Comments on: Utility Battle Heating Up During Final Week

By: Kristy Robinson

Kristy Robinson — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:52:00 +0000

Good point. They could go that way too. I can see the benefits of both. Possibly keeping Hague, Harrison and Navarro until Morton is back, then decide who is better fit for bench. Honestly, they aren’t really budging much with which way they will swing. We’ll find out soon.

By: bucsws2014

bucsws2014 — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:03:00 +0000

So you’re saying 8 relievers if they go with 4-man rotation. That seems like unnecessary overkill, especially since that last BP arm will be far less valuable than an extra bat.

By: Kristy Robinson

Kristy Robinson — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:50:00 +0000

Starting nine. 8 position players plus starting pitcher. It’s nine men in a lineup.
If they go with four man rotation, they will have an extra arm in the pen, not an extra position player. My guess Brad Lincoln.

By: Bob

Bob — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 13:37:00 +0000

That makes no sense! Navarro and Harrison are both terrible at SS, Harrison probably being better. Why have 2 guys that play all of the same positions?

By: bucsws2014

bucsws2014 — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 04:46:00 +0000

Did I miss something? “Starting nine”? There are only 8 position players in a game.
If the FO is going to go with a 4-man rotation until Burnett/Morton are ready as they say, that could mean as few as 10 pitchers, but more likely 11 to start. 8+11=19. So there are six bench spots open, not five, correct?

McGehee, McLouth, McKenry are locks. Tossup between Navarro and Harrison, although Navarro can go yard more often and is a better SS. You don’t need both as McGehee can also back up 2b.

So vs. a LH starter, you could go McGehee and Hague at the corners (assuming McGehee remembers how to hit LHers).

Leaving one spot remaining. I say Jake Fox because having McKenry as the only backup to Barajas is a scary proposition. Too bad Morales got hurt.

By: James S

James S — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 03:11:00 +0000

But If this were me making the decision, I wouldn’t have to make it because I would have Alvarez in triple-a, so all three would make the team.

By: James S

James S — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 03:07:00 +0000

With McGehee, they only need one utility guy to back-up short. Hague is the best hitter of the three, but Harrison & Navarro hit well enough and can play short. I would go with Hague and Harrison, and make Navarro go to triple A (if he has options) but make him the first callup when the injuries come. On the other hand Harrison’s base running is for sht, so I could see sending him down instead of Navarro to learn that better.
I would keep Hague for his hitting either way.

By: Nate

Nate — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 02:32:00 +0000

I would rather see Hague go back to Indy and play everyday than ride the pine in the bigs. Jones or McGehee will get hurt/suck at some point and Matt will get his shot.

By: scrappy2499

scrappy2499 — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 01:24:00 +0000

I like Hague and would like to see him get the shot, however I think that the team will go with Navarro and Harrison because they both can play 2nd, SS, and 3rd. They provide more speed and range than Hague right now. I think Jones would have to struggle at 1st for his chance to come up this year. They would probably want to let him have regular playing time in AAA.

By: burgh_fan

burgh_fan — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 01:15:00 +0000

McGehee can play 2nd if needed. So that only leaves shortstop as having two options and if a team can only go with 2 catchers, 2 shortstops shouldn’t be a problem.