Rundown from PHX: February 12
February 12, 2013
tags: Adam Rosales, Andy Parrino, Bartolo Colon, Bob Melvin, Brett Anderson, Curt Young, Fernando Rodriguez, Grant Green, Hideki Okajima, Jarrod Parker, Jed Lowrie, Josh Donaldson, Luke Montz, Pedro Figueroa, Ryan Sweeney, Travis Blackley
- It will be very tough for Andy Parrino to crack the big league roster opines Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Parrino is sort of like the Ryan Sweeney of last year, in the sense that at one point he stood practically atop the depth chart at shortstop with Adam Rosales and now he finds himself buried.
- Curt Young thinks the A’s bullpen depth is incredible and it’ll be a big battle for the final two spots. He speaks highly of new-signee Hideki Okajima who he worked with in Boston.
- Travis Blackley who apparently added more tattoos this winter, will be stretched out as a starter but expected to be a long-reliever. He was a really nice under the radar acquisition last year and was integral to the A’s success.
- Brett Anderson who threw today, is likely the A’s Opening Day starter. I’m a little surprised that it is Anderson, but I suppose when healthy he is the ace of this staff. I’d have rather seen it go to Jarrod Parker who was the best performer in 2012.
- Pedro Figueroa who was destined to be the lone Athletics player in the World Baseball Classic, will apparently not participate in the tournament, the reason being Figueroa and his agent decided against it coming off an injury. I know teams like this as it means their players aren’t subjected to potential injury in “meaningless” games, but as a fan it sort of is unfortunate to have zero representation at all from the A’s. I’d love to see this tournament really take off and rival a World Cup for baseball at least.
- Rule V draft avoidance 40-man roster “addee”, Jorge Leon impressed Bob Melvin in his workout today. I think Leon could be a sleeper to do big things for the A’s this year. The A’s don’t have too many rookies who look like they could make a buzz but I’d put him on top of that possible list along with maybe a Grant Green? Melvin was also reportedly impressed by Fernando Rodriguez, recently acquired in the Jed Lowrie deal.
- Luke Montz is third on the A’s catching depth chart now. Don’t know how I missed this acquisition but I did. He spent 2012 with the Miami Marlins’ AAA affiliate in New Orleans where he hit .222/.310/.495 with 29 home runs in 420 plate appearances. Despite these impressive numbers his MLB career consists just of 26 plate appearances with the Washington Nationals back in 2008. I think in theory Josh Donaldson is probably far more likely the actual third catcher on the depth chart.
- The A’s starters will get six to seven starts this spring and will work consistently on four days rest to prep them for the upcoming season including Bartolo Colon who was welcomed with open arms despite the suspension at the end of last season.
- Two more position players showed up early: Donaldson and Green.
from → Daily Update
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