Who's in your AAA starting lineup?

[Hate those Rodents]

I thought it might be fun rather than predicting the Brewers lineup on opening day, to sort of work backwards and figure out who you'd guess will be in the AAA starting lineup. Who wants to give it a shot?

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

I'll take a stab at it, although I'm probably completely wrong at some positions because I'm doing it mostly from memory. Feel free to correct me.

 

C: Salome

1B: Errecart

2B: Iribarren

SS: Escobar

3B: Gamel

LF: Gillespie

CF: Cain

RF: Katin

 

SP: Chris Capuano

SP: Chris Narveson

SP: David Welch

SP: Sam Narron

SP: Brae Wright

 

RP: Joe Batemann

RP: Omar Aguilar

CL: Luis Pena

 

I made some edits after further research.

[nate82]

1. Cain CF
2. Escobar SS
3. Salome C
4. Gamel 3B
5. Nelson 1B
6. Gillespie LF
7. Iribarren 2B

I got stumped after that. I'm just being very optimistic that Cain and Gillespie will be playing in AAA to start the year but if they are not starting the year in AAA they should be there rather quickly. I believe Nelson and Iribarren need to be on the MLB roster or they become free agents? That makes it even more complicated maybe farther into spring training will sort out who will be playing in AAA.

I bet Gwynn will be starting in AAA more than he will be playing for the Brewers. Iribarren was a lock I believe at making the MLB roster untill Counsell was resigned.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

I don't think Nelson can play in Nashville. He'd have to clear waivers first.

[nate82]

I don't think Nelson can play in Nashville. He'd have to clear waivers first.

I thought Iribarren was also in the same boat as Nelson was.

[Hate those Rodents]

I believe you guys are right in that both Nelson and Iribarren would have to clear waivers. I don't think Nelson would (I think a MLB team would at least five him a half year to prove himself before he becomes a AAAA player) though Iribarren might. I guess we'd have to assume neither would be on the AAA roster, which would likely put Mike Bell as the 2B starter, and he did play fairly well last year as the starter at AA.

 

Also, I think Gillespie is a lock to be a starter for AAA. Cain I am guessing gets pushed up as well unless he has a really bad spring.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

I think Iribarren would clear waivers. He's really nothing special and wouldn't have much value on another team's 25 man roster. Nelson, on the other hand, will probably be our top left handed bat off the bench as a Darryl Ward type player with a lot more value. I could easily see Hurricane back in Nashville next year after nobody wants him.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

Regardless, that looks like a pretty nice team forming for the Nashville fans. I envy the people down in Tennessee that are going to get to see this team play.

[And That]

Starters

C - Angel Salome

1B - Scott Thorman

2B - Adam Heether

3B - Mat Gamel

SS - Alcides Escobar

LF - Cole Gillespie

CF - Chris Duffy

RF - Brendan Katin

 

Backups

C - Vinny Rottino

MI - Johnny Ash

UI - Casey McGehee

OF - Jason Bourgeois

 

Pitching

SP - Mark DiFelice

SP - Chris Narveson

SP - Brae Wright

SP - David Welch

SP - Sam Narron

 

RP - Omar Aguilar

RP - Luis Pena

RP - Lindsey Gulin

RP - Tim Dillard

RP - Joe Bateman

RP - Chris Smith

RP - Richie Gardner

 

Iribarren and Nelson are both lost via waivers or traded unless Hernan beats out Gwynn for the 25th roster spot. I'd be somewhat surprised if the Brewers push Cain up to AAA after 148 AA at-bats and his AFL campaign, though with a good spring it's a possibility.

[Never Outhustled]

C: Salome
1B: Thormon
2B: Bourgois
SS: Escobar
3B: Gamel
LF: Gillespie
CF: Cain
RF: Nixon

Bench: Heether, Duffy, Maghee, Rottino, Katin

1: Gulin
2: Wright
3: Welch
4: Narron
5: Ginter
Bateman, Dillard, Swindle, Smith, Ungs, Pena, Aguilera

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

1B - Scott Thorman

No Errecart after a successful season in AA?

 

Also, wasn't it announced that Cappy would be starting the year in AAA or did I miss something?

[nate82]

Iribarren and Nelson are both lost via waivers or traded unless Hernan beats out Gwynn for the 25th roster spot.

Iribarren should beat out Gwynn for the 25th roster spot. If anything Iribarren would be replacing Durham/Dillon from last year. Iribarren brings more value to the Brewers than Gwynn does. Everything that Gwynn can do Iribarren basically can do plus a little bit more. Even with Counsell signed by the Brewers Iribarren can still make the team as a super utility player. I believe Iribarren replaces Durham from last year and McGehee replaces Dillon.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

I surely hope McGehee doesn't make the Big League Team. He sounds like another Trent Durrington. I'd rather keep Nixon. We already have Hall and Lamb at 3B. I can see the argument for Iribarren though because he's at least shown some hitting in the minors although last year was a lost season for him.

[endaround]

Unless the Brewers feel Nelson can't play OF at all there is no reason for Nixon to be on the the major league team at this time.

[CheezWizHed]

Also, wasn't it announced that Cappy would be starting the year in AAA or did I miss something?

I doubt Cappy starts the year anywhere but extended ST. I don't think he will have recovered enough to pitch until May/June.

 

 

How do people compare Nelson to Errecart? Seems like they are pretty similar guys (save for the R/L difference).

[TheCrew07]

Nelson is the better hitter, he has much better plate discipline.

[And That]

Errecart really struggled after coming back from a wrist injury. With the next closest first base prospect yet to play a game in A-ball (Brock Kjeldgaard) and Thorman in AAA, there's no reason to bump up Errecart yet. Once he proves he's back and adjusted from his wrist injury, sure.

 

If Capuano is able to start with a full-season club straight out of spring training, great. However I'll put that in the "believe it when I see it file" somewhere before Mark Rogers' entry.

 

Matt Ginter could definitely make the AAA club over Gardner or Narron, or take DiFelice's spot should Mark make the Brewers' roster.

 

Nelson's outfield defense isn't good. If he makes the club, it would be almost solely as a PH.

[endaround]

Oh, I agree but neither Hart nor Braun should be expected to play less than 155 games assuming Hart rounds into any decent shape. So if Nelson can do a Matt Stairs circa 2004 impersonation for 12 games or fewer I think it would be fine.

[monty57]

Is DiFelice signed to a minor league deal? I hope he can start AAA at Nashville, as he would give us someone to bring up if an injury occurs. I agree that Cappy starting the season in Nashville is wishful thinking.

 

The Brewers are definitely building a decent group of relievers. I hope that means we won't have to spend much on a ajor league bullpen for the foreseeable future.

 

The Sounds should be fun to watch this year. I'll have to try to convince the wife to take a trip down to see them.

 

With the next closest first base prospect yet to play a game in A-ball (Brock Kjeldgaard)

 

I hope he someday makes it to the majors just for his name.

[And That]

Is DiFelice signed to a minor league deal?

DiFelice is on the 40-man roster, and has 2 minor league options remaining.

[JohnBriggs12]

C Salome

1B Nelson

2B Bourgeois

SS Escobar

3B Gamel

RF Iribarren

CF Cain

LF Gillespie

 

Bench: Corporan, Duffy, Thorman, Heether, Katin

 

Rotation:

 

DiFelice

Wright

Welch

Narron

Gulin

 

Bullpen

 

Dillard

Bateman

Reith

Swindle

Aguilar

Smith

Narveson

 

The guy I have (that nobody else has) is Carlos Corporan. Corporan has steadily but unspectacularly moved through every level in the Brewer system. He was listed in BA as being the best defensive catcher in the Brewer system. He's no doubt no more than an organizational soldier, but with his experience, he's the perfect guy to backup Salome. The Brewers will want a defensive minded catcher mentoring Salome. Corporan can hit a bit too, having improved every time he repeats a level.

 

I believe Rottino will be released in spring training. His ship has sailed.

 

I think either McGehee or Bourgeois is going to make the Brewer roster. I think they'll go north with just 11 pitchers so I'm giving the nod to McGehee. If they go north with 12 pitchers, I think Bougeois makes the roster over Gwynn. Right now it's 50-50 in my mind. In that case, I stick McGehee at 2B for Nashville.

 

I'm assuming Nelson and Iribarren pass through waivers but not Gwynn who will be odd man out if Bourgeois makes the team. SD will claim him.

 

I think they'll give up on Pena and he'll be released too.

[endaround]

Nelson wouldn't just need to pass through waivers, he would have to resign since this would be his second time removed from the 40 man, right?

 

There is no way they give up on Pena to begin the season.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

I think they'll give up on Pena and he'll be released too.

Why? He's cheap and throws 96 mph. There's no reason to give up on him yet because he has time to figure things out.

[JohnBriggs12]

I think they'll give up on Pena and he'll be released too.

Why? He's cheap and throws 96 mph. There's no reason to give up on him yet because he has time to figure things out.

For the same reason they gave up on Turnbow. He can't get hitters out.

[endaround]

Pena isn't Turnbow. Until last season Pena's control was excellent, Turnbow never had any control. Now Pena might never get his control back, but a 40 man roster spot on a 26 year old power arm with huge upside is small price.