Options to replace Weeks

[rousieboy]

Iribarren to replace Weeks but maybe also to push Duffy...maybe more so? CMcG/Counsell and Hall/Gamel at 2B and 3B...that leaves time and depth chart spots to cover in the OF.

[liveforoctober]

When is the deadline for when signing a free agent stops costing you draft picks? Cause I'm sure Grudz is at least a type B. I could be entirely wrong... but for some reason June 1st sticks in my head. I know this was brought up with Sheets in the off-season.

 

So yeah, I guess my point is that Grudz might cost us some draft picks.

[kramnoj]

I don't believe that signing a Tybe B FA costs the signing team anything. The team that lost the FA just gets a sandwich pick. So the only disadvantage to signing a Type B would be that one more sandwich pick gets added to the draft. I think there are enough prospects to go around that adding one more pick to the draft wouldn't be a big deal. Certainly not enough reason to delay signing Grudz if that was deemed the best move.

[liveforoctober]

Cool. Thanks for the clarification. And I just looked it up and Grudz is a B... not an A. What would he cost?

[Postseason2006]

Mark DeRosa.

[splitterpfj]

If the Brewers do opt for a trade, Mark DeRosa and Felipe Lopez are the first two who come to mind for me.

[3Putt]

"Maybe McGehee can do the job in a platoon but I don't think he's going to get unlimited time to get untracked."

 

I don't think he's played enough to consider him off track. I agree with Gamel at 3B and Counsell/Hall at 2B. My only concern is that Hall struggled there in a handful of games last year and was quickly pulled. He's starting to revert to his old form on offense and I'm betting his old defense won't be far behind. If Counsell can continue playing the way he has then we've actually found more of a prototypical (see high OBP) lead off hitter than we had with Weeks. Losing Weeks is a shame but we're still pretty well positioned.

[splitterpfj]

Here's Buster Olney's latest blog. He mentions the Brewers, but says they aren't exploring trades yet.

 

Two interesting notes...just his speculation....he talks about Boston's need for a hitter, and throws out Matt LaPorta's name, he also mentions DeRosa as a possibility for the Mets.

 

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4177917&name=olney_buster&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fespn%2fblog%2findex%3fentryID%3d4177917%26name%3dolney_buster

[TooLiveBrew]

Where are you going to find another guy who hit .395/.459/.523 vs. lefthanders last year?

 

Well, basically Bill Hall. Continuing to play Hall v. RHP would be a big mistake. Imo the solution here is fairly simple... Counsell/Hall at 2B, & Gamel playing 'everyday' at 3B -- enough off days for all can be had between Counsell/Hall/Gamel/Iribarren. There's just no need to sign the aging/aged Grudzielanek, esp. when there really isn't a spot for him. If you sign him, no room for Iribarren as that second LH bench bat.

 

And expecting anyone, let alone an older player, to replicate a .395 BA is just setting yourself up for huge disappointment.

[JohnBriggs12]

"Maybe McGehee can do the job in a platoon but I don't think he's going to get unlimited time to get untracked."

 

I don't think he's played enough to consider him off track. I agree with Gamel at 3B and Counsell/Hall at 2B. My only concern is that Hall struggled there in a handful of games last year and was quickly pulled. He's starting to revert to his old form on offense and I'm betting his old defense won't be far behind. If Counsell can continue playing the way he has then we've actually found more of a prototypical (see high OBP) lead off hitter than we had with Weeks. Losing Weeks is a shame but we're still pretty well positioned.

McGehee is no different than Nelson. If he gets more playing time, he'll have to produce fairly quickly or they will turn to outside the organization.

 

Counsell turns 39 in August. The last 3 years he played semi-regularly, 04-06, he tailed off badly in August in September and he's older now. Assuming the new stance has helped, it's still likely he's been playing over his head so far. To maximize his contribution, he shouldn't play more than 2 or 3 times a week.

 

The in-house solution requires near full time work by Gamel and a switch to 2B by Hall. I just don't see a Counsell/McGehee platoon being productive in the long run and I don't see them ready to committ to Iribarren either. If the plan is to keep Hall the nominal or even 50-50 starter at 3rd, they need to look outside for at least half of a 2B platoon.

 

Too Live Brew:

 

Catalanotto is going to be the 2nd lefty off the bench as soon as he has enough AB's to be ready not Iribarren. Grudzielanek is no more creaky than Counsell. Grudzielanek may not hit .395 off of lefties, but the guy has always been a productive hitter who gets on base at the top of the order. Hall's strengths vs lefties is that he drives the ball, but he doesn't fit at the top of the order. Grudzielanek does and he doesn't cost anything in players. Moving Hall is a fine idea if you believe Gamel can handle the everyday job at 3rd but you'd still likely get more production out of a 50-50 or 60-40 split that includes Grudz.

[TooLiveBrew]

I just don't like Grudz for the money & roster spot. If we're bringing in a solution from outside the org., I'd much rather it be a guy that is going to be able to step in as a full-time (or close) player. We have internal options if platooning is the path that will be followed.

 

We're going to need help at 2B for the early part of 2010 as well, since as accurately documented in Weeks's previous wrist procedure, the actual full recovery time is 12 mos. So again, if someone outside the org. is brought in, I'd rather it be someone that you can actually play against LH & RH pitching, or at least someone to fill the RHP side of a platoon in order to keep Counsell free to play all over the diamond.

 

 

Moving Hall is a fine idea if you believe Gamel can handle the everyday job at 3rd but you'd still likely get more production out of a 50-50 or 60-40 split that includes Grudz

 

I believe Mat will be fine, and furthermore I think it'll be better for him long-term to play against RHP & LHP & just play 'everyday' at 3B.

[endaround]

Where are you going to find another guy who hit .395/.459/.523 vs. lefthanders last year?

 

Well, basically Bill Hall. Continuing to play Hall v. RHP would be a big mistake. Imo the solution here is fairly simple... Counsell/Hall at 2B, & Gamel playing 'everyday' at 3B -- enough off days for all can be had between Counsell/Hall/Gamel/Iribarren. There's just no need to sign the aging/aged Grudzielanek, esp. when there really isn't a spot for him. If you sign him, no room for Iribarren as that second LH bench bat.

 

And expecting anyone, let alone an older player, to replicate a .395 BA is just setting yourself up for huge disappointment.

 

But you're expecting an aging Counsell to hit like he did for the past two months instead of a more Hall like .229/.358/.308 he managed against RHP last season. Or the .234/.337/.316 he hit in 2007.

[TooLiveBrew]

That's true... but I would prefer to see [Counsell/Hall platoon at 2B + Gamel at 3B] over [Gamel/Hall platoon at 3B + Counsell/Grudz. platoon at 2B]

 

I am by no means an avid proponent of Counsell being even a semi-full-time player, I just prefer that over adding Grudz., I guess.

[logan82]

We're going to need help at 2B for the early part of 2010 as well, since as accurately documented in Weeks's previous wrist procedure, the actual full recovery time is 12 mos.

 

He should be ready to play at the start of next season, but he won't be full strength. We are going to have to suffer through a couple months of Weeks at less than full strength. At least that's what happened last time. He played most of the season, but had to have a little more time off.

 

I agree with Gamel full time at 3B and a platoon of Hall/Counsell at 2B. I dont' think Counsell can handle much more than 3-4 starts a week though. I don't think his knee is full strength yet.

[Bankjob]

I think I would be pretty shocked for the Indians to actually pull the trigger on sending Mark DeRosa out of town so soon after getting him. I mean whats next Kerry Wood being traded. You usually do not see a FA signed in the off season traded quickly after signing with a new team. It is probably quite rare with starters anyway.

[brwrsfan]

I could be completely wrong on this, but didn't they trade for DeRosa, not sign him as a FA? I thought the Cubs were trying to get some more prospects to get Peavey.

[TooLiveBrew]

That's right... DeRosa was a trade.

 

As for Wood thought/mention, I thought newly-signed FA can't be traded until being passed through waivers after the 7/31 deadline.

[endaround]

Its 6/15 if I remember correctly, and if singed to a multiyear deal the player can opt for FA at the end of the season

[brewcrewfan08]

I'm on board for Felipe Lopez. He has been hitting well this season (.317) and is signed to only a one year deal (3.5 Mil). Of course we would have to wait for awhile to get him, but I think he would be a very good player to help us for a stretch run who probably wouldn't be that expensive to get because of the one year deal he has.

 

Stats for Lopez:

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4254

[brewdude15]

So basically our options are:

 

Iribarren

DeRosa

Lopez

Grudzielanek (sp?)

platoon of Hall/Gamel at 3B and Counsell/McGehee at 2B?

[Hate those Rodents]

There's several more options, but you have to keep it in house I think. Way too many possible options right in the organization that might be better than the stopgap we target.

[endaround]

And Durhma for right now. In another few weeks Uggla, Johnson, Sanchez can become options

[0729]

How about Wily Aybar as an option? He has more experience at 3B than 2B but can play second. Plus, Melvin has made two minor type trades with Tampa in the last few years (Gross for Butler and Balfour for McClung).

[southpaw121505]

I'd love Lopez, I think we need more of a full time starter and leadoff man from 2B. I might be the only one here, but I hate the idea of Hart leading off.

[rocksbg]

has nobody discussed yet that escobar will be playing 2 of every 3 at 2nd now to see if he is a fit... the third day at SS to keep his arm strength up.