Rockies manager Bud Black broke the ice on Monday, the first day of full squad workouts at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick for the 2018 season.
Black knows he has a potential conundrum brewing at first base, and so with the media gathered he joked to the crowd that the first question ought to channel Abbott and Costello: “Who’s on first?”
From what Black has been saying throughout the offseason, and what Ian Desmond said when he arrived at Spring Training on Sunday, the answer may be as confusing as the old comedy duo’s greatest routine.
The situation is no laughing matter for Rockies fans (not to mention players) who may be concerned that the team’s championship window could be dangerously small with the impending free agency of Charlie Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu in 2019 and Nolan Arenado in 2020.
With the return of Chris Iannetta behind the plate, first base is the only real hole in the Rockies lineup.
The Rockies signed the extremely versatile Desmond in December 2016 to a five-year, $70-million contract. Desmond can play virtually any position except pitcher and catcher, but the expectation initially was that he would play first base in Denver. Injuries kept him out for the start the 2017 season, and Mark Reynolds’ hot start as Desmond’s replacement made it virtually impossible to replace him at the position once Desmond was healthy.
Reynolds is now a free agent, and the club seems to be in no rush to name a starter at the position. Currently atop the Rockies’ depth chart at first base is 23-year-old Ryan McMahon, who had a stellar 2017 season in Triple-A with a .355 batting average. He struggled with a .158 batting average over 24 plate appearances in his 19 MLB games last season.
If Black can keep Desmond in the outfield, that would give Black the option to platoon the right-handed hitting Desmond with Gerardo Parra and (the hopefully healthy) David Dahl as needed based on matchups.
Black did spend some time Monday seriously speaking on McMahon, saying, “He had a really solid year last year. Right? This guys a high school kid that signed with us [and] has made the steps. When you get to the Double-A level and perform, to the Triple-A level and perform, you touch the big leagues to get a little of the awe out of the way, get your first big-league hit. I mean, these are steps that get you closer, but the skill set is there to be a major league player.”
Desmond is the only player with experience as an everyday major leaguer who is currently on the roster and in the running for the first base job, but his inexperience at the position could be cause for some concern. The 32-year-old played first base in just 27 of his 95 games in 2017, his first time playing the position. Based on what Desmond said upon arrival at Spring Training, it doesn’t sound like there was much of an edict or even a recommendation that he devote time this offseason to improving those skills at first.
Desmond spoke briefly with the media Sunday, saying, “Honestly, I haven’t really been focusing a lot on first base. I have spent a lot of time in left field, just getting my legs ready to play out there. I will be ready to play first base if they need me to, but right now, from what I understand, it’s going to be mostly left field.”
Desmond spent time on Monday in left field and at first base, per reports.
Black seems to be taking his time in order to make the correct decision, which is a good thing. However, the uncertainty can add unnecessary stress, even for professional athletes like Desmond, who is trying to bounce back from a difficult first year in Colorado.
That stress can bleed over to other infield positions, including five-time Gold Glove third baseman Nolan Arenado, who has relied on Reynolds’ surprisingly good fielding over the past two years. Arenado said ahead of Spring Training that it would be an adjustment for him no matter who is at first this year, if not Reynolds.
Arenado and Company want to build off last year’s 87-win season and Wild Card appearance. Having some certainty in who will be playing first and having confidence in that person will be paramount in doing so.
Prior to the start of Spring Training, several signs pointed to Desmond possibly making that shift to first base as the Rockies had intended in 2017. Black spoke with the media in Denver in as part of the Rockies Caravan in January and mentioned Desmond’s name first when asked about the options at first base for the upcoming season.
“At first base, Ian is there,” Black said. “We’ve got Ryan McMahon, you know. Don’t be surprised to see Pat Valaika play some first base; we are going to move him around the diamond. Jordan Patterson was in camp last year on the 40-man roster, [he] played some first base in Triple-A and in big league spring training last year.”
On Sunday at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Black said it was too early to determine whether Desmond will be deployed primarily in the outfield or at first base — a sentiment he reinforced with those laughs on Monday.
Clearly, the Rockies are giving McMahon every opportunity to seize the job. But it is also clear they are keeping safeguards in place, including finally and formally moving Desmond to first. Re-signing Reynolds remains an option so long as he is available.
Black did take a more serious tone when pressed on what it will take for McMahon to earn a roster spot.
“I think with Ryan the test will be here in Spring Training, whether he’s able to handle all phases of the game,” Black said. “We have a critical eye every day on our players. The Spring Training performance, we’ll watch and evaluate. We’ll watch the at-bats. We’ll watch the swings. There will be some evaluation of the statistical performance … He’s talented, and I think whether he comes out of here on the 25-man roster, we’ll see, but he’s in a good position to show himself.”
That’s certainly a better answer than Abbott and Costello’s third baseman: “I Don’t Know.”
