Mr. Cain goes to Milwaukee (well, technically, to Atlanta); Latest -- Lorenzo sent back to Nashville

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

Tough to gauge defense between Braun & Edmonds. I would say that Edmonds takes a much better route to the ball than Braun, but his physical skills have deteriorated so his range isn't what it used to be. Braun is the opposite. He has great athleticism, but takes such a horrible route to the ball he often needs it to make a catch that Edmonds would be camped out under.

 

I'm not so sure we want to burn Cain's service time on a lost season, although I would agree Gomez could use some quality time in Nashville. Cain has hit some balls hard, but the pitches were right down the middle. Let's reserve judgment when they start throwing him those low outside sliders. He's got great upside, but he was just in AA not that long ago. I don't see the need to rush things.

 

Gomez is so undisciplined. I've seen the Brewers take batting practice a few times this year and Gomez doesn't even show any discipline in the cage. Every swing is off his heels. The guy needs to learn how to take advantage of his speed. He'd help his SLG more by turning singles into doubles than trying to launch every ball over the fence. It would be nice to get some value out of him before Cain takes his spot.

[Thurston Fluff]

To be fair the people who ripped on him preseason mostly just assumed age meant bad defense, that or they were basing it on a small sample of UZR from 2008. Defense is just a hard thing to judge, stats take forever to become meaningful and fans can watch the same player and one says he is below average and the next says he is great... think J.J. Hardy as an example.

 

Bingo. UZR is useless in small samples. I wish people would quit using current season UZR as some sort of indicator/predictor of ability going forward. If you want to say a player hasn't been very good in a certain period of time fine. It's perfectly fine to describe why you think the team/player got to the point it's at now. To use it to say they are/n't good defenders because their UZR this season is low is to misuse the stat. Which also happens to be why I think WAR is the most useless stat in baseball. Any stat that derives it's value using stats that have no meaningful value is bound to come up with wildly inaccurate information.

[Baldkin]

I prefer to use WAR as a counting stat, to show what a guy did as opposed to a predictive stat, though. In that case, it actually should be alright.

[mletto157]

Braun will always be less valuable (according to WAR) than most people think he should be simply because of how awful he is on defense...

[Team Canada]

I'm glad Gomez sets such lofty goals for himself:

 A couple more 3-for-4 games, like I had the other day, and I'm hitting .260. For me, .260 is good for everybody because of my speed and my defense. I don't need to hit .300, .330.

[yfinn6]

I'm glad Gomez sets such lofty goals for himself:

A couple more 3-for-4 games, like I had the other day, and I'm hitting .260. For me, .260 is good for everybody because of my speed and my defense. I don't need to hit .300, .330.

Love that attitude from Gomez, we need more guys like that, right? This guy is driving me nuts. The way he can bunt for hits he should be doing it just about every at bat, until the infield is in on him. When it's in he should just slap the ball on the ground. Yet tonight, after his recent surge of bunt hits, he's up there swinging like he's going to hit a 3 run homerun when the bases are empty. Just awesome.

[PrinceEatMeat]

I'm glad Gomez sets such lofty goals for himself:

A couple more 3-for-4 games, like I had the other day, and I'm hitting .260. For me, .260 is good for everybody because of my speed and my defense. I don't need to hit .300, .330.

Love that attitude from Gomez, we need more guys like that, right? This guy is driving me nuts. The way he can bunt for hits he should be doing it just about every at bat, until the infield is in on him. When it's in he should just slap the ball on the ground. Yet tonight, after his recent surge of bunt hits, he's up there swinging like he's going to hit a 3 run homerun when the bases are empty. Just awesome.

Yeah Gomez really pisses me off. .260 isn't good enough for me, so I say it's time for Cain. Hopefully his goal is higher than .260. That's just ridiculous. I like how he uses his speed to justify it too.

[DHonks]

At this point I'm not sure Gomez could hit .260 at any level of the minors. He's the righthanded Krynzel, only with less discipline!

[monty57]

He's the righthanded Krynzel, only with less discipline!

 

... but can he ride a dirtbike without breaking a leg?

 

It seems Mr. Gomez feels a little entitled, which is probably because he was brought to the majors at such a young age and never had to grind it out in the minors like most players. I think a trip to the minors would be good for him. Of course, he'd still be making $1MM in the minors, but at least he'd be spending it at roadside diners while riding a beat up bus. He has talent, but has to learn how to use it. I think that quote pretty much sums up why he won't be a good MLB player until he gets his priorities straight.

[trwi7]

I'd have no problem if Gomez only hit .260 as long as his OBP was in the .330-.340 range and his SLG% would be in the .400 range and he was playing elite defense. The problem is even if he was hitting .260, his OBP would still only be in the .310 range unless he suddenly learned how to be more disciplined at the plate and he hasn't played elite defense this year.

[Invader3K]

I agree. .260 would be acceptable for him if he drew walks or anything. He doesn't, and I don't see why he can't be sent down to the minors in favor of giving Cain a look in the outfield.

 

I don't know why the Brewers can't hold him accountable, like they did with Hardy and Hall last season. It's not like he's playing every day for his defense when Macha keeps trotting Edmonds out there regardless.

[trwi7]

It's not like he's playing every day for his defense when Macha keeps trotting Edmonds out there regardless.

 

Exactly. And there's a reason you're not playing everyday, Carlos. Hint, hint.

 

It says that he still has two options left but I'm guessing based on service time that he would have to go through revocable waivers? That still wouldn't be a problem most likely as we could just pull him back if he is claimed. I think a little time in the minors would be good for Gomez.

[Invader3K]

I really can't see anyone claiming him at this point. If he was claimed, a trade could possibly be worked out as well, right?

[Baldkin]

The way he can bunt for hits he should be doing it just about every at bat, until the infield is in on him.

Was this supposed to be in blue?

The guy can't bunt. He is a HORRIBLE bunter. He's only had 8 bunt hits all year, and probably had 100+ bunt attempts.

Yes, once in awhile is fine, but he can't bunt the ball fair even half of the time, so it's really not worth it for him to be bunting unless the IF is playing back.

[igor67]

His central misunderstanding is that speed is supposed to help raise the batting average, more infield hits, bunting for base hits and such.

[chuckiehacks]

With as much as Edmonds was gimping around the field last night (albeit with 4 hits), there has to be at least a chance he goes to the DL when Yo returns.

[BrewCrewForever]

It's too bad Cain never got a chance to start while up. I'm sure he will be up in September if not before then. Hopefully by then the Brewers management finally realizes we are out of the race and they give him some starts.

[trwi7]

"My (right) Achilles' (tendon) is killing me," said Edmonds, who has been hobbled by that strain for weeks. "I've got tendinitis in it. It's extremely painful.

"Some days are better than others. But even on good days I've barely been able to run."

Without shutting it down for a few weeks, the condition probably won't improve. But after sitting out the 2009 season and spending time earlier this year on the disabled list with an oblique strain, the 40-year-old Edmonds wants to keep playing.

Aware of the situation, manager Ken Macha is trying to pick his spots to start Edmonds. With centerfielder Carlos Gomez continuing his career trend of struggling to get on base, Macha would like to play Edmonds more but doesn't want to lose him permanently.

"It's not easy to play on it," said Edmonds, batting .280 with five homers and 15 RBI in 60 games.

"I'm just going to keep playing and see how it goes."

Geez. Does this sound like someone who should be playing almost everyday?

 

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/brewers/98981309.html

[wibadgers23]

I have chronic achilles tendinitis and I don't know how in the world 40-year-old Edmonds can play baseball with that going on. Extremely, extremely painful condition.

[sbrylski]

The way he can bunt for hits he should be doing it just about every at bat, until the infield is in on him.

Was this supposed to be in blue?

The guy can't bunt. He is a HORRIBLE bunter. He's only had 8 bunt hits all year, and probably had 100+ bunt attempts.

Yes, once in awhile is fine, but he can't bunt the ball fair even half of the time, so it's really not worth it for him to be bunting unless the IF is playing back.

He's 8 for 20 on the year in bunt attempts. That's a .400 / .400 / .400 / .800 line when he bunts. And that's in line with his minor league numbers. So bunt away, Carlos.

[brains and braun]

Does that account for the times where he attempts to bunt for a hit, accumulates two strikes, and then proceeds to strike out?

[Oldcity]

Of course, by bunting, his best case scenario is a single. He has home run power, so I don't like him bunting too much.

[trwi7]

I just find it really hard to believe he's 8-20 bunting.

 

Edit: I just found out that fangraphs has bunt hits and attempts. That quick glossary that I just noticed is a great tool because I had no idea what BUH%, BU and BUH meant until just now. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[craigharmann]

Geez. Does this sound like someone who should be playing almost everyday?

We find the answer to this question in Ken Macha's forthcoming book, "How to avoid a zim-zam: Managing the Milwaukee Brewers" where he says, "If' you've got a guy who's not quite 100%, but he's a veteran, you play him as much as you can, so that you can stay out of the zim-zam. Remember, it's all about staying out of that zim-zam."

[Baldkin]

Does that account for the times where he attempts to bunt for a hit, accumulates two strikes, and then proceeds to strike out?

No. That does not account for any of those times. It only accounts for the times he's bunted the ball in fair territory.