Player movement speculation: 2014

[liveforoctober]

I don't know about everyone else but I have a lot of fun forecasting player movement, especially as we get closer to the all star break because that's when a lot of first half moves are made obviously.

 

I was hoping for some insight on the 3 higher leagues as I am only up to date on the higher prospects once we get above Appleton (I live here so I am more in tune with this roster). I know we have a lot of players who need to face some tougher competition and should be bumped up a level... wondering what moves will be made in the next month given performance, depth, etc?

 

I'm trying to take in as many TRat games as I can currently as I'm expecting to be without Coulter very shortly.

[BrewersAA]

Well there are a lot but I think one that should happen would be all of the catchers moving up a level, wiesenberg to AAA, Garfield to AA (this is his second year in A+ which is such an offensive suppressing league, and as we've seen in the last sometime players really out perform their brevard number in Huntsville), and coulter to A+, I'm am sure there is a catcher capable of handling the A job.

[guylanderfridancies]

Tyler Cravy leads the Southern League in Wins, ERA, and WHIP. You would think that's grounds for promotion, right?

[paul253]

If Cravy gets promoted I'd like to see Hobbs Johnson moved up to replace him.

 

As far as Coulter goes I wouldn't mind seeing him stay in Wisconsin the rest of the year. From what I've read he needs a ton of work defensively if he is going to stay at catcher so there is really no rush to move him. Plus, doesn't BC play in a pitcher friendly park? I'd hate to move him up now and have him struggle offensively while he is still working hard to improve his defense. He's still only 20. A year at each level would be fine with me.

[igor67]

I'd guess Coulter stays in low A to work on D as well. Hobbs doesn't jump out as a guy who screams midseason promotion. Cravy certainly, and maybe a few other pitchers in response.

[liveforoctober]

I'm not opposed to Coulter staying to work on defense behind the plate, but I guess I don't see him remaining there in the minor leagues and I think his bat could move pretty quick through the ranks. I don't know if they want to wait until the offseason to begin the 1B/3B/OF transition but I just don't see it working out back there... but I could be wrong.

[JohnBriggs12]

I'm happy to see Zarraga getting some time at 1B. Sure his power numbers don't profile as a 1B, but he might be the most advanced hitter at either AA or AAA right now and 1B for 2015 is up for grabs. Hopefully, he'll get some time at Nashville in the 2nd half.

[BrewersAA]

I could definitely see coulter spending all year in Appleton. I guess that was maybe a more of what I want in movement rather than most likely. I will share that one of my thoughts behind it though is that the brewers seem to be keen in getting the guys that they identify as future major players on the same team early and letting the play and grow and find success together. It would only make sense, in that philosophy, to get coulter with Taylor, Arica, reed, roach, and to a lesser extent Rivera (who could probably get bumped to AA, the bat seems to be coming around). One thing about the unfortunate playing conditions of the brewers minor league affiliates is that it creates this Garfield Rivera situation where the guys are at premium defensive positions and their defense has them ready for the next level, but everyone has them in the "wait for the bat to catch up" zone so they don't get the bump, the problem then is of course that brevard is one of the worst, if not the worst, offensive environments in all of baseball. So, it's my opinion that this creates kind of a black hole and it really hurts our hitters development especially for the guys at defensive premium positions. I just feel as though I have seen so many promising young hitters entirely lose confidence in their second tour of BC and then completely fizzle out. Ryan brauns worst minor league stop by far. I can really only think of 3 guys who ever really looked good offensively at BC, lucroy gamel and Kandy Khrush Davis, and only gamel spent a full season there, the others would have surely seen a numbers drop had they played a full season there.

[BrewersAA]

My other speculations are, and it's pretty tough due to the conservative nature of the brewers when promoting players, as follows:

 

AAA to MLB:

Jimmy Nelson

Jeffress

Morris

Gindl

Green

Blazek

At this point basically any/everyone on the 40 man

 

AA to AAA

Based on all the pitching injuries at Nashville and in mil for that matter...

Decent shot:

Tyler cravey

Brent suter

Goforth

Rogers

Outside shot:

Drew gagnon

Kentrail Davis

 

A+ AA

This is all kind of dependent in the pitching moving above and keeping with the brewers likely keeping the outfield plus Arica together:

Decent shot

Wagner

Austin Ross

Hobbs Johnson (he fits the mold of pitching the brewers seem the want to push up quicker)

Pierce

Williams

 

Outside shot

Magnifico

Lopez

Delmonico

Holle

Viramontes

Garfield

Rivera

 

A to A+

Decent shot:

Coulter

Gainey

Taylor williams

Fernandez

Seidenberger

 

Outside shot:

Astin

Alexander

Spurlin

McFarland

Johnny Davis (mostly due to his age)

 

Everywhere else to A

Fill that sucker up with all those college senior just drafted and continue as planned with short seasoners!

 

Obviously history tells us that we will probably only see 2-3 moves, but it's nice to have a year in the system with so many deserving guys, the system, especially the pitchers, have taken a major jump!

 

Also, I considered doing a "lock" category, then I decided that was just silly!! (Especially for the brewers)

 

Posted from my iPhone so breaks for spelling and such are appreciated ;-)

[DHonks]

also one other thing I hadn't thought about in the past. When doing large-scale promotions, the team needs to help players get settled in unfamiliar environments, find lodging, get their cars there, etc. For many kids that might struggle with moves, it's probably better they do 1 promotion a year.

[HiAndTight]

I'm not opposed to Coulter staying to work on defense behind the plate, but I guess I don't see him remaining there in the minor leagues and I think his bat could move pretty quick through the ranks. I don't know if they want to wait until the offseason to begin the 1B/3B/OF transition but I just don't see it working out back there... but I could be wrong.

 

Unless Coulter keeps putting up these types of numbers and is ready for the big leagues and ready to mash in the next two years, I hope you're wrong about keeping him behind the plate. I've been on record several times saying that I think he's more than capable physically of playing behind the plate. He's far more athletic than most catchers are, even for his size.

 

The exception would be if they move him to 3rd base right now and he has success there. Short of that, I think his issues behind the plate are entirely fixable and he could develop in to a guy who can really slow down the running game.

[JohnBriggs12]

Well there are a lot but I think one that should happen would be all of the catchers moving up a level, wiesenberg to AAA, Garfield to AA (this is his second year in A+ which is such an offensive suppressing league, and as we've seen in the last sometime players really out perform their brevard number in Huntsville), and coulter to A+, I'm am sure there is a catcher capable of handling the A job.

 

I see Zarraga moving to AAA instead of Weisenberger for the simple fact that they he's a guy who could provide the bench an offensive boost in Milwaukee in September. Zarraga might be the most advanced hitter (ie: major league ready bat) they have in their entire system. A couple months in Nashville might confirm this.

[WV Brew]

I would like to see Yadiel Rivera and Cameron Garfield promoted. They have suffered enough.