I’m going to do my best guestimation and post who I think will be on the field when the first pitch is thrown at The Coke on April 7th.
Feel free to comment, add your thoughts and/or opinions.
Being the first game will be an American League Affiliation, the DH rule will be in effect.
DH – Cory Sullivan
OinK!
noisenation.mlblogs.com 
C- Erik Kratz
1B- Matt Rizzotti or Jeff Larish
2B- Josh Barfield
3B- Jeff Larish or Pete Orr
SS- Pete Orr (if Bocock is on the DL) or Freddy Galvis
LF- Cory Sullivan
CF- Rich Thompson
RF- Brandon Moss
DH- Tagg Bozied/Matt Miller
SP- Nate Bump
Also worth noting that Chris Frey had a very good spring and he was voted the best defensive outfielder in the Rockies organization last year. He has been in AAA the past 3 years and was a minor league Rule 5 draft pick by the Phillies. I’m not sure if AAA works the same as the majors on the rule 5 picks but if it is the same, then if Frey doesn’t make the Ironpigs he may have to be offered back to the Rockies. Could a new 27 year old LH centerfielder push a 32 year old mainstay LH centerfielder to AA. I may be the only one who thinks that is a possibility.
Finally, what are the odds of the Ironpigs facing Kevin Millwood on April 7th or 8th? Mark Prior?
Not a bad line-up, why are ther 2000 tix still available for opening night? Let’s go—buy some $6 seats!!
Hanzawa’s had a nice time of it this spring, but I can’t see him jumping to LHV. I’ve got him in Clearwater to start, and if he does well, then maybe he leapfrogs Galvis. I also can’t see Galvis starting at AAA until he proves that he can hit more consistently (this doesn’t survive the Bocock challenge, but stick with me). I see Bocock on DL, and shortstop is Orr’s until something changes.
2B is Barfield until further notice, as well. 1B will be Rizzotti, but a nice dose of Larish and Bozied as well. Bozied has played AAA before, and has nothing left to prove in the EL; he’s got to be LHV unless he leaves the system.
So 3B will be Larish/Bozied to start. Orr, perhaps, after Bocock comes back. How’s Overbeck’s spring been? Perhaps we’ll see him by the end of the summer.
The OF is where it gets interesting. Young, Moss, Frey, Sullivan, Thompson, Miller. I’ve got all those guys above Spidale–at least to start. Nice article on Slayden in this morning’s paper. I’ve got them in Reading, though. Who’s likely to leave? Anyone in line for one of those DeWayne Wise deals?
But then, I could be wrong… 🙂
Read somewhere today that Barfield has the June 1 ‘out’ clause…(must be on MLB roster by June 1 or can exercise ‘out’ a la Wise or Koplove).
Hanzawa wont even see Reading this summer. Orr played short for Syracuse last year. Give me any lineup that does not include Brian Bocock who has a hand injury. And Frey was a minor league rule 5er so he does not have to be offered back. Go Pigs!
OK, so Rizz stays here. He don’t have to go to RDG.
I’m with Decal… Orr stays.
Kram, Dave Murphy on Philly.com/HighCheese said both Young and Barfield allegedly have optout clauses.
I don’t know who-all’s going, but as of now I’m going to be at the Thurs. (7) Yanks game (in the Picnic Patio!), so we’ll find out about Millwood soon enough.
Three possible explanations with respect to why there are 2,000 tickets still remaining for the AAA Lehigh Valley IronPigs home opener at Coca-Cola Park on the East Side of Allentown…
1. Economy and consumer confidence currently suck
2. Global warming has, once again, seen to it that weather something rather less than condusive for baseball is likely to prevail for the IronPigs home opener
3. The IronPigs historical track record could lead many to believe it will be a more pleasant experience (read, warmer) to watch AAA Lehigh Valley blow the lead late on Service Electric from the comfort of the living room
Great work fella’s
Any predictions on wins ?
I’ve got the over/under at 74. I’ll take the over, for now. Roster surprises might change my answer before next Thursday.
I’d say 60 to 65 wins. They are going to be playing musical infielders most of the season, in my opinion.
Hanzawa in Triple-A? What planet are you on? Haha sounds like you should stick to waving the flag and leave the analysis to the big boys.
I always put one long shot in there as a guess 🙂
I agree on the over / under at 74..I really do…The pitching will be tough.
The infield will never get to jell…that is concerning,,,outfield is so so….Lady luck is due to show her face at CCP.
So bottom line. tough pitching, so/so Infield, , , , I feel Sandberg will not allow his guys to mail it in, or take nights off like Ransom and Tracy, and Tracy, and Tracy…did I mention Tracy..