9 things …
MLB spring training games start Wednesday. We start to look at box scores, start to crunch numbers, start to wonder. Here are some Mississippi-flavored questions to ponder as the 2014 season begins to unfold:
1. Will Billy Hamilton (Taylorsville) win the center field/leadoff job with Cincinnati? After swiping 13 bases in 14 attempts (and hitting .368 to boot), he’ll get a legitimate shot at filling Shin-Soo Choo’s vacated job.
2. Can Jarrod Dyson (Southwest Mississippi CC) earn an expanded role in Kansas City’s outfield? Dyson, who would give Hamilton a darn good race, stole 34 bases in 84 games last season primarily playing behind Lorenzo Cain.
3. Can Corey Dickerson (Meridian CC) win a job in Colorado’s crowed outfield? He showed impressive left-handed power as a rookie: five homers, five triples and 13 doubles among his 51 hits.
4. How will Seth Smith (Ole Miss) adjust in San Diego? He slumped to eight home runs (from 14 in 2012) for Oakland and Petco Park is even less friendly to hitters than O.Co Coliseum.
5. What does Brian Dozier (Southern Miss) do for an encore in Minnesota? After the move to second base, Dozier played great defense and even hit a surprising 18 homers.
6. Will Drew Pomeranz (UM) finally blossom in the Oakland bullpen? The former first-round pick, already with his third club, posted a 6.23 ERA in eight games (four starts) with Colorado.
7. Where does Tyler Moore (Mississippi State) fit in Washington’s plans? He scuffled in his second MLB tour, hitting .222 with four homers, but his right-handed power potential is valuable.
8. How will Mitch Moreland (MSU) fare in a new role (DH/spare outfielder) in Texas? Moreland hit a career-high 23 homers in 2013 but batted just .232 – and there is pressure to win in Arlington this season.
9. Will Cliff Lee (Meridian CC) and/or Jonathan Papelbon (MSU) be traded if Philadelphia’s season quickly goes bad? Lee went 14-8 with a 2.87 last year and Papelbon posted 29 saves; they’d certainly have suitors if they went on the block.