I think I’m ready to get this site firing on all cylinders again.  Think of the last few weeks as my offseason.  Here are a few random things I’m chewing on as Spring Training reaches its latter stages.

First, a quick word on the WBC.  I’ve said it a few times already, but I thoroughly enjoyed the WBC this time around.  My interest sputtered out a little bit towards the end once all the big time underdogs were sent home, but it was a good tournament from start to finish.  I think Japan repeating is a good thing in that it should get other teams to take it a bit more seriously 4 years down the road.

As far as the M’s Spring Training has gone, I haven’t kept up on my reading but I think I have a general idea about how certain battles are playing out, but someone please correct me if I’m way off somewhere.

Catcher is still a mess.  Kenji Johjima did alright in the WBC and looks like he could put up numbers closer to his 2006-2007 tallies than last years’, while Jeff Clement is sputtering in Spring Training.  What happens?  Does the team decide to start Clement at AAA where he has nothing left to prove offensively and would be stealing reps from Adam Moore, the supposed real deal?  Do they ignore Clement’s struggles and let him split time with Johjima at the big league level after all?  Maybe he’s traded to Boston?  It’s really hard to say at this point.  Just to complicate things even more, Rob Johnson is hitting well in limited time (.440/.481/.760).

The new management is quite obviously unhappy with Yuniesky Betancourt’s approach, and I don’t think they’re going to be pleasantly surprised anytime soon.  I get the impression that Yuni doesn’t see anything wrong with the way he does things, and therefor won’t waste too much time thinking about changing his ways.  His free swinging antics got him to the big leagues in a hurry and kept him there, so what’s the problem, right?  I was thinking today that they should option him to AAA just to get it into his head that he can’t stay the same and expect to remain in the major leagues.  Will he get it otherwise?  Ronny Cedeno is more than able to fill the void in the interim.

Chris Shelton continues to hit the cover off the ball (.488/.560/.791) and deserves a roster spot as the backup 1B/DH, but I really don’t feel like he’s gonna get it come Opening Day.  Mike Sweeney’s numbers aren’t so bad and he gets the experience/clubhouse leader vote and also has recent ties to manager Don Wakamatsu, so if he’s ready to go two weeks from now I think he gets the gig.  If he can’t get it done then he is cut and Shelton is called up.  I’d rather go with Shelton from the onset, but as long as he’s waiting in the wings I’m alright with Sweeney getting that final chance to resurrect a once solid career, as long as the team is willing to pull the plug as soon as he falters.

Matt Tuiasosopo is in great shape and has been opening some eyes this spring.  I’ve liked him more than others and think he’ll be a viable candidate to replace Adrian Beltre come 2010.

Might Chris Woodward actually have a shot at making the club?  I didn’t think so coming into camp, and I don’t really see the benefit of carrying both Cedeno (assuming he’s on the bench) and Woodward, but I think he’s definitely surpassed Reegie Corono and the utility depth chart.  Could be an interesting development.

I have no idea what’s going on with the bullpen.  The stats don’t mean much, but I get the feeling that David Aardsma and Shawn Kelley are opening eyes while Mark Lowe isn’t looking like the team’s next closer and Miguel Batista isn’t looking like a major leaguer.  The next couple of weeks are important.  If Lowe struggles I honestly wouldn’t be surprised to see Kelley on the Opening Day roster if Lowe implodes and finds himself minor league bound to start the year.  Also, Jason Vargas was cut, leaving one less candidate to be the LOOGY should RRS start the year in the rotation (which hangs on the likely event of Morrow getting a late start).

That’s enough for now.  Feel free to add your own tidbits.  Hope you’re all doing well.