Elimination process:
Based on their heaters, the first two starting assignments went to Nick Pivetta and Zach Eflin, and behind them were Nola, Ben Lively, Eickhoff, and Velasquez. Revealing thusly, Pivetta, Eflin and Lively are at the front of the pitching coach’s line.
Jake Thompson, Mark Leiter, right-hander Drew Hutchison (non-roster invitee) and righty Tom Eshelman worked the third and fourth innings. But while their coach Rick Kranitz passed over Thompson and Leiter, Hutchison hurled another two middle frames. On the other hand, Eshelman will probably be in the rotation of the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
The second turn through the spring rotation was every fifth day. And that schedule was Pivetta/Eflin on day one, Nola, and Lively/Eshelman on March 3. Lastly, the fourth and fifth spots were Eickhoff and Velasquez.
In the televised game last Saturday, Kranitz scheduled Eshelman because he wanted to familiarize himself with the control-valued right-hander. The coach had seen Lively previous year and had him start the split-squad contest instead. On the other hand, Leiter’s and Thompson’s absence is casting doubt on their chances.
"WORDS OF EXPERIENCE: “No-one gets an iron-clad guarantee of success. Certainly, factors like opportunity, luck and timing are important. But the backbone of success is usually found in old-fashioned, basic concepts like hard work, determination, good planning and perseverance.” – Mia Hamm"
To sum up, Pivetta and Eflin are the favorites for the four and five slots. And they will be on the red pinstripes if Pivetta can demonstrate common control (70 percent), and Eflin can stay healthy. But who pitched better on March 3? Lively!