Gamel's Playing Time- 250 ABs?

[PrinceEatMeat]

Yeah, we at least know he won't be worse than Prince at 1B. He will be able to put up great numbers offensively though, it's just that there really aren't many people who can match Prince's numbers. As long as he hits the way many people expect him too, and plays good defense, he will definitely be a solid replacement. That's for sure.

[logan82]

Fielder cost Weeks an error this season already. The ball hit his glove and Weeks still got the error. Gamel might not only improve our defense at 1B but make the rest of the guys look better as well.

[PrinceEatMeat]

He's costed players a lot of errors over the years. Defense at 1B is definitely very important. Prince's defense is only going to get worse down the road, not that it matters to us. Gamel definitely could end up being a good first baseman for us, and he'll definitely look good compared to Fielder.

[twobrewers]

It's a given to call him up to DH, and in September, but he really needs the playing time in the field and the regular AB's in AAA.

Didn't we have Craig Counsell DH last year in interleague play? (I looked it up, we technically had Casey or Weeks DH a few games with Counsell playing in the field)

 

I'm going to scream if we don't bring up Gamel this year to DH. Right now we have Weeks, Braun and Fielder all having great years. The rest of our regulars have been HORRIBLE. We jump from Weeks .958 OPS to McGehee's .642 OPS for players with over 20 at bats.

 

I hate Gomez batting second instead of Morgan. But if we use Counsell as our de facto DH in interleague play again, I'm going to be very disappointed.

[Invader3K]

Counsell would at least be better than Tony Gwynn three years ago...

[Baldkin]

Counsell would at least be better than Tony Gwynn three years ago...

And at least they put Counsell in on defense, where his value is utilized.

[BrewCrewForever]

Don't remind me about that series on Boston when Gywnn DH'd. That was awful. Leave it up to Yost.

 

I swear I heard on some interview with Melvin that Gamel would for sure be brought up to DH during interleague play. Hope it stays true.

[PrinceEatMeat]

Yeah, if we go through interleague play with guys like Kotsay DH'ing I'm gonna flip out.

[logan82]

 

 

Phoenix - No shock here, but infielder Mat Gamel has just been optioned by the Brewers to Nashville.

The one-time top prospect has never been able to get over his injury/defensive problems enough to justify his left-handed bat. When he finally got a chance to play the field last week, he made two throwing errors at third.

General manager Doug Melvin just told me that Gamel will go down to Nashvlle to learn how to play first base as a contengency plan for Prince Fielder's eventual departure.

He doesn't want Gamel in right field down there, which means Corey Hart would not be a future candidate to play first.

Melvin also said Gamel could be activated to DH when the Brewers play inter-league games this season and then returned to continue learning to play first.

"I told Mat that playing first base is not like sticking a Little League in right," Melvin said. "It's a tough position. A lot goes into it."

For the present, the Brewers seem to like utility players Erick Almonte and Luis Cruz as possibilities to make the club as one of their backup infielders.

Meanwhile, RHP Marco Estrada is pitching very well against the Padres in the competition to be the temporary No. 5. He hasn't given up a run through four innings and has allowed just two singles and a walk.