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Spring Training Notes: Observations on the First Base Platoon

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Just a few notes from a routine day at Pirate City.  The team was primarily doing base running and infield drills, and batting practice.

As per usual, for drills the Pirates have two groups, one made up primarily of regulars and the other primarily of non-roster invitees and other players who are fighting for the last roster spot or two.  Most of the latter, of course, will end up at Indianapolis.

It’s easy to read too much into this — in the past veterans like Garrett Atkins and Brad Hawpe would work out with the “regulars” — but the first basemen with the group that included the team’s regulars were Gaby Sanchez and Andrew Lambo.  As the Pirates have already said, it looks like Lambo will spend the spring at first rather than in the outfield.  The only utility infielder with this group, unless you count Clint Barmes, was Josh Harrison, who doesn’t seem to have any serious competition for a bench role.  (For some reason, Harrison is listed as an outfielder on the team’s web site, but he was working out at third today.)  Chris Stewart, Tony Sanchez, Gregory Polanco and Jose Tabata were all with the “regulars.”  Stewart physically looks very similar to Pirates’ catching prospect Jacob Stallings, which is mildly interesting because they have very a similar skill mix.

The other group included Travis Ishikawa, Chris McGuiness, Travis Snider, and Alen Hanson.  Matt Hague played third during infield drills.  He could end up as the regular there with Indianapolis, with Ishikawa, McGuiness and Lambo all possibilities to play first for the Indians.  I could not locate Chris Dickerson or Jaff Decker.

The first base platoon?
McGuiness
Michael Martinez
Stewart
Edinson Volquez
Robert Andino

 

Wilbur Miller
Wilbur Miller
Having followed the Pirates fanatically since 1965, Wilbur Miller is one of the fast-dwindling number of fans who’ve actually seen good Pirate teams. He’s even seen Hall-of-Fame Pirates who didn’t get traded mid-career, if you can imagine such a thing. His first in-person game was a 5-4, 11-inning win at Forbes Field over Milwaukee (no, not that one). He’s been writing about the Pirates at various locations online for over 20 years. It has its frustrations, but it’s certainly more cathartic than writing legal stuff. Wilbur is retired and now lives in Bradenton with his wife and three temperamental cats.

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