Todd Walker - Possible Backup IF

[chuit11]

Todd Walker will supposedly be released on Wednesday. I think he would be a perfect fit for out last infielder position. He can play 1B, 2B, 3B. A decent left-handed stick off the bench.

[PeaveyFury]

Not a bad idea at all. At worst, he's the lefty-batting version of Graffy, and at best, he had a .785 OPS last year in Petco.

[TooLiveBrew]

I never understood why Baker stopped playing Todd Walker in Chi, in favor of Hairston & Neifi Perez (Cedeno came up & played SS). Then again, this is the same "Striped Bass Strategery" Dusty Baker. Who's the man with that signature? That always makes me laugh!

 

Walker's a solid offensive player, and IIRC he's not bad in the field. I'm all for bringing him aboard, provided there's room for him...

[dadofandrew]

I don't know if Todd can play 3B any better than Jeff Cirillo can play SS. His range factor in 23 games in SD last year was a full half a chance lower than league average...is SD full of fly ball pitchers? I'd say he's a backup 2B with poor range there at this point. Granted, he's a .350 OBP guy, but I'm not sure if he's anything more than a 3rd string 2B and PH at this point.

[TooLiveBrew]

That'd be the role I'd want him for, so I have no problem with that categorization. IIRC, he played some 1B in Chi-town as well

[thefutureishere2006]

good idea , get er done melvin..

[bball123h2]

I'd much rather have Walker out at 1B than Miller, so I'm all for it.

[JoeH33]

Our defense is already awful so I'm not too worried about it getting any worse by adding Walker. I'd definately play him as a backup 1B, and over Graffy and Councell at 3B.

[Never Outhustled]

Count me in for Walker. He is only slightly less than what we'd expect from Koskie.

[hardy7]

Um.......why are we even talking about Todd Walker? If my memory serves me right, we still have Graffy and Counsell. We don't need to sign another middle infielder when we have these two. I agree that we don't want to see Miller at first base, but hasn't Graffy played a little first? He could be our backup for Fielder (when he does get a day off).

 

I think that we are pretty set with our infielders with Fielder, Weeks, Hardy, Graffy, and Counsell. When and if Koskie comes back that would make 6 infielders with decent ability. I just don't see why we would add another into the mix. We would just end up having the same problem we do right now with the outfielders (too many players, not enough spots).

[berniebrewer4life]

I'd be in. We could use a decent backup to Prince, and another lefty bat can't hurt.

[Never Outhustled]

Um.......why are we even talking about Todd Walker? If my memory serves me right, we still have Graffy and Counsell.

 

Because Counsel doesn't hit anywhere near as well as Walker, and Graffy doesn't hit righties as well as Walker. We'll face righty starters in 2/3s of the games, and Walker would be the best available bat to start those games.

[Big Reed]

I like walker. we could always sign walker and trade graffy. I'm kind of surprised melvin didn't try to work out a graffy for walker deal. SD didn't really want Walker back, and they wanted graffy. Walker scorched SD in their arby hearing.

 

I thought council was our back-up at ss and 2b. and graffy was our back-up at 2b and 3b. I could see Walker as a back-up at 2b and 3b. Easily.

[sbrylski]

At this point, its looking like Rottino will be our 25th man. I'd take Walker over Rottino. If he really is being released, I'd be quite happy with signing him.

[And That]

Last I knew, Walker couldn't play defense. And defense happens to be the huge problem on this club. I'd put the odds of Melvin signing him at slim to none.

[rpmeehan]

I was talking to some people this weekend about how a Walker for Graffanino trade would make sense for both clubs. I figured San Diego wouldn't be willing to eat the $900,000 termination pay they will owe Walker for a month's worth of spring training play. I thought Melvin's handling of the Graffanino situation was bone-headed, but Towers in San Diego beats him out by a length on this one.

 

I think Walker would be an improvement over any combination of Counsell, Graffanino, or Rottino at third. Rottino for starters has been below average offensively all spring. Versatility is great, but we have that already. We don't need Rottino in the outfield, he's the 3rd best option at 3rd base, and the 4th or 5th best option at first. As for Graffanino, he has never played 3rd base regularly, and I think it's a stretch to say his defense would be any better than Walker's (at third). And Counsell was signed to be the utility guy, a pinch hitter, pinch runner, emergency starter... He's definitely the best of the group defensively at 3rd base, and has the most innings logged there. But he's not an ideal starter.

 

If the roster juggling works, I think there could be room for Walker...a guy who has hit .289 versus righties over the last 3 seasons, who regularly puts up an OBP of .350 or better, and who strikes out roughly once every nine AB's. He's like a more contact-friendly version of Koskie. And let's face it people...Koskie isn't coming back.

 

Starters (5): Sheets, Capuano, Suppan, Bush, Vargas

Bullpen (7): Dessens, Aquino, Capellan, Shouse, Wise, Turnbow, Cordero

Catchers (2): Estrada, Miller

Infield (5): Fielder, Weeks, Hardy, Counsell, Graffanino

Outfield (5): Hall, Jenkins, Hart, Mench, Gross

 

I count one spot open. I hope it's not Villy. He should be starting down at Triple-A, not buried in the bullpen for mop-up work. Is it another reliever, such as Spurling or Balfour? Or a utility guy such as Rottino? I think that having a Walker/Graffanino platoon with Counsell on the bench is much better than a Counsell/Graffanino platoon with Rottino on the bench.

[endaround]

The Brewers are not going to pay Walker what he's owed if waived. He could be signed as a FA after that, but I wouldn't count on it.

[hauser42]

Walker is so over rated and used up at this point I would pass on him.

 

He has no range what so ever and has frying pans for hands. He might be able to hide out at 1B a few games to back up Prince. He is not able to play any other spot.

 

Walker might hit a little better than Counsel, but he is not going to help this team besides a pinch hitter.

 

He is no longer at LSU hitting game NCAA title homeruns, he is a shell of that player.

[sbrylski]

Walker might hit a little better than Counsel

 OPS vRHP Walker Year Counsell .828 2004 .674 .783 2005 .720 .793 2006 .692

I think it'd be safe to say Walker will hit better than Counsell. But if the defensive concerns are that high, I can understand staying away.

[hauser42]

Walker might hit a little better than Counsel, but he is not going to help this team besides a pinch hitter.

 

I should have put in that defense was part of the deal. All around I give it to Counsel his hitting is better than Walker's D.

 

Walker's OPS is decreasing while Counsel's is sky rocketing upward.http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[JET15]

No doubt, Walker is an upgrade for offense, but I completely agree with And That... defense is a major concern. Walker is a liability with the glove. Baseball Prospectus has the Defense stat (runs saved or allowed against average, ie, 0= average, + is saved and - is allowed)...

 

Walker:

2004 78-2B 0

2005 90-2B -5

2006 CHC 37-2B -2, 35-1B 1

2006 SD 17-3B -2, 12-2B 1

2007 103 3B -3 (projected for SD)

 

Graffy has an almost identical projected VORP and D as Walker but has better speed (5.6 versus walkers 4.7 where 5.0 is average).

 

Counsell has about half the VORP but he's a +5 on D and has much better speed (6.5 versus walkers 4.7)

 

At first blush it sounds good because I remember walker burning us a lot as a Cub, but I don't see much to be gained. Only PH situation.

 

Here's to Koskie getting healthy!

[RWeeksUp2Bat23]

Todd Walker would be an upgrade...but I would rather have Rottino and trade Graffinino.

[Big Reed]

I'm kind of surprised nobody claimed him yet. I would speculate some team has already contacted him and informed him they will sign him after the waive deadline has passed in order that they don't have to pick up his contract.

 

it would be very interesting if the brewers did that and then immediately waived graffy; only to see the padres sign graffy after he cleared waivers.

[DHonks]

Walker signed a minor league deal with the A's.