Brewers still active; Lohse/Backup MI/backup 1b

[Ennder]

This has nothing to do with them not thinking Morris is ready. They just don't wanna blow an option and service time on him for only 2 months, or possibly less. They just want insurance in case Gamel flops, or has a set back

 

I think if they thought Morris was ready they would be fine going with Gamel and just limping along until Hart came back with no other solid backup because if something goes wrong with both Gamel and Hart they still can just go with Morris. I mean Gamel is obviously tainted because of the injury so you just don't know his status.

[PrinceEatMeat]

This has nothing to do with them not thinking Morris is ready. They just don't wanna blow an option and service time on him for only 2 months, or possibly less. They just want insurance in case Gamel flops, or has a set back

 

I think if they thought Morris was ready they would be fine going with Gamel and just limping along until Hart came back with no other solid backup because if something goes wrong with both Gamel and Hart they still can just go with Morris. I mean Gamel is obviously tainted because of the injury so you just don't know his status.

 

If Gamel flops, and Hart's injury lingers or he is traded, I'm sure they'd consider Morris. That just likely isn't a plan for right now for the reasons I stated above. I doubt they'd hesitate later in the season if they felt it was necessary, and Morris was hitting well in AAA.

[GamelToe]

Well, they got the middle infielder in Gonzalez.

[monty57]

I'd really prefer no other 1b signing. Is Gamel really that bad in their minds? Lucroy incapable of playing 1b time to time when Gamel gets a day off? Or? Is Hart about to be Traded? Because for 30games out to have to find a 1b seems over-reaching and a waste. Just let Gamel get an extended look even vs. tough lefties, so be it. What is the team going to do when Hart returns? I just don't see signing another 1b to spell Gamel what? 5-10games before Hart returns resulting in anything worthwhile for the money. What is the replacement level 1b out there going to provide in that time over just playing Gamel? 1win maybe?

 

This is why I liked the idea of someone like Rivera who hits RH and can play 1B/corner OF. He backs up/platoons at 1B while Hart is out and then backs up corner OF (or platoons in RF) once Hart's back. When he's not starting, he's a solid RH bat on the bench with some pop.

 

Of course, I just checked and saw that the Yankees signed Rivera to a minor-league deal, so he's off the table.

[JohnBriggs12]

Gamel's job as replacement for Hart is temporary. I think the Brewers still envision him in the OF and want to see him there some even as Hart is out. Think about it. The OF is set for this year but beyond it's rather uncertain in Center and Right. There are no sure internal options in the high minors. Some possibles for sure, but no top of the line prospects. If Gamel hits enough over 300 or so AB's, he becomes a viable option. Morris may or may not be the future at 1B, and Hart isn't totally out of the picture there either.

[DR28]

Gamel's job as replacement for Hart is temporary. I think the Brewers still envision him in the OF and want to see him there some even as Hart is out. Think about it. The OF is set for this year but beyond it's rather uncertain in Center and Right. There are no sure internal options in the high minors. Some possibles for sure, but no top of the line prospects. If Gamel hits enough over 300 or so AB's, he becomes a viable option. Morris may or may not be the future at 1B, and Hart isn't totally out of the picture there either.

 

That logic makes sense... I now see why Overbay might be coming to Milwaukee... I would like to see Lyle back with the Brewers... Would be a pretty nice bench until Corey returns.

 

Maldonado

Overbay

Gonzalez

Bianchi or Murphy

Schafer

[CheezWizHed]

But if Lyle comes back... would "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" be the same?

[logan82]

I see no reason to get a left handed 1B. I think it would be as bad as signing Ishikawa was last year. At least sign a right handed bat for 1B or a guy who can play more than just 1B.

[Warning Track Power]

I see no reason to get a left handed 1B. I think it would be as bad as signing Ishikawa was last year. At least sign a right handed bat for 1B or a guy who can play more than just 1B.

Agreed. This would be the equivalent of us having brought back Nyjer Morgan to be our 5th OF, while we already have a Nyjer clone in Schafer. I don't see anything that Overbay will bring to the team that Gamel doesn't already bring.

[homer]

Scott Rolen wants to continue to play. Posted this in the bench thread but may be more appropriate here. At least he can play two positions.

[Bnowell4evr]

I see no reason to get a left handed 1B. I think it would be as bad as signing Ishikawa was last year. At least sign a right handed bat for 1B or a guy who can play more than just 1B.

Agreed. This would be the equivalent of us having brought back Nyjer Morgan to be our 5th OF, while we already have a Nyjer clone in Schafer. I don't see anything that Overbay will bring to the team that Gamel doesn't already bring.

 

I get what you're trying to say but it's not the same situation once Corey Hart got hurt. People forget that when Hart got hurt we indirectly lost our top pinch hitter / DH in interleague play by promoting Gamel from within. That's why I view the interest in Overbay as more of an indictment on Taylor Green, Jeff Bianchi, Bobby Crosby and Daniel Murphy than anything on Gamel.

 

The more I think about adding Overbay the more I like it. Originally I wanted RH bat to platoon with Gamel but adding Gonzalez could indirectly shore that up. Then my biggest concern was the lack of OF depth on the bench if Overbay and Green ended up getting the last two spots. However that isn't even an issue as long as we get a backup at 1B to allow Gamel to roam around *IF* needed. I hate even thinking about Braun or Aoki getting hurt but if either went down you could move Gamel to the corner outfield spot and start Overbay at 1st. IMO the biggest loser in this situation would be Taylor Green with his dreaded options as he would have a limited time on the roster until Hart returned.

 

Edit: Just realized Overbay signed with the Redsox so replace Overbay with Thome

[logan82]

That's why I view the interest in Overbay as more of an indictment on Taylor Green, Jeff Bianchi, Bobby Crosby and Daniel Murphy than anything on Gamel.

Honestly seems normal to me. Melvin likes veterans on the bench instead of young guys who will probably not have starter upside. Unfortunately we have a lot of young bench upside guys in the minors.

[JohnBriggs12]

That's why I view the interest in Overbay as more of an indictment on Taylor Green, Jeff Bianchi, Bobby Crosby and Daniel Murphy than anything on Gamel.

Honestly seems normal to me. Melvin likes veterans on the bench instead of young guys who will probably not have starter upside. Unfortunately we have a lot of young bench upside guys in the minors.

 

Most teams with pennant aspirations prefer a veteran presence on the bench. So that's a big reason Gonzalez was brought back I'm sure. Still he's been a starter his whole career, so hopefully, he can handle the one or at most two starts per week and still be productive and be good coming in late to PH. My issue with the bench now is it's light on outfielders and veterans with experience coming off the bench. Schafer is the only near lock to make the team as a backup up outfielder. Both Bianchi and Green did see bench time last year and that's probably their ticket to a career, so I'm not all that concerned if both make the team. Both have the talent to play in the majors. But they need to see time in the OF this spring to increase their value and give the Brewers more balance.

 

Murphy and Crosby do nothing for me at least at this point. Crosby needs time to get back into playing and perhaps he'll be useful in the 2nd half. Murphy, eh.

[MNBrew]

One injury or young-guy uber-slump and we still have a starting-caliber MLB SS already on hand, which sure beats whatever it was Izturis supposedly brought last year. That's why I really like the Gonzalez signing.

 

When your late-inning defensive replacement becomes your everyday starter and still hits like a late-inning defensive replacement (or a pitcher) -- and gets to keep doing so because there are no viable options! -- well, there you have the Brewers' 2012 SS situation pre-Segura.

 

Your depth is invariably better when you have 5 starting-caliber IFs (NOT our IF situation last year) and 4 starting-caliber OFs (definitely our OF situation last year).

[Bnowell4evr]

What do you guys think about putting a claim in on Russ Canzler? He's got a 1.086 OPS against LHP in a very small sample size and plays 1B and the OF. There's not many other options as far as RH 1B/OF'ers go. I think Carlos Lee might be the only one left on the market and he's not gonna play for peanuts (his standards).

[MVP2110]

What do you guys think about putting a claim in on Russ Canzler? He's got a 1.086 OPS against LHP in a very small sample size and plays 1B and the OF. There's not many other options as far as RH 1B/OF'ers go. I think Carlos Lee might be the only one left on the market and he's not gonna play for peanuts (his standards).

 

Seems like an idea that can't hurt to me. If hes not living up to standards can easily cut bait after spring training or when Hart returns

[James Zumstein]

Hi everybody. New guy here making my first post. Someone I've been looking at that is still out there is Austin Kearns. He's a RH bat that can play both OF corners and like Corey Hart saw his first time ever at 1st last year for the Marlins. He doesn't have the power that he used to, but a .245/.366/.367 line in 147 AB's for the $600,000 he made last year is good value in my mind. With a walk rate of over 10% in 10 of 11 MLB seasons, as crazy as it might seem you could possibly even platoon him at the leadoff spot with Aoki in RF throughout the season also. He also has over an .800 career OPS in Miller Park.

[adambr2]

Quite honestly, I'm hoping we can avoid the token "30+ year old corner OF/1B veteran" this year. I'd rather stick with the guys coming up through the system for the last spot or two on the bench.

[JohnBriggs12]

Kearns is not "still out there". He signed a minor league deal with Miami in January. He'd have made more sense than Overbay, as a RH bat who can also play OF, but given the timetable for Hart has been moved up, they appear ok.

[TURBO]

Just found this:

 

http://bleacherreport.com/tb/d9H1z?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=milwaukee-brewers

 

Which probably means Lohse will be signed within a week.

 

[Invader3K]

I'm convinced this talk of Brewers being possible suitors for Lohse is just more Scott Boras posturing to play up his value. There's a reason no one has signed him yet, and I'm glad the Brewers aren't going to (at least I hope they're not going to).

[brewcrewdue80]

Thanks for sharing this story! I can comfortably believe Lohse isn't on the Brewers checklist.

 

 

BTW, Over/Under on Lohse's ERA this year?

NL:3.97 AL:4.61

[brewcrewdue80]

Still posting links that Boras is talking to Milw...name Mark A about signing Lohse. This has all the makings of Mommy said no but ask Daddy and he doesn't care and says yes....

[jerichoholicninja]

There has never been a move the Brewers made that I have absolutely hated. Signing Lohse would be it and I see all the signs pointing to Kyle in Milwaukee on opening day. Please lord no...

[JohnBriggs12]

Forget whether or not Lohse is worth the money. I wouldn't deal with Boras. Attanasio could have offered Fielder the moon, and Boras wouldn't have responded to it. Now he's begging the Brewers to take Lohse? Tell him to take a hike.