and it's a sure thing 3B is Johnson's to lose. Mills said he wants Wallace starting, so he's off to OKC until the inevitable Carlos trade, when he will then become the everyday 1B. Moving Paredes to 2nd I like all the way around, if nothing else for immediate roster settlement-and of the group he could use a year in AAA the most. Altuve will be hard to supplant next year so we'll see how that plays out, but having depth at 2nd is a problem a lot of teams would love to have. Plus, he feels like a middle infielder

I'm seeing Bogusevic in right, which is fine with me. This bench is tough...Downs is in, along with Chris Snyder (as I have read nothing but that Castro WILL be the staring catcher...I'm betting this ends up more a 60/40 split). And on to the wild speculation. I go with Bixler for versatility. From what I've seen, this is the kind of guy you like to have on your team. He's competent at IF and OF, and if I see Lowrie with an off day, I won't groan when I see him in the starting lineup like I would Sanchez. Plus with a .318 avg in 115 games and only 198 at bats, he seems to have that special talent of being able to hit off the bench. I've yet to fall for Marwin Gonzalez, but in the event of a major injury to Lowrie we would have to have a competent glove at short, and Ludnow doesn't seem like the type to give up potential value so the rule V guy stays.

Last spot is Cust or Buck, and though spring stats mean nothing, everyone would sleep better giving Cust $600,000 if he had at least one hit. I like Cust's game, would take the K's with the BB's, but I think he's dwindling...at this point of dreary non-contention I'd just assume see someone with potential like Buck, and because I wouldn't mistake him for someone on my softball team, and surely is a better defender. I say Buck, and Shuck off to AAA. If Buck falters, you have F. Martinez, or Snyder or Shuck to call up, whoever's hot. And I like this bench!