Mike Lupica, Tempe Gazette

Friday, October 22, 2009

Knights GM Chris Van Hauter is already preparing for Spring Training in October, announcing that he has informed certain players of their roles for the coming year.  The Knights plan on using a platoon system in a lot of positions, with a competition going on for the fifth starters spot.  Van Hauter has already told Edward Allen that he is going to platoon with Terry Thornton at second base.  Allen will also be given the chance to play third and could be platooning with Damon Meyers if Ken Price fails to hit this spring.  Van Hauter has stated that if Price does not hit then the GM will try to deal him before the spring is over.  However, Price could be dealt even earlier if Van Hauter signs another third basemen over the winter.

The only positions that will not be part of the platoon system will be shortstop with Cipriano Carnossi, left field with Tim Eaton, right field with Waylon Whaley, first base with Jeremy Lawrence and DH with Octávio Pexego.  Van Hauter announced that center field will be shared by David LaFrance and Mark Young.  LaFrance will get the nod against left-handers, while Young will suit up versus right-handers.  At catcher the job will be split between Richard Carney and Douglas McEvoy.  Van Hauter has also stated that the platoon system will take the pressure off of some of Tempe's younger players like Meyers, LaFrance and Thornton, who when not playing will have the benefit of watching and learning from the dugout.

The Knights are not expected be busy at the winter meetings because they want to look over all the players in their system for the next few years.  Van Hauter concluded, "Of course we will listen to offers but unless something really blows us away we will hold on to everyone in our organization."

Van Hauter has already given four of the starting pitching spots to Markus Hancock, Tetsu Takuda, Patrick Hunter and Chet Collins.  Choosing the Knights’ fifth starter will take all winter.  Van Hauter said the other day that the fifth spot is a competition between Ross Hanlon, Bryan Browne and Jim Steele.  All three are playing winter ball in Mexico and Van Hauter is using their appearances to make a decision.  However, so far none has impressed the Knights.  The hardest hit was Hanlon, who was making his winter début for the Mexico City Coronas.  Hanlon allowed five hits and five runs, including back-to-back homers, before being pulled with one out in the third inning of Mexico City's 8-7 victory against the Veracruz Buzzcocks.  Steele, who is playing for the Tijuana Cheap Goods, pitched two innings, allowing three hits, one strikeout and also two hit batters, and showed a lack of velocity.  Steele's fastball topped out at only 86 MPH and if his velocity fails to improve he will not only lose the chance at the fifth spot but will be released from Tempe's organization.  Browne did not fare much better pitching for the Acapulco Touristas.  He worked three innings of an 8-3 loss to the Mexican national team.  Browne gave up one run on four hits and did not walk a batter, but he pitched in and out of trouble throughout.

The Knights are also keeping an eye on Ray Stokes who is pitching down in Brazil for the Brazilian Cannibals.  On Thursday he pitched four innings striking out eight and not allowing a hit.  Stokes could be moving up the charts if he continues to perform at that level.

In the bullpen for the Knights, the closer’s role will once again go to Miguel Lozano, who was great last year in that role.  Getting him the ball through the seventh and eight innings are the tandem of Bryant Duncan and Rafael Pérez.  The rest of the bullpen will be set up once spring training roles around.

Next up will be an evaluation of the Knights Triple AAA team, the Chandler Waxers.