Tony-OH

I sure would like to move one of Urias, O'Hearn or even Santander for a good bullpen arm, but I just don't think team's move good BP arms this time of the year. Mayo looks totally ready, Westburg is ready to be an every day big leaguer, and Urias is a quality major league big leaguer. A lot depends on what they are going to do with Holliday, who also has looked ready against right-handed major league pitching. If Holliday stays, then I think Westburg is the every day 3B, Urias a super sub between 3B/2B and DH and Mayo unfortunately goes back to AAA where I'd like to see them give him 1B and RF time to open up options. I'm wondering though if they've secretly tried Mayo in RF on the back fields and he hasn't looked good so they've scrapped that plan, assuming it was ever really a plan.

Updated through yesterday's game against Pirates. - Gunnar with a big day at the plate - Mateo gets start at 2B and still hasn't played the OF - Hays started in CF with Mullins out - Bad day for Zimmerman - Teheran tosses two more scoreless innings.

Right on the mark, thanks for the additional reasons. The relay throws are definitely a place where the shortstop is making much longer and deeper throw then a 3B ever would make. In the end though, both positions require good arm strength and a look at MLB avg throws from 3B and SS show them to be almost equal with 3B averaging 86.2 MPH and Shortstops averaging 86.3 MPH on throws. So it seems major league teams think the required arm strength is about equal for both positions, but the amount of different angles, the amount of distance, the double play, and relay throws are why it takes the better arm and athlete to play SS.

It's a well known fact in the scouting industry that SS needs the best arm because of the amount of area they have to cover, the angle of throws, the ability to throw while on the run, etc. A major league shortstop typically positions himself deep, right at the edge of the outfield grass and with positioning now, can be all over the place but typically very deep. Now the 3B throw down the line can be one of the longest throws and you want your third baseman to have a good arm too. But thidbase is more about reaction time and hands. Sure, there's going to be they play to his backhand that's going to require a good arm and coming in on bunts and throwing on the run certainly is helped by a good arm. But let's get back to Westburg. Arm strength is one of the things why you don't want him at SS. He doesn't throw well moving away from first base, he doesn't have very good lateral movement, and he's a big guy that going to get heavier and slower. Now can he play there here and there and probably not kill ya, I think so. I've seen him enough at SS to think if he has to play a few games there or fill in he'd be ok. But he would not be a guy you want there every game because his OAA there would be very poor.

I didn't question your take, I just meant you had answered the guy's question already about being an NRI and on a minor league contract.

Yes, that was my mind putting the wrong name in there. As for SS vs 3B, you need more arm for SS than 3B because the throws are generally longer and from much different angles.

Huh, who called him a bust?

He doesn't need to be optioned, he's a NRI on a minor league contract. Unless he has an opt out, he can be sent to Norfolk outright. Only if they put him on the 40-man roster will his no options matter. Edit: CaptRedbeard had this one already. I found it interesting that he started and went three innings. Looking at his statcast info, he's throwing his fastball mostly and it's really playing well because of so many swings and misses. Since he can be sent to the minors, if he doesn't claim a bullpen spot, they may very well use him as starting pitching depth in AAA. He's an interesting story so far for sure after this outing.

Nicely played. I think a lot depends on how Holliday and Wong look as we get deeper into spring training. Wong would be a handcuff for Westburg at 2B and Urias at 3B (Westburg would move to 3B) if the send Holliday down to AAA for more seasoning. I can't see Wong making the team if Holliday makes the the team. Wong is really in competition with Holliday and Maton, who has more defensive versatility (though not good anywhere he plays really).

Westburg is not a shortstop on any regular basis. He doesn't have the arm strength or mobility to play there in anything more than a fill in basis. No way Gunner moves off SS for him since they both are in the same boat of being big guys that will slow a bit as they get older. Now can Gunnar move Gunnar off SS one day? Maybe, but I don't think that's happening this year.

I wouldn't read anything into that. Bradield was most likely scheduled to come into the game for Mullins and just came in early vs after Mullins got his 3 to 4 PAs.

SG being the voice of reason in this thread always makes me think Rob has finally matured. Then two posts later he'll tell someone they're an idiot because everyone knows that blueberry pop tarts are the best pop tarts and there's no logical reason to think other wise! I keed, I keed Rob!

Mayo has never been a big splits guy. That's one of the things that makes him special.

Updated thru 3/2. Big day for Hays at the plate Scoreless outings for Irvin, Teheran, Tate and Vespi Stowers homers late

Updated through today's game. - Tyler Wells and Bruce Zimmermann makes two scoreless inning debuts. - Holliday starts at SS and picks up a 2B.

Yep, they could certainly play the control game if they wanted to, especially if Stowers hit enough to be a part-time player. McKenna helped himself out last year by hitting lefties a little bit and we know he's a solid defender wherever he plays out there. They certainly are giving McKenna lot so looks out there.

Now before some of you get up and arms and tell me it's still early and guys still have plenty of time to play other positions. I agree with you. Here are couple of early spring lineups and what they could indicate. 1. The second base job is Holliday's to lose - Not only has he gotten most of the starts there (he's starting at SS today), Westburg has not played 2B at all yet (he's starting at 3B). Westburg has not played 2B the spring, so it seems he just needs to beat out Urias for the every day job. 2. The third base job is Westburg's to lose - Besides a start at SS yesterday, he's been playing 3B mostly with Urias starting at 2B and 3B. This does not bode well for Coby Mayo's chances of making the team. Assuming Urias is not traded, he becomes a 3B/2B/DH against LHP sometimes spelling both Holliday and Westburg. 3. Kjerstad, Cowser and Stowers are battling for one spot (maybe)- Both Kjerstad and Stowers are getting looks in left and right field, and Cowser is getting a lot of time in CF but I think they know he can slide over to the others if needed. Cowser is off to the best start offensively, Kjerstad is the guy they probably want to keep, and Stowers is the guy they would have the least issues getting part-time work to. But is there room if O'Hearn is on the roster? 4. McKenna is getting every opportunity to stick as 5th OF - He's getting a ton of time in the outfield and has gone hitless so far. He's a good handcuff for Mullins in CF, but most of us thought Mateo would be in that role this year. Mateo has only played SS and has not logged an inning in the outfield yet. Grant it, Gunnar has been out so Mateo has been needed, but you would figure he would get more looks out there in games if they were really looking at him as a 5th OF too. Daniel Johnson has been playing well and getting a lot of looks, but he bats left-handed and doesn't hit left-handed pitching so would be poor handcuff for Mullins in CF. McKenna is out of options and may not make it through waivers. 5. O'Hearn is getting a lot of 1B time - Surprised we have not seen Santander get some 1B time this spring, so it appears O'Hearn will be neck deep in the 1B/DH rotation which begs the question "Where do Cowser or Kjerstad fit on the roster and where are they going to get their PAs?" It seems like the roster can only fit Kjerstad/Cowser/Stowers or O'Hearn?

Updated through leap year game. - Mateo keeps getting SS starts but no outfield time. - Basallo takes BP - Yennier Cano has been put on a milk carton - McKenna hitless while battling for a spot - Holliday has first good game at the plate - Burnes struggles - Kimbrel, Coulombe and Webb all scored upon. (Bullpen not looking strong in early going)

What team in the AL East has 6-8 top starters ready to go?

Tell you're not a scout without telling us! lol

Doesn't seem like there is any place online where all these DFA's are public, If anyone knows I'd like to know. Seems teams like to keep this on the down low as much as possible unless they claim someone.

The fact that Daniel Johnson got a lot more playing time than Hilliard suggests either they didn't like how Hilliard showed up to camp, he just didn't look good, or was banged up. More to this story for sure because a left-handed bat who was a good defensive outfielder, he was a good fit to give Hays a break. I think we will still see more moves. Half the fun this spring is watching Elias work the waiver wire.

Updated with Sam Hilliard being DFA'd and claimed by the Rockies.

Interesting that Hilliard never played the outfield this spring, then was DFA'd early and then claimed by the Rockies. Seems to be something more to the story because you would think he had a better chance of making it through waivers later in the spring then now when teams have more chances to look at guys.

You know better than to use the term "Orioles Hangout" as if it's the entire board saying that. I've sees a few people who have questioned these moves. Most of us see it exactly as what it is, cheap depth moves.