EDMONTON (AP) - Edmonton Orcas Manager Robin Yount has a new strategy heading into 2020 season: the Platoon. “Some guys just haven’t figured how to hit in the big leagues yet," explained Yount. "They just keep chasing pitches or watch the good ones fly on past them. So, we have the talent and depth to put two different lineups out there.”

With the consistently poor hitting performances from key individuals over the past years, no job seems safe anymore. Heading out of Spring Training, it looks like leading off the order will be second baseman John Lantz and third baseman Steve Guinn, who have kept their starting jobs despite tremendous showings from Amos Morris and Bobby Simms. Second year man Bob Reed will play center field and bat ninth mainly because speedster Bob Veltman had a very poor off season in the Dominican Republic's winter ball league. The big bats of Robert Temple and Serafin Quintanar will be in place at the fourth and fifth lineup slots, and shortstop Brett Sherlock, who is rumored to be unhappy in Edmonton, will bat seventh. Six other players will be featured at left and right fields, as well as first base.

“It’s an odd methodology, I will give you that,” remarked General Manager J.J. Wurz. “But, this way, everyone has playing time, the bench is deep, and if an injury occurs, then someone isn’t extremely stale.” The off season signing of Luis Budnick might also have swayed opinion in management. Budnick, notoriously bad against left handed opponents, has shown flashes of excellence but has yet to capture his full potential. He is expected to start in left field, but platoon with second year man Luigi Lombardi.

Lee Brittain, who played most of last year at first base, will only be starting against lefties because rookie sensation Oscar Estrada destroyed right handed pitchers in AAA for the Ottawa Otters last year. Brittain, with better defense on his side, has no complaints. “I’ve seen Oscar hit. He will be great one day. But, for some reason, his eye just doesn’t pick up the release of a lefty. It’s odd.”

Another incumbent, right fielder Kelly Laskey, has lost his at bats against lefties for similar reasons. Rookie Arthur Reinbach is a better defender and has shown exceptional ability against left handed pitching. “I love the slider,” commented Reinbach. “It just breaks into my zone and I just swing away at it.”

Potentially, catchers Jerry Santana and Jack Briggs could be the fourth platoon if Serafin Quintanar goes down to another injury. Last season, the two filled in nicely for most of the season and was the inspiration behind Manager Yount’s theory. “If Serafin gets hurt, which I really hope he doesn’t, then we’re going to have to order a lot more more lineup cards,” joked Santana. Said Briggs, “If this keeps up, I’m expecting Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, and William Defoe to be signed!”