MLB Fantasy Reality: Four late-Spring Training position battles

3/24/09
george sherrill
By Max J. Dickstein

MLB Fantasy Reality: Four late-Spring Training position battles

Photo credit: Game Face

Colorado closer Manny Corpas, above, is locked a struggle with Huston Street to determine who will close games for the Rockies this season. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

By Kyle Stack

Special to amNewYork

Spring Training allows players to dust off their offseason rust, but it also gives managers an extended evaluation period for contested positions. Although many choices have been made, there are still a few battles lingering before the season begins on April 5.

Here are four:

Colorado Rockies Closer

Huston Street, Manny Corpas

The battle continues between Corpas, who looked like Colorado's closer of the future in 2007 before regressing last season, and Street, an effective yet injury-prone closer previously with the Athletics (he was acquired in the Matt Holliday trade). Corpas appears to have a slight upper hand through Spring Training, having allowed just one earned run on five hits in six innings compared to Streets' six earned runs on nine hits in 7 1/3 frames. Nevertheless, Street's 94 saves through four seasons provides a more accomplished resume. Target Street and keep Corpas on the backburner.

Texas Rangers Outfield

Josh Hamilton, David Murphy, Nelson Cruz, Marlon Byrd

The only guarantee is that Hamilton, who knocked in 130 RBIs last season, will be the full-time starting center fielder. Murphy and Cruz are expected to begin Opening Day as the starting left and right fielders, respectively, but that doesn't mean Byrd won't see regular at-bats in the outfield. Manager Ron Washington has said Byrd will get time in the outfield and at designated hitter. If Byrd can hit anything close to the way he did last August (.393 AVG, 20 RBIs), then he'll get enough at-bats to serve as a solid AL-only or deep mixed-league choice. Cruz's monster Triple-A numbers last season (.342 AVG, 1.123 OPS, 37 HRs) make him a mixed-league sleeper.

New York Yankees Right Field

Xavier Nady, Nick Swisher

Manager Joe Girardi confirmed on Monday what had been expected throughout most of the offseason: Nady is the preferred right field starter. The choice of Nady makes sense considering Swisher's versatility around the field — he played 70 games in center field and 56 contests at first base for the White Sox last season — as well as Nady's superior offensive production last year. His .510 slugging percentage last season was 100 points higher than Swisher's, so the Yanks will need additional offensive punch while Alex Rodriguez recovers from his hip injury. Nady should be a solid play in 12- to 16-team mixed leagues, but keep Swisher in mind for deep mixed league and AL-only formats.

Baltimore Orioles Closer

George Sherrill, Chris Ray

There's no question that Sherrill is the closer to open the season, but that could change within the first couple of months. Ray is coming off Tommy John surgery, but he's looked spectacular this spring by striking out seven and allowing four hits in 7 1/3 scoreless innings. His 33 saves and 1.09 WHIP from 2006 are a reminder of the 27-year-old's ability, while Sherrill's 4.73 ERA and 1.50 WHIP from last season make his 31 saves look less impressive than previously thought. You should draft Sherrill for his early-season save opportunities, but keep an eye on Ray on your league's free-agent list. You can even draft him as a handcuff to Sherrill.
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Delicious
- Digg
- Stumble Upon

george sherrill

MLB Fantasy Reality: Four late-Spring Training position battles

Vote

Partners

Archive