Spring Training Gameday Thread, #25: 3/25 @ Royals

One week from today… It counts…

1. Tim Locastro, LF
2. Josh Rojas, SS
3. Josh VanMeter, 2B
4. Christian Walker, 1B
5. Stephen Vogt, C
6. Trayce Thompson, CF
7. Pavin Smith, RF
8. Wyatt Mathisen, 3B
9. Luke Weaver, RHP + RHP Stefan Crichton, RHP Kevin Ginkel

Yep, we enter the last week of spring, with seven players still to be cut before we reach the magic 26 who will play on Opening Day. A few of them appear to be in today’s line-up, with the spots of VanMeter, Thompson and Smith very much still to be confirmed. VanMeter has put up the best numbers, with an OPS of .792, ahead of Smith’s .721 and Thompson’s .608. The last-named appears to be on particularly thin ice, with his stats very heavily front-loaded, Trayce having ambushed the pitchers early on. 23 strikeouts in 56 at-bats is also… not good. But the trio can’t complain about not getting a fair shake of in-game action. Only Rojas has had more Cactus League PA’s than any of them, all three ending the day at 50+.

In other news, the home opener at Chase Field on April 9 is officially sold out, more than two weeks in advance of it happening. That’s definitely earlier than usual, though hardly comes as a surprise. It’ll be the first opportunity since September 2019 to watch a major-league baseball game at Chase Field, so more than 18 months. And, of course, capacity being restrained to 25% certainly makes it considerably easier to sell out! Me, I’ll still be waiting to get fully vaccinated, and won’t be going anywhere much until then!

Torey Lovullo notes

• Kole Calhoun took live BP today. Still no date when he can resume running
• Josh Rojas has accepted coaching and made a lot of improvements in the pace he’s moving to the baseball when playing shortstop, and he’s “playing fast and under control” and showing a nose for the baseball
• Zac Gallen can still only play easy catch off flat ground.
• Asdrubal Cabrera will get plenty of at bats against both left and right hand pitching
• Jon Duplantier still has a chance to make the roster as a reliever and will continue to work as a reliever for right now. If he doesn’t make roster then they will have him stretch out as a starter in April working towards the AAA season.
• Ketel Marte’s selectivity at the plate was the main focus for him and he has responded to the coaching. Torey is especially impressed with how he’s been able to lay off pitches not only out of the zone, but IN the zone on the edges if they’re not the location he’s looking for
• No conclusion yet on who will be added to the rotation and whether they will skip the 5^th starter but Torey made clear he’s not in favor of skipping 5^th starter.

Torey Lovullo audio [+ link]

[Missing the first little bit, sorry!]

Game coverage

Fox Sports Arizona has the game, and Steven will be bringing you his first recap of 2021, after the contest.