Coulter Position Switch?

[MrTPlush]

I don't ever see him getting a chance with the Brewers.

Coulter is 21 and in A ball. He doesn't even need to be added to the 40-man until after next year. Any number of things could happen at the big league level and/or the guys ahead of him in the minors over the next three to four years. Actually, the soonest he could run out of options is 2020, the last guaranteed year of Braun's contract.

 

Like I said I don't see him ever getting a true shot. As in a full season of at-bats. That is just my personal thought. I don't see a spot opening up in the next 3-4 years and by the time Braun's contract is over Trent Clark will be rolling around. Yah a lot of things can happen, but I think there are so many players over Coulter on the depth chart he has a uphill battle to ever get a OF spot with the Brewers.

[TURBO]

There really isn't much to "learn" about playing the outfield. You run after the ball and throw it to the cutoff man. It's pretty simple. Certainly there is experience to be gained by playing there in games such as reading balls off the bat and communicating with other fielders but it doesn't take a whole lot of "learning" to be good at it. He can work at 1B before games and then play OF during them. There's no reason to tie him to one position right now, especially one that is so stacked in the organization and when he's still 2 or 3 years from the bigs.

 

Ummmm, have you ever played OF competitively before? That position is a lot harder than a lot of people give it credit for.

[JohnBriggs12]

I'd leave Coulter in the OF. His ultimate value, if any, to the Brewers may be a trade chip down the line anyway. If he surpasses the guys ahead of him, they'll find room for him. With all the RH bats in the Brewer OF picture, they really could use a lefty swinging 1B bat anyway.

[jerichoholicninja]

There really isn't much to "learn" about playing the outfield. You run after the ball and throw it to the cutoff man. It's pretty simple. Certainly there is experience to be gained by playing there in games such as reading balls off the bat and communicating with other fielders but it doesn't take a whole lot of "learning" to be good at it. He can work at 1B before games and then play OF during them. There's no reason to tie him to one position right now, especially one that is so stacked in the organization and when he's still 2 or 3 years from the bigs.

 

Ummmm, have you ever played OF competitively before? That position is a lot harder than a lot of people give it credit for.

 

Ya. Played it in college. Our outfield coach was a highly regarded OF'er in college himself and he had the same opinion as I do. Outfield is pretty simple, get the ball and throw it to the cutoff man.

[And That]

Coulter probably should have been moved from behind the plate and immediately, but he's athletic enough that corner outfield should be an option. It doesn't appear to me, nor have I seen anyone say, that he's grown to big to play RF. He may never be great at it, but there's a lot more value to be had there than at 1B. And the Brewers need to get out of the habit of jerking guys around from position to position. Give him a few years.

[3and2Fastball]

Is Coulter still a Top Prospect?

 

Asking sincerely as I don't follow MiLB as closely as I should but I see:

 

A Ball: .287/.410/.520 at age 20

A+ Ball: .246/.329/.397 at age 21

 

Kinda looks like the bottom fell out. Was he playing hurt?

 

Before we get too concerned about what position he might play, we have to see if he can even hit AA pitching first, right?

[jerichoholicninja]

Is Coulter still a Top Prospect?

 

Asking sincerely as I don't follow MiLB as closely as I should but I see:

 

A Ball: .287/.410/.520 at age 20

A+ Ball: .246/.329/.397 at age 21

 

Kinda looks like the bottom fell out. Was he playing hurt?

 

Before we get too concerned about what position he might play, we have to see if he can even hit AA pitching first, right?

 

Everything I've read has said it was because of playing in the FSL. His numbers were still some of the best in that league.

[clancyphile]

Is Coulter still a Top Prospect?

 

Asking sincerely as I don't follow MiLB as closely as I should but I see:

 

A Ball: .287/.410/.520 at age 20

A+ Ball: .246/.329/.397 at age 21

 

Kinda looks like the bottom fell out. Was he playing hurt?

 

Before we get too concerned about what position he might play, we have to see if he can even hit AA pitching first, right?

 

Two words: Brevard County.

 

Three more words: Florida State League.

[paul253]

The way I look at it is like this. If he's moved to first he's got a clear path to the majors with nobody blocking him. If he stays in right a lot of things need to happen in order for him to ever see regular playing time. I guess it comes down to how the Brewers view him. If they view him as a future trade chip then keep him in the outfield. If they are just as high in him as they were when they drafted him then move him to first and give him two full minor league years to learn the position. I get that he might be more valuable as an OF. But he's also more valuable as an every day player at first than a fifth outfielder who plays once a week. I've always assumed that he was drafted for his offense. If that is the case you play him wherever he can get into the lineup. Right now that would seem to be first base

 

On a side note this to me shows how AL teams with the DH have a huge advantage over NL teams. Just like how we were forced to trade Overbay so Prince could play and how Braun was moved to right to get Davis in the lineup and how Santana was playing out of position in CF last season this one more example of how having a player who only hits is a huge advantage in terms of roster construction. It boggles my mind how MLB can continue this DH in one league only [expletive deleted by moderator]. Seriously....I know it's a tough decision but pick.....DH or no DH.....and apply it evenly.

[MrTPlush]

They viewed Coulter similar to Brett Lawrie when they drafted him. Poissbly a catcher, but a back up option as well. With Lawrie it was 3B and Coulter it was RF. Though it should be noted the Brewers really thought Coulter could stick at catcher. So I don't think they are as high on Coulter as they were back then.

 

Personally for the next year or two I think he should stay in RF. By then we should have a really good idea of what our OF is going forward. If our current outfielders and the outfielders in the minors(Phillips/Clark) continue to hit well and look promising maybe you consider that move to 1B.

 

Clint Coulter isn't a bad option at 1B anyway. He looks like he has some decent power and the ability to get on base. As long as he plays some decent defense that would be more than acceptable. Many teams struggle mightily finding a 1B so having someone only provide 1-2 WAR wouldn't be the end of the world. As long as we are getting offense from other places Coulter could be a legitimate complementing piece.