With half of spring training in the books, where do competitions stand?

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Pirates could not overcome an early deficit against the Yankees Saturday afternoon at George Steinbrenner Field, ultimately falling, 7-5.

This weekend also marks the midway point to the spring training game schedule, and with it, the spring training position competitions.

While the Pirate City portion of spring training also counts in the decision making process, playing in game scenarios gives a more direct look at players. If the adjustments they made during the offseason are working, if there are new holes in their game or if they are just playing more confidently.

These positional battles certainly have become more interesting over the last 48 hours, with the Pirates signing right-hander Trevor Cahill and placing Blake Cederlind on the 60-day injured list with a UCL strain. On Saturday, Anthony Alford exited early with right wrist discomfort after being hit by a pitch.

“Competition” has been the buzzword in spring training this year. So where do those competitions stand, with a little over two weeks to go?

SHORTSTOP

The most publicized of the competitions, Derek Shelton and Ben Cherington stressed most of the offseason that the shortstop job could go to either Kevin Newman, Erik Gonzalez or Cole Tucker.

Of that trio, Gonzalez is the only one who hasn’t gotten banged up this spring. He’s done well in his playing time, too, hitting .389 with a .977 OPS. He has routinely been splitting time with Newman at second and shortstop, giving both players about equal amounts of time on each side of the bag each game. 

But Gonzalez was the main shortstop last year, and while he started hot, he severely regressed in September. Perhaps he would have bounced right back over the course of a full season, but at 29, is there really much more Gonzalez can show in 2021 that he hasn’t in his career to this point?

Newman has been sidelined this week with a left hamstring tightness, but it has mostly been precautionary. Director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Newman is no longer feeling tightness, so it doesn’t look like a serious issue. 

The injury did interrupt Newman while he was on an absolute tear at the plate, who was 6-for-8 with three walks and a double to that point. He made some changes to his stance, standing more upright and lowering his hands, and those mechanical tweaks seem to be giving him a much better swing path to the ball. He also was praised by Shelton for the work he did this offseason to improve in the field.

“Personally I’ve felt a difference in my first step and my range,” Newman said. “That’s obviously a really good feeling, when [you] go and really work hard on something like that to get out there and feel a difference.”

Tucker was sidelined with a left thumb contusion, but he returned to action Friday and hit a double. He had a couple nice swings, but that’s all there is to base his spring off of. He’s appeared in just two games, seemingly putting him far behind the rest of the field. 

There’s still some time to go, and it may depend on how Newman looks when he comes back, but it looks like his job. Gonzalez can backup and serve as a utility infielder. That leaves Tucker out in the cold here, going to the alternate site to start the year. He needs everyday reps, and it doesn’t look like he will get them if Newman is hitting. There could be playing time to be won later, especially if Adam Frazier is traded at some point, but until then, he hasn’t earned a starting job in the majors yet.

CENTER FIELD

This one got a little more interesting Saturday.

The severity of Alford’s injury is going to play a major role here. The Pirates are classifying it as right wrist discomfort for now. Needless to say, there’s all the difference in the world between a bruise and a break, especially since Alford was running away with the job. If he’s at full strength come opening day, it’s hard to imagine someone else taking his job.

If it’s serious enough to warrant a trip to the injured list, then Dustin Fowler and Brian Goodwin would almost surely have roster spots locked up. 

Of those two, it would seem Fowler would have an edge for the starting job because he checks a lot of the same boxes Alford does. He was once a top 100 prospect, but injuries and some middling play at Class AAA dropped him out of favor with the Athletics, who designated him for assignment. 

“I’m just, hopefully, going to get a fresh start and put it behind me,” Fowler said. “I mean, the biggest goal is to kind of not have to think about it again and it be on the backburner, so, hopefully, I can do that here. I think there’s a great opportunity [here].”

Fowler is still going to have to earn the job, but he has hit the ball hard in his limited playing time this spring.

Goodwin profiles better as a fourth outfielder than everyday center fielder. For a team that has one eye towards the future, Fowler has a far better chance of being a contributor in the future. He's someone they want to have on the team for his veteran leadership, but giving him everyday reps all season would be counter productive of their goal of building for the future.

There have been a couple outfielders who have done well this camp, like Troy Stokes Jr. and Hunter Owen, but barring another injury, it doesn’t seem likely the Pirates will add another non-roster play in addition to Goodwin. At least not to start the season.

FIFTH -- OR SIXTH -- STARTER

Coming into spring training, Shelton said the Pirates would start the season with a true five-man rotation, but that they could change from there. That could include piggyback starts, where two pitchers go a set three or four innings back-to-back, or a six-man rotation.

On Friday, Cherington hinted that the latter could be a possibility this year, too.

“We’d like to have six guys on the team who can start,” Cherington said. “That doesn’t necessarily mean we have a six-man rotation, per se. Maybe there are times we go to that. I’ll leave that to Derek and Oscar [Marin]. But we like the idea of having six starters on the team.”

But for opening day, let’s assume Shelton’s original plan of a five-man rotation is the plan. There are enough off-days built in early to give starters a bit more rest early in the season, too. 

Mitch Keller, Steven Brault, Chad Kuhl and Tyler Anderson have four spots in the rotation, and if there is a sixth, the recently-signed swingman Cahill would most likely be the guy.

The Pirates are stretching out Cody Ponce and Chase De Jong, but they don’t seem like serious contenders for an opening day job. In fairness, it’s hard to gauge how seriously Wil Crowe and Miguel Yajure are being considered for the job either, but JT Brubaker is the safe bet here. He pitched better than his results would indicate in 2020 and has the most experience in the role for those competing for a late spot. 

The results have been a little shaky this spring, like allowing four runs -- three unearned -- over two innings Saturday, but he’s said he’s felt good, and his fastball is actually up a tick velocity wise.

Yajure and Crowe have been much better results wise, but they each have just three major league appearances. The Pirates need starter depth, and they can definitely be that. They’ll get opportunities to pitch this year.

Perhaps Cahill can slide in and take the fifth spot before opening day, but he hasn’t faced live professional batters yet. With the intake process taking a couple days, there just might not be enough time for him to get starter-ready for opening day. 

Whether he is or not, Brubaker isn’t stressing over the battle for a fifth spot.

“You have to show up to the field every day, go about your business, get your work in and do what you need to do,” Brubaker said on his approach to the competition. “At the end of the day, it’s in our hands based (on) our performance. But it's also whatever the staff and Ben think to put the best team out there to compete. All you can do is control yourself.”

THE BENCH AND BULLPEN

There might not be as much competition here as the Pirates are letting on. 

Assuming the Pirates start the season with 14 pitchers, that would give them four bench spots. Two will go to the runners up in the shortstop and outfield competition. Todd Frazier has played well and has been a fantastic veteran presence in the clubhouse, so he’s a lock to make the team. That puts Phil Evans in a tough spot, but he does have minor-league options remaining.

Michael Perez and Tony Wolters are fighting for the backup catcher job, with Wolters showing a little more in his receiving and blocking so far and Perez showing more with his bat and arm. With taxi squads and alternate sites returning, this job may come down to how many pitchers the Pirates want to expose to waivers to open up roster spots.

In the bullpen, work backwards. Richard Rodriguez and Kyle Crick are going to pitch leverage innings at the backend of games. Michael Feliz, Chris Stratton and Cahill all need to make the team or let go. Lock them in. Geoff Hartlieb and Sam Howard were two of the team’s best relievers last year, and they’ve continued to pitch well this spring. That’s seven pretty safe bets right there.

The Pirates like Chasen Shreve and tried to sign him last year as well, so he has an inside track. Luis Oviedo is a Rule 5 pick who has to make the team or be offered back to the Indians. He hasn’t appeared in a game yet, but Shelton said that could happen next week. Edgar Santana has options but has been outstanding this spring. Maybe he steals a spot, or if he doesn’t, gets called up early next year.

Barring something unexpected, the only real job that appears up for grabs here is backup catcher. An injury could change that, or the Pirates could part ways with a pitcher, but most of the opening day spots seem set. There will be opportunities to break into one of those spots as the year progresses.

MORE FROM THE GAME

• As previously stated, Brubaker allowed four runs in his two innings, though three were unearned when Evans made a two-out error, which was immediately followed by a DJ LeMahieu home run.

It is worth noting that was against the Yankees A-team, with them fielding a legitimate opening day lineup.

"I got behind in counts, but overall, stuff-wise, I felt like my body was in sync on the mound and the ball was coming out of my hand [well]," Brubaker said. "They forced some long ABs and fought off some good pitches to where I got into hitter’s counts. You’ve got to stay ahead, especially pitching [against] a team like this. You’ve got to stay ahead in the count and put them away when you have the opportunity."

The Yankees took advantage of a failed Oneil Cruz backhand in the hole at short in the seventh inning, which led to a two-out, two run homer by Ryan LaMaare off a Max Kranick fastball. Former Pirate Socrates Brito tacked one on off Yerry De Los Santos in the eight.

• The Pirates hit three home runs of their own from Stokes Jr., Bryan Reynolds and Rodolfo Castro.

The one from Stokes Jr. was smoked, with an exit velocity of 109.6 mph off a Corey Kluber sinker. He paired that with a diving catch in the first:

Stokes Jr. has quietly had one of the better springs of anyone as camp. He said he camp into camp with the goal of making the team. It doesn't look probable, but if he keeps playing like this, he could be on the major league radar soon.

"When I look at the other outfielders I mean, we’re all good, we’re all playing well right now. When they do good, it pushes me to do better. So it's kind of like, I want everybody to ball up."

• The team did not give any further update on Alford other than saying he had right wrist discomfort, and that he was being evaluated by the team's trainers.

Adam Frazier talked to him in the clubhouse, and Alford sounded optimistic to him.

"He said he’s all right so hopefully he is and it’s just a little bruise and he can get back out there," Frazier said.

• ...ouch...

• The Pirates are heading back to LECOM Park Sunday to take on the Phillies. Steven Brault will make the start against Matt Moore, with first pitch scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

Yajure, Feliz, Clay Holmes, Shreve, Crick and Braden Ogle will also pitch for the Pirates.