I wish I would have attended the Athletics' Fan Fest yesterday as a reader of this blog (and thank you for the kind comment) asked if I was going to file a report from the event at Oracle Arena. So about all I've got is some good notes from San Francisco Chronicle beat writer Susan Slusser, who also wrote about Yoenis Cespedes' personal issues and the burden he's carrying.
But one story that made the rounds with the media Sunday is how the A's plan to keep their five capable outfielders happy in terms of playing time. More specifically, it will be interesting to see how Chris Young and Coco Crisp split time in center field, and how often natural center fielder Young is able to spell the corner outfielders. I don't see too many scenarios where Cespedes doesn't play left field or Josh Reddick is on Bob Melvin's lineup in right. Seth Smith should get a lot of opportunities to play DH against right-handed starting pitching. Perhaps Young, who has been a .272/.377/.482 hitter vs. left-handers over the last three seasons, may steal some more at-bats in those instances. But one of his strengths is defense in what looks like one of baseball's best defensive outfields. So consider the outfield, how new shortstop Hiro Nakajima adjusts to a totally new life in baseball, and what looks like an open competition for the second base job as spring training storylines to track.
Good news, baseball fans: Athletics' pitchers and catchers report to Phoenix in a fortnight.
But one story that made the rounds with the media Sunday is how the A's plan to keep their five capable outfielders happy in terms of playing time. More specifically, it will be interesting to see how Chris Young and Coco Crisp split time in center field, and how often natural center fielder Young is able to spell the corner outfielders. I don't see too many scenarios where Cespedes doesn't play left field or Josh Reddick is on Bob Melvin's lineup in right. Seth Smith should get a lot of opportunities to play DH against right-handed starting pitching. Perhaps Young, who has been a .272/.377/.482 hitter vs. left-handers over the last three seasons, may steal some more at-bats in those instances. But one of his strengths is defense in what looks like one of baseball's best defensive outfields. So consider the outfield, how new shortstop Hiro Nakajima adjusts to a totally new life in baseball, and what looks like an open competition for the second base job as spring training storylines to track.
Good news, baseball fans: Athletics' pitchers and catchers report to Phoenix in a fortnight.
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