5. I love the fact that he's a sinkerballer at GABP. I agree with Hatteberg when he says the guy has a ball that wont stop moving. Always a good thing.
I won't get into Bailey who we all know cracks this rotation the second he is ready.
Guess, who gets left out of this equation.
What we have left is more youth and some blossoming skill.
EZ Ramirez, Billy Bray, Jared Burton, John Coutlangus, Todd Coffey and Gary Majewski. Thats 6 more guys under the age of 28 with only 3 spots to fill. Of this bunch I can see:
Coffey: Closer. He has the pitches. He needs the confidence and attitude. Should be around for a while.
Burton: Wow. This guy has come outta nowhere and has awesome stuff. If Coffey doesn't pan out, this guy could. In the meantime, I see him in short relief.
Bray: When he's healthy I like him as the Lefty closer. Teams heavy on left handed hitters or majority lefty for the ninth will get a real test from him. Not looking at his career numbers in this regard so I don't know his history, just what I can see as possible.
Coutlangus: young and a wild card to the hitters right now who haven't seen him, also left handed.
EZ Ramirez: He's flexible enough to be a starter. I like him in long relief along with Belisle on his week off, and Sarloos (if he doesn't crack the rotation) or Lohse.
Gary Majewski: His skill level was there. What has the undisclosed injury and subsequent time off done to him? A lot of questions still unanswered here.
To start the season here's what I forsee:
SP: Harang, Arroyo, fucking Milton, Lohse, Livingston:
RP: Coffey, Weathers, Stanton, Burton, Sarloos, Bray, Get-real Cormier
Minors or cut: Belisle, Coutlangus, Majewski (possible DL), EZ Ramirez
Who I would like to see there:
SP: Harang, Arroyo, Livingston, Lohse, Belisle
RP: Sarloos, Burton, Bray, Coffey, Weathers, Coutlangus, Ramirez
I say cut or trade for prospects Milton, Cormier, and Stanton. Majewski should start DL at least for a couple weeks.
Always be shopping the long relievers and when Bailey is ready or need due to injury someone else either goes down or gets the axe. There's enough youth here to get this thing stabilized and the right infusion of experience to allow them to develop. By the all-star break this pitching staff needs to be closer to the second choice I've put up here for us to have a remote chance this season. I guess we'll see just how big Krivsky's balls are and how dumb Narron is in a couple of weeks.
I'll look at the lineup a little later. Everyone fire back with your takes on this, I'm interested to hear.
