Comments on: First try at projecting the roster

By: Kyle Litke

Kyle Litke — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:01:33 +0000

Seems fairly accurate, except that I don’t see Matsui as a bench player. Maybe here and there, but I don’t see how he would be on the bench more often than not while Shelley DHs.

And carrying both Betemit and Woodward/Green is unnecessary overkill unless Betemit is going to get a lot of time at first base. Better to carry a hitter like Ensberg or a fast runner or something.

By: Mike Housman

Mike Housman — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:00:12 +0000

In looking at the roster i say if we see a healthy Giambi, a producing Duncan and a productive Ensberg I think the NYY again consider trading Matsui. I know the Giants need bats so get him healthy and look to move him for Sanchez plus.

By: TurnTwo

TurnTwo — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:39:10 +0000

Jason Lane has never had the bat Morgan Ensberg has had… so there is a bit of projection there, and hope that Shelley would cover the extra OF slot that would be necessitated with Matsui on the DL. So your OF would be Damon, Melky, and Abreu, with Shelley as the 4th OF, and then Betemit as your primary defensive backup for the IF and PH against RHP, and Ensberg the primary bat off the bench against LHP.

of course, if Ensberg doesnt hit lefties this spring, he wont be on the roster.

By: Mike S.

Mike S. — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:33:14 +0000

You are missing his performance of yesterday, where he pitched one inning and gave up 3 runs.

By: Oli

Oli — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:09:35 +0000

What about Edwar Ramirez?
Am I missing something on him?

By: nyyfaninlaaland

nyyfaninlaaland — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:09:31 +0000

I can see the possibility in Turn2’s approach, but I can’t see how Matsui’s on the bench, except if still hurt early but then he’d be DL’d for a couple of weeks, allowing for another. That likely puts Giambi in more than Shelly. Joe G has his hands full keeping guys active. I think Ensberg, maybe Lane, gets carried as the righty bat on the bench. (Maybe Ensberg as trade bait to SF for Steve Kline or add a spare RHP – we’ve got a million of ‘em it seems – for Marte in Pitt if the in-house lefties don’t pan out.) I think Ensberg again is choice since he’ll likely walk if not on OD roster – Lane spent time in minors last year, not so in demand. A second utility IF is 3 hours away in Scranton (Green, Gonzalez, Castro, Ransom). Woodward the most likely add if Matsui’s on DL – no need to carry both Lane and Ensberg as Shelly can also play OF corners like Lane, and Woodward might not hang around if he doesn’t break with the club.

In the pen, I’d give Henn and Bruney every chance to fail before cutting them loose. Again, keep the options open – if they struggle, it’ll be easier to option them without losing them, so no impact on depth. Ohlendorf won’t suffer from some more innings of relief experience in AAA. It’s not like the first 7 guys are likely to be the only guys used this year. And I could see Rasner being the long guy choice, allowing Karstens to stay stretched out as a starter in AAA in case of a short term starter injury. Problem could be roster spots – with 3 NRI’s added, Sanchez has to go 60day DL along with Pavano, Brackman, or 1 of the out of option guys goes.

Let’s remember last April/May for the need for depth. It’s the very depth these many options detail that give me hope for a great year. Easier to handle injury. Imagine what last season might have been like without the early problems. 21-29 on May 29, 14.5 games back, to 3rd best record in baseball at end. I bet a Red Sox fan friend on May 29 a Jackson that we’d catch ‘em. Had to pay, but he was sweatin’ in mid-Sept and that was worth it.

By: Bronxbyte

Bronxbyte — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:47:10 +0000

Even though it’s 15 days too early for projections, I can see where TurnTwo’s views are near perfection.
Always allow for at least one surprise.

By: Mike S.

Mike S. — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:35:49 +0000

If Matsui goes on the DL to start the season, wouldn’t it make more sense to take a backup OF north? That means Lane, not Ensberg.

Karstens has pitched (intrasquad and ST game) 5 scoreless innings so far. He had a good offseason with Team USA. He’s 25. If he continues to have a good ST, he will make the team as the long man/spot starter. Throw last year out the window. The injury at the end of 2007 ST and then the broken leg wiped out his season. There still isn’t enough to judge Karstens on. He has less than 60 major league innings under his belt. In other words, and you can look it up, Karstens has less MLB innings thrown than Hughes. Give the guy a chance.

By: youngtimer

youngtimer — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:47:41 +0000

MiekEff: trying to figure out which game I should pick up tix for here in KC. THANKS

By: playballnyy

playballnyy — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:43:23 +0000

Looks about right to me, BUT if everyone’s healthy going into opening day, I think you’ll need to readjust, take away a bench player to make room for another pitcher, because of the innings limits on the young arms and still trying to find the right combo for the bullpen.