The Mat Gamel watch

[endaround]

I think they might do what they tried to do with Eveland, have him start and then come up to keep his innings down. Of course the Milwaukee coaching staff hated Eveland (with some reason) so that didn't work out too well.

[clancyphile]

I did somewhat forget about Taylor Green, but I see him as more of a reserve. I'd rather have my 3rd-baseman have a little more pop.

Except the Brewers lineup as presently constituted lacks the OBP/professional hitter type of player. Green would be the best option as a #2 hitter with his OBP skills and contact-hitting. Add in what appears to be very good defense at the hot corner...

 

It's like choosing between a left-handed version of Braun or a left-handed Cirillo. It's hard to lose either way.

[Never Outhustled]

Green would be the best option as a #2 hitter with his OBP skills and contact-hitting. Add in what appears to be very good defense at the hot corner...

 

BA described Green defensively as having adequate range and arm, and a better chance of sticking at 3B than Gamel. Thats not a ringing endorsement. I wouldn't compare him to Cirillo at all, as Cirillo had terrific range and arm, and was a very good averall athlete. The player I compare him to is Mike Fontonot, and he is pretty good, and a player I'd love on my team.

 

It's like choosing between a left-handed version of Braun

That description of Gamel works, and just like Braun, it works better in LF.

[WisconsinSportsRule]

Has Gamel ever played OF in his career?

[uwisfan]

I dont see any reason to move him. He's pretty much blocked everywhere and Hall has not proven himself at third. So third is still his best shot this year. Moving him to the OF should be "last resort" as you can always find a decent bat for RF. Give him a shot at sticking at third and keeping his value high. There are others players blocked this year, and so there is no reason to rush anyone. Its just not a good year for graduating prospects.

 

As for his errors, Hall has been out of position or misplayed a couple of balls, leading to hits a couple of times already, like against the SF pitcher. Counsell has 2 errors. These guys are platooning and not looking all that impressive defensively as a whole. Gamel reportedly has enough range, so I'd be patient...

[TooLiveBrew]

Aside from a hole in the OF, there might well be an offer that comes along for Fielder that's too good to pass up after 2009. Moving to 1B would seemingly be a much easier transition for Gamel, and I know it's one possibility people have discussed for some time now.

[uwisfan]

Aside from a hole in the OF, there might well be an offer that comes along for Fielder that's too good to pass up after 2009. Moving to 1B would seemingly be a much easier transition for Gamel, and I know it's one possibility people have discussed for some time now.

yeah that is pretty obvious if we bring trade possibilities into the mix. Certainly Prince will be tough to re-sign and the Crew desperately needs pitching. Moving Hart, JJ, Prince, Hall or all of the above are and will continue to be long-term possibilities or even likelihoods. Nelson also provides a potential stopgap at first if they dealt Prince. I'm a little surprised with their lack of pitching and abundance of hitting that nobody was dealt this offseason actually.

[Never Outhustled]

it is a very bold assumption to make that the Brewers have any intention of moving him anywhere at this point. He, and the organization, have every intetion of him sticking at 3rd base.

Doug Melvin has stated in the past that as long as Don Money thinks gamel can play 3B, he'll stay there, and they check with Money regularly to see if he has changed his mind. Si the the idea is there, just not the intention.

[TooLiveBrew]

Nelson also provides a potential stopgap at first if they dealt Prince. I'm a little surprised with their lack of pitching and abundance of hitting that nobody was dealt this offseason actually.

 

Good point on Nelson. I like that Fielder was retained for this season, since at worst it buys another season for Gamel & others to take it slow. But I think this season or following offseason will see a bat go for an arm or two.

 

Has anyone seen enough of Mat in the field to feel confident giving him a position? I know people have commented on that but I'm wondering if it's from watching him play (firsthand) or not. Gamel being able to stick at 3B just seems too perfect (Corey Koskie, where have you gone).

[uwisfan]

Thanks for that insight X. Let me know next time you chat with Money, Melvin, Nichols or anyone else in the Brewers Organization...ok?

In fairness to X (not that he deserves it), many of the scouts who comment on minor leaguers as well as the major minor league publications have almost all made strong comments about Gamel moving as well. So it's definitely been out there on the table for a while now; I just disagree with that thinking.

[Never Outhustled]

Gamel with another HR tonight, this one off top prospect Derreck Holland, a fireballing lefty. Very impressive. He also commits error #3, this one was fielding.

[colbyjack]

Why does Gamel have to move to another position to get called up, and what has changed from two years ago to lead anyone to believe that the Brewers would keep Gamel down if he keeps swinging the bat the way he has? That didn't effect their decision with Braun, and the thought of having Gamel bat sixth behind Hardy in the current lineup, adding another potential lethal all-around bat and balance, is incredibly appealing to a team with hopes of playing in the postseason. At this point in time instead of guessing where he should be moved, I say it's time to place your bets on the over/under of him being called up by Memorial Day.

 

It's an interesting overall thought, but I think Gamel breaks in at third sooner rather than later.

[DHonks]

Colby,

 

given the eye surgery and loss of weight by Hall, it's possible his numbers could continue to stay strong. Amazingly, he's hitting .294 with a .400 obp so far. In fact, even more surprising is that the Brewers are 2-5 against all these top pitchers, yet they have outstanding OBP's.

 

I don't see Hall being replaced or splitting time as long as he's producing

[uwisfan]

When the Brewers brought up Braun, they REALLY needed his bat in the lineup, and he was absolutely destroying AAA pitching over a good period of time. I'm sure they also were thinking he would progress at third by the end of the year considering he was moved from SS.

 

This lineup isn't "desperate" for a bat. Billy Hall is no worse than serviceable at third. If they rush his glove, you could have a Braun fielding disaster, especially since its primarily mental to begin with. Gamel's defensive liabilities right now might overshadow any bump he could provide over Hall offensively.

 

I don't doubt he could be up by Memorial Day, but I hope it's because he's gotten more comfortable defensively.

[trwi7]

Amazingly, he's hitting .294 with a .400 obp so far.

So? Almost all of that is against lefties. He's 2-12 with 6 K's against righties. Nothing has changed.

[colbyjack]

So? Almost all of that is against lefties. He's 2-12 with 6 K's against righties. Nothing has changed.

 

That's exactly my point about balance. Having Gamel platoon with Hall would be an excellent way to add balance to the lineup (given how RH heavy the lineup is) while also easing Gamel into the big-leagues. He will still get plenty of ABs, since he would face plenty of RHPs (although I would add that the past few years Gamel has hit LHPs pretty well, including his efforts last night), but he also would get a day or two off a week.

 

And I would aruge that this team is in need of another bat. The stronger the lineup can be the more runs this team will score, and that could be very important if the pitching staff, which was expected to be the weakness coming into the season, continues to give up a lot of runs.

 

I'm not trying to compare Gamel to Braun as a hitter, but Gamel has hit at each and every single level he has played. If he has nothing left to prove in AAA offensively it may be time to challenge him in the big-leagues, even if his defense continues to be troublesome.

 

Mass also brought up a good point above about easing rookie hitters in at different points of the year. I don't think that plays as big of a part with this decision, but I'm sure it has been talked about. The team did talk about the possibility of Gamel starting the year with the big-league club, and he very well may have had he spent more time in the AFL.

[markedman5]

I'm not sure the Braun comparison is really a good one. Sure the Brewers brought him up but they quickly realized that he was so bad playing 3rd base that they had to move him. So after being named rookie of the year as a 3rd baseman he was moved to the outfield.

 

I'm not sure they want to go through that again with Gamel. Braun's amazing offensive numbers as a rookie were almost completely offset by his brutal D at 3rd.

[colbyjack]

The Braun comparison is good if Gamel gets called up, because it will indicate that the team is willing to deal with his defensive deficiencies to find a way to get his bat into the lineup. Time will tell, but I don't think we'll be following Gamel at the AAA level once summer officially hits.

[Invader3K]

But...if Bill Hall keeps performing pretty well (as he is now), what will be the real incentive to call Gamel up (barring some major trade)?

[PlayerHader]

The incentive would be that Bill Hall still sucks against RHP (so far this year, which matches his past performance) and Gamel clearly rakes against RHP. We'd have a much more balanced lineup against righties.

[TheCrew07]

What's the downside of returning Hall to a super sub role and being the RH part of a platoon? He's not in the long term plans as a starter.

 

If he hits like he did in AA what legitimate reason is there to hold him back? I agree that defense is a major concern, but his bat is *that* good, it's not like he's been rushed, he's gone 1 level at a time. There's also the long term financial side to consider, to a sign a team friendly deal that buys out some FA years he's got to want to stay here, Milwaukee isn't a position to give players whatever they want to stay here, the player has to be willing to give up some money for the security of a long term deal. What if his defense doesn't improve? Does he rot in AAA another year learning a new position or would he learn it on the fly?

 

I realize it's early, but my impression thus far is that Weeks has made significant strides around the bag, and I've actually been very pleased with what he's done. Going from Money to Randolf could be just what the doctor ordered for Mat as well, the big league coaches may have more time on their hands to isolate and work on issues with Matt because there's more bodies at the MLB. To me it's not so much an issue of playing time to work out the kinks, it's having enough to time with the coaches to isolate and correct issues. I have no idea how much of that sort of thing goes on during the season with the players at each level of the minor league system, but I would guess it's not as much as we'd hope given the relative lack of progress that our players have made defensively as they move up. Wtih 25ish young men and 3 coaches plus having to get BP in, I'm just not sure how much time there is for individual instruction.

 

Old saying but practice doesn't make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect... the issue to me is where Mat can get best quality work in.

[pete]

There are a lot of good arguments, but I have a hard time believing that Mat can't get as much instruction as he needs from both Money and the roving infield instructor.

[brewman04]

If Hall is still struggling i have to agree that Gamel if he still Mashing the Ball @ Nashville will be here in Milwaukee very soon.

I just wish we had a Pitching stud to bring up when the Summer hits.

[battlekow]

I'd just like to weigh in with the opinion that to call up Gamel only to platoon him would do his development a major disservice. The fact that he's hit lefties pretty well in the minors augurs well for his success at the big-league level, but he'll still need plenty of practice, especially given the prevalence of LOOGYs. Like all left-handed hitters, maybe sit him against the toughest of lefty starters, but other than that he needs the exposure.

[twobrewers]

Gamel's defense is pretty much a non-issue in Milwaukee.

 

The third baseman has no effect on walks and home runs.