Where is Mat Gamel on Opening Day? Latest News: Optioned to Nashville

[Funketown]

Here's what I'm hoping for:

 

The Brewers realize Kotsay is essentially worthless. Melvin decides to have Gamel continue to work at 3B, but gives him some work at corner outfield positions as well. He spends the first month of the season starting in the outfield for Nashville, which he learns surprisingly quickly, and plays a few games at 3B as well. After a month of watching Kotsay make Yuniesky look good, Melvin releases Kotsay and brings Mat up to the big leagues. Mat starts 2-3 games each week at 3B, 1B, LF, and RF, and gets 2-3 PH appearances per week.

 

The guy's about to turn 26. There's no reason to be waiting around for this guy to reach his prime anymore. At this point, the Brewers are probably better off using him off the bench or dealing him (and letting him accrue service time) than letting him rot in the minors for another year.

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

If TH is anti-Gamel, my guess is he's getting that from the coaching staff. They haven't had many good things to say about his attitude and work ethic.

[paul253]

Whatever is decided needs to be decided soon. I'm sorry but the defense at the Major League level is going to be awful. I would say Carlos Gomez is the only one you could consider to be above average. Gamel needs to be given a position and he needs to play it every day so he can improve. Melvin....decide who is going to play first base next season. Your current options are Casey McGehee and Corey Hart. I would let Corey Hart play first base because he is a big target and grew up playing first base. This means you play Mat Gamel every day in right field. But if you think McGehee will play first then keep Gamel at third and let him play that every day. How can you expect Gamel to advance defensively when he plays three different positions? He should not be viewed as a utility player but I have a feeling that is exactly how they are treating him and it is really frustrating to me.

[Funketown]

^ At this point, I don't think he'll develop much more at 3B. He's 26 years old, and he may well have already peaked defensively. At this point, we have to start thinking about accepting his role as a good bat/weak fielding utility player, and perhaps he'll surprise us.

[TooLiveBrew]

I guess I don't see any smear tactics; he asked him a legitimate question.

Here's how Roenicke actually responded to the question 'Is [Gamel] open to embracing a utility role?':

 

"I haven't have enough conversations to really know that answer," Roenicke said, "but you would think that if you're in his shoes, you would be open to anything.

 

Nothing out of the ordinary, Roenicke being honest that he doesn't know Gamel well enough to say, & assuming Gamel would absolutely be open to it. McCalvy provides context & doesn't manipulate the quote.

 

 

And here's how TH presented the comment, independent of noting that anyone asked anything specific about Gamel adjusting to a utility role:

 

"The guy can hit. If he makes us believe he can play a lot of positions, it helps him make the team. If I were in his shoes, I'd be open to anything."

 

While the difference is subtle, TH's version made at least two posters (AKA Pete & me... & we couldn't be further apart on our opinions of Gamel) question what prompted such a chiding/taunting response. Just presented as a challenge out of the blue imo. I will say that if this was the first time TH had appeared to want to paint Gamel in a certain light, I'd be willing to chalk it up to me reading into it too much/just making too much of a stylistic choice.

 

 

If TH is anti-Gamel, my guess is he's getting that from the coaching staff.

This is what I assume as well.

[Invader3K]

Gamel apparently has a muscle strain and won't be hitting for a week. Hopefully this doesn't lead to other set backs with him.

[PrinceEatMeat]

Gamel seems to get hurt at the beginning of every Spring Training, or he comes in already hurt.

[GormanHarvey]

I think it may be something to do with coming in out of shape. He sure didn't look to be in great shape when I saw him at the On Deck event

[Invader3K]

I think it may be something to do with coming in out of shape. He sure didn't look to be in great shape when I saw him at the On Deck event

I recall his injury last year was supposedly related to not warming up properly, so I wonder if something similar happened.

[thebruce44]

I think it may be something to do with coming in out of shape. He sure didn't look to be in great shape when I saw him at the On Deck event

I recall his injury last year was supposedly related to not warming up properly, so I wonder if something similar happened.

 

I think it mostly depends if the person who reports on the injury still hates Mat Gamel.

[greeg35]

Poor Gamel. Reporters hate him, managers hate him, the club hates him, camp injuries, etc, etc...

"I don't know what's going on, bro," Gamel said Wednesday morning. "It's just ridiculous though. I mean, I don't know. It's just a spell of some bad luck."

Its gotta be the bad luck, bro.

[Invader3K]

I think it mostly depends if the person who reports on the injury still hates Mat Gamel.

Some of you talk like it's a big conspiracy against Gamel.

[Schlitz001]

I think it mostly depends if the person who reports on the injury still hates Mat Gamel.

Some of you talk like it's a big conspiracy against Gamel.

That's exactly the sort of thing that someone who is in on the conspiracy would say.

[logan82]

So that Hart dude doesn't stretch enough either I guess. Maybe that Braun dude too. He strained an oblique a couple years back. He is in terrible shape.

[Invader3K]

More bad news on the Mat Gamel front:

 

Haudricourt (on Twitter): Brewers INF/OF Mat Gamel was making no progress with a strained oblique so they've backed him off. Not a good sign for Gamel.

[GormanHarvey]

Shocker

[RockCoCougars]

Do I think that there's a conspiracy against Gamel? No. Do I think that Macha buried him way back in the doghouse? Yes.

 

Say what you want, but for some reason Gamel is in 'prospect purgatory'. Doesn't it seem like he's been on the cusp forever? Usually guys either sink or swim by year 4 or whatever it is. In that way, Gamel reminds me of Gorman Thomas who kicked around forever, ticking off managers and bouncing around the minors, before he finally stuck.

[brewmann04]

He needs to take better care of himself if he wants to be a Major Leaguer. I for one think his time with the Crew will be short and wouldn't shock me if he dealt.

[Invader3K]

He needs to take better care of himself if he wants to be a Major Leaguer. I for one think his time with the Crew will be short and wouldn't shock me if he dealt.

With his current injury I doubt teams will be lining up to give anything of value for him, which makes it pointless to trade him.

[logan82]

Do I think that there's a conspiracy against Gamel? No. Do I think that Macha buried him way back in the doghouse? Yes.

Getting buried by Macha when he did put him in prospect purgatory. There hasn't been a corner opening since 2009 and there won't be this year baring injury.

[TooLiveBrew]

He needs to take better care of himself if he wants to be a Major Leaguer.

 

Let me get this straight -- Corey Hart shut down for weeks for an oblique issue, no problem, he's a big leaguer. Mat Gamel, same type of injury, he needs to take better care of himself?

[Invader3K]

Well, let's be honest, with Gamel it's more of a pattern we've seen.

[TooLiveBrew]

I don't know if you can call it a pattern (& I know what you mean). This is an oblique injury that seems to be affecting him almost exactly like it's affecting Hart. But I doubt anyone will change their minds on this.

[monty57]

This injury will allow the Brewers to do what I was hoping for to begin with: Start Gamel at AAA, bringing him up as an injury replacement (if needed) and probably when they play interleague games. Then next year when Prince is gone, Gamel will be starting at the MLB level at either 1B, 3B or RF.

 

He still has talent, and the Brewers will get five years of him starting through his prime. It sucks for him, as he will lose out on a lot of money, but I think it's the best for the Brewers organization.

[GormanHarvey]

And last year when he tore his lat by not warming up properly before hitting? How long do you have to play baseball before you figure out what it takes to get loosened up to swing a bat? I saw him in January. He didn't appear to be in much of any kind of shape.