Spring training is finally here, and not just pitchers and catchers reporting either. One of the key battles for the Seattle Mariners’ 25-man roster is for the utility infield role that looked like a toss-up between Luis Sardinas and Chris Taylor to start spring. After five spring training games, Sardinas is showing why he should be chosen instead of Taylor, and so far it is not even close.
Sardinas is one of only five Mariners who have played in all five games this spring. His 12 at-bats lead the team by three at-bats. He hasn’t disappointed with those plate appearances either, with seven hits (three of them for doubles), two runs and five RBIs. His defense has been superb as well, not giving up an error and making a few highlight reel-type plays already.
Taylor, on the other hand, hasn’t had quite the same luck. His numbers at the plate look decent, going 3-for-7 with two RBIs. Taylor’s numbers don’t have the same type of punch as Sardinas’, but they are respectable. The problem is even with those hits, Taylor has looked uncomfortable both at the plate and on the diamond.
On Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels, he had a crucial error in the seventh inning that should have been a double play to end the inning. Instead, the Angels proceeded to score four runs in the inning of a game that the final score was 9-7. Errors like that in the regular season would not be tolerated for long.
The main advantage for Sardinas could be just as simple as he is a Jerry Dipoto player, while Taylor is a 2012 draft pick made by the previous regime. The trade to acquire Sardinas from the Milwaukee Brewers was a quiet one, considering it was made in the middle of the flurry of moves Dipoto made this offseason. It could be seen as another small move that makes a big impact in the lineup for 2016.
I know it is still early in spring training and anything can happen, but barring an injury to Sardinas or a huge upswing in production by Taylor, it is safe to say that the job is Sardinas’ to lose. Taylor always has a chance to come back to the Mariners later in the season, but most likely he will spend some time in Tacoma (Triple-A) while Sardinas joins the big league club and continues his MLB career.
