Build Your 2012 Brewer Bench in December 2011

[twobrewers]

I was actually thinking about Bill Hall. The only question is if he can still play SS.

 

I believe I heard he was slimming down to be a little more nimble than he has been in past years. He really struggled last year - but he did put up a .772 OPS with Boston in 2010. He would also be a good club house guy.

 

If we have a defensive first SS - I don't see any reason the back-up also needs to be a defensive specialist.

[brwrsfan]

Even if we wanted to bring in Hall, would he actually want to return? Doesn't seem like he left on the greatest terms. Seems like he'd only come here as a last resort, if we even wanted him that is, which I'm not really sure we would have even the slightest interest. Though he can play all over the field, which is something we do need.

[PrinceEatMeat]

According to his comments on twitter, it seems like Hall enjoyed Milwaukee and Boston and would be open to a return to either team. Not that it'll happen, but it's possible. He is in great shape, and has said he has teams interested in him. He'll definitely land somewhere. He's too versatile not to.

[TooLiveBrew]

I don't know if the Brewers can afford Hall unless he takes a discount to play for them. If he would, I guess why not?

[RWeeksFan23]

Kottaras, Counsell, Gomez, J.D. Drew, C. Snyder

[The Truth]

I think the only reason you don't have Gindl on the opening day roster is to save some time on his service years. The dude can flat out rake...

[endaround]

I don't know if the Brewers can afford Hall unless he takes a discount to play for them. If he would, I guess why not?

I don't see how Hall gets anything but an NRI anywhere. Well unless the Dodgers give him a contract.

[reillymcshane]

I think Caleb Gindl deserves a chance to win a reserve role out of camp. He may be better at AAA getting regular ABs, but the same could be said for Taylor Green. I agree with the overall sentiment that the bench will likely have to be extremely cost effective, while also pointing to the Cardinals knack for developing young players while they assume reserve roles early in their careers.

 

C Kottaras

IF Green + someone that can play SS as Al pointed out, who knows who that player may be, but I don't think it's someone already mentioned in this thread

OF Gomez, Gindl

 

That also provides at least 3 LH bats off the bench for a predominantly RH lineup. I would have both Ramirez and Green bring a 1B glove to camp to get enough reps at the position just in case.

This is pretty much what I've argued. Green is one IF slot, and Gindl for the fifth OF slot (after Braun, Hart and Morgan/Gomez). We then have to add a good gloved backup middle infielder.

 

The back up infielder doesn't have to be great. He'll only need to get 20-25 starts at short, and a handful at 2nd base. I'd be good with a slick fielding guy - veteran or young player.

 

The back ups lack power - but they are not as bad as last year, when we had Kotsay, Counsel and Wilson. It is also decidedly lefthanded.

[NievesNoNO]

Kottaras, Counsell, Gomez, J.D. Drew, C. Snyder

If we sign J.D. Drew he'll join Franklin Stubbs as my least favorite Brewers of all time.

 

Kottaras

Green

Farris

Schafer

Hawpe

[TooLiveBrew]

endaround wrote:

I don't see how Hall gets anything but an NRI anywhere. Well unless the Dodgers give him a contract.

If that's the case, a NRI would be fine by me

[CheezWizHed]

The dude can flat out rake...

 

Well, he can work on the maintenance crew without being on the 25-man... http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

 

Seriously, though he had a nice season but lets not go overboard. He was 7th in OPS among Sounds players with over 100 ABs and 3rd with over 400 ABs. I think we will see that those numbers are pretty inflated (for Green and Gamel too).

 

If we are going to have Morgan and Gomez playing most of the CF and LF while Braun is out, we need a RH LFer that can start against LHP for NM and a few starts for Gomez (NM in center) against some RHP. Gindl doesn't really fit that need.

 

People tend to forget that a big part of NM and Gomez's good season was that their deficiencies were masked because they were used correctly. Starting them every game again would not be a good idea.

 

Is Brendan Katin healthy this year? How about a little 3TO out in LF?

[reillymcshane]

Is Brendan Katin healthy this year? How about a little 3TO out in LF?

I thought I read that Katin was going to miss 2012 after surgery. But I'm not positive on that one.

[PrinceEatMeat]

Is Brendan Katin healthy this year? How about a little 3TO out in LF?

I thought I read that Katin was going to miss 2012 after surgery. But I'm not positive on that one.

Yeah, I believe this is true.

[dadofandrew]

I think Caleb Gindl deserves a chance to win a reserve role out of camp. He may be better at AAA getting regular ABs, but the same could be said for Taylor Green.

Gindl is several years younger than Green, and Taylor is seen by many as a guy with a platoon/reserve ceiling...if so, being a reserve is certainly not going to stunt his growth.

 

Caleb is not going to waste away on the bench as a 23 year-old unless he is going to pick up 250-300 PA's, and barring injury/suspension, that isn't going to happen.

[CheezWizHed]

If Brawn (intentional SP) is suspended for 50 games and they sign a RH-LFer that could use a platoon partner, I can see Gindl/Morgan and RHLF/Gomez holding down a double platoon in LF and CF. But then with Braun coming back, Gindl should go back to AAA for regular playing time.

 

Yeah, I believe this is true.

Sad. His best years and they were rarely any openings for him. Now a door is wide open and perfect for him (need a RH LF) and he is out with an injury.

[jmeks23]

I'm starting to think maybe Craigers will be back. He can still defend although he's old and can't hit worth a lick. At this point one of the only other real versatile guys left is Bill Hall.

[patrickgpe]

would like the brewers to bring in theriot and scott to compliment Kottaras, Green, Gomez. If Braun is indeed suspended i'd like to see Gindl or Schafer up.

[reillymcshane]

Here's the most awesome of benches:

 

Russell Branyon

Matt Stairs

Bill Hall

Jonny Gomes

Willy Mo Pena

 

No starter is allowed to get hurt, and our bench swings for the fences at every at bat.

[djoctagone]

i like the signing of cesar izturis. barring the signing of another infielder to a major league contract, i'm confident izturis will make the club.

[PrinceEatMeat]

Yeah, Izturis could be a solid option as our utility IF. Or if Green makes the roster, he'd just be backup SS. I think Melvin will sign a few more options to compete with him though.

[Hate those Rodents]

I think our bench is set, and I'm happy. I wanted someone signed to be the backup SS that Roenicke would have no business playing ahead of Taylor Green at any of the other infield positions. Izturis does that, while providing a good glove and a better OBP that Yuni. Infield and backup infield solved imho.

[Invader3K]

As someone who hasn't really watched him recently, is Izturis still considered pretty good defensively? I know he offers nothing on offense at this point.

[Bnowell4evr]

The bench isn't set yet when there's still a RH stick to backup 1B/3B needed. The team needs depth incase of an injury which is why I think Taylor Green is better served playing everyday in AAA.

I got a feeling Jorge Cantu is gonna be the last member on the bench even though I'd rather have Mark DeRosa.

[Bnowell4evr]

As someone who hasn't really watched him recently, is Izturis still considered pretty good defensively? I know he offers nothing on offense at this point.

All the advanced metrics still love him. He had a +5 DRS and a 3.7 UZR in 67 innings. (63 UZR/150)

[DHonks]

So our 4th OF is Aoki, our UT is Izturis, backup catcher is Kotteras. Gomez is the platoon in CF and the 5th OF/PR. That likely leaves one bench spot. I'd love a 1b/3b type. The Russell Branyan mention is great. He's basically a slightly lesser version of Pena, except he can play 3b and OF, and he'll cost 1/10th of the price.