Sept. 1st call-ups? Latest: Ten Up including Gamel, Salome and Escobar (reply #127ish and after); Capuano to 60-day DL, Gardner DFA'd

[TooLiveBrew]

If I understand it correctly, if Gamel were placed on the major league roster on Aug 31, that may use an option, but it really wouldn't affect Gamel's future FA status, because a player needs 6 full years of service time to earn FA. It would presumable affect future Super 2 status.

 

I think you're right here. I just want to that it's not that a player burns 'an option', but that players have 'option years'. In other words, they can be shuttled back & forth as much as necessary (I think) in any given option year. I think the option years don't kick in until after 3 years of pro service, so calling a guy up to MLB or not doesn't necessarily burn an option that wouldn't have already been 'burned'. For example, Player A is in his 3rd minor-league season, and is a fringe prospect. If I understand correctly, his next season would be his first "option season", even though he wasn't called up at any point.

 

With Gamel, since he's going to have to be added to the 40-man this offseason, I don't think it'd matter much if he's called up or not. As you mention, it appears it'd only affect his MLB service time. One month or just more really won't be too awful to add. He can always just get held down in the minors in 2009 to guarantee Super Two status.

[piccione88]

Gamel's arby clock doesn't really matter anymore this season as the Brewers are already past the 2 MLB Super 2 deadlines. It goes against service time but once you get to September it has no bearing on the arby clock.

 

It would not affect the super 2 status, but if the brewers want to wait a month to call him up like we did with Braun, and the Rays did with Longoria to possibly add an extra year of control it would have an affect I believe. I could be wrong, as I am not very well versed in how all of this exactly works. If I am correct though I would not want to lose a year of Gamel, just to have him pinch hit, since he probably would not get many, if any starts at third base.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

Yeah if you waited until May of 2009 to call up Gamel, you'd get one more year out of him so it's unlikely he gets called up when you already have Nelson as your LH bat off the bench.

[brewmann04]

Pena if he proves he can help would be a solid start for next year 8th inning spot.

[yoshii8]

I realize its only July 24th but I was thinking about this today, and a lot of names came to mind. Here is who I think will be: Gamel, Dillon, Rottino, Pena, Defelice, Dillard, Stetter, Nelson and Gwynn. You could also make a case for Salome, Gillespe and Nix.

Also, what are the chances that Gamel and Stetter get brought up before September 1st, so they are playoff eligible?

[RickieDROPSbombs]

Wouldn't Stetter be available since hes been on the big league team for a good portion of the season already?

[PrinceFielder28]

Jay Gibbons is another possible Sept call-up if he is crushing the ball.

[RickieDROPSbombs]

I dont see Gibbons doing much, but he was a good low risk signing. I see Gwynn, Nelson, Pena, Dillard, Rottino. These are just some of the players I see being no doubters in my eyes.

[DHonks]

Well, the reinforcements may be able to help in about 3 weeks. As of now, here's what it seems like, based on 40-man roster designations:

 

Probable:

Gallardo

Dillard

Stetter

Dillon

Escobar

Nelson

Gibbons (needs to be added to 40-man)

Gwynn (pinch runner)

 

Possible:

DiFelice

Pena

Palmisano

Rottino

Iribarren

 

The "probables" are players I would expect to get called up (or activated in Gallardo's case). I also would expect a 3rd catcher with Palmisano and/or Rottino as the guys. I can't recall us ever having this kind of depth, so that's pretty cool. All are already on the 40 man roster except Gibbons, but we have an open spot. I also can't recall if Capuano is on the 60-day DL for extra flexibility. Keep in mind that in September, only minor league playoff games are going on, so players wouldn't be hurt by riding the pine and gaining only a handful of at bats. I'd love to see what Brantley can do if they feel he can play some CF, but I doubt they add him, Salome, or Gamel.

[And That]

DiFelice, Iribarren, Nelson, Gwynn, Dillard, Stetter, Dillon and Rottino are on the 40-man and have no reason not to be brought up. Pena is on the 40-man, but right now, you'd have to wonder how much he'd help. Escobar is on it the 40-man, but what would he do? Palmisano would be unnecessary with Rottino up. Gallardo will be up if healthy. I'm unsure about Gibbons, but I'd add Nix to that list.

[uwisfan]

I would definitely like to see Escobar called up. With his defense and now bat (2nd in the league in BA now), he could prove to be an interesting piece to this team.

[Legacy25GT]

I was talking to a friend about this very thing yesterday while exiting MP. We were both curious if they would call up some of their AA players. I know players are normally taken from AAA, but we thought that Gamel and Escobar would be good options to bring up to give them more experience while helping the brewers win a pennant race. A guy walking near us thought we were crazy for actually thinking about ruining such young talent by bringing them up into the pressure of a big league pennant race, then insulted us by saying "well thats what separates the baseball coaches like me, and regular fans like you" like he's had to face the same situation coaching little league or whatever he does.

[owbc]

How much are we actually going to use these guys?

 

If we call up 6-8 players, I would expect the call-ups only to get in during blowouts and occasional pinch running. Having them just being there to experience a pennant race would be worth it, though.

[nate82]

How much are we actually going to use these guys?

Pinch hitting and bullpen help is what I would guess they would be used for. Nelson would be another lefty on the bench which would be needed. The bullpen is where the most help would come from.

 

[dadofandrew]

Stocker will be added if a 40 man spot is available. He and Dillon, Stetter, Dillard and maybe DiFelice and either Gwynn/Iribarren will be added on 9/1, with a few more when AAA ends, I would figure.

[DHonks]

I am expecting Escobar to give a look. He'd likely be only there to pinch run, but if we can afford a start or two it'd be fun to see what we have. Since he's on the 40 man roster and he's our best backup at SS defensively, he should be added

[TooLiveBrew]

Would Stocker make sense to add if Gwynn was added? I really am unsure. Stocker certainly looked like a great PR option last season. I'm just assuming Gwynn is a no-brainer to get called up, so that could be wrong.

 

I'll be happy to see DeFelice back up, and Nelson seems to be a lock. Iribarren will be a useful bench piece, and I love Crazy Joe Dillon!

 

 

Probable:

Gallardo

 

Probable?

[pitchleague]

I would think that calling some of those guys up, even if their not going to get any playing time (except mop up work or appearing as a pinch-runner/ defensive replacements), is a great idea because they will gain the experience of being in the big leagues. They'd be able to soak it all in. Maybe, it would ease their nerves a little bit in advance of their real opportunity in 2009, 2010, or whenever.

 

Depth is never a problem. In years past, we hardly called up guys in September because the team was trying to save money. I don't think Mark A. cares about money this year. He just wants to win and depth in September can help out.

[TooLiveBrew]

Interesting point about the money... I was just thinking that. We've heard since the Sabathia deal how tight the budget supposedly is, so I guess we'll see if that plays a role or not. If we only see 3 or 4 callups, then I think it'd be safe to assume that money was a big factor.

[DHonks]

With the money argument, keep in mind that each player has significant expenses. One month of the league minimum salary is roughly $60k. Each night in a hotel is roughly $300-500 per person. Each day on the road nets approximately $90 in meal money. The flight to the big leagues costs roughly $1-2k. Throw in any extra equipment that might be needed.

 

We called up a lot of people last year and I'd expect the same this year. I could see Stocker instead of Gwynn since he's better defensively and is a better baserunner (and faster).

[igor67]

Why wait three weeks for one of these position players? We have had too many arms in the bullpen certainly since Sabathia came on board, but even before that we had our pen throwing less innings than just about anyone else. Between Mclung, Torres, and Villy you have three guys who can easily go multiple innings if the need arises. Riske has done it as well. Ned isn't the greatest at handling playing time, but even a pinch runner would be more valuable to this team the next 3 weeks than Mota.

[endaround]

But if your pitcher is going that deep you don't need pinch hitters either since the only player that Yost starts that he might pinch hit for is Branyan vs a LH reliever. And only in certain situations. Keep in mind Yost let Kendall hit down in the 9th in back to back games.

[homer]

"Keep in mind Yost let Kendall hit down in the 9th in back to back games. "

 

Has Yost ever pinch hit for a catcher?

[dadofandrew]

Unless you need as HR, Kendall is as likely as any PH to reach safely.

[igor67]

A large part of the difficulty is that with such a small bench Ned has learned how to manage that way. Certainly you don't need as many pinch hitters for the pitchers spot if they are going deep, but Any of the third base trio could be pinch hit for. You could certainly make a case for hitting for Weeks with Durham. It might be useful to have enough righties and lefties to ensure a platoon advantage in a key 8th or 9th inning AB, so what if you burn to guys? Kendall, Rivera, and Prince could all be pinch run for. Prince could also be replaced defensively. Given the difficulty getting the current bullpen work we are doing actual harm to them by carrying so many, and we might be able to find a small tactical advantage with an expanded bench.