Narveson article... Brewers 2013 starting rotation

[monty57]

Adam McCalvy posted an article today stating that Narveson "feels like he has a new arm."

 

http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130214&content_id=41636546&notebook_id=41636566&vkey=notebook_mil&c_id=mil

 

In the article, McCalvy says that if Narveson stays healthy, he is "a good bet to win one of the openings in the starting rotation behind right-handers Yovani Gallardo and Marco Estrada." Not that I necessarily agree with this logic, but I think he's got an inside track because he would be the Brewers only LH starter, and he adds the "veteran presence" Melvin was looking for but didn't capture in the free agent market.

 

It's a ways to go before Opening Day, but if this is correct and Narveson breaks camp in the rotation behind Yo & Estrada, what would you do with Fiers, Peralta and Rogers?

 

Either of Fiers and Peralta could be sent to AAA, but Fiers is already 27 and Peralta is the best prospect we've got. Both showed that they can get MLB hitters out on a regular basis. Meanwhile, former first-rounder Rogers is finally healthy and has no options left so he's either in the rotation or the bullpen. Personally, I'd probably send Fiers or Peralta to AAA, because I don't like diminishing starting pitchers' value by sticking them in the 'pen, but I'm interested in hearing other posters' thoughts on this.

 

I guess to not limit options, the question could be stated "If Narveson is 100% healthy, how would you put together the Brewers' 2013 starting rotation?"

[MVP2110]

Prolly put Rogers in the pen to be honest or Fiers maybe cause I dont see either ever becoming more than a 4 anyway and especially Rogers I think he could end up being really strong in the pen

[endaround]

Peralta could go to AAA and learn some control.

[PrinceFielderx1]

Peralta could go to AAA and learn some control.

 

I don't see this happening at all. If anybody is going to the pen it's Rogers.

[MVP2110]

Peralta could go to AAA and learn some control.

 

I don't see this happening at all. If anybody is going to the pen it's Rogers.

 

Totally agree, I see Peralta as a near lock unless he is considerably worse than the other 5 in spring training. I think the final 2 spots come down to Rogers, Narveson, & Fiers and frankly I'd put whoever does the worst of those 3 in the pen

[JohnBriggs12]

I think I'm about the only one that kept bringing up Narveson since oh, back in October. The Brewers knew he was healthy all along. Had they not, they could have gone out and signed any number of low level FA. They showed zero interest in doing so. I think the odd man out will be Fiers, if Peralta has a decent spring. Fiers can be optioned, starting and available at a moments notice. I don't think they want Rogers starting out in the pen. He could well end up there if he struggles, but I think they want him getting regular work early on and working out any control kinks.

 

Now a longshot would be Estrada returning to the pen if the late inning options look weak. There really isn't a clear cut 8th inning guy, though Henderson and Gonzalez seem to have the inside track. If all of Rogers, Fiers, Peralta and Narveson look good in Arizona, Estrada could become a key bullpen guy.

[jerichoholicninja]

There is no way Estrada goes to the pen. Going into the season he is the second best starter on the team.

[adambr2]

I think I'm about the only one that kept bringing up Narveson since oh, back in October. The Brewers knew he was healthy all along. Had they not, they could have gone out and signed any number of low level FA. They showed zero interest in doing so. I think the odd man out will be Fiers, if Peralta has a decent spring. Fiers can be optioned, starting and available at a moments notice. I don't think they want Rogers starting out in the pen. He could well end up there if he struggles, but I think they want him getting regular work early on and working out any control kinks.

 

Now a longshot would be Estrada returning to the pen if the late inning options look weak. There really isn't a clear cut 8th inning guy, though Henderson and Gonzalez seem to have the inside track. If all of Rogers, Fiers, Peralta and Narveson look good in Arizona, Estrada could become a key bullpen guy.

 

I wanted to hold out hope, but there were some people that immediately jumped on anyone suggesting Narveson would be in the rotation next year saying that there was absolutely no way he could recover from that in time.

 

Question is -- will he even be one of the best 5? Gallardo is the only true lock, but I think Estrada and Fiers are pretty close. So that leaves Peralta, Rogers, and Narveson battling it out for 2 spots, with Thornburg as a real long shot, but maybe a decent shot at a bullpen job.

 

Peralta probably makes it on upside -- they have little reason not to go with the most upside this year. I think Rogers makes the roster either way, but maybe in the bullpen.

[bork]

I think Rogers goes to the pen. I just don't see how he can start for a full season. His career high in innings was last year and it was only 134. Fiers and Peralta were around 180 innings last year, so they should have no problem going a full season.

[PrinceFielderx1]

Rogers is out of options so he has to make the team, right? If that's the case, since he only pitched 135 IP last season (which is way behind Fiers and Peralta), I'd just assume he's a lock for the bullpen. The Brewers in my opinion will eventually make him a starter, but not at the start of the season. Which makes the rotation,

 

Gallardo

Estrada

Peralta

Fiers

Narveson

[TooLiveBrew]

I think I'm about the only one that kept bringing up Narveson since oh, back in October.

No, you definitely weren't.

 

Glad to see Narveson is on track to be healthy & ready to contribute. I can't say I thought he would be.

[RobDeer 45]

I'd say Narv Dog is pretty much a lock. I guess I wasn't aware of the Rogers low innings so that may make me change my mind, but I was thinking Fiers would be in the pen. I'm not sold on his stuff. It was such a tale of two parts of the season so it's hard to tell who he really is. I think Peralta is pretty much set to start so I think it's mainly between Fiers and Rogers.

[joepepsi]

Fiers was impressive enough last season that he'll get a rotation spot even if he doesn't have a good Spring. If rogers pitches well and is healthy, he'll get the 5 spot. Peralta will head to AAA and be called up as soon as something happens to one of the starting five, ie, injury, ineffectiveness.

 

The 5th starter typically pitches around 160 innings a season, so if Rogers really threw 134 last year, then he seems suited for the 5th spot, with a strict pitch count. The 5th guy also misses starts in Spring due to the more off days, so I think you want Peralta in AAA pitching regularly and working on command.

 

Gallardo

Estrada

Narveson

Fiers

Rogers

 

With Peralta in the rotation at some point in the season.

[trwi7]

Peralta not in the rotation with Narveson instead would be hugely disappointing to me. I'm sure Narveson's a great guy and everything but I wouldn't be there's no ceiling and he's just average. Give me the potential of Peralta instead.

[Fear The Chorizo]

In essence we're talking about 4 pitchers competing over 3 rotation and 1 bullpen spots. Narveson, Rogers, Peralta, and Fiers. At this point Thornburg starts the season in AAA and is ready as an injury/performance replacement if some of them fall flat on their faces.

 

Barring injury, I think Fiers and Peralta are rotation locks. They need to at least have every opportunity to prove they belong there. That leaves Narveson and Rogers - barring injury both end up on the big league staff, one as the #5 starter and one in the bullpen. Narveson would make a good long reliever, and while Rogers' stuff is better suited for late innings, he could also fill the long relief role. I fully expect both Narveson and Rogers to get plenty of starts this season due to how much the Brewers are relying on young and relatively unproven starters aside from Gallardo and Estrada.

[TooLiveBrew]

I completely agree on that take, FTC. Unless he's just terrible in ST, imo you send a really bad message to the entire youth ranks of the organization if you send Peralta back to AAA to make room for Narveson (though it's the type of move Melvin has made time & time again). Wily struggled early in '12, but more than righted the ship with Nashville, earned a call-up, and posted brilliant results over his 5 big-league starts (2.25 ERA). He's proven that he belongs in MLB, and to hold him back so Narveson can pitch to his career 4.60+ ERA just makes no sense to me. The only angle I could sorta get behind is to keep Peralta from burning a full year's service time in '13, but even that isn't enough for me in this specific case.

 

I'm glad Narveson looks to be well ahead of schedule & ready to go, but this just reminds me of the McGehee/Gamel situation (yes I realize Gamel didn't help himself as well), and I don't want Melvin making the same mistake. Narveson would be a nice asset in the bullpen, and is such a pro's pro that I doubt he'd take too long to get stretched out in case of an injury to one of the five best SPs in the organization.

[Roderick]

In essence we're talking about 4 pitchers competing over 3 rotation and 1 bullpen spots.

There isn't a bullpen spot open if Kintzler and Hellweg both earn a spot during spring training. And if Hellweg just concentrates on his best stuff for a bullpen assignment, that could be the case.

[TooLiveBrew]

I'd be stunned if the Brewers are interested in giving up on Hellweg as a SP just yet. I really hope Kintzler can feature in the bullpen this season -- when he's healthy, I like his stuff.

[topper09er]

So just to be clear steroids is cheating but having a surgery to give you a "new arm" is totally fine

[Thurston Fluff]

Being a lefty is going to help Narveson's cause. I also think there is a comfort level with him as well that will help. I don't know if either should be the case but I think they will. I think Peralta has the most upside but he did have some control issues that wouldn't be hurt any by going down for a while. If nobody crashes and burns in spring I'd start with Peralta in the minors to make sure he really has the control issues taken care of.

So just to be clear steroids is cheating but having a surgery to give you a "new arm" is totally fine

 

As soon as surgery leads to long term health problems like steroids do I'll be against it as well.

[topper09er]

 

As soon as surgery leads to long term health problems like steroids do I'll be against it as well.

 

So the reason Barry Bonds is not in the Hall of Fame is because people are concerned about his long term health problems?

[markedman5]

Steroids are illegal and surgery is not........that might give you a hint

[topper09er]

So the reason Barry Bonds is not in the Hall of Fame is because people dont like that he did something illegal?

 

Well I wonder if Tony La Russa will be denied the HOF because got a DUI, which is illegal.

[PrinceFielderx1]

I believe that Narveson without question has a leg up, because he's the only lefty.

[umphrey]

What's with so many people not sold on Fiers all of a sudden? He pitched fantastic for most of last year, and taking the year as a whole, he was still an excellent pitcher overall.

 

I think they should put Narveson in the pen as the #6 starter. If he bumps anyone out, it has to be Mark Rogers, but I really don't want to see that happen.