2015 bench

[djoctagone]

if you became a brewers fan in 2014, don't worry. a bench consists of players who typically don't start the majority of the games, and it's comprised of players who are capable of playing more than one position (lyle overbay pitching doesn't count).

 

two players are locks for the 2015 bench:

 

gerardo parra (all outfield positions)

martin maldonado (catcher and first base)

 

two players out of minor league options and likely to make the club (unless the brewers want to give their 40-man spot to a non-roster player):

 

hector gomez (shortstop and third, trying him at second)

luis jimenez (third and first, trying him at second)

 

remaining players on the 40-man roster vying to make the club out of spring camp (all can be optioned in 2015) and likely battling for the final spot on a five man bench:

 

juan centeno (catcher)

matt clark (first base, trying him at corner outfield positions)

shane peterson (all outfield positions and first base)

yadiel rivera (shortstop, trying him at second)

jason rogers (first and third, trying him at corner outfield positions)

luis sardinas (shortstop, trying him at second and third)

logan schafer (all outfield positions)

 

centeno's fate lies in how quickly jonathan lucroy can return. clark and rivera are likely optioned (the latter early in camp). if the brewers want a fifth outfielder, it should be one of peterson or schafer. sardinas is good depth to keep optioned in the minor leagues in case of an injury.

 

with parra on such a large contract and free agency looming, and assuming ryan braun's thumb will be 100%, i would not be surprised if the brewers decided to option khris davis for part of the season, making parra the starter and carrying just one backup outfielder and centeno as a third catcher to allow lucroy more time at first. is this likely? probably not. possible? most certainly.

[Ennder]

Sigh. I fear you are right but that is a simply awful bench. If 2 guys get hurt at the same time which seems almost impossible to not happen, this team is in huge trouble.

[JohnBriggs12]

Why would they option a guy who in his first 637 major league AB's (about a full season for an everyday player) has 47 doubles, 33 HR and 96 RBI? It's not like this team can't use a power RBI bat in the lineup especially with Ramirez' power diminishing rapidly.

 

They tried that playing Parra thing down the stretch last year. How'd that work out? Parra had all of 8 extra base hits in 123 AB's.

 

As for 5th outfielder, why not Clark? Let Parra back up in CF too. Clark gives them another power threat, something they don't have a lot of on their bench. He hit 1 HR every 11.7 AB's combined in AAA and majors last year. Give him a start in LF once or twice a week if you want to rest Davis and have some real pop from the left side in the lineup for a change with Lind AND Clark. You'd still have Parra for late inning defense.

[logan82]

I have a hard time believing they will send Davis down and have Parra as the main LF. I think a more likely scenario is Davis and Parra are both on the club with Parra as a backup playing 2 days a week. He probably ends up with around 400+ PA.

[djoctagone]

Sigh. I fear you are right but that is a simply awful bench.

i was convinced that elian herrera would've become that final bench player. while his defense wasn't outstanding (and shaky in the outfield), i really liked his bat last year. i was convinced that the brewers' bench was going to consist of parra, maldonado, gomez, jimenez and herrera (and a latin cultural attache).

[JohnBriggs12]

I see Parra as strictly an expensive insurance policy and defensive replacement. He can play all 3 OF spots and should any of the 3 starters go down, it's nice to have a veteran like Parra to take over. Fans talk about Gennett's inability to hit lefties but Parra was 1 for 17 against LH relievers last year. For his career he's 7 for 50 against lefty relievers. His overall numbers vs. lefties don't look so bad compared to Gennett because a much greater percentage of his AB's vs. lefties were against staring LH pitching who tend to not be as tough on lefty hitters.

 

With Gennett starting against most LHP, I think you'll see his overall numbers vs. lefties improve quite noticeably.

 

My real worry about the bench is that they lack a proven experienced RH bat to come up and hit for Gennett or Lind late in games against the tough lefty relief specialists. Now if Jimenez starts seeing a lot of time at 3rd, maybe that's a good role for Ramirez.

[Bombers]

Why would they option a guy who in his first 637 major league AB's (about a full season for an everyday player) has 47 doubles, 33 HR and 96 RBI? It's not like this team can't use a power RBI bat in the lineup especially with Ramirez' power diminishing rapidly.

 

They tried that playing Parra thing down the stretch last year. How'd that work out? Parra had all of 8 extra base hits in 123 AB's.

 

As for 5th outfielder, why not Clark? Let Parra back up in CF too. Clark gives them another power threat, something they don't have a lot of on their bench. He hit 1 HR every 11.7 AB's combined in AAA and majors last year. Give him a start in LF once or twice a week if you want to rest Davis and have some real pop from the left side in the lineup for a change with Lind AND Clark. You'd still have Parra for late inning defense.

I agree with this - Davis isn't going anywhere. But I also do not want a "5th" outfielder. That is just a wasted spot. Gomez and Braun start every day of the week and a 5th OF is a complete waste. Especially since Parra can play all 3 OF spots. So I would rather see Clark who can spot start in the corner OF and play 1B. The only down side for Clark is, he won't ever take starts from Lind so maybe that is why you send him down. Which would mean Rogers or Jimenez would stay up. And with Jimenez out of options, if he has a hot spring - my vote would be to keep him up. I also think Sardinas will be a great asset. I got a feeling that he will win the spot over Hector and Hector will be sent down. I don't think Hector will be swiped away by another team.

[TooLiveBrew]

My initial guess for the OD bench is: Parra, Maldonado, Sardiñas, Clark, & Rogers

[djoctagone]

My initial guess for the OD bench is: Parra, Maldonado, Sardiñas, Clark, & Rogers

that opens up two spots on the 40-man roster (assuming one of gomez or jimenez isn't cut when francisco rodriguez signs).

[djoctagone]

Hector will be sent down. I don't think Hector will be swiped away by another team.

hector gomez has already been outrighted off the 40-man by the brewers (19 october 2012). if they try to outright him again, he can declare free agency.

[MVP2110]

Personally I would just do a 4 man bench. Parra Jimenez Gomez/Sardinas and maldy. I don't think whoever the fifth guy would be would get enough pt to warrant it. I wouldn't mind Rogers as the fifth guy and main pinch hitter but I'd rather see him in aaa at third base. Plus this would allow us to have 8 bullpen guys which would help since we really don't have many multi inning guys

[pete]

I think the chance of Davis being sent down is close to zero.

 

My guess at OD bench is Maldonado, Parra, Schafer, Jimenez and Gomez.

 

I think that could be a great bench myself, especially if RR cycles in guys to get some at bats.

 

If he does his thing with burying guys and then asking them to pinch hit against a good reliever after a week or so of sitting, none of them will do well and there'll be posts on how whoever has "proven" they can't hit major league pitching. While the Pirates are talking about resting guys more ala a basketball team (I think) and Maddon is going to do his carousel of players jumping in and out, hopefully RR modifies his approach.

 

I know it would give them the ability to have a flat out awesome defensive team in late innings.

 

Regarding Sardinas, if he gets regular at bats and his hitting comes around, he will have huge value either as a Brewer or in a trade. i don't think they would punt that to make him a utility player.

[Ennder]

Oh yeah I missed the Davis part. The odds of Davis not making the starting team is pretty close to 0%.

[AKCheesehead]

I'd certainly like to see Herrera as one of the bench players, since he can play all over the place. No 5th outfielder needed when Herrera is in the mix. Jimenez's bat is intriguing, and could spell Aramis to keep his legs fresh. Gomez seems he could fit. Parra and Maldonado seem like locks. I don't see any benefit whatsoever to sending down Davis unless he finds himself in some kind of terrible funk to work his way out of in AAA.

[SoupTown]

I was a big fan of the Parra signing. But just read a nice article that if Shane Peterson has a good spring, the Crew should be trading Parra as a starter to where required for a prospect. That kind of makes sense to me. Even without a Peterson big spring you should be shopping Parra. (and a lot depends on Braun, I guess)

 

My thinking... the Brewers are on the knife's edge to be considered playoff hopeful. Let us say Parra had to replace Gomez for a long time (remember Parra is insurance).... let us say Parra had to replace Braun for a long time... in either of those two scenarios we lose whatever playoff aspirations we have (in my opinion). A Parra for Davis in LF, would be line ball, I guess. But again, we need Davis to IMPROVE this year.

 

My thinking then is simple: if we need Parra, then we dont need Parra. (that is, he will not resurrect the year if one of our three main outfielders need substantial replacement). And, of course, if we dont need Parr (Davis, Gomez, Braun producing and injury free) then we dont need Parra.

 

Conclusion: we dont need Parra. (well, maybe we do, if RRR somehow works out how to intelligently give guys a bit of rest... say play him 2-3 days per week). Now I am back to the article that says... a good spring from Peterson is a big blessing. (and given Shane is a 2nd round pick of the all knowing Cardinals, surely he has the pedigree to jump to Parras level)

 

I recall Davis being a 'no chance' to make the team a couple years ago and he just went nuts in spring. And that spring actually showed he was a true MLB guy.

 

So, I am thinking, from the list in the initial post, that Gomez must be playing for his life this spring. Is he that original great prospect from the Rockies organisation. This SPRING is his chance to show it. If he has a poor spring, he may be replaced by Sardinas (if he as a big spring, but who wants a 21 year old utility infielder????)

 

Let us hope for Peterson having a big spring and let us hope for Gomez having at least a good spring.

 

Now, consider Rogers. The more I think of it, the guy was a first baseman (occasional (very) outfielder) until they tried him at third. Let us not be so stupid to try to turn career first baseman into third baseman at the age of 26... dumb, dumb, dumb (well, brilliant if it worked.. what chance of that, though)

 

So, Rogers gets a bench spot on my bench.... here's hoping for big spring.

 

So, my bench is

 

Maldy

Peterson has a big spring and we traded Parra /or/ simply Parra

Rogers

Gomez

Jimenez

 

If Shafer has an option, he goes to AAA to try to work out how to hit at least a little.

[BrewCrewForever]

Maldy and Parra are lock, rest of the bench is up in the air I think. Guys will have to win jobs. That being said I think it is going to be a pretty weak bench overall unless Doug makes a trade during ST at some point to upgrade. Much like he did in 2011 with Morgan.

[logan82]

If we have Parra maybe our manager gives Gomez and Braun a few more days off so they can stay healthier for the whole season.

[BrewBalls]

My choices for bench spots is based on maintaining depth in the minors. I would go with Maldy, Parra, Gomez, Jiminez and Herrera. This allows Rogers, Clark, Sardinas, Schafer and Peterson to play full time in AAA to either continuing to develop or stay sharp.

[ewitkows]

I don't see Sardinas being with the team unless there is an injury. He'll start at AAA and get reps at 2nd and SS until someone gets hurt.

[pacopete4]

Is Maldy a lock? What about Juan Centeno? As much as I love Maldonado's defense, if this guys hits, why not give him an opportunity? Adds another left handed bat option.

[jerichoholicninja]

Is Maldy a lock?

 

Umm, yes. They just signed him to a 2 year deal and with Lucroy missing time or at least not being 100% to start there is no way Maldonado doesn't make the team.

[monty57]

I don't see Sardinas being with the team unless there is an injury. He'll start at AAA and get reps at 2nd and SS until someone gets hurt.

 

I hope that's the case. He's young and would probably progress better getting everyday playing time in AAA than he would getting limited PT at the MLB level. Segura is close to playing his way out of a starting role, so Sardinas needs all the action he can get in case he needs to step into a starting role at some point this season. Let Gomez get the utility role to start the season.

 

Is Maldy a lock? What about Juan Centeno? As much as I love Maldonado's defense, if this guys hits, why not give him an opportunity? Adds another left handed bat option.

 

I like having three catchers on the 40-man, as it's pretty likely someone gets hurt throughout the season. Without a third catcher on the 40 man, an injury means that you either have to cut someone from the 40-man mid-season or take the risk of going with one catcher on the MLB roster. Maldonado has proven himself to be a perfectly fine backup, and now we have Centeno ready to step in when needed. Plus, as the opening post stated, Lucroy is hurt, and we don't know for sure yet when he'll be 100%.

 

i would not be surprised if the brewers decided to option khris davis for part of the season

 

Not likely. It's possible that Davis takes a fair number of starts vs RHP away from Davis, but I highly doubt he will be optioned. He's not a superstar, and has some warts (batting avg and defense), but he's young and cheap, and he's proven himself to be a MLB player. Optioning him makes little sense, especially when the player who would replace him would likely be something like a long man for the pen or a third catcher.

 

Other than that, I agree with most of the first post. Parra and Maldonado are locks. Gomez (utility middle IF) and Jimenez (utility corner IF) are likely, and the final spot is up in the air.

[MrTPlush]

Is Maldy a lock? What about Juan Centeno? As much as I love Maldonado's defense, if this guys hits, why not give him an opportunity? Adds another left handed bat option.

 

There is a 0% Centeno makes the team over Maldonado.

 

On another note if Schafer makes the team and we still have Parra someone needs their head checked.

[pacopete4]

If Matt Clark keeps slugging home runs, we better find a place for him on this roster. Back up 1B/corner OF, I do not care.

[Outlander]

I guess I wouldn't mind Clark as the last guy on the roster as Schafer/Peterson are left handed as well. Would actually be kind of nice to have a pinch hitting power option on both the right side (Jimenez) and left side (Clark). Clark is already fairly old so it is not like more time at AAA is really going to help him all that much.