Braun's Back Stiffness Related to Intercostal

[BigJ]

Hall in LF tonight

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/44316752.html

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

Glad Braun had the MRI...they need to get to the bottom of this.

 

It also said he had one in Spring Training. I was under the impression that Braun had refused one there.

[JJHardy7]

Gamel IMO is a better athlete than Braun (at least how it applies to fielding). My concern is if his mental problems in the field exist at 3B they may exist in the OF. I still think he'll be fine. I think it's a foot work thing and it can be fixed.

 

The Brewers are in a different spot now than they were even a few years back. They don't need to rush guys up any more. I don't see a huge weakness where Gamel could play right now (Hall, Fielder, Braun and Hart aren't going anywhere right now). I think this is what good teams do. They will let the 'problem' work itself out. At this point, I'm much more concerned with Escobar and Salome than I am with Gamel.

[TheCrew07]

I don't, just financial speculation if Gamel doesn't stick at 3B they won't let him rot in the minors another year, Cameron won't be back for 10 mil per, and Cain will lose 3 months of development time when all is said and done. Anyone who follows the minors knows how much I like Cain and Gamel... I'm not sure Lo Cain will be ready unless he really tears up the AFL. If Cain is ready and Gamel doesn't stick at 3B, then Hart and Cameron are expendable, If Cain isn't ready then 1 of the 2 is. The easiest thing for everyone involved would be for Gamel to stick at 3B, and that's what I'm personally pulling for.

 

I'm surprised by the Hall to LF move, interesting speculation all the way around there.

[endaround]

Cain's back to back injuries likely does make this a lost year for him.

[strawbossisevil]

Last I heard, he´s only going to be out about a month, perhaps a week or two more. How does that translate into a "lost year". If he is able to come back in a month and performs well for the rest of the year, I don´t think it would be completely unheard of for him to get a September call up.

 

I think the Brewers will probably sign someone (perhaps Cameron) to fill in at CF for a year though to give Cain a bit more time and to help push back his FA clock an extra year.

[PrinceEatMeat]

Expect Gamel to be up and playing 3b if Braun goes to the DL. Hall as the everyday LF.

[Ennder]

Last I heard, he´s only going to be out about a month, perhaps a week or two more. How does that translate into a "lost year". If he is able to come back in a month and performs well for the rest of the year, I don´t think it would be completely unheard of for him to get a September call up.

I think it is a lost year from the perspective that there is no way we can rely on him as the starting CF for 2010. I was hoping that we could do that next year with maybe a marginal player brought in as a backup. The injuries probably mean we have to sign a 1 year player in CF and re-evaluate things in 2011.

[strawbossisevil]

It might be a bit too early to know that though. If he comes back in early June and rakes the rest of the year, he could earn his way onto the ball club. Many players go from AA to the majors, and if he can prove that AA pitching is no longer a challenge to him, we could give him the shot of earning the spot next year.

 

I think it was likely either way that we would have needed a one year stopgap in CF, I don´t see the injury changing that.

[JohnBriggs12]

Expect Gamel to be up and playing 3b if Braun goes to the DL. Hall as the everyday LF.

Makes the most sense. Having Gamel's bat in the lineup is less of a dropoff than either Duffy or Nelson. Even though he's never played LF, I'd take Hall out there over Nelson. They can always make defensive adjustments late in games if needed.

[RyDogg66]

I wonder how much worse Gamel would be in LF than Hall would be. I ask simply because the difference in defense between Hall and Gamel at 3b is astronomical. Maybe Gamel should play some games in LF down in Nashville in case Braun is out for an extended period of time.

[TooLiveBrew]

Edit: I think it is very telling that management decided to put Hall out in left. If Braun goes on the DL long term, it appears like the team would call up Gamel to play 3b.

 

That's good reading-between-the-lines, strawboss... though I guess we have no way of knowing for sure. If that would be the scenario, my guess is that we'd see some spot-starting from McGehee against LHP, and Macha would have flexibility in terms of PH & potential late-inning defensive subs.

 

However like others have mentioned, we could just see Iribarren called up for a short to mid-term fix.

[Never Outhustled]

MaGehee played LF in college, Hall never played it in his life. I just can't figure out why this organization continues to kick around Bill Hall.

 

We used to joke about whether or not Hall could pitch. We should see that any day now, he'll probably be asked to catch at the same time.

[JJHardy7]

Many players go from AA to the majors, and if he can prove that AA pitching is no longer a challenge to him, we could give him the shot of earning the spot next year.

 

How many is 'many'?

 

MaGehee played LF in college, Hall never played it in his life. I just can't figure out why this organization continues to kick around Bill Hall.

 

Hall gets paid quite a bit of money. I don't feel bad for him at all. Maybe he could 'earn' it this year. X, I do hope the organization is discussing everything with him. I hope it's not 'forced'. At the same time, if Gamel is to come up this year it's at DH or 3B. My 'guess' is that Braun is going on the DL and Gamel is called up. There's no need to put Hall in the OF if it's just a few games.

[endaround]

I wish Gillespie was fully healthy

[Never Outhustled]

At the same time, if Gamel is to come up this year it's at DH or 3B.

You've seen Gamel play more than most, would you DH him in interleague play, or would you consider playing him at 1B, and DH Fielder? I would think you could give Gamel a little time there in AAA to prepare for this. A little cross-training might give him a little different perspective and actually help him defensively.

[rluzinski]

It would a travesty to play Hall in LF and Gamel at 3B.

[Thurston Fluff]

What's the thought process on moving Hall?

Pardon my ignorance Doug but lets take a look at the time line. He was the team MVP three years ago while playing primarily one position. So you moved him to the outfield. He sucked in the field and at the plate. So you moved him once again to third. He still sucks but with no better options in 09 you let him stay at third and see if some stability helps. It does. He plays good, sometimes spectacular, defense at third and regains his offense to the tune of an .853 OPS and a 360 OBP. So you move to a spot he never played him again? It's beyond stupid. The thing both Nelson and Duffy need some playing time to get sorted out and so we can see if they have any value long term. Why make the team worse by hurting two positions instead of one. It makes no sense.

[bklynbrewcrew]

Hall has been playing gold glove caliber third base. We need to leave him there and find a competent 4th outfielder.

[BrewCrewForever]

It would a travesty to play Hall in LF and Gamel at 3B.

On defense I can't really disagree, but on offense I don't think so. But Braun seems to be healthy so we don't really have to worry about it.

[RyDogg66]

It would a travesty to play Hall in LF and Gamel at 3B.

On defense I can't really disagree, but on offense I don't think so. But Braun seems to be healthy so we don't really have to worry about it.

Huh? I think in this hypo it is either Hall at 3b and Gamel in Lf or Gamel at 3b and Hall in Lf. I dont see what offense has to do with where they play on the field. If Braun were to miss extended time and Gamel was the one they wanted to call up, I would prefer Hall at 3b and Gamel in Lf.

[Ennder]

Hall has been playing gold glove caliber third base. We need to leave him there and find a competent 4th outfielder.

I agree with keeping Hall at 3B, I disagree he has been playing gold glove caliber defense. He is great on ground balls in a hole, he is weak on groundballs he has to charge since his throws are generally bad and he is really weak on line drives which he rarely ever reacts to fast enough to catch unless they are right at him.

[BrewCrewForever]

I would be okay with Gamel playing LF but he has never played OF. Hall at least has an entire season under his belt in CF. That is why I would rather take my chances with Gamel at 3B and Hall in LF. This is if Braun were to go on the DL and miss a large chunk of time.

[Never Outhustled]

I'd prefer Gamel in LF, because I think you could get some impact out of Duffy as a defensive replacement, and sometimes even a PR and then defensive replacement. Duffy doesn't have any other role to save him for. Gamel getting 3 ABs combined with 3 innings of Duffy playing defense is a real good LF.

 

I know we could do the same by having Hall switch from LF to 3B in the middle of games, but that might really get Hall messed up.

 

Its all a moot point for now, but that could change again tomorrow.

[Invader3K]

If we're even going to talk about Gamel in LF, he should start getting some appearances in the OF pretty soon if the Brewers want to consider that as a viable option.