IMO the position players expected to do well have done so....Berto, Frankie, Jose, Carlos, Hernandez, and Reyes. Mercado and Deshields have been OK. Luplow is penciled in at least as a platoon bat, and does have a HR vs a righty.
Arroyo and Freeman have looked good with a bat, but Arroyos glove looks like it's made of iron.
All those guys look pretty much as advertised, but the question marks look more like DFAs than answers.
Zimmer, Bauers, Allen, Domingo, Chang. Only Bradley has looked surprisingly good.
It seems to me that on the player side, we know no more than we did in February.
For regulars who have little to prove, ST is only about getting ready. But for the question marks, ST production, or st least improvement, is vital. I dont see either from anybody, but Bradley.
Usually, it wouldn't matter much after a week in March. But the early opener changes things.
On the pitching side, the loss of Kluber hurts a lot. Clevs injury, and Cookies sore elbow (probably not a big deal, but it sets his time table back again) put the opening day rotation in disarray.
Outside of Hand, Wittgren, Oliver, and Karinchak, who are the other four in the pen?
The arms with some MLB experience...Cimber, Hoyt, Wood, Leone...haven't looked really good, and only Leone has much of a track record.
Things can change for relievers in two weeks, but....
For the first time in years, with two weeks to go, I'm uncomfortable with the look of this roster.
Usually, we have players and pitchers kicking at the door with their play. This year I only see one in Bradley.
