Weekend Recap

This weekends ST games helped to bring some issues into focus starting with Dom Brown.  I always felt confidence was an issue for this young player.  You don't put up the numbers he did in the MiLB without having some talent and MLB ability.

He seems poised to seize an OF spot on opening day.

Howard would need to get back to near MVP form if this 2013 team expects to contend for the NL East.  He looks strong, he appears to be seeing the ball quite well so if his adjustments are not a fluke his production in the middle of the line-up should translate into a few more wins than last year.

The BP should be vastly improved.  I think we lost close to 12 games last year where the BP was given the ball with a lead late in games.  Aumont looks nasty and Adams if healthy all year would reduce that number significantly.

Revere can play defense, get on base and steal bases.  Utley can still hit albeit without the same power.

UTR...the offensive approach seems to have improved.  They seem to be placing an effort into working themselves into hitter's counts and driving up pitch counts.  Working more walks or getting more FB's to hit would vastly improve their run totals.

That's the good.  The issues that were some what negative question marks still in my opinion remain.  Let's start with Roy.  Based on what I saw thus far compared to what I saw in Spring 2010 is lost command and velocity.  It used to be when Roy missed in the zone hitters still had a hard time squaring him up. Not so much anymore.  The velocity and movement on his pitches still seem down to me.  Glass half full he needs more time to build back the arm strength.

Can Michael Young play a passable 3B?  I'm not so sure he can and I'm not so sure his offensive production while MLB adequate will be enough to off-set poor defensive play at the hot corner.  I thought they should have committed to a Galvis/Frandsen platoon.

You had to be excited about the offensive performance of one Darin Ruf.  Yes he was an older prospect breaking RH's Reading HR record but the kid was a college draftee so he was always going to be older for his league.  Ruf did have solid numbers throughout his career.  High OBP and above average OPS.

The old adage "if you can hit we'll find a place in the field for you" poses a serious challenge for Manuel in the case of Darin.  LF hasn't gone as well as I would have hoped.  I had thought if he gives you the offensive production with say Ibanez type range in LF you might make it work.  Ruf truly can be the right handed pop this line-up has missed since Jayson Werth but at what defensive cost.

Finally there is a long way to go before April 5th.  The main goal at this point would be to get there in good health and see what type of mojo this 2013 team can muster at the start of the season.