Annual AFL prediction thread -- Latest: It's Haniger, Weisenberger, J. Rogers, Shackelford, Goforth, Jungmann, Cravy

[DHonks]

Here goes:

Eric Arnett, Jed Bradley, Lamantagne, and Ross competing for the annual injured pitcher trying to make up time spot

Heckathorn (like Arnett, I think this is a big fall/summer. Aren't they 40-man capable this offseason?)

Josh Prince...more seasoning

D'Vo...obvious reason

Brock K

Jason Rogers

Hunter Morris....AFL prospect finishing school

Nick Shaw or Mike Walker

[foamboy1]

New record. This thread has never begun in July.

[igor67]

It's not that hard to imagine seeing Morris up in September or Heckathorn, which makes one think that the AFL roster might be not very interesting this year. That said I think at this point Morris would have to step it up since the have so many young guys they are trying to hand ABs too. How about bumping Richardson up to AA to free up an A ball spot for Roache?

[DHonks]

ha, thanks Foamboy. I thought this used to start in mid-July since the rosters used to come out around Aug 10th.

 

I'm not saying all those guys will go, but I listed a bunch that are possible. Igor, does Heckathorn have any reason to be in the majors? Last I heard he was throwing 90 mph with no decent off-speed pitches. He's never shown the power arm that got him ranked higher than his draft position.

[igor67]

Other than draft pick and looking at guys for Heckathorn, no. Melvin has certainly shown restraint when rosters expand in the past. I'd guess that Nelson, Sanchez, and Halton would make it up and that could easily be it. Prince to give them another infielder maybe.

[And That]

They've been cutting David Goforth's workload since he was promoted to AA. He might be a guy they're preparing to send to the AFL.

[Roderick]

Other than draft pick and looking at guys for Heckathorn, no. Melvin has certainly shown restraint when rosters expand in the past. I'd guess that Nelson, Sanchez, and Halton would make it up and that could easily be it. Prince to give them another infielder maybe.

 

Looks like they skipped Nelson two starts since he was moved to AAA, so he should have innings available to the big club. He is at 118 currently.

 

I know the Brewers have been "stingy" in the past, but I would assume they would have Gennett (if goes back down), Prince, Lalli (catcher) and Halton up as positional reserves.

[Mass Haas]

Via the Brewers Player Development staff --

 

Representng the Brewers in the AFL in '13- OF Mitch Haniger, C Adam Weisenberger, 1B Jason Rogers, RHP's Kevin Shackelford, David Goforth, Taylor Jungmann

[dacbrewers]

Here goes:

Eric Arnett, Jed Bradley, Lamantagne, and Ross competing for the annual injured pitcher trying to make up time spot

Heckathorn (like Arnett, I think this is a big fall/summer. Aren't they 40-man capable this offseason?)

Josh Prince...more seasoning

D'Vo...obvious reason

Brock K

Jason Rogers

Hunter Morris....AFL prospect finishing school

Nick Shaw or Mike Walker

 

I would take Lamontange or Ross over Arnett.

[Mass Haas]

I would take Lamontange or Ross over Arnett.

 

Brevard RHP Andre Lamontagne has been on the DL since 7/4, though, and I guess it's moot now that we've pasted the actuals in this thread .

[igor67]

Really surprised at no D'vo

[dacbrewers]

Really surprised at no D'vo

 

No D'vo, No Hall, No Cravy...am I missing something?

[Mass Haas]

Really surprised at no D'vo

 

No D'vo, No Hall, No Cravy...am I missing something?

 

If the junior Hawaii Fall League was still in place, you'd be calling bingo! In the case of the three you list here, you're just a year early. They already started to limit innings for Hall and Cravy, and considering last year's absence, pushing D'Vo beyond Labor Day may be a bit much.

[dacbrewers]

Really surprised at no D'vo

 

No D'vo, No Hall, No Cravy...am I missing something?

 

If the junior Hawaii Fall League was still in place, you'd be calling bingo! In the case of the three you list here, you're just a year early. They already started to limit innings for Hall and Cravy, and considering last year's absence, pushing D'Vo beyond Labor Day may be a bit much.

 

After watching some games...I'm excited about D'vo...I love the guys speed in the OF. Still raw at times, but after a long layoff, that would be expected. I am looking forward to next spring training and what he picks up from it.

[ClosetBrewerFan]

I had hoped to do a prediction but I never got around to it. So instead I’ll do an post analysis of the selections:

 

OF Mitch Haniger – Not really a surprise as he is a top prospect but what does this say about Kentrail Davis? He’s closer to the majors. Does this mean Kentrail is not considered highly by the Brewers? Or maybe they already decided to give him a Sept callup. Or maybe I’m just reading into this too much.

C Adam Weisenberger – Don’t know much about him. In looking at his stats, I’m really impressed with his ability to get on base. OBP has been 100 points higher than BA in each of his three years. I believe he is also a good defender. I’m going to have to move him up my top prospect list.

1B Jason Rogers – Has always hit well (but not great) in the minors, and now showing some power. Seems like a fringe prospect that the Brewers are trying to decide what they have and whether to add to the 40 man this year. With Hunter not going to the AFL, does that mean he will be a Sept callup?

RP Kevin Shackelford – Here is a guy who may just be starting to figure it out in AA. Big guy who throws hard. Brewers need to decide on whether to add to the 40 man roster to protect him. Looks like AFL will be his audition.

SP’s David Goforth, Taylor Jungmann – Two good choices. Both had decent years and are under their innings ceiling for the year. Jimmy Nelson and Brooks Hall are probably at their innings limit. Jed Bradley and Ariel Pena would also have been good choices. Would have been interesting to be a fly on the wall during that discussion.

[DHonks]

I'm missing something...who is our priority position player? Is it Haniger? Sounds like Rogers is playing 1b/dh/OF.

 

Who will be the last pitcher? Could it be they are holding out hope for one of the aforementioned injured pitchers?

[nate82]

Eligibility Rules

The eligibility rules to play in the AFL are simple.

 

The roster size is 30 players per team.

 

Each Major League organization is required to provide six players subject to the following requirements:

 

All Triple-A and Double-A players are eligible, provided the players are on at least a Double-A level roster no later than Aug. 1.

One player below the Double-A level is allowed per Major League team.

One foreign player is allowed, as long as the player does not reside in a country that participates in winter ball, as part of the Caribbean Confederation or the Australian winter league.

No players with more than one year of credited Major League service as of August 31 are eligible, except a team may select one player picked in the most recently concluded Major League Rule 5 Draft.

To be eligible, players on Minor League disabled lists must be activated at least 45 days before the conclusion of their respective seasons.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/winterleagues/about/?league=119&id=player_elig

 

Haniger is the Brewers below AA level player that they are allowed to send. This is why D'vo is not one of the players being sent.

[DHonks]

Nate, thanks for finding the rules. I think we've understood all of those. The only one new to me is the rule about 45-days off DL.

 

What I was saying is that the teams bid by position and all have 1-2 priority positions. Players not at priority positions often play out-of-position (Weeks, Hart, Nelson, Napoli, are a bunch that I remember from when I worked in the league). I guess if we're sending Haniger, RF or CF must be our priority position.

[nate82]

Nate, thanks for finding the rules. I think we've understood all of those. The only one new to me is the rule about 45-days off DL.

 

What I was saying is that the teams bid by position and all have 1-2 priority positions. Players not at priority positions often play out-of-position (Weeks, Hart, Nelson, Napoli, are a bunch that I remember from when I worked in the league). I guess if we're sending Haniger, RF or CF must be our priority position.

 

I was just pointing out why D'vo is not eligible since Haniger was selected as the Brewers below AA level player and D'vo is currently in A+. I also think that it wouldn't be wise to have D'vo play anymore games after the season ends. I hope they do not send D'vo to any of the winter leagues but I fully expect to see D'vo in one of them.

[Mass Haas]

Via MLB.com:

 

Haniger, 22, was the Brewers' priority pick and should play regularly for the Saguaros. He hit a combined .266 with 11 home runs and 66 RBIs for Class A Wisconsin and Class A Advanced Brevard County through Monday, and has a .353 on-base percentage in his first 138 Minor League games.

[igor67]

I'm really very curious as to the logic for Haniger over D'Vo. Mitch is on track development wise, depending on how one reads his Brevard performance. Especially since he just completed a full minor league season for the first time. I could see some possible reasons for not giving D'Vo the chance to get more ABs against top level competition I'd just love to know what they are instead of guessing.

[dacbrewers]

Really surprised at no D'vo

 

No D'vo, No Hall, No Cravy...am I missing something?

 

If the junior Hawaii Fall League was still in place, you'd be calling bingo! In the case of the three you list here, you're just a year early. They already started to limit innings for Hall and Cravy, and considering last year's absence, pushing D'Vo beyond Labor Day may be a bit much.

 

Cravy was added to the AFL roster.

[CheezWizHed]

Has anyone been following how the guys are doing in the AFL? Any standout performances? Disasters?

[DHonks]

It should start next week. When I used to work it, the players reported during the last week of the MLB season, then the Fall League started. Often big leaguers (september callups) didn't report until the 2nd week

[Mass Haas]

October 8th start

 

Surprise Saguaros schedule