What do you think of Gamel?

[adambr2]

You know, Gamel is one I really didn't hear a lot about of until this year. Now many have him on the same level as LaPorta, because not only does he hit for a ton of power, he hits for average, too. So.....

 

1. What kind of a player does Gamel project to be on the big league level? Is it too ambitious to think .300, 30 HR, 100 RBI, something like Carlos Lee type numbers?

 

2. What position do you think he projects to? Is he going to make at 3B and be our 3rd baseman of the future? Or is that going to be too much of an offensive liability to the point where we should consider grooming him at 1B or a corner outfield spot?

 

3. Do you think he is more valuable to us, or as a trading chip?

[twobrewers]

1. What kind of a player does Gamel project to be on the big league level? Is it too ambitious to think .300, 30 HR, 100 RBI, something like Carlos Lee type numbers?

Derrek Lee, but I think he stays at 3B.

[BrewCrewForever]

Derrek Lee, but I think he stays at 3B.

I to think he could be a Lee type hitter. I hope he stays at 3B because would be nice to have a lefty bat with some pop playing the hot corner. Is there a good chance he stays there? I heard his defense has been better of late in Huntsville. Otherwise does he move to 1B?

 

[Trowekamp]

There seems to be lots of talk about moving Gamel from 3b to 1b or the OF. Why not 2b? If Weeks doesn't pick it up this year, the Brewers have to consider pulling the plug on the Rickie experiment. If Jeff Kent can play 2b then Gamel has to have enough range especially with his bat. For that matter maybe they put Laporta in LF, Braun at 2B, Gamel at 3B, and try to trade Hall and Weeks.

 

 

I cross my fingers each day that weeks and hall finally "get" it but every it seems less likely.

 

So in an unrealistic dream lineup for 2009:

 

Hart RF

Gamel 3B

 

Braun 2b

 

Fielder 1B

 

Laporta LF

 

Cameron CF

 

Hardy SS

 

Kendall C

 

Though I think the more likely scenario is Gamel platooning at 3B and Laporta in RF and Hart in CF.

 

Also in the above scenariou you have potential 2010 replacements in Brantley (CF), Escobar (SS), and Salome © in AAA in 2009.

[BrewCrewForever]

I don't think Braun will ever in his career play 2B.

[Trowekamp]

I don't think Braun will ever in his career play 2B.

Most likely not but he played SS in college so I think he would be fine there a "slight" upgrade offensively over weeks.

[TheCrew07]

For the fans that mostly work the MLB forums on the site I could see where it would be real easy to overlook him. There was no Gamel tracker in the IGTs, he's always been overshadowed by Braun, and he started slow last year. Once he started hitting though he didn't stop, his 30+ game hit streak put him on the map, but again, I don't recall if that made the MLB forum or not, Mass posted about it daily over here though.

 

Again after a slow start last year he really took off and played great all the way through Winter Ball. As he continues to gain confidence he continues to get better in all aspects of his game. To Toby's credit, he's always been very high on Gamel, which I guess always made me check his line in the box scores, because I wasn't sold on him early, I was a skeptic.

 

As he continues to make strides with his defense my expectations continue to rise for him. His bat is good enough he could be a .300ish, 30HR, 100RBI guy year in and year out. However the RBIs would depend where he bats in the order. If both Gamel and Fielder were on the same team, you'd almost have to move Hart to lead off and bat Gamel 5th, I'm not sure, I'd have to think about it. With Braun, Laporta, and Gamel... he'd probably bat 4th and Laporta 5th, and Hart moves up to 1 or 2. There would be some interesting lineup decisions that would have to be made, that's for sure. With all of the above average hitters, a solid arguement could be made for any number of different lineups.

 

I highly doubt that 2B is in either Braun's or Gamel's future.

[jjfanec]

As he continues to make strides with his defense my expectations continue to rise for him. His bat is good enough he could be a .300ish, 30HR, 100RBI guy year in and year out. However the RBIs would depend where he bats in the order. If both Gamel and Fielder were on the same team, you'd almost have to move Hart to lead off and bat Gamel 5th, I'm not sure, I'd have to think about it. With Braun, Laporta, and Gamel... he'd probably bat 4th and Laporta 5th, and Hart moves up to 1 or 2. There would be some interesting lineup decisions that would have to be made, that's for sure. With all of the above average hitters, a solid arguement could be made for any number of different lineups.

I doubt you would put Gamel after Prince because you would have your only to lefties go back to back. That would make it pretty easy late in innings.

 

[MoneyballMan]

If you had your choice right now (for the long-term), would you rather have Gamel or Ian Stewart?? I actually have the decision in a simulation league where I'm contemplating a trade that would include one or the other. Stewart seems to be more prominently displayed on BA's top prospect list, yet the more I look at Gamel the more I like how he projects. Opinions?

[TheCrew07]

I doubt you would put Gamel after Prince because you would have your only to lefties go back to back. That would make it pretty easy late in innings

I thought about that, but for whatever reason Braun doesn't like batting 4th to break up the lefties. Gamel and Hart are both too good to bat in the bottom 3rd of the order... like I said, there could be some really interesting lineup decisions.

 

If you had your choice right now (for the long-term), would you rather have Gamel or Ian Stewart??

Both players hit for similar power numbers, hit from the same side of plate, are close to the same age... so I'd take the player with the better BB to SO ratio which is Gamel... hard to go wrong either way though. I admit to being somewhat biased, but I made an effort to be objective.

[BoKnowsBall]

With Gamel's good on base skills I could see him in the two hole in that situation- then you would have lefty righty lefty with the righty being someone who absolutely mashes lefties

[twobrewers]

Braun has an OPS of .728 against LHP this year.

 

He was amazing last year against LHP. But that was likely small sample size driven - no one can be that amazing against LHP.

 

(Not saying Gamel wouldn't fit in the 2 hole, just pointing out that many are still assuming Braun is still amazing against LHP)

[dadofandrew]

Considering Cameron is 35 and signed to a 1 year deal, I do not think he'll return.

[Trowekamp]

Cameron has an $10 million club option for next year. The issue is outside of Hart they don't have a long-term CF answer.. . unless a Hall/Weeks trade brings one back.

 

I think a Hart -> Gamel -> Braun -> Fielder -> Laporta lineup might score 900+ runs even if you batted Counsell 6th, 7th, and 8th.

[sbrylski]

I think Gamel is a little overhyped due to his scorching start. He's a very good 2nd level prospect - he'll be an above average bat and probably always a little below average defensively. My unscientific upper-end projections would be a .290 / .360 / .480 type guy, mid to upper 800's OPS in his prime. Who knows, maybe touch 900 a time or two - but expecting that is fairly dangerous.

 

The Garrett Atkins comparison in another thread sounds pretty good as a best case, though I'm not convinced Gamel will be a consistent .300+ hitter.

[Brian the Automator]

I think the real wildcard here is Gamel's D ... Do any of our Huntsville users have anything of a scouting report to provide here?

[ryanbraun75]

I really think that Mat Gamel will be an all star caliber player when he reaches the bigs. I think he will put up .300 seasons with 25-30 Homers and 100 RBIs in the future. His defense has been much improved this season according to Don Money and after listening to a recent interview with Jim Powell and a scout in the Brewers system i am very convinced that he will stay at 3rd Base and be an average at worst 3rd basemen.

 

I for one hope the brewers will bring him up to do some DHing this summer just so he can get a taste of the big leagues. And here is my Dream lineup for next season.

 

2B: Rickie Weeks

3B: Mat Gamel

RF: Ryan Braun

1B: Prince Fielder

CF: Corey Hart

LF: Matt LaPorta

SS: JJ Hardy

C: Jason Kendall with Salome coming up later in the year

[Trowekamp]

I really think that Mat Gamel will be an all star caliber player when he reaches the bigs. I think he will put up .300 seasons with 25-30 Homers and 100 RBIs in the future. His defense has been much improved this season according to Don Money and after listening to a recent interview with Jim Powell and a scout in the Brewers system i am very convinced that he will stay at 3rd Base and be an average at worst 3rd basemen.

 

I for one hope the brewers will bring him up to do some DHing this summer just so he can get a taste of the big leagues. And here is my Dream lineup for next season.

 

2B: Rickie Weeks

3B: Mat Gamel

RF: Ryan Braun

1B: Prince Fielder

CF: Corey Hart

LF: Matt LaPorta

SS: JJ Hardy

C: Jason Kendall with Salome coming up later in the year

 

They might score a run or two.. though I would swap Weeks and LaPorta..

[ILuvDaBush]

I've long been a proponent of Rickie's on-base skills, but imagine a lineup of

 

CF Hart

3B Gamel

RF Braun

1B Fielder

RF LaPorta

C Salome

SS Hardy

P YO!!! Though I could see him switching spots with LaPorta... :-)

2B Weeks

 

For all intents and purposes, Weeks would still be the leadoff guy, and the next five guys in the lineup all are RBI-producers. I'm still big on Rickie, but he could literally lead the league in runs from the #9 hole. But in all seriousness, I just hope he continues to progress defenseively on a consistent basis.

[southpaw121505]

I really think that Mat Gamel will be an all star caliber player when he reaches the bigs. I think he will put up .300 seasons with 25-30 Homers and 100 RBIs in the future. His defense has been much improved this season according to Don Money and after listening to a recent interview with Jim Powell and a scout in the Brewers system i am very convinced that he will stay at 3rd Base and be an average at worst 3rd basemen.

 

I for one hope the brewers will bring him up to do some DHing this summer just so he can get a taste of the big leagues. And here is my Dream lineup for next season.

 

2B: Rickie Weeks

3B: Mat Gamel

RF: Ryan Braun

1B: Prince Fielder

CF: Corey Hart

LF: Matt LaPorta

SS: JJ Hardy

C: Jason Kendall with Salome coming up later in the year

 

Agree 100%

 

I still think Hart is the perfect guy behind Prince. I think the 3-5 should stay how it is as long as they are all on the team. I also don't want a 6'6' leadoff, and I'm only half joking. I see Hart as having more potential as a run producer, with his speed and obp as a bonus.

 

I still can't give up on Rickie being a 400 obp lead off hitter with speed and power. I think he's our best option. I really like Gamel behind him, lefty bat hitting in between Rickie and Braun, he should get every opportunity to swing it in this position. I REALLY hope he can stick at the hot corner.

 

Even though LaPorta has huge power potential, I'd rather have him 6th out of the gates than 5th. I know a lot of people will debunk the protection issue, but if he struggles as a rookie I don't want it to effect Prince too.

[BrewCrewForever]

2B: Rickie Weeks

3B: Mat Gamel

RF: Ryan Braun

1B: Prince Fielder

CF: Corey Hart

LF: Matt LaPorta

SS: JJ Hardy

C: Jason Kendall with Salome coming up later in the year

I love that lineup. Period. That will put up some runs.

[JoeHova]

Prince isn't that vulnerable to lefties (career OPS of .815), so batting two lefties in a row at some point wouldn't be crippling, imo.

 

Just to put that .815 in perspective, that OPS is better than the career OPSs of:

 

Kendall

Weeks

Hardy

Hall

Branyan

Cameron

Kapler

Counsell

Dillon

Rivera

 

In other words, the only Brewers who have hit better for their careers overall than Prince has hit against lefties are Braun and Hart. I don't see how that's a big weakness.

[Tbadder]

I like Gamel better than LaPorta, but I'm no expert. He's younger than LaPorta and I think he's shown significant improvement as the competition has gotten more difficult. That bodes well indeed. I don't think that defense is going to be a problem, and I believe he could in fact be a better than average defensive player because I believe he's the first baseman of the future. When Fielder is moved I think there's a good chance it will be for an everyday 3rd baseman--just one speculation for sure. I think Gamel will hit for a higher average, be a better baserunner than LaPorta, and be prone to less slumps.

 

I like Sbrylski's projections though I'd bump up the slugging pct. a bit as I see him as a Lyle Overbay type with more home run power and speed (25Hrs 45-50Dbs) with a .280 to .290 average.

 

But really alot of the projected line-ups will have to do with Sheets' status. If he walks, moves gotta be made, and Prince could bring 2 or 3 young pitchers or 1 or 2 established pitchers plus young stud hitter. Then Gamel has to probably play 3rd. If they sign Sheets and Prince is moved then Gamel's at 1st. I don't know if it's fair to say, but I think Gamel's probably a more heady player, while LaPorta is more of a natural. Anyone who knows better about this care to make comment about this supposition?

 

Line Up in two years:

 

Weeks 2B

Hart CF

Braun LF

Gamel 1B

LaPorta RF

Hall 3B but probably someone different

catcher (?)

Escobar SS

Pitcher

 

The key in this line up is for Escobar to develop as a hitter who can take pitches. That would move him to second in the order and bump Hart to fifth and LaPorta to sixth.

[lovehate]

I don't ever want to see Gamel in the two spot, this guy is not Chris Burke. He's somewhere between Mark Teahan and Alex Gordon. I doubt Fielder, LaPorta, and Gamel can ever play together, so this will be an interesting next 3 seasons for those guys - or us fans.

[JohnBriggs12]

I don't know who Gamel compares to, but I do know this guy can hit and he's beyond the "good start" stage. The minor league season is nearing the half way point and his numbers are better than the numbers either Braun or Fielder put up at Huntsville. Of course he does benefit hitting in front of LaPorta, but those are slow pitch softball stats he is putting up.

 

Braun had an .895 FP last year, and Gamel is hovering around .925 this season. Working with Don Money is paying off it seems. If he can post a .925-.930 FP, with his bat, he can play 3B in my lineup.