Is Ortmeier Any Good?

When Dan Ortmeier's name is announced in opponents' ballparks (and maybe at AT&T Park) next year, a lot of people will probably say "Who?" The starting first base job seems to be his to lose, as the Giants passed up on veterans like Sean Casey and Tony Clark. But the question remains whether Ortmeier is really capable of being a starter at the big league level. Because of his performance in a part-time stint last year, when he had an OPS of .814, I think he at least deserves a shot to win the job in Spring Training. I, however, like many Giants fans, am skeptical of his ability to perform at that level for a whole season. Ortmeier proved that he has decent power from both sides of the plate and good speed for a big guy, and he certainly endeared himself to fans with his walk-off home run against the Dodgers in September. But his numbers were well above his minor league average, and a return to normalcy seems likely. Also, he struck out 41 times while only walking seven times. He will need to work on that if he wants to stick in the major leagues.

Ortmeier, an outfielder throughout his career, is being helped with the defensive aspect by none other than J.T. Snow. My question is, if the Giants think Ortmeier can make the transfer from the outfield to first base, why not Nate Schierholtz? Schierholtz is a much more highly regarded prospect with a better minor-league track record. He came up as a third baseman so the infield shouldn't be too much of a problem. He is also likely the odd man out in the outfield because he's the only one with any minor league options left. I think a battle for the first base spot could be healthy for the two young players. Someone needs to prove that they deserve to be in the lineup in Los Angeles on March 31.