Position Battle Tracker (AL WEST)

last updated 03/26/11 5:08 PM PST
by Jason Martinez

Los Angeles Angels
Catcher
Jeff Mathis (heavy favorite) vs Bobby Wilson (underdog) vs Hank Conger (long shot)

Tale of the Tape
Mathis: 28 years old, $1.7M salary, .195/.219/.278 in 205 AB's
Wilson: 27 years old, $425K salary, .229/.288/.417 in 96 AB's
Conger: 23 years old, $414K salary, .300/.385/.463 in 387 AB's (AAA)

Analysis: The Angels tendered Mathis a contract and will pay him nearly $2M in 2011. The Angels tendered Mathis a contract and will pay him nearly $2M in 2011. Considering his .497 OPS (not a misprint), it's safe to say that Mathis is getting paid well for his defensive skills and ability to handle a pitching staff. Wilson probably isn't good enough offensively to beat him out but Conger is another story. He profiles as an above-average hitter in the big leagues but he'll have to improve defensively before Manager Mike Scioscia trusts him behind the plate on a regular basis. UPDATE 3/11 - While Conger has struggled this spring (3-for-20), Mathis is doing what is necessary to hold off the competition with five hits in 16 ABs. However, Wilson is making a strong case with 11 hits in 19 ABs. UPDATE 3/28 - With injuries to multiple players and the team expected to carry an extra player on the bench to start the season, it looks like all three could be on the 25-man roster.  
 
Third Base 
Maicer Izturis (favorite) vs Alberto Callaspo (underdog) vs Brandon Wood (underdog) vs

Tale of the Tape
Izturis: 30 years old, $3.1M salary, .250/.321/.363 in 212 AB's, 7 SB
Callaspo: 27 years old, arbitration eligible (1st time), .265/.302/.374 in 562 AB's, 5 SB
Wood: 26 years old, $440K salary, .146/.174/.208 in 226 AB's

Analysis: Wood and Callaspo are not only fighting for the starting third base job, the loser is likely to find himself off the roster. Izturis is a solid utility infielder but might prove at the end of spring training to be the best everyday option at the hot corner. In case you're not familiar, Wood put up MVP-type numbers in the minors but has fizzled in the big leagues. He'll be just 26 on Opening Day, but he's out of options and likely out of chances after a season in which he was outhit by many pitchers. In the case of Callaspo, he's a proven hitter in the majors (.300-11-73 in '09) but did not come close to that last season, especially after being acquired by the Angels in July. He was tendered a contract in his first arbitration-eligible year, so the Halos haven't given up on him just yet. UPDATE 2/23 - According to Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times, Manager Mike Scioscia is leaning towards a lineup that includes Izturis as the leadoff man. It doesn't mean he'll be in there everyday - he has never played in more than 114 games in any season and spent three separate stints on the DL last year - but his ability to hit leadoff will likely give him the majority of starts at the position. UPDATE 3/19 - With Kendrys Morales expected to start the season on the DL, an opportunity has opened up for Wood on the bench. Not only is he taking full advantage, he's making a late push for the third base job with a 7-for-19 (2 HR, 2 2B, 3B) performance over the past week. This has to be a pleasant surprise for the Angels. Wood was all but gone after a 3-for-26 start to the spring.

Closer
Fernando Rodney (favorite) vs Hisanori Takahashi (underdog) vs Kevin Jepsen (underdog) vs Jordan Walden (underdog) vs Scott Downs (out)

Tale of the Tape
Rodney: 34 years old, $5.5M salary, 4-3, 4.24 ERA, 68 IP, 70 H, 35 BB, 53 K, 14 Sv, 21 holds
Downs: 35 years old, app. $5M salary, 5-5, 2.64 ERA, 61.1 IP, 47 H, 14 BB, 48 K, 26 holds
Takahashi: 35 years old, $3.8M salary, 10-6, 3.61 ERA, 122 IP, 116 H, 43 BB, 114 K, 8 Sv
Jepsen: 26 years old, $440K salary, 2-4, 3.97 ERA, 59 IP, 54 H, 29 BB, 61 K, 27 holds
Walden: 23 years old, $414K salary, 0-1, 2.35 ERA, 15.1 IP, 13 H, 7 BB, 23 K, Sv, 6 holds

Analysis: This competition was analyzed by me over at RotoAuthority. Click here to read the article. UPDATE 3/19 - Downs will start the season on the DL with a broken foot.

Oakland A's
#5 Starter
Brandon McCarthy (named starter) vs Bobby Cramer (out) vs Tyson Ross (out) vs Josh Outman (out) vs Rich Harden (out)

Tale of the Tape
McCarthy: 27 years old, $1M salary, 4-2, 3.36 ERA, 56.1 IP, 51 H, 11 BB, 44 K in 11 games (AAA)
Harden: 29 years old, $1.5M, 5-5, 5.58 ERA, 92 IP, 91 H, 62 BB, 75 K in 20 games
Cramer: 31 years old, $425K salary, 2-1, 3.04 ERA, 23.2 IP, 20 H, 6 BB, 13 K
Ross: 23 years old, $425K salary, 1-4, 5.49 ERA, 39.1 IP, 39 H, 20 BB, 32 K in 26 games

Analysis: This competition was analyzed by me over at RotoAuthority. Click here to read the article. UPDATE 3/12 - Harden's lat injury that has kept him out of camp will not allow him to stretch out enough to be a starter by the first week of the season. McCarthy has pitched well so far and still appears to be the frontrunner. UPDATE 3/20 - Outman has been optioned to the minors. UPDATE 3/26 - McCarthy has been named the team's #5 starter.

Seattle Mariners
Second Base

Brendan Ryan (named starting SS) vs Adam Kennedy vs Dustin Ackley vs Luis Rodriguez 

Tale of the Tape

Ryan: 29 years old, arbitration eligible (1st time), .223/.279/.294 in 439 AB's, 11 SB
Kennedy: 35 years old, $500K salary, .249/.327/.327 in 342 AB's, 14 SB

Ackley: 23 years old, $414K salary, .267/.368/.407 in 501 AB's, 10 SB (AAA/AA)

Rodriguez: 30 years old, $500K salary, .293/.364/.493 in 345 AB's (AAA)

Analysis: Ryan is an above-average defender who has shown an ability to be an average hitter. He is coming off of a horrible offensive season in 2010, however, when he couldn't surpass the .300 mark in OBP or SLG. Providing offense shouldn't be a problem for Ackley, though. It's his defense that is questionable at this point. Some think it's good enough. Some think he'll need to change positions. Regardless, he'll likely start the season in the minors where the M's will have some more time to evaluate. If Ryan doesn't show much at the plate and the plan is for Ackley to start in the minors, then Rodriguez starts to enter the picture. He is coming off of his best offensive minor league season, by far, with 16 HR's and 56 RBI's in 94 games. It was in Triple-A, though, so you can't get too excited. Still, if he has a much better spring than Ryan, he has a chance to make the team. UPDATE 1/10 - Add Kennedy to the mix, probably ahead of Ackley and Rodriguez in the race. He's coming off of a bad year but might have been at his best just two season ago when he hit .289 with 11 HR's, 63 RBI's, and 20 SB's for Oakland. UPDATE 3/12 - Manager Eric Wedge said that Ryan and Jack Wilson will be the starters at the middle infield spots, although there is a possibility that Wilson plays second and Ryan plays shortstop. UPDATE 3/22 - Wedge announced that Wilson will play second and Ryan will play shortstop. 

Left Field
Milton Bradley (slight favorite) vs  Michael Saunders  (slight underdog) vs Mike Carp (out)

Tale of the Tape
Bradley: 32 years old, $675K salary, .205/.292/.348 in 244 AB's, 8 SB
Saunders: 24 years old, $440K salary, .211/.295/.367 in 289 AB's, 6 SB
Carp: 24 years old, $414K salary, .257/.328/.516 in 409 AB's (AAA)

Analysis: Jack Cust wasn't brought on board to sit on the bench and he's not particularly good in the outfield, so he's likely to get the majority of time at the DH spot. That leaves one outfield spot up for grabs between Saunders, Bradley, and Carp. Aside from a productive month of July, Saunders struggled at the plate in 2010. He should still become a pretty good hitter and will get every chance to prove himself in spring training, but he's competing against Bradley, who will have much to prove after his worst season in 10 years, and Carp, who is trying to break into the big leagues after a 29-HR season in Triple-A. I'm not sure why Bradley's production dropped so much the past two seasons but, temper tantrums aside, there weren't many better hitters in 2007-08. If he shows any glimpse of returning to that form, it will be good news for the M's and bad news for Saunders. UPDATE 3/10 - Bradley has the lead in this competition, according to GM Jack Zduriencik. UPDATE 3/14 - Carp was optioned to the minors but he was a bit of a long shot anyways, especially with Bradley's impressive spring. UPDATE 3/28 - With Franklin Gutierrez expected to start the season on the DL, Saunders could play center field with Bradley in left. Presumably, the competition would extend into the regular season with one of the two the odd man out once Gutierrez returns.

#4 and #5 Starter
Michael Pineda (names starter) vs Luke French (out) vs David Pauley (out)

Tale of the Tape
Pineda: 22 years old, $414K, 11-4, 3.36 ERA, 139.1 IP, 121 H, 34 BB, 154 K in 25 starts (AAA/AA)
French: 25 years old, $414K salary, 5-7, 4.83 ERA, 87.2 IP, 88 H, 29 BB, 37 K in 16 games
Pauley: 27 years old, $440K, 4-9, 4.07 ERA, 90.2 IP, 89 H, 30 BB, 51 K in 19 games

Analysis: French has been outstanding in Triple-A over the past two seasons and held his own in 13 starts with the M's in 2010 so he has a good shot of filling one of the two openings. If healthy, Bedard should occupy the other spot. As mentioned earlier in the Oakland #5 Starter battle between McCarthy and Harden, that is one big IF. Bedard was nearly back from shoulder surgery late last season but was shut down again with a bone spur in his left AC joint. He'll give it another shot in spring training after re-signing earlier this month. If Bedard isn't ready, Pauley would be the safe choice to step into the #5 spot. At some point in 2011, though unlikely for the beginning of the season, Pineda should join the rotation. The 21 year-old has emerged as the top pitching prospect in the organization but he's likely to be eased into the mix, having thrown a career-high 139.1 innings in 2010. UPDATE 3/12 - According to Jim Bowden of FoxSports.com, who recently had conversations with manager Eric Wedge and Zduriencik, Bedard and Pineda will be the 4th and 5th starters. UPDATE 3/14 - The battle for the 5th start isn't over but we know that the Mariners are strongly considering breaking camp with Pineda on the roster. If not, French will likely be the 5th starter. UPDATE 3/28 - French was optioned to the minors, meaning Pineda has won the job. Pauley is likely to pitch out of the bullpen.

Texas Rangers

#5 Starter (*extra spot needs to be filled with Tommy Hunter starting on DL)

Derek Holland (named starter) vs Matt Harrison (named starter) vs Alexi Ogando (favorite) vs David Bush (out) vs Michael Kirkman (even) vs Neftali Feliz (will remain in bullpen) vs Scott Feldman (out)

Tale of the Tape

Holland: 24 years old, $440K salary, 3-4, 4.08 ERA, 57.1 IP, 55 H, 24 BB, 54 K in 14 games
Bush: 31 years old, $1M salary, 8-13, 4.54 ERA, 174.1 IP, 198 H, 65 BB, 107 K in 32 games
Kirkman: 24 years old, $414K salary, 13-3, 3.09 ERA, 131 IP, 115 H, 68 BB, 130 K in 24 games (AAA)
Feliz: 22 years old, $440K salary, 4-3, 2.73 ERA, 69.1 IP, 43 H, 18 BB, 71 K, 40 Sv

Harrison: 25 years old, $414K salary, 3-2, 4.71 ERA, 78.1 IP, 80 H, 39 BB, 46 K in 37 games

Feldman: 28 years old, $4.4M salary, 7-11, 5.48 ERA, 141.1 IP, 181 H, 45 BB, 75 K in 29 games

Analysis: Holland is, by far, the most talented of the group and should be ready to lock down a spot in the rotation. There are some interesting names in the mix ready to challenge him, though. Feldman is a former 17-game winner who will be trying to bounce back after struggling last season. He's questionable for the start of Spring Training after undergoing microfracture surgery on his right knee so he could have an uphill battle. Harrison moved to the 'pen last season after posting an ERA over 5.00 in 32 career starts with the team. The lefty was much better in relief so he could stick there with so many other options to start. Kirkman was very good as a Triple-A starter but pitched in relief once he arrived in the big leagues. With Arthur Rhodes and Darren Oliver guaranteed spots in the 'pen this season, he'll likely go back to starting with an outside shot of winning the #5 spot. UPDATE 1/30 - Bush, signed to a minor league deal, is the most likely contender to give Holland a run for the last rotation spot. The right-hander isn't overpowering but he had 18 quality starts in 2010 and is a solid option if Holland isn't quite ready to be a consistent performer. UPDATE 3/1 - Feldman is not likely to be ready for the start of the season, according to the team. He's more likely to join Webb on the DL to start the season. UPDATE 3/4 - I know I'm a little late with this one, but Feliz is being given a shot to make the rotation so I added him to the list. I don't think the bullpen could survive without him, which makes this a bit questionable. He's already a great closer and would likely end up being a great starter. But why mess with a good thing when you don't know if anyone else is capable of closing out games for you? UPDATE 3/24 - The Rangers appear to have set their rotation and Holland and Harrison are in. Feliz remains the closer. Kirkman goes to Triple-A. UPDATE 3/26 - The team will likely choose between Bush and Kirkman to fill the last spot that was opened up when Hunter strained his groin. Alexi Ogando is also reportedly under consideration. UPDATE 3/28 - Bush will be the long reliever and Ogando looks like he'll start the season in the rotation.

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