Spring Training update – 2 weeks to opening night

One thing about the Sox, and Yankees for that matter, is that ST really is a tune up for the real thing, the roster is built ahead of ST, and only a truly exceptional performance will see a guy kept on as the 25^th man, or a truly awful performance see an expected roster piece dropped. The last big surprise player out of ST for the Sox was back in 2001 - SheAAA Hillenbrand – of whom Rob Neyer famously stated (in response to Hillenbrand’s assertion that he would be the next Jeff Bagwell) – “Jeff Bagwell was young and had a pretty good chance to be a star; Shea is 27, with a good chance to be 28".

The interesting thing then in Sox camp, are the new guys and the bubble guys – the new guys simply to get a look at them in Sox uniforms, lets face it, David Wells isn’t competing for a roster spot, and the bubble guys to see what the bench and bullpen will look like. Today, the bench -

(I am assuming that Jay Payton, and Ramon Vazquez are the definites – Payton in the OF, Vazquez for the IF)

The Candidates (competing for 1 / 2 spots)

	AB	R	HR	RBI	BB	OBP	SLG	AVG
Youkilis - ST	27	1	0	4			0.296	0.296
Career	208	38	7	35	33	0.367	0.413	0.260
McCarty – ST	19	4	0	1			0.211	0.211
Career	1489	180	36	173	124	0.304	0.371	0.242
Petagine – ST	7	1	0	2			0.429	0.286
Career	307	41	10	43	55	0.346	0.371	0.225
Japan	2566	511	233	594	570	0.446	0.633	0.317
Hydzu – ST	23	3	1	5			0.435	0.261
Career	318	52	19	57	36	0.314	0.462	0.233
Stern – ST	2	0	0	0			0.500	0.500
2004 - AA	394	64	8	47	35			0.322

Adam Stern was the Sox Rule 5 pick from the Braves and with a solid spring would most likely have made the 25 man roster (he is required to be on the 25 man roster all season, or must be offered back to the Braves). However, a thumb injury has put Stern on the DL, and the Sox are allowed to have him complete a 20 day rehab stint before determining whether or not to put him on the 25 man roster.

Robert Petagine, who plays 1B, was an intriguing pick up by the Sox. Having first entered the big leagues with the Astros in 1994, he never really lived up to expectations – but that was in large part down to the fact that he was never given a real everyday position job – perhaps hindered by a ‘common’ dislike of a low batting average / high on base mix in his numbers. He has put up great numbers in the Japanese leagues over the last 6 years – he put up numbers comparable with Hideki Matsui, and indeed replaced Matsui when Godzilla headed to the Yankees. However, Petagine has also had injury problems this ST and will start the season on the DL, though is likely to be called up when he has finished rehab.

Youkilis, Hyzdu and McCarty were all on the roster in 2004 – Youkilis getting reasonable playing time after his call-up from Pawtucket due to the injury travails of Bill Mueller. He has been asked to play some 1B this spring to increase his chances of making the roster, and given Mueller had knee surgery early in 2005 it seemed that Youkilis would be a certain 25 man member – not sure that is still the case. He clearly (doesn’t he?) has a future as the 3B of the Sox, but he isn’t getting any younger and needs to make his mark soon to ensure that he is remembered for his true talent rather than as Billy Beane’s ‘Greek God of Walks’. Hyzdu had very limited playing time in 2004, but provides OF cover, whereas McCarty provides above average 1B defense late in games (as well as the blow-out pitching arm), and given Petagine’s injury may well end up in that 25^th man spot, if Youkilis’s 1B is not considered strong enough for the majors.