Asche appears to have solid hold on third base
— Technically, there was a competition. However, with Cody Asche impressing as a rookie late last season and Maikel Franco in his first big-league camp and only having a half-season of Double-A ball at the top of his resume, it was going to take something weird for there to be a change at third base. That didn’t happen. Franco impressed the coaching staff with his work ethic and potential, but showed the need for more seasoning at the plate. And though Asche got off to a slow start to the Grapefruit League season, then got hit in the hand with a pitch, he has picked it up lately. That included a crushed solo home run in the fifth inning of a 5-3 loss to the Pirates Saturday at McKechnie Field.
Asche went 2-for-4, raising his spring average to a meek .175. But Franco hit just .184 (7-for-38) with no extra-base hits, a far cry from the guy who terrorized the Florida State and Eastern League with 70 combined extra-base hits last season as he emerged as the hands-down top position-player prospect in the system.
The decision to send Franco down might mean Asche’s the man in Ryne Sandberg’s mind, but even with that and the loss of Freddy Galvis to a battle with MRSA, Asche wasn’t taking a victory lap.
“Until my name is on the lineup card Day 1,” he said, “it’s anybody’s job still. I can’t take anything for granted, no matter who is down or who is here.
“I had kind of a tough go at it in the first two weeks and I was started getting comfortable and then got hit in the hand … I’ve been pretty happy with my last 5-7 games with the at-bats I have had.”
“He has been swinging the bat better the last couple of days,” Sandberg said of Asche, who hit .235 with five homers in 162 at-bats with the Phils last season. “Asche had some good aggressive swings today on some pitches and connected.
“I think those games (in the majors) were big for him last year. I’ve seen him with playing time and atbats, and I think he settles in and gains from that … hopefully he’ll get off to a good start.”
Sandberg didn’t sound like a guy who thought Franco needed much more time in the minors before he is big-league ready. He considered the 21-year-old’s development a matter of fine-tuning things.
“Franco goes, gets seasoning and gets at-bats and works on things,” Sandberg said. “He probably (needs) more on the offensive side – shortening up his swing and getting some better line-drive contact.”
••• Cole Hamels faced hitters for the first time Saturday morning – well, if having minor-leaguers Brock Stassi and Tyler Henson stand in the batter’s box during a live batting practice session qualifies, at least.
“Today was a day I was looking forward to, trying get to that next step,” Hamels said. “You get a little more competitive facing hitters … you have to narrow your focus a little bit more. Your competitiveness comes out.”
Hamels should throw to batters one more time before the team breaks camp in Clearwater Thursday, and likely will stay in extended spring training before getting the clock started with a rehab assignment start somewhere in the minors later in April.
••• Domonic Brown was back on the field for the first time in a week and went 0-for-3 with a walk. He also struck out against Pirates closer Jason Grilli, looking a bit late on the hard stuff.
A week-long battle with the flu certainly played a part.
“I thought he went up there with some aggressive swings,” Sandberg said of his starting left fielder, who is hitting .158 this spring after lighting it up last Grapefruit League season. “His pregame was really good. It was good for him to get some at-bats and adjust his eyes to it. I think the at-bats were worthwhile as far as this goes.”
Brown
used
his
big spring last year to have a breakout season, but it only qualifies as breakout if he follows it up with another productive year.
“Come on, guys,” said with a You know I’ll be ready to go. I hate that I got sick, but that’s just part of everything. You can’t control those things. I’ll definitely be ready in a week for sure.
“I felt all right after eight days of not playing. I’m a little weak, a little tired. Other than that I think I’ve just got to get back out there. The swing is a little long right now … (But) I’ve got so much confidence in my game I’m really not even worried about it. I think once I get the at-bats that I need … If you can hit, you can hit.”
••• A.J. Burnett had to scuffle through 5 1/3 innings as he gave up seven hits and six walks, but only two runs. He was helped by a pickoff of former Phillie Michael Martinez and Carlos Ruiz throwing out Travis Snider attempting to steal second.
“That’s been a stress of the camp so far,” Sandberg said of holding runners on. “He did some nice things. He did the hold and pickoff, and gave our catchers a chance. That’s been a bright spot the whole camp.”
Sandberg and Burnett would like to see both his curve and four-seam fastball have more consistency when he makes his last spring start Thursday.
“He worked on his breaking ball today,” Sandberg said, “and still needs more work on that.”
“The hook is inconsistent right now,” said Burnett, who has a 7.53 ERA this spring, “but that always comes. I’m not worried about that. The more I throw it, the more I get out there, I’m going to find that release point.
“I think today was big today to throw to Chooch again, get him behind the plate. We haven’t worked since my first two innings in camp, so it was good for him to see what I like to do and know what he expects.”