Zach Braddock Spring Success!

[wvpowerblkwel]

Has nobody been watching Braddock this spring? He picked up a 2 inning 8th and 9th inning W today after getting a 9th inning save last time out. Gave up a double in the ninth today, but back to back strikeouts should have got him out of the inning but 2nd baseman came up with an error before Zach got a lineout to end the game. I'd like to hear some thoughts from you guys on Zach this season?

[liveforoctober]

Has looked great .. but I am not going to get overly excited about 8 innings of work.

 

Nice to think we have another option though for this year and beyond...

[EbbaStClaire]

Clearly Braddock or Axford should replace Villanueva on the Brewer roster. Both Braddock and Axford have been terrific. I really enjoyed listening to Bull Bartch call West Virginia games for a few years and it was very easy to root for Braddock.

[battlekow]

Sounds like he'll be making his Major League debut sometime this year.

[TheCrew07]

I still wish he was a starter.

[WisconsinSportsRule]

So is it safe to say he's the future closer?

[TooLiveBrew]

I still wish he was a starter.

I still don't understand why he's not

[JohnBriggs12]

I still wish he was a starter.

I still don't understand why he's not

It's likely they see him as a guy who if he concentrates on 2 pitches could be dominant out of the pen. There's nothing wrong with that. They are going to have to save money somewhere and not paying closers $8 million + is a good idea.

[Invader3K]

Yeah, it sounds like they've been talking about him as a possible future closer. Would not be a bad thing if he can step up and fill that role in the next season or two when Hoffman inevitably retires.

[Tbadder]

For whatever reason some pitchers medically can't stand up to the rigors of starting pitching. I think that's Braddock. But if you simplify everything by taking away pitches etc. we may have a dominant set-up man (where I'd rather see him) or closer. The Brewers are so average at developing pitchers I'm thrilled by Braddock's development and believe he's in the Crew's near future if his body proves it can hold up.

[Menace II Sobriety]

I agree, Braddock has been so dominant for the last year+ that people are immune to his stats. You would see many more posts if he were to have a bad outing than if he has a great one. At this point I think most people just want to see his clock delayed about 50 days and than come in and save the big league club millions of dollars in his pre-arby years. With all of the depth in the minors I think it would be tougher to find a a true closer than it would be to find a #3 or #4. I am not saying that is where he would max out, but to save on a Hawkins or Riske type contract is still 4 million saved.

[colbyjack]

There have been plenty of hints along the way that Braddock is in the bullpen because he keeps breaking down physically when used as a starter. The Brewers would love to keep him in the rotation as well, but they recognized that Braddock was more likely to stay on the field coming out of the bullpen.

 

It's not about his repertoire, as he has three pitches even if he needs to polish up his changeup more.

[twobrewers]

I always thought he got stuck in the bullpen because his injuries kept him from logging enough innings to be a starter. As Colby said, he has the pitches, but I think the most innings he ever threw was around 70. His stuff is MLB ready. Are you going to keep him in the minors two more years to build up his endurance 40 innings at a time?

[TheCrew07]

I guess I should have been more clear. Obviously I know why Braddock was moved to the pen, and by the way he pitched another scoreless inning today, it's just that I really wish starting was an option for him. With Parra struggling, and Bush/Suppan walking after the year I'd feel better about the pitching situation going forward if he was still a starter. Actually, there's no guarantee that Davis will be back next season either now that I think about it. Rogers, Rivas, Butler, and Braddock would make me feel pretty good about '11...

 

Then again all of them could stink or get hurt again and it wouldn't matter regardless.

 

As far as Braddock this season... I would love him for him to replace Stetter but at the very least be up for good by the all-star break. Everyone knows I'm not a fan of the LOOGY concept, I'd prefer players that can go multiple innings who have the ability to get out players that hit from both side of the plate, there's much greater flexibility with that type of reliever. Since Narveson and Parra are already in the pen, I don't see why Stetter is a necessity at this point anyway.

[logan82]

Since Narveson and Parra are already in the pen, I don't see why Stetter is a necessity at this point anyway.

 

I would hate to see either used as a LOOGY if we would need them to start at a later date.

[YoungGeezy]

I may be alone but I have no problem what so ever with Zach in the pen and not being a starter. I see a lot of Joba Chamberlain in Zach. Joba is a dominate in the pen but when stretched out he loses his approach that makes him so great. In a perfect world every pitcher like Braddock and Chamberlain would be stretched out and be a starter but it isn't a perfect world and every team needs guys to dominate the back end of the bullpen. Zachs bullpen stuff is pure flithy and extremely hard for an offensive player to go out their and face once a game. Being in the pen keeps his arm fresh and allows him to go out and bring it every pitch with his best stuff. As a starter he has to pull back a lot like Joba and that could cause him to be not as effective, like Joba.

[HiAndTight]

TheCrew07 wrote: I would love him for him to replace Stetter but at the very least be up for good by the all-star break. Everyone knows I'm not a fan of the LOOGY concept, I'd prefer players that can go multiple innings who have the ability to get out players that hit from both side of the plate, there's much greater flexibility with that type of reliever. Since Narveson and Parra are already in the pen, I don't see why Stetter is a necessity at this point anyway.

Given how often the games is on the line with the other teams big lefty up at the plate, I'd much rather go with Stetter than Narveson or Parra at this point. Neither have shown they can dominate lefties like Stetter can. One hasn't been given the chance, the other simply hasn't done well.

 

You've got a 7 man pen. You can have 6 guys who have flexability. 5 if you want to take the closer out of the equation. Plenty of room for the types you're talking about while also carrying that loogy.

 

 

 

 

[TheCrew07]

Why not start the inning with a LHP whenever the tough LH batters are likely to bat if you're so concerned with the lefty on lefty matchup?

 

I wasn't looking for Parra or Narveson to become the LOOGY, nor do I want Braddock to be the LOOGY, I was looking to eliminate the position. With multiple LHP in the bullpen we don't need to save one for that exact matchup, they can start an inning when those key matchups come around.

 

I'm not sure how any bullpen pitcher is ever "stretched out" regardless if they pitch 2 innings or pitch to 1 batter.

[wvpowerblkwel]

Trust me guys, Zach is not fragile, it just took a couple years to diagnose his ailment. He has closer mentality, and can dominate with his stuff! Its just when you only have to go an inning or two, its easier to mentally dominate your opponent, and Zach can be intense!

[twobrewers]

I understand the hesitancy to put a potential stud like Braddock in the bullpen, but closers can cost up to $10M a year.

 

Braddock as a closer opens money to spend on a starting pitcher. As long as he isn't pitching the 7th or 8th inning, I don't mind him pitching in relief.

[TooLiveBrew]

I'd actually love to see him pitching in a role that wouldn't exclusively use him in the 9th inning, but I know that will never happen with managers today.

[TheCrew07]

Braddock as a closer opens money to spend on a starting pitcher. As long as he isn't pitching the 7th or 8th inning, I don't mind him pitching in relief.

First, I don't want the Brewers spending any more money on FA pitchers for years...let the kids play.

 

Second, I would rather not have Braddock limited to 55ish IP per year just because he's the closer. Hell I don't even want Axford to pitch that few innings. I'm all for not signing closers or any relief pitchers for that matter, but I'd rather use our best players as often as is prudent instead of the traditional closer role. If Zach is as good as I think he'll be then I'll have a hard time with him just pitching 70ish innings in a setup type role, I'd much rather get the same ERA or a tad higher ERA spread out over 180 IP in a starting role. There's just not enough value in relief pitchers for me personally to get excited about him pitching in that role.

 

Though at this point anything is better than nothing... as in I'd rather have him helping the Brewers in any capacity than not helping at all.

[Invader3K]

First, I don't want the Brewers spending any more money on FA pitchers for years...let the kids play.

 

They'll almost certainly have to next season, unless a couple AAA starters step up big time this year, or some unforeseen trade is made.

[uwisfan]

First, I don't want the Brewers spending any more money on FA pitchers for years...let the kids play.

 

They'll almost certainly have to next season, unless a couple AAA starters step up big time this year, or some unforeseen trade is made.

I don't think they need to make any pitching moves next year unless they really want to go after a bona fide ace.

They have Gallardo, Wolf, Hawkins, Villanueva, Parra and Coffey locked up

They likely return Hoffman and Davis. They control Riske.

They only are set to lose Bush, Vargas, Stetter, and Suppan... all very replaceable / re-signable guys.

 

There are so many additional possibilities for them in 2011: Capuano, Narveson, Rogers, Scarpetta, Rivas, Butler, Stetter, Axford, Arnett, Braddock, Jeffress... the upper minors look absolutely stacked with pitching possibilities going forward. There is no comparison to the talent level in the upper minors now (in pitching) to where its been for the last decade.

[Invader3K]

I was specifically talking about starting pitching. I don't think too many here are that worried about our reliever situation going forward. The fact is that of the guys you listed, Gallardo, Wolf, and Parra (not sure on Davis) are the only SPs with real MLB experience we have locked up for next year. I guess you can throw Narveson in as well. I am just worried that if Parra falters again or Narveson doesn't live up to some of the hype he has generated, we could be looking to fill three spots in the MLB rotation next year.

 

I personally don't count on Capuano for anything at this point. If he can make it back somehow, great...but I think unfortunately the writing on the wall is pointing the other way at this point. The others you listed, hopefully one or two will be ready by next season, but I'm sure we will all be holding our collective breath.