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Making the Team Week One: Position Players |
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Written by TwinsTerritory
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Monday, 03 March 2008 |
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We went over the pitchers in the first Making the Team of the year, and now its time to look at the position players for week one.
The main players are competing for the centerfield spot and a bench spot, but there is a chance that second base is also up for grabs and that is why guys like Nick Punto and Brendan Harris are included in the list. Both should easily make the team, but in what role is the question.
Here are the seventeen position players:
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Name
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Chance
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Note
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Carlos Gomez
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Gomez will be one of three players competing for the centerfield spot. With his speed and glove, he has the early advantage.
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Jason
Pridie
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Jason Pridie will be another one of the three players competing for the centerfield spot. He has a good chance but starts trailing Gomez.
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Denard Span
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Span is the final of the three players and has a lot to prove to the Twins organization. He has shown some good things, and this will be his chance to make his dream come true.
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Brendan Harris
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Harris will make the team, but he’ll be competing for the starting second base job. He has a huge advantage going in with a much better bat than the others.
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Nick
Punto
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Punto will likely make the team, but has the chance to steal away the second base job from Harris. It’ll be tough and he’ll be playing more for time as a backup shortstop, third baseman and second baseman.
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Alexi
Casilla
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Casilla has a chance to get the second base job, but trail but quite a bit. There is a chance he’ll get the final bench spot, but that will be tough as well.
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Jose Morales
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Morales could get the final bench spot. He played well in his lone game last season, and the Twins have gone with three catchers before. A good spring could take him north.
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Garrett Jones
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Jones has a chance to make the team and could possibly provide them with a ‘power’ hitter off the bench. But, he wasn’t at all productive last season and other have an advantage.
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Darnell McDonald
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McDonald very well could have been the guy taken off the 40-man roster when Livan was signed. If he is on the roster, he has a small chance since the Twins don’t need any outfielders.
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Matt
Tolbert
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The last infielder will most likely be an infielder and Tolbert performed well at AAA last season. Other with more experience may have an early advantage.
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Matt
Macri
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As with Tolbert, Macri has a chance because the Twins last bench spot will likely go to an infielder. He is now on the 40-man which helps his chances.
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Brian Buscher
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Buscher may be the early favorite after playing everyday for a period last season for the Twins.
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Alejandro Machado
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If Machado gives a good showing, he could win the last bench spot. The Twins liked him enough to take him in the Rules 5 and then sign him as a free agent, so he has a legit shot.
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Howie
Clark
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Clark has a chance, depending on how he plays. Not being on the 40-man is a disadvantage since it’s full and would require a move.
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Tommy Watkins
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Like Clark, Watkins has a small chance and not being on the 40-man may affect him as well.
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It should be interesting to see who wins the final bench spot. It is unlikely to be an outfielder, so that means those infielders have a pretty good chance. Another thing that could go into consideration is that the Twins really don't have a backup first baseman.
Copyright 2007. All Rights Reserved. |
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Standings
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Team
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W
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L
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GB
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W. Sox
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9
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6
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--
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Royals
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9
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7
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0.5
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Twins
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7
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9
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2.5
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Indians
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6
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10
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3.5
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Tigers
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5
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11
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4.5
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