Rule 5 -- Brewers select LHP Lofgren in Major League Phase

[YoungGeezy]

Two things jump out to me...

 

1) What are our plans for Narveson? I thought he'd get a bullpen spot but was really hoping against having a Suppan/Narveson/Halama type competition for the fifth rotation spot.

 

2) How will this effect Braddock? I had thought he might be in the role I think Lofgren might successfully fill for at least two years. Is this a cue to try Braddock as a starter?

As for number 2, it is going to be very interesting and who knows maybe in 2011 Lofgren could move into the rotation and Braddock stays in the pen. Lofgren has been a starter his whole career, has a good 4 pitch arsonal, he is only 23. So I think you keep him in the pen and give him situational experience for the beginning of the season come June if he is pitching very well you could give a few extended outings and hopefully if needed by the end of summer he could spot start if needed. In 2011 he could fight for a rotation spot. I hope Peterson can help him out with the control. This kid has tons of talent and if he sticks for the season this is a steal! I am a big fan of Braddock but I'd like him to have another healthy season with an increased work load. No need to rush him, he is a big part of are future and we can't throw him away like Neugebauer.

[dadofandrew]

Rivera, Dillard, McClung, Cruz, maybe even Iribarren, as I still do not see a spot for him on the 25 man. They may well be able to sign Cruz to a AAA deal if they give him near 40 man money.

 

Bush and Villy are tough...there will be better SP's than Bush sign for $4.5M or less, but the odds of the Brewers hitting that guy is not all that great. I still wonder if he's 100% too, and that could play a part.

[ILuvDaBush]

I've long been enamored with Chuck Lofgren. His mother was diagnosed with cancer and he ended up going through depression (cough GREINKE cough) being away from her at such a young age. Nevertheless she recovered, as did his prospect status somewhat. And as for the assertion that if we offer him back, it will most likely be because he bombed enormously, does anyone really think he's going to be pitching high-leverage situations immediately? We just splurged on a Latroy Hawkins and Claudio Vargas, and we still employ Mitch Stetter and Todd Coffey. I have long believed that the young southpaw has needed a change of scenery (much like Adam Miller does; kid's cursed) and can't be more excited for him that it is with my favorite team. The young gent also should get a good tutorial from Wolf and, perhaps, Narveson. In conclusion, very astute minimal risk-high reward move that was completely unexpected. He definitely has the highest ceiling of any Rule 5 pick this year (considering his lofty prospect rating two years ago).

 

Good Luck, Chuck.

[battlekow]

Ex-Serra star to get a shot with Brewers

Glenn Reeves/San Mateo County Times

Chuck Lofgren is going to get a shot at pitching in the major leagues next season.

Lofgren, the former Serra High School star who was originally a fourth-round draft choice of the Cleveland Indians in 2004, was taken by the Milwaukee Brewers in the Rule 5 draft. Lofgren must stay with the Brewers all season or be offered back to the Indians.

"I couldn't be more thrilled,'' Lofgren said.

The Brewers told Lofgren they liked his makeup and aggressiveness and were going to take a look at him in spring training with the possibility of using him either as a starter or as a second left-hander out of the bullpen along with Mitch Stetter.

Lofgren's stock dropped in 2008 when he was 2-6 with a 5.99 ERA for Double-A Akron. He came back this year to go 3-1 with a 1.48 ERA for Akron before being promoted to Triple-A Columbus, where he had a 6-10 record and a 5.31 ERA.

"I feel like coming back this year after the year that I had last year. I did pretty well," Lofgren said. "My August was down, but I thought I put myself back on the map with how I've performed. I felt I deserved a chance to get a September call-up, but that's the way baseball works. They felt I wasn't ready, but another team did. I'm looking forward to being a part of the Milwaukee Brewer family. If they want me to start, I'll start. If they want me to spot start and relieve, or go lefty on lefty, I'm good with whatever they want."

Those who remember Lofgren from high school hope he gets a chance to start. As a starter for a National League team he would get a chance to swing the bat, and Lofgren was as good a hitter in high school as he was a pitcher. He was such a feared power hitter that Bellarmine used to play a four-man outfield when he was up at the plate.

"I don't prepare for spring training like a hitter would, but I do still get in the cage,'' Lofgren said. "I can still hit. I never really lost it.''

[Hammer]

Great article! That's pretty funny that a team would play a beer-league softball outfield on him in high school. Rick Ankiel part II if he doesn't work out on the mound?

[battlekow]

Hall column: Friends in high places

David Hall/Kinston Free Press

Chuck Lofgren has never been nervous in front of a crowd.

Since the age of 15, he’s played baseball before as many as 30,000

people in locales ranging from Japan to Venezuela to Mexico to all

corners of the United States.

He’s been cheered, feted, heckled, booed and hissed while remaining

so locked in on the game that he hardly noticed it one way or the other.

But this was different.

When Lofgren, a former Kinston Indians left-hander who now pitches

for the Milwaukee Brewers, found himself standing onstage with a

microphone between Garth Brooks and Tricia Yearwood, he was more than

just a fish out of water.

Think Flavor Flav at a Kennedy family picnic.

But Lofgren, who tied a franchise record with 17 wins during

Kinston’s 2006 Carolina League championship season, somehow managed to

hold his own.

With Brooks, Yearwood and a full band backing him up like All-Star

infielders, he sang “Much Too Young (To Be This Damn Old)” like an old

pro on a Nashville, Tenn., stage last month.

“It was one of the best experiences of my life,” Lofgren said

Thursday from Los Angeles, where he’s working out before he tries to

make the Brewers’ big league roster this spring. “It was unbelievable.

It was tremendous.”

How did it happen, you ask? The impromptu cameo was the result of a

combination of Lofgren’s sense of adventure, his unwavering

self-confidence and a generous heart.

And it’s a testament to the old saying that no good deed goes unrewarded.

It started innocuously enough. A couple of years ago, when Lofgren

was in major league camp with the Cleveland Indians, he was approached

by a Brooks representative to join a charity called Teammates For Kids.

The foundation, which directs 100 percent of its proceeds toward

non-profits that benefit children with an emphasis on health, education

and inner-city services, was co-founded by Brooks in 1999.

Athletes donate money for specific goals they attain (like wins by a

pitcher, touchdowns by a football player or goals by a soccer player),

and Brooks’ charity triples the donation.

Lofgren, a 24-year-old Northern Californian who’s long been what he

called a “huge, huge fan” of Brooks and George Strait, joined the group

and began donating for each mound victory and strikeout.

“It kind of gives you incentive to do better for these kids,” he said.

Last month, some of the foundation’s benefactors were invited to

Brooks’ Nashville home for a weekend that included a Friday

meet-and-greet and a Saturday concert on Brooks’ property.

That Friday, Lofgren and his girlfriend, Jen Maul, had some alone

time with Brooks as they toured a giant barn that houses his many

awards. They had a chance to discuss their favorite Brooks songs.

(Lofgren’s is “If Tomorrow Never Comes.” Brooks’ is “The Dance.”)

The end of the conversation, with the concert looming a day later, went something like this:

Lofgren (half-jokingly): “Hey, don’t be afraid to call me up on stage. I can sing a little bit.”

Brooks (laughing): “Yeah, yeah. I hear that all the time. I always

have someone come up and say they can sing, but when they get on stage,

they freeze up. They don’t know what to do. You get the lights on you

and the crowd, and it’s a different experience.”

Lofgren (still pitching): “Well, playing ball, I’m used to the big

crowds and the noise and stuff. I get pretty excited about it.”

Brooks (still laughing): “We’ll see.”

About midway through the next night’s concert, which was attended by

current and ex-major leaguers like Cliff Lee, Ryan Franklin, Casey

Blake, Larry Walker, Joe Nathan and ESPN’s Barry Melrose and Steve

Levy, Brooks, improbably, took Lofgren up on his offer.

Before about 500 people, he called the stunned pitcher onstage.

Lofgren grabbed a microphone and headed for the back of the band,

beside Yearwood, where he thought he’d sing backup.

Brooks pointed him toward center stage, made a joke about stepping

up to the plate and started strumming the introduction of “Much Too

Young” as Lofgren — more nervous than he had ever been on a mound —

rubbed his hands together and fidgeted with his shirt sleeves.

A steel guitar played, then a fiddle. And then Lofgren looked back

at Yearwood and got a thumbs-up. He leaned forward, grabbed the mic and

sang, right on cue, “This ol’ highway’s getting longer. ...”

The place went nuts.

Lofgren, whose performance can be seen in a

shot by

Maul (just search for his name), settled into the spotlight, only

struggling to remember the words a couple of times before Brooks leaned

in to help.

By the first chorus, Lofgren was smiling and pointing to friends in the crowd like a veteran of the Grand Ole Opry.

He walked off the stage to a loud standing ovation, like he’d just struck out the side with the bases loaded.

Longtime major leaguers, many of whom have well-documented dreams of

being rock stars, congratulated him. One said he might have a career

after baseball.

If nothing else, Lofgren, who had only dabbled in karaoke

performances of old Journey and Bon Jovi songs, has a highly unique

story to tell his grandkids someday and a deep appreciation for what

Brooks and Yearwood do for a living.

“When I’m pitching on the road and I’m hearing the away fans scream

and yell at me and stuff, I use it as motivation for myself,” Lofgren

said. “It doesn’t get to me. But doing that in front of Garth, I tell

you, that was nerve-wracking.

“When you’re singing, it’s a whole different feeling.”

And to think: It never would’ve happened if he hadn’t agreed to donate to Brooks’ charity a few years ago.

Another good deed, in the coolest of ways, is rewarded.

[TheCrew07]

That was just awesome, great find Battlekow, and I'm not even a country music fan.

[CheezWizHed]

Here's hoping he gives a lot of his Brewer's MLB salary to Teammates For Kids from now on. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[molitor fan]

That was a really cool story, thanks for sharing. I will be rooting for Lofgren just a little bit more to make the roster now...

[twobrewers]

With the free agent additions, isn't Lofgren pretty much gone already?

 

I can't imagine him making the big league roster. I'd really like to offer Cleveland a little something to keep him in AAA and let him keep working as a starter.

[TooLiveBrew]

Ditto to that, twobrewers. As best I can find, he's a guy that could touch the mid-90s with regularity as a reliever, or operate in the 90-93 range as a starter. I'd recommend this Indians Prospect Insider article on Lofgren, and I don't think it's been linked here yet (dated 2/6/09). It also includes some video.

He is a physical starting pitcher who has a good four-pitch mix led by a fastball that sits at 90-93 MPH and has topped out as high as 95 MPH in the past. In addition to the fastball, he also throws a slow curveball that tops out at around 75 MPH and a changeup and slider which sit in the low 80s. He possesses one of the best swing-and-miss fastball statistics in the Indians system, which is heavily influenced by the deception in his delivery.

...

There is no questioning his desire and work ethic as he was out to the field early everyday to work with Akron pitching coach Tony Arnold on his mechanics and practice out of the stretch to try and get his delivery down. To counteract the command issues, the Indians worked extensively with him on new grips with his fastball, his release point, and slowing down his mechanics a little bit to no avail. His inconsistent release point hurt his command and led to a lot of walks and also him leaving many pitches up in the zone that opposing hitters hammered. He needs to get out more with his front arm and follow through a little bit better by bringing his back leg around and really firing it and following through. He still needs some refinement with his delivery, and he needs to work on being more efficient with his pitches since his pitch counts get high by the middle innings of games. Also, while he has sharpened his curveball up he still needs more work with his command and mechanics to make it a more reliable pitch in his arsenal, and his changeup still needs more work.

 

Outlook: Lofgren is still only 23-years old and has a lot of room for growth; however, he has been on a slow slide and has shown little improvement the last two seasons at Akron. Even with the down season last year, the Indians are still very much behind Lofgren and believe he has the potential to be a pitcher at the big league level. The general thought among scouts is the talent is still there and that the issues are mechanical.

Sounds like the perfect type of candidate to work in a Peterson program.

[HiAndTight]

I really hope the Brewers find a way to keep this kid in their organization. Worse case scenario, use him as your 2nd loogy/long man. He's just got too good of stuff to send him back.

 

He's got the potential to be a great, great find if he can put it all together.

[ILuvDaBush]

I am definitely optimistic about Lofgren as well. I could see him becoming the McGehee of '10. The guy who refuses to be sent down by playing his heart out in Spring Training, only to languish on the bench until being given a gift of a chance and not taking it for granted. Big things from the young Cali southpaw.

[JohnBriggs12]

He's got 2 chances to make the team: slim and none.

 

Since he was taken in the rule 5 draft, the Brewers have added 3 lefties, A.J. Murray, Doug Davis and Scott Schoeneweis. He would have to be lights out all spring and others such as Narveson, Parra, Schoeneweis would all have to struggle. As bad as Cleveland's pen was last year if he had any aptitude to relieve, the Indians would have tried him. I'm all for the Brewers making a deal to keep him in AAA to see if he can blossom, but he's not worth a major league roster spot on a team with sights on winning a division.

[dadofandrew]

Barring injuries, I don't see him on the 25 man either.

[Mass Haas]

Major League Forum Interview Thread -- in case you only live here in prospect-land....

[HiAndTight]

He's got 2 chances to make the team: slim and none.

 

Since he was taken in the rule 5 draft, the Brewers have added 3 lefties, A.J. Murray, Doug Davis and Scott Schoeneweis. He would have to be lights out all spring and others such as Narveson, Parra, Schoeneweis would all have to struggle. As bad as Cleveland's pen was last year if he had any aptitude to relieve, the Indians would have tried him. I'm all for the Brewers making a deal to keep him in AAA to see if he can blossom, but he's not worth a major league roster spot on a team with sights on winning a division.

I don't believe anyone's argued he's a lock to make the team. I don't pretend to know the Brewers intentions at this time, what I DO know is that it's not uncommon for a former top prospect to move to another organization and have some success. That's all we're hoping for. I would guess that Lofgren's chances are better than Casey McGehee's chances last year

 

As for the Players you've listed, neither Schoenweis or Murray are here on big league deals meaning they've got no better a chance at this point to make the team than Lofgren, Davis is a starter, and logic tells you that if Lofgren's going to break camp with this team, baring injuries, it'll be in the pen, so I don't see him being a huge obstacle.

 

I also don't believe that he has to be lights out while others have to stuggle. That's implying that there is some inherent preference for the Brewers to keep Narveson and dump Lofgren. I think if he has a good camp and out performs others, he'll make the team.