Predict the Brewers Minor League Pitcher and Hitter for 2009; Latest -- WINNERS ANNOUNCED (Rivas, Schafer)

[Minigoon]

The Brewers will announce their minor league pitcher and hitter for 2009 soon. I thought it would be fun to see who you would select.

 

Pitcher - Evan Anundsen

Hitter - Caleb Gindl

 

Strong competition from Anundsen's teammate Amaury Rivas. Anundsen allowed fewer home runs, really, the only difference in their lines. Also, Anundsen had the early season no hitter. Both Cody Scarpetta and Wily Peralta had very strong seasons. With better offense behind them, their win totals would be much higher. Also special recognition to John Axford on starting the season in Brevard County and is finishing it in Milwaukee.

 

Again, strong competition from Logan Schafer and Alcides Escobar. Slightly higher OPS for Gindl. Plus playing in a "pitchers" league for Gindl against a more hitter friendly PCL for Escobar.

[wibadgers23]

Pitcher: Amaury Rivas

Hitter: Logan Schafer

 

Scarpetta, Anundsen, and Peralta are right behind Rivas and Schafer for hitter is an easy choice for me.

[colbyjack]

As good as Schafer and even Farris were at BC this year, it would be hard to give either one of them the nod over Gindl.

 

I'm guessing Rivas and Anundsen will co-own the pitcher of the year award much like Gamel and Escobar did last season.

[Mike]

As good as Schafer and even Farris were at BC this year, it would be hard to give either one of them the nod over Gindl.

colbyjack, with all due respect, you are wrong on Gindl versus Schafer. Though Gindl beat Schafer in two of the major offensive categories; HR's (17 vs. 6) and OPS (.822 vs. .815 which is virtually identical), Schafer beat Gindl on:

 

1) BA .313 vs. .277 (36 point difference) including winning the FSL batting title

2) Doubles 31 vs. 15 (more than 2X)

3) Triples 6 vs. 3 (2X)

4) Total bases

5) Strike outs (53 vs. 92 nearly half as few)

 

If they want to pick hitter of the year on power than Caleb is your guy, but I believe hitter of the year starts with BA.

[wibadgers23]

I think a lot of people will pick Gindl over Schafer because of the age difference (about 2 years).

[Mike]

I think a lot of people will pick Gindl over Schafer because of the age difference (about 2 years).

If we are taking about prospect (2 yr age difference) that is understandable. I'm not even sure what the Award is named, but if it is for best hitter (2009) then if not Schafer it would have to go to someone else in the organization. .277 hitters are typically not your award winners even though Gindl's HR total in FSL was very impressive.

[JohnBriggs12]

I'd argue that both Schafer and Farrris contributed more to Brevard than did Gindl. Both Schafer and Farris did outstanding in their roles as top of the order hitters (Schafer .313 BA, .369 OBP 1 Error: Farris .298 BA, 70 Steals, 9 errors), both offensively and defensively. Gindl's numbers, while good, aren't all that special for a corner OF.. I think the award is more POY for position player than it is purely a hitting award.

[yoshii8]

I will go w/ Adam Heether for hitter of the year, he was unbelievable, a .902 OPS while playing 7 different positions!

 

As for pitching, I think it will go to either Butler or Anundsen.

[JohnBriggs12]

I think the pitcher of the year should be Axford. 89 K's in 69 IP and a .185 BAA and advanced through 3 levels to the big leagues? Even though he's a reliever that's more impressive to me than what the starters did.

 

My co-runners up would be Rivas and Butler.

[bretsky07]

It's unlikely both would have co-winners, but Rivas/Anundsen and Gindl/Schafer all would work for me. Honorable mention for Butler, Axford, Heether and Farris (hard to deny how impressive 70/76 in stealing is).

 

Or they could go for the comeback angle and give it to Jones or Rogers.

[twobrewers]

Gindl is a better prospect than all of the players mentioned.

 

However, Gamel, Escobar and Salome are better prospects than Taylor Green - and Taylor Green won a "Hitter of the Year".

 

Generally, they ignore your "prospect" status and take the player who had the best season. Heether and Schafer would both make fine choices.

 

It might be hard for Axford to win. While he was great, he moved up so many levels he never had much of an impact on any one level.

[TheCrew07]

I haven't been right about about the players since I started posting but I'll take another shot.

 

I'm guessing Rivas and Anundsen will share the honor for pitchers, or Anundsen wins it outright because his raw stats are just a tad better than Rivas. Bowman has had a surprisingly good season as well, he's over 130 IP with a rosey 2.60 ERA, but his peripheral's aren't all that great at BC. Peralta might sneak into the discussion as well, only Jeffress had a better K/9 in the entire organization... if Peralta makes the discussion, Scarpetta probably deserves a mention too.

 

Hitting wise I'm guessing Schafer. Farris deserves to be in the discussion as his torrid August exceeded at least my personal expectations. Heether cooled off but deserves to be in the dicussion (.902 OPS). It wouldn't surprise me if a top prospect like Lawrie (.802 OPS at WI), Gamel (.839 OPS) or Lucroy (.798 OPS) were given the award either.

[battlekow]

Yeah, Gindl might be a better prospect, but I think Logan Schafer nabs the Hitter of the Year honors. They sure seem to like him a lot.

[colbyjack]

Mike, you (and others) make a good case for Schafer, but you also made it sound as though I was hating on Schafer, which I wasn't. I just think Gindl's accomplishments in the power category, in that league that suppresses offense as much as it does, is very impressive, especially at his age.

 

I really don't think there are any other pitchers in the conversation other than Anundsen and Rivas.

[twobrewers]

I really don't think there are any other pitchers in the conversation other than Anundsen and Rivas.

Nashville had quite a few good arms.

[Tedaldtada]

I think Lucroy will get some serious consideration from the Brewers' front office. Being an early 20's catcher with that K/BB ratio is pretty unheard of around these parts, plus he's got decent power to boot.

[Mike]

colbyjack[/b]]Mike, you made it sound as though I was hating on Schafer, which I wasn't. I just think Gindl's accomplishments in the power category, in that league that suppresses offense as much as it does, is very impressive, especially at his age.

Colbyjack, sorry if you got that impression. I don't believe a "man of your esteem in the community" would ever hate on any of these young guys. I was simply stating an objective case for Schafer. From an offensive standpoint Gindl's overall stats are simply not as good regardless of age. Perhaps Caleb is the best prospect (Two Brewers words not yours), but not 2009's best hitter.

[Never Outhustled]

From an offensive standpoint Gindl's overall stats are simply not as good regardless of age.

 

Gindl has the higher OPS. He also was a good base stealer, Schafer was a negative as a basestealer. Both are very good defenders, though I will give Schafer credit for playing the tougher position.

 

However, I'd give the award to Jon Lucroy. He had a similar offensive season, but did it a level higher while gunning down baserunners as a catcher.

 

Mark Rogers gets my pitcher award. Starters with ERAs under 2 are special.

 

I will say that its awesome that we have a slew of candidates for the pitcher award, after having no real candidates that threw over 85 MPH last year.

[Mass Haas]

From the Manatees front office:

Congrats to Amaury Rivas for winning Brewers Minor League Pitcher of the Year and to Logan Schafer for winning Brewers Minor League Player of the Year honors. They will both be recognized at Miller Park later this month.

 

Brewerfan says congrats as well!

[yoda knows all]

An .809 OPS wins the "Hitter of the Year" award? Schafer finished the season strong, that must have been what won it for him.

[twobrewers]

Mat Gamel raked at Brevard County a few years back. He had an .850 OPS.

 

This year, the top OPS in the FSL was .824. So Logan's .809 was very good.

 

Brevard County and the entire FSL suppress offensive numbers significantly.

[BoKnowsBall]

It is Player of the year and not hitter so you can take into account that he plays CF

[Mass Haas]

Florida Today:

It's good knowing the organization sees that I had a pretty good year and they recognize that by giving me the Robin Yount Award," Logan Schafer said from his California home where he returned following a four-day drive from Melbourne.

 

"I feel privileged and I feel pretty lucky to get the award. I knew I was having a pretty good year, but I didn't expect anything like this. I'm just happy and feel pretty good about it."

 

Schafer won't be playing in the Instructional League or the Arizona Fall League, so he plans on returning to Cal Poly for another quarter of classes and prepare for spring training on his own.

 

Amaury Rivas is playing in the Instructional League in Arizona.

[Mass Haas]

Corey Provus audio with Logan Schafer and Amaury Rivas from September 19th