Okay, we're getting close to halfway through the Spring Training games.  The fat is starting to get cut a bit and the candidates for starting positions are starting to stretch out their appearances.  We still have single digit innings from everybody in the hunt, but does anybody have any feelings about who's beginning to establish themselves on the inside track for those last two starting spots?

Wandy seems to be doing nothing to eliminate Garner's lean towards him, although we'll find a little more out today.  Sampson and Nieve have both been solid.  If anybody's going any direction, I'd say maybe Albers is inching towards the rear of the pack.  Do we really think Moehler is a serious candidate?

Astacio* 0.00 ERA, 5.0 IP, 1.00 WHIP, 5.40 BB/9, 7.20 K/9
Sampson 3.18 ERA, 5.2 IP, 1.41 WHIP, 4.76 BB/9 7.94 K/9
Moehler 3.38 ERA, 8.0 IP, 1.13 WHIP, 3.38 BB/9 6.75 K/9
Nieve 4.50 ERA, 8.0 IP, 1.50 WHIP, 4.50 BB/9, 7.88 K/9
Albers 5.14 ERA, 7.0 IP, 2.00 WHIP, 6.43 BB/9 11.57 K/9
Wandy 5.19 ERA, 8.2 IP, 1.85 WHIP, 8.31 BB/9 6.23 K/9

If the numbers improve or even stay the same, it looks like we'll be able to feel alright about what we've got for options.  All the walk rates are a bit high, but you'd hope that's something that would improve as ST progresses (hopefully bringing the WHIP down with it).  Albers' K-rate shows that he's got the stuff.  If he can do a better job of keeping guys off, he might return to the pack.

To early?  I dunno.  I'm looking for things to talk about.

Lastly, what's with Woody?  Has he been pitching in minor league games that aren't showing up on the stat page?  Why does he only have two innings so far?

*added in Astacio, as per comments. also updated Nieve and Wandy's numbers. i guess if we're gonna credit Moehler for his small sample size numbers, we need to do likewise for Zeke. i've always been a fan of Zeke's stuff. if he can improve his control, his ceiling is heigher than Wandy or Moehler for sure.