Who is the starting 2B on Opening Day?

[TeamSchoop6]

I like the move of signing Everth Cabrera, he brings some baggage but thats in the past. We have some good depth in the infield this year

[OriolesMagic83]

Has Cabrera figured out how to steal 1st base. I appreciate his elite baserunning skills, but I don't see how his poor hitting translates to being a starter.

[Frobby]

Frobby, going way out on a limb again!

Seriously, why should I? I don't know which version of Cabrera is going to show up and I don't know if Schoop will have absorbed some lessons from his rookie year over the winter. I've never even seen Cabrera play.

[Tx Oriole]

Im going to guess Cabrera. Schoop needs more time in the minors and Cabrera fills a team need in speed.

That's who I voted for.

[srock]

I going with Schoop as well. Job is his to lose.

Anyone one think Flaherty may be the off man out and wind up in AAA?

2B might be a Schoop/Cabrera platoon a good part of the year.

[Tx Oriole]

There's no way Schoop doesn't win this job. The Orioles are going to completely commit to him this year.

But why bring in Cabrera? I don't think Cabrera will a Utility player. Whoever wins

the job it's going to be a great season for the O's.

[weams]

There's no way Schoop doesn't win this job. The Orioles are going to completely commit to him this year.

"I said it three times and it's still not true."

[srock]

But why bring in Cabrera? I don't think Cabrera will a Utility player. Whoever wins

the job it's going to be a great season for the O's.

If you look at the last few seasons, only a few Oriole players are NOT utility players.

Jones, Wieters, Hardy, Machado and sometimes Chris Davis. Markakis but he is gone.

Everyone else is a part time player. This is how Buck plays the game. A core of position players complemented with a horde of 'utility' players who do different things well.

$2.3 million dollars for Everth Cabrera puts him right in the Oriole 'utility' belt.

In fact, if someone could photoshop some Oriole shaped Batarangs...Buckarangs?... that would be fantastic.

[Aristotelian]

If you look at the last few seasons, only a few Oriole players are NOT utility players.

Jones, Wieters, Hardy, Machado and sometimes Chris Davis. Markakis but he is gone.

Everyone else is a part time player. This is how Buck plays the game. A core of position players complemented with a horde of 'utility' players who do different things well.

$2.3 million dollars for Everth Cabrera puts him right in the Oriole 'utility' belt.

In fact, if someone could photoshop some Oriole shaped Batarangs...Buckarangs?... that would be fantastic.

The problem with this in the case of the 2B position is that Schoop desperately needs to develop as a hitter. He needs to play every day as a primary 2B at Norfolk or MLB to see what he can do. If his bat is not ready for MLB, he is better off long term starting at Norfolk than he would be platooning with Cabrera. Especially because he bats from the right side.

[backwardsk]

The problem with this in the case of the 2B position is that Schoop desperately needs to develop as a hitter. He needs to play every day as a primary 2B at Norfolk or MLB to see what he can do. If his bat is not ready for MLB, he is better off long term starting at Norfolk than he would be platooning with Cabrera. Especially because he bats from the right side.

I think his growth won't be stunted if he's playing 2 out of 3 days for a period of time. I think Buck can find a productive combination in LF/2B with De Aza, Cabrera, Schoop.

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[srock]

The problem with this in the case of the 2B position is that Schoop desperately needs to develop as a hitter. He needs to play every day as a primary 2B at Norfolk or MLB to see what he can do. If his bat is not ready for MLB, he is better off long term starting at Norfolk than he would be platooning with Cabrera. Especially because he bats from the right side.

I think his growth won't be stunted if he's playing 2 out of 3 days for a period of time. I think Buck can find a productive combination in LF/2B with De Aza, Cabrera, Schoop.

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Yeah, so long as Schoop gets 400 PA's (481 last year) this year I think his development will be fine.

I'll also add, Everth Cabrera puts some pressure on the kid, maybe Buck thinks he is a guy who thrives under pressure? If Schoop OPS after 100 pas is sub .600 he needs to know his next 100 will be in Norfolk.

[TouchemAll]

Schoop no doubt in my mind it he can improve at the plate even just a little he's a lock IMHO.

When Buck likes your defense your IN

[jamalshw]

I choose Schoop, but I think it's far from a lock. I think Schoop gets the upper-hand, but he will need to prove a better approach at the plate. His defense and power kept him in the majors last year, but he will need to show progression to stay there.

I think Cabrera is his only real competition and it only goes his way if Schoop still shows several holes in his swing and little progress from last year while at the same time, Cabrera plays like he did in 2013 and shows at least above average defense.

That said, I kinda like the idea of Cabrera leading off for this team with De Aza or Lough in LF batting ninth IF he is in his 2013 form.

[BohKnowsBmore]

I'm going with Jonny Beisbol, because:

HE'S A STRONG YOUNG MAN!

[Beef Supreme]

Schoop won a job with the big club last spring when nobody was expecting him to do so. How he plays this spring will have a lot to do with the answer to your poll question.

Do you really think this Frobby -- that Schoop's spring training performance will determine who the Orioles choose as their starter at 2B this season? Yes, that happened last year, I'll agree. That happens sometimes for young rookies. But now that the Orioles have seen a full season of Schoop at the major league level, they probably have an impression of him that won't be changed dramatically by spring training performance.

The only question I have is whether Flaherty goes down to keep Schoop on the ML roster as a part-timer or whether Schoop goes down so he can play full-time in order to focus on specific things.