Diamondbacks Manager AJ Hinch “sounded a little exasperated” when talking about the back of the rotation. “I felt like today was nothing really gained by anybody. It’s close to the season so it’s time to move forward.” Billy Buckner, Rodrigo Lopez and Kevin Mulvey remain in contention, with new signing Kris Benson possibly also in the mix for the last couple of slots. “I’m not frustrated as much as I’m eager for someone to win the job,” added Hinch.
Around NL West Spring Training, 3/25: Rosters Head Towards Completion
Dodgers True Blue LA looks at Eric Stults, and reckons the fifth starter job is his for the taking. How long it last, on the other hand, seems much less certain. “Triple-A baseball has been a five-year home for Stults,” with him having made 116 starts there over that time, compared to only 26 in the majors. The prediction is that “he starts the season in the rotation as the fifth starter and stays there, but isn’t good enough to keep the front office from trading for a starter in July and DFAing Stults.”
Giants San Francisco continue to roll in the Cactus League, with a record of 17-7 this spring – no other team has won more than thirteen games. This has mostly been done with pitching: their team ERA of 3.91 trails only the Indians (3.66) in the generally hitter-friendly Cactus League. Leading the fray have been Todd Wellemeyer and Kevin Pucetas, who have combined to allow only three runs in 29 innings of work, as they duke it out for the fifth spot in the rotation. The former appears the top candidate at this point.
Padres “I want to stay here, but it would be kind of cool to go up to Joe Mauer since he’s on the cover of my PlayStation, and say, ‘Hey, can you sign my game?’” That’s Padres’ closer Heath Bell, talking about the perpetual trade rumors, and demonstrating a nice sense of perspective, too. “I remember a few years ago when nobody wanted me. It’s nice to be wanted, but really, I’d like to stay,” added Bell. The piece reckons whether he does or not will likely be in the hands of the Padres, only if they can defeat widely-held expectations for them to finish last in the division.
Rockies While most of the recent attention has gone towards the Colorado bullpen, utility player Jonathan Herrera has quietly had himself a very solid spring. In 17 games, he is batting .421 with five doubles and seven RBI, and has also shown an impressive glove, playing the outfield for the first time in North America. “I’m trying to play a bunch of positions, with the same attitude — with confidence, working hard and waiting for the opportunity again.” he said.
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