Brandon Belts One in Cactus League Opener
Brandon Belt went 3 for 4 with a home run in today’s Cactus League opener in Scottsdale Arizona. The homer to right came on an inside fastball to right field. He struggled with pitches in on the hands in 2011, but beat the scouting report today, demonstrating that he improved his hitting in the off season. Good job kid! Take a shave and pour yourself a cold one.
Aubrey Huff hit a ball over the center fielder’s head, but it was tracked down and caught. Brett Pill and Huff both were hitless as they competed with Belt for the 1st Base job.
Brandon Belt photo zimbio.com
We can’t read too much into the number of hits at this point, but we can look for a professional approach and balls hit hard. Crawford singles with the bases loaded: Good. Home run for Belt: Even Better. New free agents produce a run in textbook fashion when Pagan singles, steals second, and scores on a double by Melky Cabrera: Perfect. The Panda strikes out on a slider in the dirt: Bad (but not unexpected, and not the sinking of the Titanic, don’t panic yet).
Meanwhile, we may have seen a hint of why backup catcher Eli Whiteside is going gray: top catching prospect Hector Sanchez also hit a home run. Given Sanchez’ youth and inexperience, he would have to really tear up the Cactus League to make the roster, but Whiteside and Chris Stewart must be wondering how long they can keep a step ahead of him.
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