Brett Lawrie

[adambr2]

Yeah, someone had to ask.

 

Released by the White Sox, his career started off looking like he was going to be a star, but never really took off. Has a career 101 OPS+ and usually is good for about 2 bWAR or so a season, so he by no means has been bad.

 

He just turned 27, so it's still possible that he has more to offer. Some versatility, can play at 2nd or 3rd. Not really a good platoon player option though, pretty identical splits. A younger and probably better IF depth option than DeJesus. Lawrie likely wouldn't be a good option at SS, but with Arcia firmly entrenched as the starter and with a good backup in Perez that's not really a concern.

 

Worth a look?

[Point Beer Is Best]

If Doug Melvin is still advising Stearns, I imagine he's already texted him something like, "Pass on Lawrie. Not with the headaches, and that."

[jerichoholicninja]

Maybe, but to play where? 2B and 3B are pretty well spoken for for a couple years and Brett is older than all of those guys.

[TURBO]

He can't stay healthy, just can't do it...

[pacopete4]

Why in the world would we want to? Dude was a complete ass while being here. Hard pass.

[JosephC]

I'd pass but it wouldn't be a questionable move if Stearns acquired Lawrie. The guy is talented and still only 27 years old. Biggest issue is that he'd have to come in with the attitude that he'd be a backup at 3B/2B but would get a fair chance of competing for playing time and a starting spot if he got off to a great start. With Lawrie and Gennett as infielders it would kick Perez to a backup outfield spot but he still gives the Brewers a third player that can play shortstop after Arcia and Villar. The Brewers still have spots on the 25 man roster where they could use quality bats. Again, I wouldn't be that interested but acquiring Lawrie would make some sense.

[Austin Tatious]

If Doug Melvin is still advising Stearns, I imagine he's already texted him something like, "Pass on Lawrie. Not with the headaches, and that."

Lol. Man, that was funny

[gregmag]

Leaving aside opportunity cost, because who knows, our return for Lawrie looks pretty good. We got one good and one passable year of Marcum (5.2 fWAR over the two seasons) and got to the playoffs. Meanwhile Lawrie put up 4.9 fWAR over those same two seasons -- so basically a wash -- and then the thing we were really giving up, his future value, turned into a poor 4.8 fWAR over 2013-2016. You can say "who knew he would get hurt," but then maybe our scouts saw something.

[superfly]

Sure why not...if he likes employment his tune might change. I'd cut Gennett loose if nobody wants him in trade...i'll take mediocre with pedigree over mediocre and we know what he is...maybe you'll get lucky and hit a late blooming Carlos Gomez.

[JohnBriggs12]

Sure why not...if he likes employment his tune might change. I'd cut Gennett loose if nobody wants him in trade...i'll take mediocre with pedigree over mediocre and we know what he is...maybe you'll get lucky and hit a late blooming Carlos Gomez.

 

Gennett's right now by far the best LH bench bat the Brewers have and he's a better hitter than Lawrie.

 

Lawrie's OPS from 2012 to 2016: .729, .712, .722, .706, .723

 

Gennett's OPS since 2013: .834, .754, .675, .728

 

Beside he's a much better teammate and he's healthy and a bit younger. Replacing Gennett with Lawrie would be ludicrous.

 

Lawrie pedigree?? Seriously? He hasn't had one full season as good as Gennett's best full year.

[AKCheesehead]

No thanks, no way.

 

http://thesportspin.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Brett-Lawrie-is-Edward-40-Hands1.jpg

[superfly]

Sure why not...if he likes employment his tune might change. I'd cut Gennett loose if nobody wants him in trade...i'll take mediocre with pedigree over mediocre and we know what he is...maybe you'll get lucky and hit a late blooming Carlos Gomez.

 

Gennett's right now by far the best LH bench bat the Brewers have and he's a better hitter than Lawrie.

 

Lawrie's OPS from 2012 to 2016: .729, .712, .722, .706, .723

 

Gennett's OPS since 2013: .834, .754, .675, .728

 

Beside he's a much better teammate and he's healthy and a bit younger. Replacing Gennett with Lawrie would be ludicrous.

 

Lawrie pedigree?? Seriously? He hasn't had one full season as good as Gennett's best full year.

 

What have you done for me lately? You might want to quit cherry picking a half season for Gennett that was his first year in the bigs because for all intensive purposes they are roughly the same player the past 3 years, except Lawrie strikes out a bit more and has a track record of being somewhat competent against opposite hand pitching. And IMO he's a better defender. And yes I know Scooter was better last year in a limited sample against LHP.

 

http://i64.tinypic.com/2vbmpnt.png

http://i64.tinypic.com/2vbmpnt.jpg

[logan82]

For their career they are practically equal hitting. Neither has had many PA against LHP. 13% of his PA for Scooter and 29% for Lawrie. Lawrie's splits are pretty even. Scooter sucks vs LHP. I think that Lawrie would be a more versatile guy than Scooter since he doesn't have the drastic LHP/RHP split Scooter does. I would rather have Scooter as a left handed bat off the bench but not by much.

[brewcrewdue80]

Aren't Thames and Shaw Lefty? Oh you're talking about Pinch hitters. Is under .800 OPS really a bat you need to keep vs Righties? For his lacking against LHP you're looking at him for a Late in game PH appearance. At which a Loogy comes in and gets him out. He's not getting Starts because Villar is batting Switch at the one position you can rely on him defensively. For what little gain as a LHB vs RHP Gennett offers, Lawrie's career splits make him far better at least within both sides. And can play 3b unlike Gennett's 2b options.

In a depth option I'd have to give Lawrie the nod over Gennett. Not that it will happen, but if Stearns did sign Lawrie it's more depth move vs. signing him as a Starting chance.

[Warning Track Power]

Not that Brett Lawrie is the difference between the 2017 Brewers winning or not winning the World Series, but guys like him always bring me back to whether I would rather see my favorite team win a World Series with a bunch of perceived jerks or lose consistently with a bunch of perceived good guys. As much as I long for a Brewers championship, I think I would prefer losing than have a team of guys I couldn't stand...which is why I could never be a Cardinal fan.

[JohnBriggs12]

Lawrie's career OPS is .715 and I was cherry picking Gennett? Besides Lawrie is hurt and wasn't playing anyway. Why add another guy who could take AB's away from an emerging player like Perez anyway?

[JohnBriggs12]

Nieuwenhuis who is off to a 1 for 16 start this spring with 7Ks is your lone other LH bat bench option. I think there's a chance he doesn't even make the team which is why I've lobbied for grabbing a better LH hitting OF option all winter. Until that happens, Gennett needs to stick around.

[pacopete4]

Nieuwenhuis who is off to a 1 for 16 start this spring with 7Ks is your lone other LH bat bench option. I think there's a chance he doesn't even make the team which is why I've lobbied for grabbing a better LH hitting OF option all winter. Until that happens, Gennett needs to stick around.

 

 

Disliking Kirk on the team is one thing but using his spring training stats as the metric to decide whether he should be our 4th/5th outfielder is not the way to go about it.

[And That]

16 ABs in spring training should absolutely have little to no effect on roster decision making, but it is unfortunate that it appears Nieuwenhuis has not fixed his struggles with pitches high in the zone. Literally all you have to do to get the guy out is throw him high fastballs. He'll swing at them, and miss most of the time. It's so frustrating to watch.

 

That said, he appears to me to play good defense, and he finished with a positive WAR from BP,BR, and FG so he's doing at least a few things right. And I finally learned to spell his last name so I'd be sad to see all that hard work go to naught.

[3and2Fastball]

All Nieuwenhuis needs to do if step in the box at Miller Park and he'll start hitting like Jack Clark again. Too bad we can't have a Home-Away platoon in his spot (!)

[superfly]

Nieuwenhuis who is off to a 1 for 16 start this spring with 7Ks is your lone other LH bat bench option. I think there's a chance he doesn't even make the team which is why I've lobbied for grabbing a better LH hitting OF option all winter. Until that happens, Gennett needs to stick around.

 

I'm no Kirk fan but getting worked up about a 1-16 start in spring training is the most absurd thing i've read all day.

[monty57]

Nieuwenhuis who is off to a 1 for 16 start this spring with 7Ks is your lone other LH bat bench option. I think there's a chance he doesn't even make the team which is why I've lobbied for grabbing a better LH hitting OF option all winter. Until that happens, Gennett needs to stick around.

 

I'm no Kirk fan but getting worked up about a 1-16 start in spring training is the most absurd thing i've read all day.

 

I sure wish they mattered, as the Brewers currently have 11 players with an OPS of 1.000 of greater, and another three over .900.

[pacopete4]

Nieuwenhuis who is off to a 1 for 16 start this spring with 7Ks is your lone other LH bat bench option. I think there's a chance he doesn't even make the team which is why I've lobbied for grabbing a better LH hitting OF option all winter. Until that happens, Gennett needs to stick around.

 

I'm no Kirk fan but getting worked up about a 1-16 start in spring training is the most absurd thing i've read all day.

 

I sure wish they mattered, as the Brewers currently have 11 players with an OPS of 1.000 of greater, and another three over .900.

 

 

[sarcasm]Move over Shaw, Erceg is our new starting 3B![/sarcasm]