Bernie on the Scene: Spring Training Observations

Man, is it good to be back with RotoWire. I've been doing weekly radio with Jeff Erickson and Chris Liss for quite some time, but now I return to sharing in writing what I see with my own eyes with the best fantasy baseball players in the world.

After I left scouting, I began writing for RotoWire. I hopped around to MLB.com and other places, but now I'm back. And I'm really happy to be here. I value my relationships with RotoWire and all the great readers.

BUNTS 

• Something has changed for this old scout. For the first time in years, Mike Trout has not topped my fantasy baseball rankings. It really feels weird not typing in his name in the top spot.

It was a difficult decision, but I'm going with Ronald Acuna to displace Trout atop the rankings. My reasoning is simple. Trout won't run as much as Acuna, who was three stolen bases shy of joining the exclusive 40-40 club last season. Acuna is bound and determined to match his home run total in stolen bases. And from this observer's perspective, If he stays healthy, Acuna could become the first member of the 50-50 club. Not likely, but it just may happen.

• Count me among those who really don't like gimmicks that change the fabric of the game of baseball. Requiring a pitcher to face three batters or get the last out of the inning is a ridiculous concept designed to speed up games. Nobody likes pitching changes. They take what seems to be an eternity. But this new rule is really nothing more than another gimmick. It takes a good bit of the strategy out of the hands of the manager. And in most cases, the manager already has his strategy impaired by interference from his own front office. I look for the players to reject this concept after the first year. They will use that as a bargaining chip in the next collective bargaining agreement with MLB.

• The Baltimore Orioles have a projected payroll of $64.8M. Chris Davis will be making $23M this coming season. You do the math.

• The Pittsburgh Pirates payroll this year is projected at $60M, down from $74M last year.  Kansas City drops to $86.8M from last season's $105M. And the disparity between the clubs remains as huge as the Grand Canyon. The Yankees payroll projections?  How about $248M? And the Dodgers? They'll start the season at $236M. No, money doesn't always buy a championship, but it can't hurt. Money matters. There is something fundamentally wrong when the same teams run in place every season as opposed to moving ahead. They are doomed from the first pitch.

• Spending time at spring camps in both Arizona and Florida has always been a priority for me.

Without a doubt, as the new season creeps closer, the Tampa Bay Rays starting rotation has really opened my eyes. The days of the "opener" may be over. If you can roster anyone from among Blake Snell, Charlie Morton, Tyler Glasnow, Yonny Chirinos or Ryan Yarbrough on your fantasy team, consider yourself fortunate. Yes, even Chirinos or Yarbrough as late-round selections.

The Rays are driven to win. Each of those starters not only has a complete repertoire of pitches, but command and control enough to get ahead in the count. In scout school I was taught the most important concept in pitching is ... throw strike one. They can do that.

• Austin Meadows is really, really good. And he's still underrated.

DEEP DIVES 

Some fantasy leagues dig deep into organizations and have massive rosters. Here are a couple  under-the-radar players I just loved watching this spring. They may help your roster, and perhaps not may people know about them … yet. But as I have learned over the years, there are no secrets in fantasy baseball.

Jason Martin, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates, 5-9, 185, Bats L

Martin was drafted by Houston in 2013 and was traded to Pittsburgh with Michael Feliz, Colin Moran and Joe Musgrove in the disastrous trade for Gerrit Cole.

Still only 24, Martin is one of those guys who made me sit up in my seat when he sprinted to first base, busted it around the bases and just flat out played with a huge heart. He has outstanding speed. A contact hitter, Martin knows his limitations and uses a measured stroke, finding the barrel and using the entire field. He isn't going to win you a fantasy championship. And he may never play for the Pirates. He made it to Triple-A Indianapolis last year where he hit .259 in 406 plate appearances. I'll be keeping my eye on him.

Anthony Gose, LHP, Cleveland Indians, 6-1, 190

You might remember that Gose was selected by the Phillies in the second round in the 2008 draft. He was traded to the Astros, then the Blue Jays and then the Tigers. He was signed as a Rule 5 selection by the Rangers in 2017. He was returned to the Astros and dropped.  The Indians signed Gose as a free agent in 2019. Whew!

When Gose played in the 2011 Arizona Fall League at age 20, he told me he was going to be "the best outfielder ever." Well, that didn't happen. I remember writing at the time about his incredible arm from center field.

Having never made it as an outfielder, Gose converted to pitching at some point in 2017. In full disclosure, I think Gose has a chance to be a quality major league pitcher. He throws his fastball at 98 miles per hour — with command. He has upside as a quality reliever, but I don't think his high effort delivery works as a starter.

Keep your eyes on Gose. He may surprise.

BUZZ

The buzz in the Red Sox press box from their local writers is all about Chris Sale. To a person, I didn't find one writer who thought he will pitch more than 50 innings this year — if that. Most think he will have surgery sooner than later. I'm going to treat him like an electric wire sitting on the ground — I'm not touching him in any leagues.

The Red Sox rotation is a mess. The buzz continues that they may be forced to use two "openers"  most of the season. I still think they'll go find at least one more starter given the Sale situation.

More buzz: Do not make the mistake of writing off Miguel Cabrera. He is in the best shape he's been in years and is killing the ball.

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