"Andy is out of options," said manager Manny Acta, "so he's going to have to make the team. So far he's done well. It's only been 10 innings (two intrasquad games), but Andy had a very nice season last year and he's at that age (26) where anything can happen. He's right-handed with power and can play the corners. I hope he makes our decision very tough on us."
almost 2 years ago
APV
57 comments
0 recs |
Email
PrintComments
Acta seems to be saying — consistent with the impression I had prior to reading this article — that Marte needs to play his way into competition for a roster spot during ST.
I guess my concern is whether they’re seriously going to give him enough opportunity to do so.
"Nobody ever thinks, 'Hey, maybe I’m actually an idiot.'" - Jay
I left the Marte bandwagon a while ago, but I can’t possibly understand why he wouldn’t make the team. It makes too much sense. I guess we’ll find out if it really was just Wedge who had the grudge against him.
I left the Marte bandwagon a while ago, but I can’t possibly understand why he wouldn’t make the team. It makes too much sense.
I’m pretty much with you on this – but it is true that the addition of Branyan to the roster makes finding a place for Marte more difficult.
Branyan and Marte play the corners and one can be platooned. It makes sense if LaPorta plays LF this year. It makes even more sense if Peralta moves on.
Does it really, though? LaPorta is the starting LF by default. We have a backup catcher, and we need to fill three more bench spots. One outfielder (Crowe/Kearns), one middle infielder (Bixler?). That leaves one more spot for a corner bat, and we sorely need a guy who’s some kind of power threat against lefties.
On another roster, we might save that last spot for a second utility guy who can play middle infield, but considering that our starting 3B/SS/2B guys all can play multiple spots, and Marte and Branyan both can play 3B, it’s hard to see why we’d need that. Plus, who is the alternative? Grudzialanek? Would we really really DFA Marte to put Shelley Duncan on the roster? I don’t see it.
Marte seems like the obvious 25th man on this roster, but it’s understandable if Acta doesn’t want to tell him that. It isn’t even really good news for Marte. He’d be better off competing for a starting job, which isn’t happening in this camp. His only real opportunity comes if someone gets injured or traded.
Agreed. I think the concern earlier on was related to Brantley. But now that we know Branyan starts at first, LaPorta in LF and Brantley in Columbus, Marte seems like the clear choice. Which would mean, by that way, that if two outfielders go down in a game, Branyan would play out there.
Ryan Garko cares. He’ll always think of it as his patch of grass.
by Matt in LA on Mar 4, 2010 12:31 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
It wouldn’t take much effort to avoid the tiny patch Garko covered.
by elsandito on Mar 4, 2010 7:46 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I don’t know if Branyan really figures into the 3rd base role this year unless there’s an injury, but overall I agree with what you’re saying.
It seems to me that a Peralta trade benefits everyone.
Steel Nick
I don’t know what do think of this quote. I want to like it, but he kinda implies it’s a long shot.
< / guy who wants LaPorta to play 150 games in LF >
I agree, and think the quote would have been perfectly fine had Acta omitted the last sentence. Let Marte get through Spring Training and then make a decision. We don’t need to know that management has him on the bubble.
All this really tells us is that they want to send a message that Andy is on the bubble.
Spring training comments require a particular variety of tea-leaf reading.
by Jay on Mar 4, 2010 2:27 PM EST up reply actions
he’s at that age (26) where anything can happen
I think this is what will keep him here for one more season.
Actually, it might not be a bad idea to bring in somebody to teach Sowers a knuckleball.
"Nobody ever thinks, 'Hey, maybe I’m actually an idiot.'" - Jay
by woodsmeister on Mar 5, 2010 11:27 AM EST up reply actions
I only see 2 situations, he gets dfa’d early or late. Late would encompass the end of spring and the first month of the season. Marte is on a long list of fringe guys without options. I have never seen a team with so many out of options players in my life. I wish him luck and however I am pessimistic he ends the season in the Cleveland organization.
Baseball fans are junkies, and their heroin is the statistic. - Robert S. Wieder
A guy I play fantasy with asked me which Indian would be the best to draft this year. I shoulda told him Marte.
I don’t know if you are joking, but the answer is clearly Grady Sizemore. He has the potential to be a top 15 player in the league and he will probably be drafted 30-45 in most leagues (maybe further down?).
Victor fell into a similar situation last year, where he was coming off an injury-plagued season, and for most fans it’s “out of sight, out of mind”. Many drafts (on Yahoo) had him being picked 60-80 overall.
I think Westbrook is another one you can get in later rounds and could be a sleeper.
There’s fantasy league dominoes now?
by VA tribe fan on Mar 5, 2010 5:18 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Must be spring training, LGT has Marte Fever.
Case of the beet bandit. Missing beets from all over the farm, no footprints. Inside job. Mose in socks. Boom. Case closed. -Dwight Schrute
Let’s Go Tribe – where endemic Marte malaria prevents us from giving blood
by APV on Mar 5, 2010 1:14 PM EST up reply actions
This is also the time of year when we think that Fausto might be an effective SP.
by JulioBernazard on Mar 5, 2010 2:08 PM EST up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
Featured Stories
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recent FanShots
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Marlins agree to unretire No. 5 for Logan Morrison, who will honor his father’s favorite player
- Weatherman Derek Holland does Dallas TV
- Ask Alex: Will Julio Teheran or Matt Moore win rookie of the year?
- Ku Klux Klan, umpires and bowling: Why the minor leagues tossed out Jim Evans academy
- The Cardinals Hall of Fame can now be found at Bill Clinton’s library in Arkansas (Huh?)
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
