Training Camp: Hoboken Cutters

Hoboken was certainly the busiest team on draft day, making several pick-related deals to gear up for 2010. Clearly the 2009 season is viewed as a rebuilding year for the franchise.

Positional battles: Nick Blackburn has had a solid spring and seems like a lock to take the fourth rotation slot, with Greg Smith the likely winner of the fifth. Rookie Clayton Kershaw has had a disastrous spring thus far, though it's only been one start.

Things look pretty rough at the hot corner as Joe Crede and Hank Blalock have shared most of the time there, but Crede has struggled mightily, while Blalock has been solid.

There are a lot of outfielders in camp and none of the three positions are a given. Marlon Byrd has gotten a lot of time in the field, but has been terrible (.217, .649 OPS). Denard Span has been excellent and may be the way to go for a youth movement. Chris Duncan has been mediocre and limited to DH, a position that Adam Dunn will likely dominate. Others have been mediocre or worse, leaving this field wide open.

Pre-season surprises/disappointments: Ryan Church may have earned himself a big role in the poor outfield with his spring (.388/.467/.633). Catcher Mike Napoli is second on the team with 14 RBIs and leads the team with 5 homers. Hanley Ramirez looks ready for the season (.307/.390/.500, 4 HR, 13 R, 10 RBI). Adam Dunn has been brutal in the early going (.130/.333/.304) as has the aforementioned Joe Crede (3-38).

Takashi Saito seems to have the closer role sewn up (2.25 ERA, 10 saves in 10 games). The rest of the pen has been hit (Brian Tallet - 1.50 in 12 games) or miss (Ryan Madsen - 0-1, 6.91 in 13 games). Aaron Cook has been the ace of the pre-season with a 2-0 record and 2.38 ERA in 4 starts.
Roster outlook: The Cutters have already made some cuts, but remain 5 playes over the limit. They have five ineligibles, four of which are pitchers, so there's a possibility that a couple of them will be cut. In addition look for some veteran outfielders to be culled after the roles become clearer.