time fades away

The last week of spring training is upon us, and for quite a few Mississippians in big league camps, that’s not good news. Guys like Marcus Thames, Bill Hall, Eli Whiteside and Dusty Hughes might be wishing they had more time. Time ran out for Matt Tolbert (Ole Miss) on Saturday, when Minnesota optioned him to the minors, and for Joey Gathright (Hattiesburg), who reportedly was released today by Toronto. A non-roster invitee, Gathright was hitting .167 this spring; his awesome speed isn’t a factor if he’s not on base. Thames (East Central Community College), a non-roster player in the New York Yankees’ camp, also has struggled (.132, one homer). His power potential from the right side is something the Yankees like, but he may need a strong final week to make the club. Hall (Nettleton) is hitting .158 in his first camp with Boston; he has to be worried. Whiteside (Delta State), trying to make the San Francisco club as a backup catcher, might be pushed back to the minors by the emergence of rookie Buster Posey; Whiteside has hit just .185 with five RBIs in limited at-bats. Veteran outfielder Fred Lewis (Gulf Coast CC) hasn’t had a great spring with the Giants either, hitting .222 with three homers. After his poor 2009 showing, Lewis may be fretting a bit. Hughes (DSU) has a 6.23 ERA in five appearances with Kansas City; as one of the few lefties the Royals have, he may stick despite those struggles. Jarrett Hoffpauir (Southern Miss), batting .231, looks like a longshot to make the Blue Jays out of spring, and it’s unlikely Brent Leach (DSU), with only two appearances, will make the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 25-man cut. Craig Tatum (Mississippi State), bidding for the backup catcher job in Baltimore, probably will return to the minors; defense is his ticket, but he’s got to hit better than .176. Matt Maloney (Ole Miss) made a strong bid for the Cincinnati Reds’ fifth starter job but has fallen out of the mix; he posted a 6.14 ERA in four games. One player who has been impressive is Edwin Maysonet (DSU), a utility infielder with Houston who has hit .297 this spring. With the Astros planning to start a rookie shortstop (Tommy Manzella), they might keep Maysonet around as an alternative.