Parra to Try Out 1B

[brewcrewdue80]

How do you configure your 25man if Lind isn't put on the DL? The way I see it 16spots are spoken for leaving 9 to put on the roster. How many of those 9 even have options remaining to move from Majors to Minors? The 16 on the 25man with 0 doubt anywhere else:

Braun, Gomez, Lucroy, ARam, Parra, Davis, Segura, Gennett, Maldonado, Lind, Lohse, Garza, Peralta, Smith, Broxton, and Krod. That's 16. You need 2 more SPs That's 18. 7 spots left. For certain going to have backups for ARam and Gennett/Segura. There's 2 more=20. You have your Loogy, Setup, and Closer. Need longman/swingman 21, 7th Inn 22. That leaves 3 spots and I'm sure you're not going with just 5 in the bullpen.

 

So, where do you find Lind's 1b replacement if: ARam needs to sit a few games(Rogers or Jimenez? backup) Maldonado takes a ball off the hand and Lucroy must catch? Are you really going to use Matt Clark on the 25man who's only job will be pinch-hitter or Lind replacement if that scenario happens? If Clark can play in the OF great for his versatility, but if not Lind is blocking him. Unless Lind is on the DL Clark doesn't have his 25man spot.

 

Can they put Braun at 1b? If I remember correctly, Davis tried some 1b last year in ST? was it? and it was immediately decided he wasn't going to play there. Rogers has 1b history, but he may also be the kind of player who has an option? But Jimenez not? Jimenez has 15 games at 1b in the Minors he's almost exclusively a 3b option it appears.

 

I just believe this is a 25man decision. You either take Matt Clark as a backup 1b/pinch hitter or send one of Thornburg, Jeffress, Wooten, Kintzler, Cotts, or Knebel off the 25man (you're already 1 minimum if not 2 at this point. Clark makes 3) Where does Chris Perez fit -- 25 man or bust for him?

[reillymcshane]

If Lind's back is an issue, it might increase the chance of Shane Peterson making the club as thr 5th OF if he has a good spring. The guy plays all the OF slots and 1B (how well, I don't know), making him more versatile than Clark (who is more of a 1B who plays corner OF in a pinch).

[superfly]

One thing's for certain...Parra has more pride and balls than Rickie Weeks ever had. Unlike Rickie Parra is willing to do whatever it takes for the team to win, and also earn himself a little more playing time.

[MrTPlush]

One thing's for certain...Parra has more pride and balls than Rickie Weeks ever had. Unlike Rickie Parra is willing to do whatever it takes for the team to win, and also earn himself a little more playing time.

 

One thing is for certain...neither situation or player is even remotely comparable. This is spring training and Weeks was asked in the middle of the season just because he was on a hot streak. Secondly Parra is what 27...Weeks was like 32. Parra has had a healthy career while Weeks had just started to get better from a pretty bad leg injury. Lastly Parra is athletic and good at his main position while Weeks can't even field at his best position.

 

Hate on Weeks for whatever reason...but comparing him to Parra is pretty inaccurate. Personally I wasen't too thrilled Weeks declined. Let's be honest though, he finally started hitting well for the first time in a couple years. I think it would have been best for him to focus on that.

[SoupTown]

If you stroll over to the Seattle spring page you will hear how Weeks is happy and liking and a duck to water in the outfield. So, in fact, Parra vs Weeks is completely comparable. One dude will do what is asked and one will not.

 

Oddly, when RR was asked about Braun to first, he just said 'Braun does not want to do it'. It seems from last year or the year before comment. And that is etched in stone. Even RR said Braun to first was an intelligent thought. re Davis at first, RR just said Kris no good at it.

 

And re guys putting up their hands and having a go... RR mentioned Parra and Maldy as the guys who will have a go and are trusting of their abilities to try anything. (not Braun?)

[tmwiese55]

I think everyone is reading a bit much into this. I take it as a veteran just increasing his versatility. And from the Brewers view you know that you have him in case of emergency, say Lind goes to DL or if Clark goes to AAA.

 

I agree with those that said Braun should be also adding this to his game. He'll likely have to move there in a few years anyway. And specific to this year and next, he's RH and Lind is LH. As hard as it's been to find a competent 1b I'd have to think it would be easier to find a respectable righty outfielder to play vs lefties. Some days you could have Lucroy at C, Braun at 1B, and a righty OF who is a better hitter than Maldonado.

[Bombers]

I think everyone is reading a bit much into this. I take it as a veteran just increasing his versatility. And from the Brewers view you know that you have him in case of emergency, say Lind goes to DL or if Clark goes to AAA.

 

I agree with those that said Braun should be also adding this to his game. He'll likely have to move there in a few years anyway. And specific to this year and next, he's RH and Lind is LH. As hard as it's been to find a competent 1b I'd have to think it would be easier to find a respectable righty outfielder to play vs lefties. Some days you could have Lucroy at C, Braun at 1B, and a righty OF who is a better hitter than Maldonado.

I don't think anyone is arguing with the thought of a veteran increasing his versatility. But Parra is a better OF than everyone not named Gomez on this team. Plus he is gone after this year anyhow. I just don't see why we wouldn't have Braun getting some reps at 1B. Between Lind / Clark - I just don't see any more LH bats needed to play 1B. I would much rather see Braun get some playing time there in ST. He needs to increase his versatility. Maldy hits .221 / .276 / .317 / .593 vs LHP in 145 AB over his career. He should only play when Lucroy needs a day off. Not when we need Lucroy to play 1B because we don't have any other RH hitter to play it. Inserting Luc into 1B and Maldy into Catcher is not a good plan. Keep Lucroy at Catcher, Braun at 1B, Parra in RF is a much better plan. Or Clark at 1B and Braun in RF.

[bill hAll Star]

Parra has pretty awful splits against LH pitching, though. I know he's a really good defender, so maybe that trumps it, but it would be nice if our GM could find depth in the team/organization to not have offensive weaknesses all over the place (like when they trot Scooter out there against lefties more often than not or have to play Parra full time at some point or with Braun at 1B and therefore he faces a bunch of lefties).

[yoshii8]

It seems we should've done more to cover 1b in the off-season, since Adam Lind's back problems only happens when he has to field. It's too bad where there's not an alternate league where they have a position that only has to hit.

[brewcrewdue80]

Parra has pretty awful splits against LH pitching, though. I know he's a really good defender, so maybe that trumps it, but it would be nice if our GM could find depth in the team/organization to not have offensive weaknesses all over the place (like when they trot Scooter out there against lefties more often than not or have to play Parra full time at some point or with Braun at 1B and therefore he faces a bunch of lefties).

 

Exactly why I think you use Parra vs RHP and sit him vs LHP. Lucroy to 1b and Maldy at catcher (whose defense is a plus and batted .721 OPS vs lefties last season). Lind is a platoon 1b, use a lefty to replace who he is. Again, it's a 25 man roster and your fulltime starters say no to 1b. Parra is the 4th OF, and may be the starting 1b (more versatility/more money next season) if he can play 1b for Lind when his back doesn't allow him to. You just have to decide what do you want for your 25th man? A 5th OF/1b/pinch-hitter without speed or do you put an extra arm in the bullpen? How many games will .750 OPS win you with Clark/Peterson or does Parra's .700 OPS+ and extra bullpen arm throughout the season? We're talking less than DL stint here. As if Lind has to go on the DL, I'd assume when done so Clark takes his place making this moot. Back issues though are either long term, or just rest for 2 or 3 games here and there and you're good to play again.

[JohnBriggs12]

Parra has pretty awful splits against LH pitching, though. I know he's a really good defender, so maybe that trumps it, but it would be nice if our GM could find depth in the team/organization to not have offensive weaknesses all over the place (like when they trot Scooter out there against lefties more often than not or have to play Parra full time at some point or with Braun at 1B and therefore he faces a bunch of lefties).

 

Scooter bashing is a popular item that's being mixed in to all sorts of threads, but why don't we just wait and see how he does? Almost all of Sccoter's AB's vs. lefties in the big leagues have been against late inning lefty bullpen specialists who tend to dominate all lefty hitters and who a hitter may see once or twice in an entire season. Now he's going to be seeing lefty starters, some of whom aren't particularly good vs. lefty hitters and he'll be seeing them more than once in a game.

 

I'm sure in game situations late, that Roenicke won't hesitate to PH for Gennett against a tough lefty. But if Gennett is going to reach his full potential as a hitter, he needs to see more than just RHP.

[liveforoctober]

I'm very curious why something as minuscule as Gerardo Parra taking a few grounders at first base during spring training can turn a fan base on its heads. Maybe he got his outfield work in for the day and asked if he could field a few there. Maybe Parra is hoping to get a few more innings out of the season when ... that one time in June when we have burned all of our bench... Roenicke will look down the roster and say "Yeah, Parra took a few reps at 1st .. we can slide him there now in the 15th inning". Maybe he lost a bet and had to take a few fungo grounders there as punishment.

 

Breathe folks. Season hasn't even started yet.

[monty57]

I'm very curious why something as minuscule as Gerardo Parra taking a few grounders at first base during spring training can turn a fan base on its heads.

 

Mostly that there isn't any other news. Other than the final couple of spots, the roster is pretty much set, and the final couple of spots aren't all that exciting. There isn't a lot of controversy at any position, and there aren't really any moves that need to be made. In such an offseason, little things like this will get attention.

 

You are most likely correct, and this is pretty meaningless, but if it does become meaningful (i.e. Lind is out and Parra takes over first), then we're probably in trouble.

[logan82]

Parra has pretty awful splits against LH pitching, though. I know he's a really good defender, so maybe that trumps it, but it would be nice if our GM could find depth in the team/organization to not have offensive weaknesses all over the place (like when they trot Scooter out there against lefties more often than not or have to play Parra full time at some point or with Braun at 1B and therefore he faces a bunch of lefties).

Not sure why that really matters since all our outfielders are right handed.

[bill hAll Star]

Parra has pretty awful splits against LH pitching, though. I know he's a really good defender, so maybe that trumps it, but it would be nice if our GM could find depth in the team/organization to not have offensive weaknesses all over the place (like when they trot Scooter out there against lefties more often than not or have to play Parra full time at some point or with Braun at 1B and therefore he faces a bunch of lefties).

Not sure why that really matters since all our outfielders are right handed.

 

I didn't really quote who I was responding to, but I was saying this in response to the person saying Braun should see reps at 1B and keep Parra in the OF because of his defense (quote was a post or two above mine).

 

In reality, Parra is taking grounders at 1B to be an insurance policy at 1B for Lind and should play the exact same role of RH pitching only player at 1B just like Lind. That's what I was responding to. If Lind is out and we're facing a lefty, the OF should be Braun/Davis/Gomez almost every day and have Jimenez (yes, I know right now his MLB splits are bad) or Lucroy at 1B.

[AKCheesehead]

Gamel has just been cut loose by NYY...I wonder if he'd be worth signing to a minor league contract.

[DocLuna7]

I think that the ship on Gamel has sailed. Did the NYY look at him for all of about five days or so?

[AKCheesehead]

Agreed. I keep hoping something happens for the guy. The NYY move is one of 3 things-either he was terrible, didn't get along, or he looked decent but wasn't going to make their opening day roster so they cut him in time for him to have a chance elsewhere. Oops I forgot the 4th and most likely possibility, that he may have blown out a knee.