First Base 2014

[HiAndTight]

So explain to me how given what we know, the Brewers were passive? I'd argue they were unusually aggressive, and almost all the players people on this board wanted have struggled mightily.

I felt like they were passive because they weren't able (yet) to improve on a .644 OPSing Overbay -- it shouldn't be hard to do, but I guess I'm just not giving enough merit to how weak the market is at 1B.

 

 

Melvin did say that he expected them to be active in the next month, though it may be difficult with so many teams having the ability to claim a player before us.

 

But I really don't even know who to hope for. Jones could be a nice addition and may have made one had the Marlins not won 9 of 10 games recently. Perhaps in 2-3 weeks they'll fall back out and he'll be put through waivers. But even he has a -.3 WAR.

 

I do hope the Brewers pick up Papelbon in order to try and duplicate the 2011 type BP.

[TooLiveBrew]

So explain to me how given what we know, the Brewers were passive? I'd argue they were unusually aggressive, and almost all the players people on this board wanted have struggled mightily.

I felt like they were passive because they weren't able (yet) to improve on a .644 OPSing Overbay -- it shouldn't be hard to do, but I guess I'm just not giving enough merit to how weak the market is at 1B.

Melvin did say that he expected them to be active in the next month, though it may be difficult with so many teams having the ability to claim a player before us.

 

But I really don't even know who to hope for. Jones could be a nice addition and may have made one had the Marlins not won 9 of 10 games recently. Perhaps in 2-3 weeks they'll fall back out and he'll be put through waivers. But even he has a -.3 WAR.

I definitely think Melvin's work is not done in searching for a LH hitting first baseman. But I was really hoping it'd happen on the non-waiver deadline day.

 

On Jones, I'm not sure how much he is or isn't being platooned (he's got about 2/3 of the PAs v LHP that his teammate McGehee does, as a reference point), but his OPS against LHP is .483 right now. So far in '14, he has a .783 OPS v RHP (career .820), & his road OPS is 60 points higher than his home OPS. I think he'd solidly be ~.800 OPS or better against RHPs the rest of the season with Miller Park as a home venue. WAR aside (I don't remember him being a butcher, defensively), he's probably my #1 hope at this point, primarily because he shouldn't cost one of the club's best prospects.

[AZBrewCrew]

Rangers just acquired Mike Carp, so we can cross him off the list

[superfly]

There is going to be at least one huge, potentially season-defining moment down the stretch where Overbay is going to have to be the one at the plate. I just hate how passive this club was about 1B dating back to all the way in the offseason.

 

Well, we had a pretty defining moment today that involved Overbay, but it was via Roenicke's doing. How you pull Garza at 70 throwing a 1 hitter is beyond me, just inexcusable.

[SoupTown]

I agree that DM has at least tried. Mind you, the time to REALLY TRY was last year when backup shortstops who never played first before were playing there. But let us let that dead horse decompose.

 

I dont have time or inclination to look over every overpaid first baseman on the market. Here is what I hope for (please refrain from the 'the Brewers should never overpay' pile on)... find an OVERPRICED, but good first baseman - a left hander. Pick him (or her, let us not be sexist) up on 30 / 31 Aug - get him on the roster. Now you dont hurt Overbay's feelings. And you let the guy play in September. We only need to limp to end August like we have been at first base.

 

Well, I took the time... Juan Fransciso's .823 OPS and 1.000 fielding percentage at first (83 innings)... ouch

I only see Nick Swisher... sporting a nifty .622 OPS at Cleveland and owed 15 mill a year for the next three years.

 

Back to Francisco... his .895 OPS v righties... oh, well.

 

I love you Lyle. You are the best!

 

And looking at what we have in FA, on other teams, in our minors... surely, in 2015, the best for the team is Braun at first base.

[torts]

I was pretty "meh" this year with our 1B platoon, basically because anything is better than Yuni... but come on, after that Overbay error on saturday that, and im saying this just completely because I can and its 100% fact, Overbay cost them the win on Saturday with that bonehead error... I am offically Over... bay. GET IT? I'll keep Reynolds only because he's gotten half his hits from homers this year, but im done with the O.

[JohnBriggs12]

Francisco's 83 innings at first base = incredibly small sample size.

 

His K rate is considerably higher than Reynolds, and that's hard to do.

 

Yes it would be nice to have at least average production at 1b, but the power supplied by Reynolds has been as good as expected. Overbay's on his last legs as a player and Reynolds should be getting most of the starts with some going to Lucroy, but with Overbay 6 for 15 this year as a PH, I'm pretty certain he's here for the remainder of the year at least in that role.

[monty57]

Francisco's 83 innings at first base = incredibly small sample size.

 

His K rate is considerably higher than Reynolds, and that's hard to do.

 

Yes it would be nice to have at least average production at 1b, but the power supplied by Reynolds has been as good as expected. Overbay's on his last legs as a player and Reynolds should be getting most of the starts with some going to Lucroy, but with Overbay 6 for 15 this year as a PH, I'm pretty certain he's here for the remainder of the year at least in that role.

 

You like Overbay because of what he's done in 15 pinch hit ABs, but discount Francisco's error-free play because of small sample size? Francisco is not a good defensive 1B, but his overall game is far better than Overbay's at this stage of both of their careers. I'm sure Melvin's kicking himself for keeping Overbay over Francisco, but not much you can do about it now.

[adambr2]

Francisco is what he is, and he's probably not a great everyday option at 1st, but we didn't need him to be. There's something to be said about the value of a guy who homers about every 15 plate appearances.

 

Keeping Overbay was an overreaction on the defensive side because of the defensive issues last year. If you're going to keep a weak hitting 37 year old who is strictly a backup first baseman over a 27 year old who can play both infield positions, you had better be getting gold glove caliber defense. Overbay doesn't offer that.

[TheCrew07]

I'm not sorry Francisco is gone at all, I didn't want him retained just because he hits for power anymore than I thought Reynolds was the answer because he does the same.

 

Just about everything Francisco does as a player other than hit home runs really gets under my skin. I'm stickler for fundamentals and when I see guys like him and Yuni B who lazy their way through professional baseball it infuriates me.

[SoupTown]

"Keeping Overbay was an overreaction on the defensive side because of the defensive issues last year"

 

Yes, DM is one of the biggest over-reactors around. I guess because of our right hand reliever injuries, Doug will sign 8 or 10 of them in the off season to compete in spring training. Aside from that, first base is the problem. But I dont see any solution. I guess Hart will be back here next year. That may work fine.

[TURBO]

I think Hart is done, I don't want him back.

[JohnBriggs12]

I think Hart is done, I don't want him back.

 

Mike Morse is a FA again after this year. I don't know about the rest of you but he scares me every time up facing the Brewers. I was happy to see Jeffress walk him rather than groove one last night. He's raked in Miller Park.

[lcbj68c]

50 pages later and I reckon that 1st base in 2014 was done decided in March and it's probably time to spin off a 2015 thread.

[SoupTown]

Is there any first baseman in AAA that is decent, left handed, and blocked. Surely you can trade for a minor league guy now. We are really grasping at straws. Nobody plays first base anymore?????

 

For 2015, surely the solution (as has been guessed) is Braun at first and Parra to right field. I think that make the 2015 lineup better than 2014.

[Yaz]

Justin Morneau now hitting .320. Gonzo back to the DL. The Rockies season for all intent & purposes is already over.

 

Come on Melvin... Make an offer that those other teams can't match. Please?

[pacopete4]

I think Melvin feels as though Rogers will be the guy there next season as he is really coming along in the minors this season. That's the hold up because he'd have Morneau for more years than just this one. Just speculation...

[TooLiveBrew]

I think that if the org. thought Rogers was the answer going forward at 1B, they wouldn't have played him at 3B to learn the position this season. I think they see his upside as a bench player & are looking to get him as versatile as is plausible.

[jerichoholicninja]

Justin Morneau now hitting .320. Gonzo back to the DL. The Rockies season for all intent & purposes is already over.

 

Come on Melvin... Make an offer that those other teams can't match. Please?

 

The Rockies are not going to deal Morneau for anything other than a ridiculous package that the Brewers can't afford to give up.

[lcbj68c]

For 2015...is there any possible way Nelson Cruz could be signed and play first base? I know the masses here poo-poo position changes from the OF to the IF. The FA crop for 2015 looks bleak. Cruz might be one of the more pricier Free Agents. but possibly an option to replace the payroll of the departed Aramis Ramirez. Then look to free agency at 3B to replace the payroll of the departed Weeks?

[DR28]

Chase Headley... Brewers 2015 3B??

[MNBrew]

I'm not convinced Aramis Ramirez is going elsewhere b/c his numbers are solid, the Brewers can exercise their option, and the Brewers -- and the majority of other MLB teams -- don't have better options in the pipeline.

 

Even if Ramirez misses a month of next year, I'd take his production at 3B and at his salary over Chase Headley's numbers & contract in a heartbeat and not think twice about it.

[logan82]

I know the masses here poo-poo position changes from the OF to the IF.

Just Braun because he was a terrible infielder and Davis because he tried it and didn't like it.

[SoupTown]

I think we need to put this to bed. Was Braun terrible fielding or throwing at 3rd? It should be find-out-able.

[logan82]

I think we need to put this to bed. Was Braun terrible fielding or throwing at 3rd? It should be find-out-able.

Both.