People  were talking about Buscher and Jones, but really, Buscher is too similar to Lamb to be of any real value--some left-handed pop, marginal defense.

Tolbert offers above average speed, credible defense and can hit from both sides of the dish.

This really comes into play late in games when you will want Punto and Tolbert to sandwich Everett.

I think Pridie will be up in the Bigs before too long because they need a left-handed stick who can spell Gomez.

about the roster decisions.  Well, yes I can. I remain concerned about Gomez learning to hit in the majors--the problem is I don't know that another season of being yo-yoed around is such a good idea, and if he fails in MN, he'll be back in Rochester.  My gut has been better to let him settle in at AAA and actually show he can hit at that level before promoting him; I thought Pridie was the best option to start the year, though it became clear that wasn't happening.

Still, that's OK--I'm all about giving young players with talent opportunities, so I can't very well complain too much when they give Gomez a chance.  

As for the staff, I think they have it right. It appears to me that Crain will be on the roster.  It comes down to Liriano's readiness I guess.  But take a look at that Rochester rotation:

Liriano/Blackburn
Humber
Perkins
Mulvey
Duensing

Yikes.  The pitching depth is nuts.  I mean, other than Liriano, there isn't real front of the rotation talent there, but in terms of major league readiness, any of those guys would be in major league rotations right now in a lot of organizations.  Brian Duensing is barely an afterthought in this organization, whereas in plenty of others he would be viewed as a real prospect. They have a lot of arms to sort through.  

It filters down, as well.  Swarzak, Sosa, Rainville, et. al will have to wait their turns in New Britain, and the Fort Myers rotation will probably include Guerra, Manship (who belongs in AA), and Robertson...

If Liriano starts the season in the minors, who will they send down when he returns -- Tolbert, Blackburn, or Bass (who has no options so he'd be released)? I had been thinking Tolbert but with Monroe or Kubel on the bench they likely will want to pinch hit for Everett frequently, and they may want another guy around to fill in at 2nd or 3rd. Maybe they'll send down Blackburn so he can get some innings. Or maybe Bass will turn back into a pumpkin and they'll release him. Is there an obvious answer?

Will one go to AA so they can both play every day? I  can't see them demoting Span twice, so it would have to be Pridie, right?

With Guzman staying with the Nationals and Brandon Roberts probably starting at New Britain, the Rochester outfield will be Span, pridie and choices between Darnel McDonald, Doug Deeds and Jon Knott, plus anyone from the infield who could also play there (Tolbert is up, so he won't). Garret Jones perhaps?

I'm still confused a bit as to why Crain has only pitched four innings and is making the roster.  This has nothing to do with ST stats because I think we all agree that they have very little to do with a player being chosen to goto the big show.  

I'm more concerned with the fact that he had a major injury last season and has only pitched four innings.  To me it seems to make more sense to send him to the minors or extended spring training until he's gotten a few more injury free innings in.  

If someone can shed some light on this situation or has a theory I'd love to hear it.  

If Monroe is the primary backup to Gomez, why didn't they play him more in CF? I guess they needed to settle the starter situation. I would expect him to see some serious time there in the next week. Or at least practice there a lot. But I bet they don't plan to rest Gomez much. He'll get a lot of at bats this year, unless he hits so poorly they send him down.

Obviously we send him to AAA to get serious innings, but how do we maximize his value?

Possibilities:
(1) Clearly, one possibility is that Gomez blows to start the year, Span replaces him and shines, and Span gets traded after the year to make space for Gomez. This involves luck (bad and good). Substitute luck (bad, bad), and he is worthless, but at least we can stop wondering.

2. He could shine in AAA play well in limited action during September call-ups, and become an asset in trade, again following the season.
3. He could develop enough power to supplant Young or Cuddyer in one of the corner OF positions.
4. He could prove himself still average in the minors and it won't matter.
5. We could try to trade him now in a prospect exchange. Maybe there is a team light on upper level CF prospects who would trade a lower level pitching prospect, allowing our scouts to defend their reputations.

Basically, I think that in some ways Gomez earning a spot on the team (which I believe he did), could hurt the teams chance of maximizing value from the two players. I'm not saying that Span would have, but if he was given the chance, he might have gotten us value in trade. I just don't see how he can be expected to help this organization now, however.

Tolbert seems to catch my eye. He can offer credible defense.