With one week to go, it’s pretty much what is stated above. The win now mentality will influence one big decision.
For position players, I’d be shocked if Stott does not travel North if you are making the decision based on merit. If you were not in win now mode, you might mess around with Stott from a service time perspective and let it play out with Bohm and give him a month to see if he can get on track. But Stott has hit consistently and been adequate defensively. Stott deserves to start and with pressure on Girardi from Opening Day, I believe Stott will come North as the starting 3b’men. Bohm will have to battle as adversity can be difficult for young players drafted that high. This experience that may be coming will impact him one way or the other and that’s up to him.
Camargo seems to be be a lock given his flexibility and ability to play all over. Joe has always had Torreyes on his teams but he only has been getting AB’s late in games. I don’t see him making the club but there don’t seem to be other options if they want to carry an additional infield bench player. In the OF, it should be Vierling and Moniak even though Joe said Moniak was not in the plans a week ago. He homered over a stretch of days and barreled up a ball for a double today. Haseley should not make the team. I’m not sure he is not playing himself out of the organization.
Offensively, they are what they think you could be. Schwarber and Nick are both big oplus OPS guys. Nick homered today and hit a bullet for a double; Schwarber went deep as well. Didi looks like he is back on track. The lineup is scary although Hoskins has kept Bohm company in guys who are not putting good AB’s together. If Hoskins can perform, Schwarber, Segura, Harper, Castellanos, JT, Hoskins, Didi, Vierling, and Stott is as good a lineup as you can field outside of the Dodgers.
The only position battle that has been a mystery is for backup catcher. I assumed going into camp that it was Marchan but he never was in it. Stubbs gets the nod I say. He seems to have decent workings with the staff.
Pitching, I have no idea. The starting staff is really behind. Suarez, Eflin, and Wheeler are taking baby steps and I dont like the lack of ramp up for these guys going into the season. Gibson and Nola seem to be the only guys on regular rotation as we speak. One week out, this could be really dicey. The bullpen arms you think you need to count on have been decent. From what I have seen of Coonrad and Brogdon though, not so good. Alvarado is hurt to boot and is way behind as well. Seranthony gave up a dinger in his one inning of work today but he has been a pleasant surprise. He looks much leaner and I assume that will help. They will carry a lot of additional pitchers. I’ve liked Sanchez so far and he threw well today.
I have no idea how they think they are going to cobble the rotation together to start this off and it looks like the game plan is to win a bunch of 9-7 games. These guys can rake. Today, even the O’s fans remarked about this lineup and how scary this group could be.
