Opening Day - 25 Man Roster Predictions

[FVBrewerFan]

I'm quite surprised that neither Clark nor Rogers made the cut, but Melvin's point about them playing everyday makes sense.

 

Makes perfect sense for Rogers, doesn't make any sense for Clark. Clark isn't a future prospect, his time is now or never. A LH PH with some pop is something this team needs. I don't care if his defense is horrific, that's not his role.

[reillymcshane]

Wooten is sent down. That means Blazek and Thornburg made the club.

[reillymcshane]

I hope Schafer makes it over Herrera. Schafer is a very good OF - Herrera isn't.

 

I'm still a little surprised Clark didn't get the 25th spot. The club would have liked his power.

[Jenkins5]

So how much money do we loss cutting our loses with Cotts.....not sure he could be much more terrible this Spring. Chris Perez is the cheaper better lefty option. Pride and money probably will cause Melvin to hold on to him...basically giving us another worthless bullpen arm like with Wang last season. Today he was stellar again with giving up 5 runs while only recording 1 out....

 

If your keeping Gomez, not sure why you keep Herrera. Schafer offers little in my eyes outside of defense (which is still below our 4th OF). Herrera I know can be a 5th OF but can't Clark play LF a little bit? They said they want to get Clark more consistent AB's but he is your big power threat off the bench....you need guys like that. Schafer has been disappointing off the bench to me and he is a 5th OF in a loaded OF that has 1 of the top 4th OFs in baseball to back up all 3 spots.

[brewmann04]

wow shocked that Clark is off the team with being a LH Bat with POP.

[SoupTown]

I hope the Brewers will simply cut Cotts if he does not perform like NOW. It would send a bit of a message to the other players. A good message. It will be the 'Brewer Last Couple of Years Rake in a Few Million Retirement Home' is CLOSED.

[bork]

I hope they keep Herrera. They don't need a 5th OF with Parra and they already have enough crappy bats off the bench. Herrera at least has proven that he can be a pretty good pinch hitter.

[BrewCrewForever]

Yeah, I would rather see Herrera make the club over Schafer. Switch hitter and more versatility. If an OF would have to go on the DL, then Schafer can come up.

[MNBrew]

Comments on a couple of the previous 5 posts:

 

- Chris Perez is a righty, not a lefty. (quote: Chris Perez is the cheaper better lefty option.)

 

- Cotts' one-year $3M contract signed as a FA is guaranteed. Just cutting him, however much he's stunk this spring, isn't likely for two reasons: 1) Given that he's a very-experienced MLB FA signing, he's had enough MLB success to deserve a bit longer leash; and 2) They're not just going to throw away $3M without the guy throwing a single regular-season pitch. If Cotts were an NRI guy, he'd likely have been gone long before Perez, but (sadly, at least for now) that's not the case. (quote: I hope the Brewers will simply cut Cotts if he does not perform like NOW. It would send a bit of a message to the other players.)

 

The positive about the whole situation is that the great spring training debates this year are about last spots on the bench and the end of the bullpen.

 

The one confusing thing is that as poor as Logan Schafer's MLB play has been over the past couple years in a part-time role (and I've been a quietly enthusiastic (yet realistic) fan of his since a couple years before his call-up), for all the reading I've done about the different guys contending for spots, there's been nothing compelling printed about why he's deserving of a roster spot, let alone over some of these other guys. I hope his bat & his bunting come around because he sure didn't add much at the plate in his otherwise limited role -- especially compared to Herrera, who hit dang well considering his very sporadic playing time.

[Bombers]

I hope Schafer makes it over Herrera. Schafer is a very good OF - Herrera isn't.

 

I'm still a little surprised Clark didn't get the 25th spot. The club would have liked his power.

[sarcasm]I completely disagree[/sarcasm]

Since I don't know how to post a gif, I will link to one

viewtopic.php?p=890212#p890212

[jerichoholicninja]

If Parra is on the team, Schafer makes no sense. He'd just be a wasted roster spot.

[brewcrewdue80]

What if? What if Schafer is on the Roster with Parra still being an emergency LH 1b for Lind? I don't think with Parra the Brewers need Schafer as a 5th OF since he lacks pop and would be a very underutilized 2nd OF off the bench after Parra...But, If Parra were still freshly in the minds as an emergency LHB 1b for Lind to start the season, then I understand the move with Schafer. Just wondering out loud. Probably unlikely, I just like to run an idea that makes a move like such sense. I mean, why did you acquire Parra last season and keep him? If you were still going to keep Schafer on the 25man? It certainly isn't for production and would only be defense...which Parra provides as much of both+.

[SoupTown]

I heard a strange explanation from RR / Doug today. Having Shafer/Herrera allows Ron to pinch hit with Parra not not worry about the outfield. That is dumb to my thinking. If they are thinking of Parra as the pinch hitter and Shafer as the D replacement, then that is worse than having Clark as the the pinch hitter and Parra as the D replacement. I would think Clark is a better bench bat than Parra.

 

Dare I ask re Clarks 'D' at first. Is it really that bad? That means Clark should be on an American League team.

[JohnBriggs12]

I'd take Herrera over Hector Gomez. Really what has Gomez ever done to justify a spot on the opening day roster? He did have a career year in AAA last year, but his overall minor league record is pretty spotty.

 

Blame Khris Davis for Clark not getting a spot. Two years ago Davis raked in Arizona and won a roster spot for opening day. But like Clark, there was no place to play him and he didn't play enough to keep sharp. Never mind that for Clark to have any value at the major league level, it's going to be in part time duty. Maybe we'll see Clark when they need a DH.

[fondybrewfan]

After the last couple of years I was kind of hoping we were done with Schafer being on the team. After he goes 1 for his first 20 or whatever I am sure we will see somebody else up. I really would have preferred Clark but understanding position wise he doesn't fit in the greatest.

 

I am glad Schafer and Herrera will be the 25th man because yuck.

[wildcat83]

With Wooten, Kintzler, and Perez all in the minors the bullpen depth looks pretty good. Odds are 1 of the 3 would be throwing well if/when we need an arm.

 

I'm among those surprised that Clark is not on the roster solely as a pinch hitter, and now would like to see Herrera over Schafer based upon the number of positions he can play.

[JohnBriggs12]

I know the consensus here is anti-Schafer, but in his defense, the production from players with similar number of AB's who in effect were the 5th OF. Most are defense first with a couple exceptions.

 

Ryan Doumit: .197/.235/.318

 

Jake Marisnick: .167/.216/.167

 

Matt den Dekker: .250/.345/.322

 

Tony Gwynn: .152/.264/.190

 

Nate McLouth: .173/.280/.237

 

Ryan Kalish: .248/.295/.347

 

Roger Bernadina: .153/.286/.203

 

Logan Schafer: .181/.278/.276

 

Shane Robinson: .150/.227/.200

 

Tony Campana: .150/.164/.200

 

Abraham Almonte: .265/.305/.378

 

Juan Perez: .170/.224/.270

 

It's kind of a league wide issue. I agree Schafer is kind of redundant with Parra around though he's better defensively in CF. I just don't see Herrera offering much more either and he's a lousy defensive OF.

 

I just didn't understand the roster building this offseason. The Brewers completed gutted their AAA outfield from last year, instead replacing all of them with older journeyman LH bats. They really could have used a RH 1B/corner OF bat. Sean Halton hit .342/.387/.509 vs. LHP in Nashville last year and they decided he wasn't even worth retaining on their AAA roster. Not to say Halton was the guy but that's the type of guy who would fit on this year's major league roster.

[Warning Track Power]

If Parra is on the team, Schafer makes no sense. He'd just be a wasted roster spot.

I believe the rationale, based on what I have read, is that Parra will be the main PH and having Schafer will allow RR flexibility to use Parra as such. If the choice is between Herrera and Schafer and the role is specifically being late inning OF replacement, give me Schafer.

[Baldkin]

If Parra is on the team, Schafer makes no sense. He'd just be a wasted roster spot.

I believe the rationale, based on what I have read, is that Parra will be the main PH and having Schafer will allow RR flexibility to use Parra as such. If the choice is between Herrera and Schafer and the role is specifically being late inning OF replacement, give me Schafer.

 

I hate that reasoning, and that logic.

 

Braun can play CF for 3 innings if Gomez gets hurt and you need to pull him after Parra pinch hits.

This is the same idiocy that keeps coaches from using their backup C as a pinch hitter.

 

You can "Well, what if" yourself into not doing a LOT of things. The probability of them happening is pretty darn slim, however.

[FVBrewerFan]

Blame Khris Davis for Clark not getting a spot.

 

No, blame Jimenez. He's on the roster because he is out of options, simple as that. An inferior player starts the year for roster flexibility, and he's not the only one.

[FVBrewerFan]

With Wooten, Kintzler, and Perez all in the minors the bullpen depth looks pretty good. Odds are 1 of the 3 would be throwing well if/when we need an arm.

 

Also, very quietly, Pena has had a really good Spring. He is now an option for either the pen or rotation if needed.

[reillymcshane]

Schafer or Herrera. The difference is pretty negligible. And I don't think either guy's name is etched in stone even if he starts the season in the majors.

 

Schafer's been frustrating by not hitting at the major league level - despite some solid minor league numbers. He and Herrera are actually pretty similar if you look at their extensive AAA numbers. Herrera has a little better BA, but Schafer has a little more pop.

 

At the major league level, Herrera has not hit very well (.651 OPS), but Schafer has been flat out bad (.603 OPS).

 

Herrera offers versatility (switch hitter and plays most anywhere but catcher and 1B), but Schafer offers exceptional defense in the OF - especially at the critical CF position. Herrera can play CF, but he's no great shakes.

 

For me, I go with Schafer due to the fact he does something really well - plays defense. Parra can handle RF and LF exceptionally well, but he's not a good CF. Neither is Herrera. Schafer is very good at the position. He's entering his age 28 season - still young enough to improve. He's shown he can hit in the minors - I say give him one more chance at the major league level. He offers value as a defensive specialist.

 

Herrera's value lies in his versatility, which we just don't really need that much. He's third man off the bench at 3B, SS, 2B or OF. His primary attribute - his ability to play so many positions - just isn't that valuable due to our roster make up.

 

No matter what the decision, this isn't going to change the world. We can always make a move. If one guy starts out poorly, you can swap him for someone else. And I won't be shocked if Rogers or Clark gets the call over either of these guys at some point (especially if Lind's back is acting up).

[Outlander]

Don't really like the two remaining options but would go with Schafer out of the 2. Don't really see the need for Herrerra on this team when there is plenty of coverage at the utilty positions. If they got rid of Gomez or Jimenez and kept a bat like Clark or Rogers then Herrera would be fine as the utility guy.

[reillymcshane]

I'm still kind of surprised Clark didn't make it over Schafer or Herrera. The power bat on the bench would have been a nice option to have, and Lind's creaky back scares me. If Lind needs to sit 2-3 days in a row, I'd rather put in Clark at 1B and Luc at catcher rather than a Lucroy/Maldonado combo (at least against right handers).

 

But again, it's not like the 25th man can't be swapped out as need arises (or a particular player falters). If Lind's back acts up, we can make a move.

[SoupTown]

I think reillymcshane sums it up best. Go with Schafer because 'maybe' he will 'get it' re batting in his peak season and he is exceptional in CF. And, that is the way the 40 man sits. So, no change needed.